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JOi'.L P.ARLOW.
I'Voin a family portrait, never l)of()ro eiipfravccl.
THE
HISTORY OF REDDING
CONNECTICUT
FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE
PRESENT TIMI^, WITH NOTES ON THE
Adams, Banks, Barlow, Bartlett, Bartram, Bates, Beach, Benedict, Betts,
Burr, Burritt, Burton, Chatfield, Couch, Darling, Fairchild, Foster,
Gold, Gorham, Gray, Griffin, Hall, Hawley, Heron, Hill,
Hull, Jackson, Lee, Lyon, Lord, Mallory, Meade,
Meeker, Merchant, Morehouse, Perry, Piatt,
Read, Rogers, Rumsey, Sanford, Smith,
Stow, and Strong families
By
CHARLES BURR TODD
Author of *' Story of the City of New York," ''Life of Aaron Burr,"
In Olde Connecticut," Etc.
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THE GRAFTON PRESS
PUBLISHERS NEW YORK
LIBRARYof CONGRESS
One Ooiif/ Keceived
JAti 21 1307
y* CjpyrtKlit Entry ,
CLASS 4 AXc. No,
COPYRIGHT 1906
BY
:harles burr todd.
Printed for the Author by the Newburgh Journal Company.
PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION.
AN interest is attached to the place of one's birth which change of
scene rather enhances than removes, and which increases rather than
diminishes in intensity as one approaches the later stages of life; this
home feeling has been largely instrumental in the production of this work,
and to it is due nearly everything of interest or value that the book posses-
ses.
A history of Redding has been long contemplated by the author as a
service due his native town, and as long shrunk from because of the labor,
the expense, and the difficulty of its compilation. Whether well or illy
done, it is now completed, and goes out to the somewhat limited public for
whom it was written.
The materials for the work have been drawn largely from the ancient
records of the town and parish, from the records of the colony, and from
the files of musty papers in the State Library at Hartford. Tradition and
oral information have not been neglected, and every reasonable effort has
been made to render the work as far as possible a thorough and reliable
history of the town. That errors and discrepancies will be found, is to
be expected ; but it is not believed that they are sufficiently numerous or
important to destroy its historical value. In the preparation of the book
the compiler has aimed to preserve the character of a local historian, and
has confined himself chiefly to the narration of local facts and incidents.
In harmony with this principle, an extended biography of Joel Barlow, at
first intended for this work, has been excluded. The sketch of the poet
so grew on the author's hands, that it was found it would make a volume
by itself, and contained so much of general interest and detail that it could
not be made to harmonize with the local character of this work. A con-
cise sketch of the poet's life, however, and the original portrait from Ful-
ton's oil-painting, that formed the frontispiece of the Columbiad, are in-
cluded in its pages.
The compiler has not aimed at making a large book ; many facts in few
words is what a busy age demands of the historian, and in deference to
this demand only such matter as was of real value and interest has been
admitted. The church histories and the genealogical notes are, perhaps,
the most important, if not the most interesting, portions of the work. It
would have added to the value of the ecclesiastical history, no doubt, if it
had been prepared by the pastors of the different churches represented;
but, with one exception, these had so recently assumed the care of their
IV PREFACE.
charges, that they did not feel at liberty to undertake it, and the task fell
to the lot of the compiler. If this department is not what it might have
been, the cause may be found in the disadvantages which a layman must
labor under in attempting to write ecclesiastical history. The Rev. Mr.
VVelton, rector of Christ Church, very kindly consented to prepare the
history of that church, and his paper will be read with interest by our
citizens.
In preparing the notes on the early families pf the town, it was the
writer's intention at first to make them much more complete and exten-
sive. But the little interest in the matter manifested by the families con-
cerned, and the great labor and expense involved in compiling any thing
like a complete history of the thirty or forty families mentioned, led him
to abridge the work, and to give the matter in the form of notes taken
chiefly from the town and parish records. The fact that the record of
some families is given more fully than that of others, is not owing to any
partiality on the author's part, but to the fact that these families interested
themselves enough in the matter to furnish the data called for.
By reference to the title-page it will be seen that the modern method
of spelling the name of the town — Redding — is adopted rather than the
ancient — Reading. Legally, no such town as Reading exists in Connecti-
cut, since, both in the act of incorporation and on the probate seal, the
name is spelled Redding; and inquiry elicits the fact that the majority of
the citizens prefer the latter method of spelling. It is the opinion of the
writer, however, that the original name of the town was Reading, and
that if historical precedents are to be followed it should be so named now.
In all old documents among the State archives, and in the ancient records
of Fairfield (where the name first occurs), the orthography is Reading.
In the town and society records it is spelled either Redding or Reding,
rarely Reading. Rev. Moses Hill, a gentleman well versed in the an-
tiquities of the town, informs me that at the time of its incorporation, in
1767, a meeting was held, at which it was voted that the name of the new
town should be Redding ; and the fact that in the original bill incorporat-
ing it the name Reading has been crossed out and that of Redding sub-
stituted, would seem to point to some such action on the part of the town.
I find no entry of any such action, however, in the town records.
The books consulted in the preparation of the volume have been Bar-
ber's " Historical Collections of Connecticut," Hollister's " History of
Connecticut," DeForest's " Indians of Connecticut," Teller's " History of
Ridgefield," the Congregational Year-Book, and Stevens' "History of
Methodism." The author's thanks are due Mr. Lemuel Sanford, our
efficient town clerk, for ready access to the town records, and for many
valuable hints and suggestions ; also to Messrs. Thomas Sanford, William
E. Duncomb, Daniel Sanford, David S. Bartram, James Sanford, and
PREFACE. V
David H. Miller, for efficient aid in the preparation of the work. He is
also indebted to Rev. Moses Hill, of Norwalk, for data of the Hill and
Barlow families ; and to Mr. A. B. Hull, of Danbury, for many papers and
documents relating to the history of the town.
C. B. T.
Redding, March i, 1880.
PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION.
Many things happen in the space of twenty-six years, even in a coun-
try town. During that period in Redding, Putnam Memorial Camp has
been established by the State. There have been brought to light stores of
Revolutionary data unknown in 1880, which the author was in a position
to avail himself of, and which it seemed a duty to make public. There
was also a store of genealogical information in the town and parish
records not printed in the earlier edition. Then the beauty and salubrity
of the old town has been discovered by residents of neighboring cities
who have come, and without doubt will continue to come in ever increas-
ing numbers, to make their summer homes in its borders, and to whom a
history of the town will be interesting..
These and other considerations have induced the author to issue this
second edition, which he trusts will meet with as hearty a welcome as
was accorded that of 1880.
C. B. T.
Redding, November i, 1906,
CONTENTS.
♦ « »
CHAP, PAGB
I. Preliminary Settlement i
II. Redding As a Parish 15
III. Town History 21
IV. Revolutionary History And Incidents 29
V. Putnam Camp Ground 45
VI. Gen. Parsons And William Heron 58
VII. Men of Redding in The Army of The Revolution 63
VIII. The Redding "Associations" And The Loyalists 75
IX. The Congregational Church 17 29-1906 83
X. Christ Church 93
XI. Methodist Episcopal Church 106
XII. The Baptist Church in Georgetown 117
XIII. The Methodist Protestant Church in Georgetown ( Now
The Congregational) 120
XIV. History of Schools 122
XV. Manufactures 125
XVI. The Gilbert-Bennett Manufacturing Company 128
XVII. Miscellaneous i^o
XVIII Redding in The Civil War i jg
XIX. Biographical 146
XX. The Summer Colony 181
XXI. The Literary Colony 183
XXII. The Redding Institute i3y
XXIII Parish Register of The Congregational Church 193
XXIV. The Early Families of Redding 222
Appendix i. Representatives in The Legislature 283
PHYSICAL HISTORY.
" Reading, 6o miles south-west of Hartford, about 5 miles long by
61-2 wide, with an area of 32 square miles. The Saugatuck River
crosses it through the middle, north and south ; and the Norwalk River is
in the west part. The forest trees are oak, nut trees, etc. Population in
1830, 1686." — United States Gazetteer, 1833.
" Like many of the New England villages, it is scattered, and beauti-
fully shaded with elms, maples, and sycamores." — Lossing, Field-Book of
the Revolution.
" The geological character of the town, as throughout Western Con-
necticut is metamorphic. Granite and porphyritic rocks, and especially
micaceous schists, predominate. The minerals are such as are familiar
in such rocks — hornblende, garnet, kyanite, tremolite, etc. In the western
part of the town are deposits of magnesian limestone (or dolomite), much
of which is quite pure, though some of it contains tremolite and other
impurities. The other mineral features of the town are not specially note-
worthy, or of general interest. The soil is probably, in the main, the re-
sult of the disintegration of the underlying rocks." — Notes of Rev. John
Dickinson.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
CHAPTER I.
Preliminary Settlement.
The history of the early settlement of Redding differs radically from
that of any of the neighboring towns. A new settlement was generally
formed by a company of men, who purchased of the Indians a tract of
I land in the wilderness, had it secured to them by a charter from the Gen-
eral Assembly, and also surveyed and regularly laid out, and then re-
moved to it with their wives and families. Danbury, Newtown and Ridge-
field were settled in this manner ; but Redding at the time of its first set-
tlement was a part of the town of Fairfield, and so continued for nearly
forty years — a fact which makes it much more difficult to collect the frag-
ments of its early history and to accurately define its original metes and
bounds. Fairfield formerly extended to the cross highway leading from
the Centre to Redding Ridge, and the entire southerly portion of Redding
was given by that town on the erection of the former into a parish in
1729. This portion of Redding was probably surveyed as early as 1640,
being included in the purchase made by the proprietors of Fairfield in
1639. Between Fairfield north bounds and the towns of Ridgefield, Dan-
bury and Newtown, was an oblong tract of unoccupied land, whose bounds
were about the same as those that now exist between Redding and the
towns above named ; this tract was variously called, in the early records,
the '' oblong," the " peculiar," and the " common lands." It was claimed
by a petty tribe of Indians, whose fortified village was on the high ridge
a short distance south-west of the present residence of Mr. John Read.
This tribe consisted of disaffected members of the Potatucks of New-
town, and the Paugussetts of Milford, with a few stragglers from the
Mohawks on the west.
Their chief was Chickens Warrups, or Sam Mohawk, as he was some-
times called. President Stiles says in his " Itinerary " that he was a
Mohawk sagamore, or under-chief, who fled from his tribe and settled
first at Greenfield Hill, but having killed an Indian there he was again
obliged to flee, and then settled in Redding. All the Indian deeds to the
early settlers were given by Chickens, and Naseco. who seems to have
been a sort of sub-chief. The chief, Chickens, figures quite prominently
in the early history of Redding ; he seems to have been a strange mixture
2 HISTORY OF REDDING.
of Indian shrewdness, rescality, and cunning-, and was in continual diffi-
culty with the settlers concerning the deeds which he gave them. In 1720
he was suspected by the colonists of an attempt to bring the Mohawks and
other western tribes down upon them, as is proved by the following
curious extract from the records of a meeting of the governor and council
held at New Haven, September 15th, 1720:
■' It having been represented to this board that an Indian living near
Danbury, called Chickens, has lately received two belts of wampumpeag
from certain remote Indians — as it is said, to the west of Hudson River
— with a message expressing their desire to come and live in this colony,
which said messenger is to be conducted by aforesaid Chickens to the In-
dians at Potatuck, and Wiantenuck, and Poquannuck, in order to obtain
their consent for their coming and inhabiting among them ; and that here-
upon our frontier towns are under considerable apprehensions of danger
from Indians, fearing that the belts have been sent on some bad design :
" It is Rcsohrd, That Captain John Sherman, of Woodbury, and
Major John Burr, of Fairfield, taking with them Thomas Minor, of
Woodbury, or such other interpreter as they shall judge meet, do repair
immediately to said Indians at Potatuck and Wiantenuck. and cause the
said Chickens, to whom the belts and messengers were sent, to attend
them, and to make the best inquiry they can into the truth of said story,
and what may be the danger of said message, and as they shall see cause,
take proper order that the said Indian with the belts, and the principal
or chief of the Potatuck and Wiantenuck Indians, attend the General
Court at its next session, to receive such orders as may be useful to direct
them in their behavior in relation thereunto; and that -Major Burr return
home by way of Danbury, that the inhabitants there and in those western
parts may be quieted as to their apprehensions of danger from the In-
dians, if upon inquiry they find there is no just ground for them."
The first deed or grant of land in the ''oblong'' within my knowledge
was given to Mr. Cyprian Nichols in 1687. This grant, in Secretary
Wylly's handwriting, reads as follows :
"At a General Court held at Hartford, October 13, 1687.
" This Court grants I\Ir. Cyprian Nichols two hundred acres of land
where he can find it, provided he take it up where it may not prejudice
any former grant to any particular person or plantation ; and the sur-
veyors of the next plantation are hereby appointed to lay out the same,
he paying for it.
Caleb Stanley."
Captain Nichols "took up" his grant in that part of the "oblong"
which is now Lonetown, as is shown by the following document :
HISTORY OF REDDING. 1
j March i, a. d. 17 ii.
j '■ Then laid out ye Grant of two hundred acres of land granted by ye
j General Court to Capt. Cyprian Nichols, Oct. 13, 1687, as follows, viz.,
beginning" at a great Chestnut tree marked on ye south and west side, and
J. R. set upon it, standing at ye south end of Woolf Ridge, a little below
Danbury bounds, thence running west one hundred rods to a Walnut
tree marked on two sides, then running south one mile to a red oak tree
marked, then running east one hundred rods to a black oak tree marked,
then running north one mile to the Chestnut tree first mentioned. An
heap of stones lying at ye root of each of ye trees. We say then thus
laid out by us,
Thomas Hoyt,
Daniel Taylor,
Surveyors of ye Town of Danbury.
" Entered in ye public books of Entrys
for Surveys of Land, folio 14, per
Hezekiah Wyllys, Secretary, March
21, 1711."
The next two grants in this tract of which we have any record were
made, the first. May 7th, 1700, to Mr. Daniel Hilton, and the second
October loth, 1706, to Mr. Richard Hubbell. They were laid out nearly
at the same time, and side by side, with the preceding grant, as follows :
"March 3rd, a. d. 1711.
" Then laid out ye Grant of two hundred acres of land made by ye
General Court to Mr. Daniel Hilton, May 7, 1700, and ye Grant of one
hundred acres, granted October loth, 1706, by ye General Court to Mr.
Richard Hubbell, all in one piece as followeth, viz., Beginning at a Wal-
nut tree marked, and J. R. upon it, standing a little way North East from
ye Hog Ridge, between Danbury and Fairfield, thence running two hun-
dred and eighty rods northerly to a Red Oak tree marked, on ye West
side of Stadly Ridge, thence running easterly one hundred and eighty-
four rods to the Little River at two Elm Staddles and a Red Oak, mark-
ed, thence running Southerly, west of ye river, and bounded upon it, two
hundred and eighty rods to a bitter Walnut tree, marked, thence running
one hundred and sixty rods westerly to the Walnut tree first mentioned,
thus and then laid out by us,
Thomas Hoyt,
Daniel Taylor,
Surveyors of the Tozvn of Danbury."
These grants were purchased, probably before they were laid out, by
Mr. John Read, one of the earliest actual settlers of Redding. Mr. Read
was a gentleman of education, and later became an eminent lawyer in
A HISTORY OF REDDING.
Boston. He was withal something of a wag, as is proven by an Indian
deed given him about this time, which he drew up, and which was — what
rarely happens — a humorous as well as a legal production.* It reads as
follows :
" Know all men by these crooked Scrawls & Seals, yt. we Chickens,
alias Sam Mohawk, & Naseco, do solemnly declare yt. we are owners of
yt. tract of land called Lonetown, fenced round between Danbury and
Fairfield, and Jno. Read, Govr. & Commander in Chief there of, & of the
Dominions yr-upon depending, desiring to please us, having plied the
foot, and given us three pounds in money, & promised us an house next
autumn. In consideration yr'of, we do hereby give and grant to him
and his heirs the farm above mentioned, corn appertaining, & further of
our free will — motion & soverain pleasure make ye land a manour, In-
dowing ye land with ye privileges yr of, and create the sd. John Read,
Lord Justice and Soverain Pontiff of the same to him and his heirs for-
ever: Witness our crooked marks and borrowed Seals, this seventh day
of May, Anno Regni, Anno Dei, Gratia Magna Brittannia, and Regina
Decimo Tertio, Anno Dom'r, 1714.
Chickens, alias „
Sam Mohawk, ,
mark.
his
Naseco X
mark.
Sealed and delivered in presence of
his
WiNHAM, X
mark.
his
LlACUS, ?
crook.
Nathan Gold.
her
Martha Harney, X
mark.
"The above mentioned Chickens & Naseco — personally appeared &
acknowledged ye above Instrument yr free act and chearful deed in Fair-
field, ye 7th of May, 1714,
before me,
N. Gold,
Dcpt. Govr."
* For this paper and several others that follow, I am indebted to Mr. George
Read, of Redding, a lineal descendant of Colonel Read.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 5
About 1723 Captain Samuel Couch of Fairfield appears as a large
indholder in Redding, and his operations there seem to have caused the
sttlers no little uneasiness. The General Court of 1712 had ordered
lat all the lands lying between Danbury and Fairfield, not taken up by
Ctual settlers, should be sold in Fairfield at public vendue. The land,
ovvever, was not sold until the August of 1722, when it was bid off by
Captain Couch for himself and Nathan Gold, Esq. No notice of the
endue was given to the settlers at Redding, and when news of the sale
ached them they became very much excited and indignant, and Mr.
lead at once drew up the following protest and petition, which was signed
y the farmers and presented to the next General Court at New Haven.
jt is noteworthy from the fact that the Quaker system of dates is used.
"At a General Court held at New Haven, 8th, loth, 1723.
To the Honor'ble the General Court:
" John Read in behalf of himself and the rest of the farmers or pro-
irietors of farms between Danbury and Fairfield, humbly sheweth,
" That the Hon'ble Nathan Gold, Esq., late deceased, and Peter Burr,
Lsq., as Agents for ye Colony, held a Vandue lately at Fairfield about
'e time of ye Superior Courts sitting yr in August last, and sold to Capt.
samuel Couch, who bid for himself and for s'd Nathan Gold, Esq., all ye
and between Fairfield and Danbury not before disposed of for the sum
)f . Yr humble pet'rs conceive the same ought not to be
•atified : because ye same was done so unexpectedly, and without sufiicient
lotice, none of us most nearly concerned knew any thing of it : if ye order
)f ye General Court had been freshly passed, ye less notice was need full,
Dut lying ten or twelve years, sufficient notice was not given, and well
bonsidered it cant be good. The inconveniences are intolerable ; the place
IS now growing to be a village apace. Ye lands purchased are but ye
i over and over for farms.
" The remaining Scraps will be a very lean and scanty allowance for
1 comon, and (are) absolutely necessary to accommodate the place with
iliways, and some strips left on purpose for ye use and ye surveying of
the farms — Several farms interfere through mistakes and such interfers
must be supplied elsewhere ; now in such circumstances it was never the
aard fate of any poor place to have ye shady Rock at their door, and ye
[)ath out of town or about town sold away from them by ye General Court,
therefore, humbly praying ye Hon'ble Court to grant ye same to ye
proprietors of farms there in proportion for a common and hiways, or if
phe same seem too much, since some persons have bid a sum for our
hiways we pray to buy them at first hands, and will pay this Hon'ble
Court for the same as much as ye Court shall sett upon, and remain your
lienor's most obedient servants.
" Jno. Read."
6 HISTORY OF REDDING.
When tlie matter came before the Court, Mr. Read produced several
witnesses to show that the vendue was conducted in an unseemly and
illegal manner; among them Mr. Jonathan Sturges, who deposed as fol-
lows :
" Some of the Company began to bid for s'd land, and some of the
Compaiiy tlesired that Mr. Stone who was there present, would pull out
his watcii and that the time for bidding should be but ten minutes, and the
watch was laid down on the table ; for a little time the people bid but slow-
ly ; but when they perceived the ten minutes to be near out, they began to
bid very briskly, and when it come to the last minute, the people bid
more quickly, and at the last they bid so quick after one another that it
was hard to distinguish whose bid it was ; at the very minute the tenth
minute ended ; but I, standing near the watch, spoke and said, 'the time is
out, and it's Capt. Couch's bid,' but I am certain Thomas Hill bid twenty
shillings more.' "
Air. Read did not succeed in his attempt to have the sale set aside,
and the lands were adjudged to the purchasers. Captain Couch seems
to have disposed of an interest in a part of his purchase to Thomas Nash,
of Fairfield, and in 1723. the two received a joint patent for the same;
this patent is a curious and valuable document and is given entire :
" Whereas, the Governor and Company of the English Colony of
Connecticut, in General Court assembled at Hartford, the 8th day of May,
Anno Domini 1712, did order and enact that all those lands (lying with-
in the said Colony) between Danbury on the north, and the towns of
Fairfield and Norwalk on the south, should be sold at Public Vendue,
and by said act did fully authorize and empower the llon'ble Nathan
Gold and Peter Burr, Esq., both of the town of Fairfield aforesaid, to
make sale and dispose of the s'd same lands accordingly, and whereas the
s'd Nathan Gold and Peter Burr in pursuance and by force and virtue
of the aforesaid act, did by their deed in writing, executed in due form
bearing date this first day of May, Anno Domini, 1723, for a valuable
sum of money paid by Samuel Couch and Tliomas Nash, both of the town
afores'd, Grant, sell, and convey unto them the s'd Samuel Couch and
Thomas Nash, one hundred acres of s'd land bounded and butted as fol-
lows, that is to say, lying within six rods of the north bounds line of the
townships afores'd, and on both sides of the road that leads from Nor-
walk to Danbury, and lying the whole length of the one hundred acres
formerly laid out to s'd Thomas Nash and bounded westerly by the s'd
Thomas Nash, and from the north east corner of s'd Nash, his bound be-
ing a black oak stump, that stands on the land, and a small box wood tree,
marked in course, running northerly, sixty-eight degrees, eastwardly
thirty two rods to a white oak staddle, thence South forty three degrees
HISTORY OF KI:DDING. 7
and thirty minutes, eastwardly fifty rods to a rock, and stone on the same,
that stands on the eastward side of a brook that runs by the southerly end
! of Umpawaug Hill, between the s'd brook and Danbury road, and from
s'd Rock to run North sixty eight degrees, Eastwardly eighty six rods to
a mass of stones, then South twenty-two degrees, Eastwardly, one hun-
dred and thirteen rods to a white oak sappling. marked, standing on the
1 aforementioned North bounds line of Fairfield, then by s'd line one hun-
dred and forty rods up to the South East corner of s'd Nash, his one
hundred acres, Danbury road being allowed in above measure of six rods
wide, and the hiway by the Township's line of six rods wide, and whereas
the s'd Samuel Couch, and Thomas Nash, have humbly desired that they
may have a particular grant of s'd Governor and Company made (by
Patent) imto them, their heirs and assigns for the same land bounded,
butted and described, under the seal of the s'd Colony, know ye therefore,
that the Go^'ernor and Company of the s'd Colony, in pursuance, and by
virtue of the powers granted unto them by our late Sovereign Lord, King
Charles the Second of blessed memoiy, in, and by his Alajestie's letters
patent under the great seal of England bearing date the three and twen-
tieth day of April, in the fourteenth year of his s'd Majestie's Reign, have
given and granted, and by these presents, for them their heirs and suc-
cessors do give, grant, ratifie, and confirm unto them the s'd Samuel
Couch and Thomas Nash, their heirs and assigns forever, all the s'd
piece or parcell of land containing one hundred acres be the same more
or less, butted and bounded as afores'd, and all and singular, the woods,
timber, under woods, lands, waters, brooks, ponds, fishings, fowlings,
mines, minerals and precious stones, upon or within the s'd piece or
parcell of land, or every or any part thereof. To have and to hold the
as afores'd, and all and singular, the rights, members, hereditaments and
appurtenances of the same, and the reversion or reversions, remainder or
remainders, — profits, privileges whatsoever, of and in the s'd piece or
parcell of land or ever)'- or any part thereof. To have and to hold the
s'd one hundred acres of land hereby granted with all and singular, its
appurtenances unto them the s'd Samuel Couch and Thomas Nash, their
heirs and assigns to and for their own proper use, benefit, and behoof
from the day of the date hereof, and from time to time, and at all times
forever here after, as a good, sure, lawful, absolute, indefeasible estate of
Inheritance in Fee simple, without any condition, limitation, use, or other
thing to alter, change, or make void the same. To be holden of our
Sovereign Lord, King George, his heirs and successors, as of his Majes-
tie's Manor of East Greenwich, in the county of Kent, in the Kingdom
of England, in free and common soccage and not in cappitee, nor by
Knight service ; they yielding and paying therefor to our Sovereign Lord
the King, his heirs and successors forever, only the fifth part of all the
8 HISTORY OF REDDING.
oar of Gold and Silver, which from time to time, and at all times here-
after shall be gotten, had or otherwise obtained ; in lieu of all rents, ser-
vices, duties and demands whatsoever according to charter. In witness
whereof, we the s'd Governor and Company have caused the Seal of the
s'd Colony to be hereunto affixed, the fourteenth day of May, Anno
George, Magna Brittannia;, &c., Annoque Domini, 1723.
G. Saltonstall,
Governor.
" By order of ,the Governor,
Hezekiah Wyllys,
Secretary."
Subsequently Captain Couch purchased of the Indians a tract of land
lying in Lonetown, contiguous to the estate of Mr. John Read, and which
a few years later he sold to that gentleman. The deed was given by
Chickens, and some of its provisions caused considerable trouble to the
colonists in later years. This deed is as follows :
" Know all men whom it may concern that I Chicken an Indian Sag-
gamore living between Fairfield, Danbury, Ridgefield and Newtown, at
a place called Lonetown in the county of Fairfield in the Colony of Con-
necticut, in New England, for and in consideration of twelve pounds,
six shillings, already paid unto me by Samuel Couch of Fairfield, hus-
bandman, have given, granted, bargained, sold, confirmed, and firmly
made over unto said Samuel Couch, his heirs and assigns forever, all the
lands, lying, being and situate between the aforesaid towns of Danbury,
Fairfield, Newtown, and Ridgefield, except what has been by letters
patent from the Governor and Company of this Colony of Connecticut
made over unto any person or persons or for any particular or public use.
To have and to hold unto the said Samuel Couch, and to his heirs and
assigns forever the aforesaid granted and described lands or unpatented
premises, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging,
or any manner of way appertaining, affirming myself to be the true owner,
and sole proprietor of said land and have just, firm, and only rfghl; to
dispose of the same. Reserving in the ivhole of the same, liberty for
myself and my heirs to hunt, fish and fowl upon the land and in the
waters, and further reserving for myself, my children, and grand children
and their posterity the use of so much land by my present dzvelling house
or zvigzvam as the General Assembly of the Colony by themselves or a
Committee indifferently appointed shall judge necessary for my or their
personal improvement, that is to say my Children, children's children and
posterity, furthermore. I the said Chickens do covenant, promise, and
agree, to and with the said Samuel Couch, that I the said Chickens, my
heirs, executors, and administrators, the said described lands and bar-
HISTORY OF REDDING. 9
gained premises, unto the said Samuel Couch his heirs etc. against the
claims and demands of all manner of persons whatever, to warrant and
forever by these presents defend. In confirmation of the above premises
I the said Chickens set to my hand and seal this i8th day of February
Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and twenty four five Annoque
Regis, etc."
his
Chickens^ X Saggamore.
mark
But the proprietors of Redding could not long rest satisfied with the
sale that had placed in the hands of two men nearly all the unoccupied
lands lying in the "peculiar," and in 1725 made a second and, so far as
appears, unsuccessful attempt to reverse the former decision of the Court.
This attempt took the shape of a petition, and was as follows :
" To the Honorable the General Court to be holden at Hartford on the
Second Thursday of May, 1725.
THE EARNEST PRAYER
Of the inhabitants, and of those that have farms in a certain tract of land
lying between Fairfield and Danbury, Newtown and Richfield, with
whom the Proprietory of a certain division of Land in Fairfield im-
portunately joins —
" Whereas the Honorable General Assembly of this Colony hath in
several of their Sessions, been pleased out of their great goodness &
generosity to give unto some of your humble Petitioners & to others
of them to sell certain Parcells of Land between the aforesaid towns &
many of your Petitioners that they might get a comfortable maintenance
& thereby be better able to serve their country have removed from their
former habitations with great families of Children unto sd Land where
we by ye blessing of God on our Industry have (passed) through (the)
many difficulties that generally attend such new & Wooden Habitations
and have now yet to go through, which are by us insuperable — but re-
flecting upon your Honor's accustomed Goodness, ready protection, and
willing encouragement towards all such that have been under ye like
circumstances as we now are, makes us far from despairing of Living
like rational Creatures and Christians in a very few years, and under our
present Circumstances we have often the neighboring Ministers preach-
ing ye word of God to us, and when your Honors shall be pleased to
grant this our earnest & necessary request our number of Inhabitants
will immediately be greatly renewed & we soon able to obtain a Minister
& give him an honorable support — and that is to grant the vacant land
that lies in slips and pieces between ye Land already given and sold to
lO HISTORY OF REDDING.
your Petitioners to lye for a perpetual Comon for ye good of ye Parish :
otherwise your poor Petitioners hving at a great distance from any
place where the public worship of God is attended, must be obliged and
their Posterity after them to be soon as the Hathen are — without the
outward and ordinary means of Salvation, the Thought of which makes
us now most importunately address your Honors with this our Request
making no doubt but yt ye desire your Honors have & the great care
you have always taken to promote & encourage Religion — will also now
be moved to grant your poor Petitioners their Request, it being no more
than your Honors have often done even unto every new Plantation, many
of which are not nor never will be comparable unto this. Your Honors,
granting us this our Request, and it will be as we humbly conceive the
most profitable way for ye good of this Colony to dispose of ye land
for a perpetual comon, for ye good of a Parish than any other way what-
soever: for a flourishing and large Parish such as we are assured this
will make will soon pay more into ye Public Treasury than the whole of
the Land would do if it were now to be sold : and not only so, but your
poor Petitioners & their Posterity preserved from Heathenism & Infidel-
ity: for if your Honors should not grant the Land for a common for the
good of a Parish your poor Petitioners — the most of us at least, must be
shut within the compass of our own land, & cant possibly get ofif unless
we trespass, or gain the shift yt the birds of the air have, neither to
market nor meeting & we & our Posterity forever unable to have a set-
tled Minister & your Honors may easily conceive how greatlv disad-
vantageous to our Temporal Interest, which is so great an act of cruelty
and hardship that never yet was experienced from your Honors & your
Petitioners humbly beg they may not: but yt they may be sharers with
their neighbors in your Honor's thoughtful care and regard for them —
"And if your Honors in their Prudence and Wisdom shall think it
best to sell the aforesaid Land your Petitioners humbly beg they may
have the first offer of it, who are always ready to give as much as any
shall or will let it lye for a perpetual Common, & your humble Petition-
ers beg- and most earnestly desire the Land may not be sold from their
doors or confirmed to any yt pretend they have bought it : for whatever
pretended sale there has been made thereof already we humbly conceive
that it was not with the proper Power & Legality that it ought to be
confirmed: and as for its being purchased of the Indian (who both Eng-
lish and Indian acknowledge has a good Indian title to it viz. Chicken),
is by what we can learn by the Indian himself & ye circumstances of, a
sligh peice of policy & we fear Deceit, ye latter of which the Indian con-
stantly affirms it to be, for his design as he saith, and being well ac-
quainted with him, living many of us near him have great reason to be-
lieve him, was to sell but a small Quantity, about two or three hundred
HISTORY OF REDDING. I I
acres, but in ye deed ye whole of the land is comprehended, which when
the Indian heard of it he was greatly enraged, and your Petitioners
humbly beg yt such a sale may not be confirmed, lest it prove greatly
disadvantageous to this Colony & Cause much bloodshed, as instances of
ye like nature have in all Probability in our neighboring Provinces —
" Your Petitioners most earnestly &: heartily beg that your Honors
would think on them & grant them their request, & your Petitioners as
in duty bound shall ever pray —
John Read, Will'm Hill,
Thomas Williams, Dan'll Crofoot,
Stephen Morehouse, Ebenezer Hull,
Benjamin Hambleton, Asa Hall,
Benjamin Franklin, Joseph Meeker,
Moses Knapp, Dan'l Lyon,
Nathan Lyon, Thomas Hill,
Benajah Hall, George Hull.
"And we, ye Proprietors of a certain Division of Land in Fairfield
called ye Longlots most heartily join with your Honor's above Petition-
ers in their needful request to you, & as we your humble petitioners be-
ing well acquainted with the circumstances of them — ^they being our
Children Friends & Neighbors & concerned greatly for their welfare do
earnestly beg that your Honors would consider how melancholy a thing
it is, that these poor people should live destitute of the means of grace
for want only of your small encouragement which to give them would
not only be most certainly very pleasing to Almighty God but would
likewise enrich this Colony if a large & Rich Parish will any ways con-
tribute thereto, & as your Petitioners Land runs to & adjoyns to ye afore-
said Vacant Land, We for the good of a Parish, thereby to advantage
your above poor Petitioners are willing & very ready to give in Two
miles of our land adjoining to the afores'd Vacant Land to be within the
Parish ; & we are assured if your Honors would grant the afores'd Land
to be for a Comon there soon would be a Flourishing Parish ; & being
so well acquainted with the Circumstances of the above Petitioners that
we cant but earnestly & Pathetically entreat your Honors to grant their
Request.
" & your Petitioners as in Duty bound shall ever Pray" :
Moses Dimon, Joseph Wilson,
John Hide, John Wheeler,
Theo. Hill, John Sturges,
Cornelius Hull, Joseph Wheeler,
Elizabeth Burr, Thomas Sanford,
Jona Sturgis, John Morehouse,
12
HISTORY OF REDDING.
John Smith,
Thad's Burr,
Andrew Burr,
Samuel Wakeman,
Samuel Squires,
EZEKIEL SaNFORD,
Robert Turkey, Jr.,
Joseph Rowland,
William Hill,
Nathan Gold,
John Gold,
Robert Silliman,
Daniel Morehouse.
The settlement of Georgetown seems to have been begun at about
the same time as the other portions of the town, though the present vil-
lage has had but a short existence.
The first settlers in that section seem to have been Benjamin and
Isaac Rumsey, one of whom lived in a house that stood in the old orchard
east of the late Aaron Osborne's, and the other near the site of the home-
stead formerly owned by Mr. S. M. Main. As early as 1721, Robert
Rumsey, of Fairfield, bought of John Applegate a large tract of land
located in vvhat is now the village of Georgetown. In 1724 he willed
this land to his three sons, Benjamin, Isaac, and Robert. Benjamin and
Isaac were actual settlers on this tract, and the former's estate was in-
ventoried and distributed in 1744.
The earliest settlers located their houses on the three fertile ridges
that now form the most striking as well as beautiful features of our
landscape. The valleys were avoided, as being literally in the shadow of
death from the miasms which they engendered ; the hills, according to
the early writers, were open, dry, and fertile, and, being comparatively
healthful, were in almost all cases selected as sites for the infant settle-
ments. At that day they were covered, like the valleys, with continuous
forests of oak, chestnut, hickory, and other native woods, from which
every autumn the Indians removed the underbrush by burning, so that
they assumed the appearance of natural parks : Indian paths wound
through the forest, often selected with so much engineering skill as to be
followed later by the highways of the settlers. There were "long-drawn
aisles and fretted vaults" in these verdant temples, nooks of outlook, and
open, sunny glades, which were covered with tufts of long coarse grass ;
groves of chestnut and hickory afforded shelter to whole colonies of
squirrels — black, gray, and red. Other game was abundant. Deer,
wild turkeys, water fowl, quail, partridges, an occasional bear, and, in
the autumn, immense flocks of wild pigeons darkened the air with their
numbers. Panthers were seen rarely; wolves were abundant, and the
otter and beaver fished and builded in the rivers. Both tradition and
the written accounts agree in ascribing to the rivers an abundance of
fish; Little River is especially mentioned as being the favorite home of
the trout, and tradition asserts that scarcely four generations ago they
HISTORY OF REDDING.
15
were so abundant in that stream that the Indian boys would scoop them
up in the shallows with their hands.
According to tradition, the three first houses in the town were built
nearly at the same time. One was in Boston district, where the late Noah
Lee's house now stands, the second in the centre, on the site of John Nick-
erson's present residence, and the third in Lonetown, built by Mr. John
Read, and which occupied the site of Mr. Henry Dimon's present
residence. It is related of the lady of the house in the Boston district,
that, becoming frightened one day at the conduct of a party of Indians
who entered her house bearing an animal unmentionable to ears polite,
which they ordered her to cook, she seized her babe, and fled with it two
miles through the forest path to her nearest neighbor at the Centre, ar-
riving there safely, though breathless and exhausted. It is fair to as-
sume, however, that erelong neighbors were nearer. Settlers began to
flock in from Stratford, Fairfield, and Norwalk; several families moved
here from Ridgefield and Danbury, and the settlement began to assume
quite the appearance of a populous community. It is not, however, until
1723 that we get any authentic record of the names of the inhabitants
or of their entire number. In that year a petition was presented to the
General Court praying that the settlement might be constituted a parish ;
and which bears the signatures of twenty-five of the planters or settlers
of Redding. This invaluable paper has been preserved in the State
Archives at Hartford, and is as follows :
" May 9th, 1723. At a General Court in Hartford.
" To the Hon hie the Govnr, Assistants and Deputies in Gen' II Court
Assembled.
" To this Hon'ble Court yr hon'rs most humble pet'rs hereunto sub-
scribing, settlers and well wishers to the settlement of a plantation be-
tween Fairfield and Danbury, Humbly Shew, That there is a Tract of
land lying between Fairfield and Danbury, Ridgefield and Newtown and
without all ye claims of the largest pretenders of those towns, contain-
ing about two miles wide, north and south, and six miles long, East and
West, mostly laid out in particular farms, so that when the farms that
casually interfere on others are made up, there will not be one hundred
acres of any value left in the whole.
" On these farms are one half dozen housen set up, and many more
going to be set up, and therefore we humlbly conceive it is of great neces-
sity for ye use of them, that are come and coming, and for ye incourage-
ment of others to come, to take some prudent care for the establishment
of Divine service in that place. That forasmuch as the distance from
this land to Fairfield church measures about fourteen miles or better,
that is the part on which will certainly be most of the inlargement made,
^4
HISTORY OF REDDING.
and on that side the bounds of those lands uncertain; for the grant of 12
miles from the sea given to Fairfield, as far as we can learn has never
yet been measured, as it ought long since to have been done. Your
hon'rs pet'rs therefore humbly pray that a com'tee liiay be appointed to
measure out the twelve miles granted to Fairfield from the and put
the vacant land, if any shall then appear into the hands of a Com'tee of
ye Court to be dealt out to such as will settle on and improve the same,
at such price as will bear ye charge of ye Com'tee therein, first laying-
out a farm of 200 acres for ye ministry, 200 for a school, and as much
for the first minister that shall settle there, and annex the whole to the
town of Fairfield. Settling the bounds of the parish to comprehend so
much of the west end of ye long lots of Fairfield as may make it near
square at ye discretion of ye Com'tee upon ye view of it when ye pro-
prietors of the long lots shall settle their end they may pay their dues
there (if they will not be so good as to fling up the west end to a public
use, which vi'ould doubtless be their private advantage also.)
" Yr hon'rs most humble pet'rs,
Nathan Picket, Thomas Williams,
Gershom jMorehouse, Asa Hall,
John Hall, Joshua Hull,
Francis Hall, David Crofut,
Robert Chauncey, Jno. Read,
Wolcott Chauncey, Isaiah Hull,
Daniel * Moses Knapp,
William Hill, Jr., Benjamin Sturges,
Phillip Judd, Sam'l Hall,
Nathan Adams, John Read, 2d,
Stephen Morehouse, Burgess Hall,
Benjamin Fayerweather, Isaac Hall.
Thomas Bailey,
Fairfield, as was to be expected, opposed the petition, and her potent
influence defeated the measure, and although it was agitated year by year
it was not until 1729 that the petitioners eflfected their object, and the
little settlement blossomed into the dignity of a parish.
The action of the General Court constituting it a Parish is thus
recorded in the Colonial Records, vol. vii, pp. 231-2:
" Upon the memorial of John Read, in behalf of himself and the rest
of the inhabitants of Lonetown, Chestnutt Ridge, and the peculiar be-
tween Fairfield and Danbury, shewing to this Assembly, the great diffi-
culty they labor under in attending on the publick worship of God, and
* Illegible.
HISTORY OF REDDING. I 5
the forwardness of the town of Fairfield to encourage them to set up the
publick worship of God among themselves, by conceding that two miles
of the rear end of their long lots be added to them, in order to the mak-
ing them a parish, and praying this Assembly that they may be allowed
10 be a society for the worship of God, with the privileges usually grant-
ed to such societies or parishes, and that said society or parish may com-
prize those lands that lie encirculed betwixt the townships of Fairfield,
Danbury, Newtown and Ridgefield, together with the aforesaid two
miles of Fairfield long lots; and that they may have remitted to them
their country rate during the pleasure of this Assembly ; and that all
the lands aforesaid may be taxed by the order of said Assembly, and that
said parish may be annexed to Fairfield, and that it be named Redding.
This Assembly grants that the said Lonetown, Chestnutt Ridge and the
peculiar tiiereof, be a society or parish by themselves, and to have all the
privileges usually granted to societies or parishes, and that said society
or parish shall comprize all those lands that lie encirculed betwixt the
townships of Fairfield, Danbury, Newtown, and Ridgefield, together with
two miles of the rear end of Fairfield long lots. Furthermore this As-
sembly doth remit to them their country rate for four years, excluding
those only who decline to joyn with them for what is prayed for, of being
released of country tax ; and that all the laid out, unimproved lands
within the limits of said parish be taxed at six shillings a hundred acres
per year for four years, and that the money raised thereby be improved
for the defraying the ministerial charges among them in that place ; and
that said parish be named Redding."
CHAPTER 11.
Redding as a Parish.
The parish history of Redding covers a space of thirty-eight years,
and for this period the only materials we have for our history — except a
few entries in the records of the colony — are found in the record book
of the First Church and Society. These records seem to have been kept
with the most pitiless brevity; only the barest details were set down,
and if one desires more than the dry facts of this era, he must draw on
his imagination for material. During this period events happened of the
greatest mom'ent to the colony. Three of the terrible French and Indian
wars occurred, to which Redding contributed her full share of men and
money, although Fairfield received the credit. Then there were con-
stant alarms of Indians on the border — there were hunting and explor-
1 5 HISTORY OF REDDING.
ing parties into the wilderness, under the guidance of the friendly In-
dians, and the usual incidents of pioneer life ; all of whic'h would have
been vastly entertaining to the men of to-day, and which a hundred years
ago might have been taken down from the lips of the actors themselves,
but which has passed away with them forever. Things spoken vanish,
while things written remain, and the unfriendliness to the pen, of the
early settlers, has entailed a sad loss upon their descendants. It is evi-
dent, however, that this was the busiest period in the history of the town.
The men were abroad in the clearings from morn till night, felling the
trees, burning, ploughing, sowing, and reaping, or building churches,
school-houses, mills, highways, and bridges. The women remained in
the rude cottages, preparing the simple food, carding and spinning wool,
weaving it into cloth, fashioning the homely garments of linsey-woolsey
and home-spun, and rearing their large families of rosy, healthful chil-
dren. This is the picture in the barest outline; the imagination of the
leader will fill it out at pleasure; but, as before said, for our details —
acknowledged facts — we must turn to the quaint and musty records of
the Society.
The first Society meeting was held June 5th, 1729, — less than a month
after the parish was organized. A fuller account of this meeting will
be found in the history of the First Church and Society. The three first
committee-men of the parish, elected at this meeting, were John Read,
George Hull, and Lemuel Sanford. At this time, too, the "places for
setting up warnings for Society meetings" were determined on as fol-
lows : " In the lane by Ebenezer Hull, and a Chestnut tree by Mr. John
Reads, and a post set up by Moses Knaps." These were the first sign-
posts in the town. Ebenezer Hull's house I am unable to locate. Mr.
John Read's house has already been located. Mr. Knap lived probably
where James Delany now lives.
The next February a parish rate or tax of 2d. 2 far. on the pound was
laid, and John Hull was appointed the first tax-collector ; he received for
gathering the rate fourteen shillings. The next year, February 23d,
1 730- 1 » the rate had risen to gd. on the pound, and John Read appears as
collector. The next year, 1732, the first "pound" was built by Mr. John
Read, near his house, and at a Society meeting held January 25th, 1732,
he was appointed "key-keeper." May 8th, 1732, they petitioned the
General Court to have their north-west corner bounds settled, Captain
Couch bearing the charges. The same meeting they voted "that there
shall be but one sign -post in this society," and voted that this sign-post
should be by the meeting-house, which had been built the preceding year
on the common. Mr. Hun, the first minister, was settled early in 1733,
and the rates that year rose to the high figure of one shilling on the
pound. A very important entry appears on the records of a meeting
HISTORY OF REDDING. I 7
leld October 17th, 1734, wherein Stephen Burr and Thomas Williams
vere appointed a committee to the County Court to desire the court to
hoose a committee to lay out the county road from Chestnut Ridge to
''airfield town. This road was probably the first ever laid out through
he town, and passed thiough Lonetown, the Centre, and Sanford town,
.nd thence nearly direct to Fairfield.
December loth, 1735. — Stephen Burr was appointed a committee to
JO to the County Court, and desire them to send a committee to lay out
lecessary highways in that part of the parish above the long lots.
January 26th, 1737. — "Joseph Sanford and Samuel Sanford weie ap-
)ointed a committee to take charge of the parsonage money belonging to
aid parish, giving a receipt to said parish, and to let the same at their
liscretion, and to the best advantage, taking double security in land, and
lot to let less than fifty pounds to one man, and for no longer time than
ive years, and said committee shall be accountable to the parish commit-
ee for the interest of said money, and also at the period of abovesaid
erm of five years, for the principal."
December 26th, 1737. — It was "voted to have a parish schole, voted
o maintain s'd schole by a parish rate voted that John Read, Joseph
Lees. Joseph Sanford, John Hull, Matthew Lion, Stephen Morehouse,
md Daniel Lion, shall be a com'tee for s'd schole, also that s'd schole
•)hall be divided into three parts, that is to say, five months in that quar-
er called the Ridge, and five months in the west side of the parish near
he mill, and two months at Lonetown, understanding that the centre of
division is the meeting hous, and likewise that Stephen Burr belongs to
he west side." Thus was established the first school. Subsequent ac-
tion of the parish in this direction will be found in the chapter on Schools.
At the above meeting, John Read, Esq., was chosen to represent the
iociety, "to pray for to be relest from paying country rates." The action
5f the General Court on this petition is given in Colonial Records, vol.
>iii, p. 176, as follows: "Upon the memorial of the Presbyterian so-
iety in the parish of Reading in Fairfield County setting forth to this
\ssembly their low circumstances, and praying a remission of their
:ountr\' tax : this Assembly do grant unto the said society their country
ax for the space of four years next coming."
It wnll be remembered that the bill organizing the parish in 1729 ex-
empted it from country rates for four years. In 1733 the Assembly
ranted them a further release of four years, and also imposed a "tax
)f three shillings per one hundred acres, on all unimproved lands laid
Kit in said society for the space of four years, to be exclusive of those
ands belonging to persons of the episcopal persuasion (who) by our
aw are discharged from paying taxes foV the suppoit of the ministry
illowed bv the laws of this Colonv.''
ig HISTORY OF REDDING.
When the next quadrenniuni began in 1741, the parish seems to have
been on a better financial footing, and no further taxes were remitted.
Apropos to the above, it may be remarked that in 1737 the parish rates
had risen to is. id. on the pound. Continuing our extracts from the
parish records, we find at a meeting held August 22d, 1738, that "it was
voted to try for town privileges in s'd Society," and Stephen Burr was
chosen agent "to see if the town (/. c. Fairfield) will consent that s'd
Society shall have town privileges."
This entry gives a hint of the rapid growth of the settlement, and of
the energy and enterprise of its inhabitants. There were many reasons
why they desired a separation: Fairfield was fourteen miles distant,
and the interests of the two were distinct; then they must go to Fairfield
to vote, to pay taxes, and to record deeds and conveyances. They could
not even have their necessary highways laid out without the consent of
that town ; hence we find them making early and persistent efforts for
town privileges, so effectually opposed, however, by the mother town,
that it was not until twenty-nine years after that the town was organized.
In this year, 1739, the place for putting" up warnings for the society's
meetings was changed from Umpawaug to the mill-door. In the vote
establishing a school in 1737. reference is made to the mill, and it is evi-
dent that it was erected at a very early date. The miller and the black-
smith were very necessary artisans in a new settlement, and grants of
land were in many cases made to induce them to settle ; if such was the
fact in Redding, no record of it remains. According to tradition, the
first miller was Jabez Burr, and the first mill stood on the Saugatuck,
near the present dwelling of Ezekiel Burr, a short distance above where
the Nobbs Crook road crosses the stream.
October ist, 1740, it was voted to try and get liberty to have the north
of Redding set oft" for a town, and in December "to have a pound erected
on the highway southwest of Ebenezer Ferry's barn provided he will
build it on his own charge," also voted tliat "Ebenezer Ferry be key
keeper of the pound and have the profits of it." This was the second
pound erected in the parish, the first being at ^Ir. John Read's. In
1 741 they again voted to ask the consent of the town, that "we may have
town privileges."
No further entries of importance appear until 1746, when Joseph
Sanford was appointed agent for the parish to "petition the Superior
Court now sitting in Fairfield to appoint a committee to lay out highways
through the lands granted to Capt. Couch and Company in s'd parish"
(these lands were in Umpawaug). In 1747 a list of the parish officers
is given. They were as follows: Lemuel Sanford. selectman; Adam
Clark, constable; Daniel Meeker, David Knapp, grand-jurymen; Thomas
Taylor, James Gray, James Morgan. Joseph Hawley, Joseph Bradley,
HISTORY OF REDDING.
19
Jabez Burr, surveyors of highway ; Ebeuezer Couch, Thomas Taylor,
listers; William Burritt, John Mallory, tithing men; Lieutenant Stephen
Burr, Joseph Hawley. fence viewers ; Allen Lee, key-keeper for the
pound.
January 23d, 1749, it was voted that ''Ephraim Jackson shall procure
a copy of the doings of the General Assembly concerning hig'hways in
the country in this parish," and at the same time complaint was made
, against Daniel Deane, the Society's collector for the year previous, for
his "mismanagement'' in collecting the rate, and it was voted "that the
committee shall prosecute him in case he shall not satisfy them." This
action seems to have been carried to T^Ir. Deane at once, for he the next
I day makes this humble apology- :
Redding, January 24, 1749.
" To Mr. Jehu Burr, Mr. Stephen Bctts, and Mr. Samuel Sanford, Com-
mit ee men for said Redding:
" Gentlemen, I understand you have declared that there is some
mismanagement in the rate that I have to gather in the year 1748, and
you seem to think that I have done the same, and if you insist upon it.
I desire your forgiveness : in so doing yon will much oblige your hum-
ble servant.
" Daniel Deane."
In 1754 the parish again applied for town privileges without success,
and again in 1757 with a like result.
The next attempt in 1766 was successful, and the Assembly of 1767
passed the long-desired act of incorporation.
It will be noticed that liothing is said in the records concerning the
tribe of Indians inhabiting the parish, but from other sources we learn
that quite important changes had taken place among them. Their chief,
Chickens, after causing the settlers no little trouble concerning the deeds
which he had given them, had been induced in 1749 to remove with most
of his tribe to Scattacook, in New Alilford, and there were now but a
few scattered families remaining in the town. No less than three peti-
tions of Chickens, complaining of the injustice of the settlers, are pre-
served in the Colonial Records. The first, presented to the General
Court of May. 1735, asked that in accordance with the provisions of his
deed to Samuel Couch in 1725, the Assembly would appoint a committee
to lay out to him, his children, children's children, and their posterity, so
much land near his wigwam as they should deem necessar}'- for his and
their personal improvement ; and the Assembly appointed such a com-
mittee.
No report of the action of this committee is preserved in the archives ;
but ten years later, in 1745, Chickens again petitioned the Assembly to
20 HISTORY OF REDDING.
appoint a committee to view his lands for the same purpose, and the As-
sembly appointed such a committee "to repair to and upon said land,
and having due regard to said deed of conveyance, with the savings and
reservations therein contained, to survey and by proper meets and bounds
set out for, and to the use of the memorialist and his children, such and
so much of said lands as they shall be of opinion— (on hearing all parties
or persons therein concerned) — ought to be allowed and set out to said
memorialist and his children. The third and last memorial, presented in
1749, is a very interesting document, and is given in full.
" The memorial of Capt. Chicken alias Sam. Mohawk of Reading in
Fairfield county, shewing to this Assembly that in his deed formerly-
made to Capt. Samuel Couch, late of Fairfield, deceased, of his land lying
between the township of said Fairfield, and Danbury, Ridgefield and
Newtown, he had reserved to himself so much of said land as a com-
mittee, appointed by this Assembly, should judge should be sufficient
for himself, his children and posterity, for their personal improvement,
which said reserve has since been set out by proper meets and bounds in
two pieces, containing in the whole about one hundred acres as per the
surveys thereof may appear, reference thereunto being had : and showing
also that John Read, Esq., late of Boston deceased, l;ad surveyed, and
laid out to him two hundred acres of land by the appointment of this
Assembly, at a place called Scattacook bounded as in the survey thereof
on record : and also shewing that the land aforesaid, laid out to the said
John Read, Esq., is much more convenient and advantageous for him,
the said Chicken, being well situated for fishing and himting, and that
he had made and executed a deed of exchange of his aforesaid hundred
acres, lying in two pieces as aforesaid in the parish of Reading to the
said John Read Esq. and to his heirs, which said deed bears date October
nth, A. D. 1748, and in consideration thereof did receive of the said John
Read Esq, a deed bearing date the day aforesaid well executed to him
the said Chicken and to his heirs by his attorney John Read Esq. of said
Reading, being fully authorized thereunto, of the aforesaid two hundred
acres ; praying this Assembly that said deeds, executed as aforesaid, may
be allowed of, ratified, and be admitted as good evidence in the law for
conveying and fixing the title to the several pieces of land aforesaid."
This petition the Assembly granted, and Chickens and his tribe soon
after removed to the reservation at Scattacook. His grandson, Tom
Warrup, however, remained in Redding, as will be more fully related.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 21
CHAPTER 111.
Town History.
The Act of the General Assembly incorporating the town was as fol-
lows:
^*An Act for making and forming the Parish of redding into a
DISTINCT Town by themselves.
''Whereas this Assembly are informed that the Parish of Redding
in the northwesterly part of the township of Fairfield is very remote from
the main body of that town, and that tliey are by their situation almost
entirely prevented from attending the publick meetings of said town, and
that they suffer very great inconveniences thereby, and that for them
longer to continue as a parish of said Fairfield is very inconvenient :
Therefore,
"Be it enacted b}' the Governor and Council and Representatives in
General Court assembled and by the authority of the same, That said
Parish of Redding be and they are hereby erected, made and constituted
.within the limits and bounds of said parish a distinct Town by themselves
with all the liberties, privileges and immunities which by law the other
towns in this Colony have and do enjoy, and that said new constituted
town shall hereafter be called by the name of the Town of Redding, with
this limitation and restriction, that but one Representative which said
new constituted town shall at any time chuse to attend the General As-
semblies shall be at the publick expence.
"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That said Town
of Redding shall have and hold their first Town Meeting for the choice
of their town officers for the present year some time in the month of June
next, which meeting shall be warned by a warrant signed by any justice
of the peace in the county of Fairfield, to be directed to some indifferent
person to serve, which warrant shall appoint the time and place at which
said meeting is to be held, and shall be served at least five days before
the day appointed for the holding said meeting."
It was passed at the May session, 1767, and a meeting was held, June
15th, 1767, in accordance with its provisions. Colonel John Read was
chosen Moderator. Lieutenant Stephen Mead was chosen clerk
for the year, and the following town officers elected : Stephen
Mead, Fphraim Jackson, Daniel Hill, selectmen ; David Lyon, Asahel
Fitch, Daniel Hull, constables ; Benjamin Hamilton, Zalmon Read, fence
viewers ; Peter Fairchild, Lemuel Sanford. Jr.. David Jackson, listers ;
Thomas Fairchild, Jonathan Couch, grand- jurymen ; Gurdon Merchant,
town treasurer: Paul Bartram. Thomas Fairchild, Eleazer Smith, Jr.,
2 0 HISTORY OF REDDING.
tithing-men; Ebenezer Williams, Ebenezer Couch, pound keepers; Ger-
s^hom .Morehouse, sealer of leather; Benjamin Meeker, Jonathan Mallory,
sealer of weig-hts ; Ephraim Jackson, Captain Henry Lyon, and Gurdon
Merchant, a committee to take all proper and lawful methods to clear the
highways. The town by vote made the i>ound by Elizabeth Sanford's
the ••Town pound," and voted "to use the school house by the old meet-
ing house for ye place for holding ye town meetings in ye future." The
second town meeting was held September 28th, the same year, at which
'•it was voted and agreed that whereas the people being within one mile
of the Southeasterly end of this Township, and in the Northwesterly end
of the town of Fairfield, are about to petition the General Assembly to
be held ait New Haven in October next, to be annexed to this town, we
are willing and desirous to receive them, and that we will assist them
to endeavor to have them annexed to this town by appointing an agent
for that purpose," and Colonel Read was appointed such agent. Shortly
after they began agitating the question of building a town-house, and in
November a meeting wt.s called to provide "for the building or purchase
of a Town house and pK>und." The first mention of a turnpike in the
town is found in the records of a town meeting held in 1768, wherein
(the Hig^nway Committee are instructed "to lay out a road from the
School-'house in Lonetown, so called, east, through Col. John Read's land
to consort with a highway lately laid out from the road that leads from
Danbury to Fairfield, west, through Andrew Fairchild's land, to s'd
read's land," and Colonel Read was given liberty to keep a gate at the
west end by the school-house, "he having given land to the town." The
same year the town offered a bounty of 3s. on every "wile cat" killed,
and 2s. for every grown fox, and is. for every young fox. A meeting
held September 20th, 1768, appointed a committee to act with a commit-
tee of the Superior Court to lay out a highway in Redding from west to
east, in rear of the long lots. This will be recognized as the road leading
from Boston District to Hopewell, though portions of it must have been
in use long ere this. In the records of a meeting held October 6th, 1768,
we find a striking example of the towering ambition of the town fathers :
this meeting appointed a committee to "present a memorial to the Gen-
eral Assembly, praying that Redding be made a County town" Decem-
mer 26th, 1768, the selectmen were instructed to "set the districts for the
law books belonging to this town, and to enter the names of those persons
in each district that hath a right by law to said books, in said books."
Several highways were laid out during this year, and the next: one
across Sturgis' long lot, beginning at the upright highway above Ebenezer
Andrus' barn, "to run southerly slanting down in some suitable way until
it comes to the cross highway Southeasterl}' from said barn." The
county road from Danbury to Fairfield, originally laid out six rods wide,
was reduced to four rods, and Stephen Mead, Gurdon Merchant, and
HISTORY OF REDDING.
-O
Lemuel Sanford were appointed a committee "to lay out the County road,
four rods wide, exchanging where it shall be thought necessary, and all
at the Proprietor's cost." A hig'hway was also laid out from Samuel
Smith's, southerly to the bridge below Daniel Perry's grist-mill.
The following interesting entry appears in the records of a meeting
held March 6th, 1771 : "Voted and agreed, that whereas a Plan hath been
proposed of moving to the General Assembly in May next for the erecting
a new county, to consist of the towns of Danfoury, Newtown, Ridgefield,
Red-ding, and New Fairfield, we are willing and desirous that said towns
shall be erected a county, and that we will assist them to endeavor to
have said county estabhshed.'' The committee appointed for this pur-
pose were David Lyon, Gershom Morehouse, and James Rogers.
In October, 1773, the General Assembly passed a resolution, ''to
assert, and in some proper way support their claim to those lands con-
tained within the limits and bounds of the charter of this Colony west-
ward of the Province of New York" — an act strongl}' disapproved by
the people at large. Town meetings were called to protest against it,
and a convention comprising delegates from twenty-three towns met
in IMiddletown, and adopted a petition and remonstrance to the
General Assembly against the proposed action. Redding's atti-
tude in the matter is shown by the following extract from the
doings of a town meeting held March 14th, 1774: "Whereas it is
the opinion of many of the freemen and other inhabitants of this
Colony (and of this meeting in particular) that if ye above said Resolve
be carried into execution it will inevitably involve the inhabitants of
Connecticut in a long, expensive, and fruitless Litigation with Mr. Penn,
therefore this meeting appoints and delegates Messrs. William Hawley
and Peter Fairchild to attend a meeting to be held at Middletown on the
last Wednesday of Instant March, to concert some Proper Methods in
order to put a stop to so disagreeable a procedure." But the project
of the Assembly was never carried into execution : within a few months
an invading army was hovering about its coasts, and the sturdy, bellig-
erent little Colony found other vents for its pugnacious spirit.
In the Revolutionary War, to which period we are now come. Red-
ding played an important part: her people were fully alive to the im-
portance and direfulness of the conflict, and bore their full share of the
burdens it imposed ; but the town records during this period refer but
rarely, and then briefly, to the great conflict.
The first action of the town in regard to the war is found in the rec-
ords of a town meeting held April 2d, 1777, when a comnnittee consisting
of Messrs. William Hawley, Zalmon Read, Thaddeus Benedict, David
Jackson, Gershom Morehouse, Stephen Betts, Jr., William Heron, and
Daniel Mallory was appointed "to hire a number of Soldiers to serve in
the Continental army." It was also voted that the "sum or sums the
2A HISTORY OF REDDING.
said Committee promise to, or do pay, to those soldiers that do enhst
titemselves as soldiers to serve in said army, as a botmty over and above
what the Government bounty is, shall be paid by way of -town rates, and
the Selectmen are ordered and desired to make a rate to collect the
money." In the records of the same meeting is the following significant
entry: "Hezekiah Sanford, Seth Sanford, Daniel Mallory, S. Samuel
Smiith, William Hawley, Stephen Betts, Jr., Jonathan Couch, Stephen
Gold, and Hezekiah Read, are appointed a committee to take care of the
families of those soldiers that are in the service of their country" ; and
this also, under date of May 5'th, 1777: "David Jackson, Seth Sanford,
Thaddeus Benedict and John Gray are chosen Selectmen in addition to,
and to supply the place of Stephen Betts and James Rogers taken pris-
oners by the enemy in their expedition to Danbury."
The above-named gentlemen were released when the British re-em-
barked at Norwalk. September 18th, 1777, it was voted "that the in-
junction or requesit from his Excellency the Governor and the Council
of Safety be complied with, and that the Committee procure and get
double the articles if they can, mentioned in the Governor's said request,
and that said Committee be paid by the town, the extra charges that the
said articles may cost more than they are set at in said request." Alarch
23, 1778, David Jackson, Zalmon Read, and Ephraim Robbins were ap-
pointed a committee to provide clothing for the army. 'May 8th, 1778,
Asahel Fitch appears as a committee, "to take care and provide as the
law directs for Nathan Coley's family." At the same time he, with Capt.
Zalmon Read, was appointed a committee to provade "shirts, shoes,
stockins and other articles of clothing for the Continental soldiers."
December 17th. 1778, another committee was appointed to care for the
families of soldiers as follows : Nehemiah Hull for Nathan Coley's ;
Elijah Burr for Stephen Meeker's ; Ebenezer Couch for Elias Bixby ;
Nehemiah Sherwood and John Read for Jeremiab Ryan, and William
Hawley for Samuel Remong. July 30th, 1779, Micayah Starr, Thaddeus
Benedict, and Stephen PJetts were appointed a committee to prepare
clothing for the soldiers, and a tax of 2s. on the pound was levied to pay
for the same. Several of the records are very annoying from their in-
coinpleteness ; the following for instance of a meeting held Septetnber
2d, 1779: "Voted, to ratify the proceedings of the County Convention
held Aug. loth, 1779, and to appoint a Committee to carry into effect
what w^as recommended in the first resolve of said Convention." Not a
word is said as to the object of the Convention, nor is any report of its
proceedings given. From other sources, however, we learn that it was
called to devise measures to prevent further depreciation of the papyer
currency, and also to consider what course should be pursued in dealing
with the Tories among them.
No record of the proceedings of this convention, interesting and im-
HISTORY OF REDDING.
portant as it would have been, is found. It was held ait the dwelHng-
house of Captain Stephen Betts, on Redding Ridge, January 23d, 1780,
the town voted to appoint a commiittee of nine ''to procure and hire nine
soldiers to enlist into the Connecticut Line in the Continental army, for
the town of Redding." This committee consisted of Stephen Betts,
Ezekiel Sanford, David Jackson, Nathaniel Barlow — ^brother of the poet
— Asahel Fitch, Hezekiah Read, Elijah Burr, Ephraim Robbins, and
Hezekiah Sanford. The committee were also instructed "to use their
utmost diligence to hire nine able bodied efficient men to enlist as afore-
said, during the war or for three years, or six months, and that they en-
list them at such sum or sums of money in any price, or such quantity
of provisions of any kind as they shall judge reasonable and just." Six
months later, June 26th, they voted to instruct their committee to give
to each soldier they enlist for six months, ten bushels of wheat per month
or the value in hard money when paid, besides they shall receive the
bounty the state offers, but the town shall receive their wages." The
same ofifer was made to the drafted men. This offer was probably taken
in the belief that the town could more readily collect the wages of the
soMiers than they could themselves.
November 20th, same year, it was voted, "that the town will lay a
tax on provisions to supply their quota of provisions for the Connecticut
Line in the Continental Army, and that a rate bill be made apportioning
to each individual his proportion of each kind of provision to be raised,
viz. flour, beef, and pork, according to his list for the year 1779. George
Perry was appointed Receiver of the flour collected by the town, and
sworn to a faithful discharge of his trust. Russell Bartlett was appoint-
ed Receiver of pork and beef, and was also sworn. At the same meeting
a committee was appointed "to repair to the camp and ascertain the num-
ber of soldiers of the town now in camp." This order was several times
repeated, but none of the reports of the committees are preserved. The
following significant entry appears in the records of a meeting held
February 5t]i, 1781 : "Voted not to abate assessments for purposes afore-
said (1. e. tax, on provisions) on Enos Lee, James Morgan, Hezekiah
Piatt, Daniel Lyon, .Vbigail Lyon, Sarah Phinney, David Knapp, James
Gray, Abigail Morehouse, Ezekiel Hill, Andrew Fairchild, and Sarah
Burr, who have each of them a son or sons or a son or sons in law gone
over to the enemies of the United States." At this meeting several who
had refused to pay the tax levied for hiring soldiers were assessed double
rates. March 28th, 1781, Captain Gershom Morehouse and Lieutenant
Nehemiah Hull were appointed a committee "to collect the tents belong-
ing to this town" — probably those furnished for the winter encampment
of the troops ; at the same time a committee was appointed "to vindicate
our claims to the Connecticut Soldiers." April 16, 1781, it was voted
25 HISTORY OF REDDING.
"to divide the people into eight classes according to their several lists in
order to raise seven soldiers, and one Light Horseman to serve for one
year as coast guards." It was voted "that the sixth class (for procur-
ing men to serve in the guards at Horse Neck till ye first of March next)
shall procure a light horseman and horse, and that the tOM^n shall pay
said class all it shall cost them more to procure a man and horse, than
it shall cost the other seven classes on a medium."
July 5th, same year, a tax of three pence on the pound was laid "to
pay last year's six months men, to be paid in Silver, or Gold, or wheat
at six shillings a bushel, and to be collected and paid to the selectmen
before the loth of July Inst."
The next fall. October 30th, 1781, George Perry was chosen "Receiv-
er of Grain and flour on the half crown Tax, Benjamin IMeeker and
Isaac Meeker to receive the grain and flour on the two sixths tax, and
William Hawley Esq. to receive the Beef and Pork on said tax, and to
provide casks and salt said provisions as the law directs."
The last entry referring to the war appears August nth, 1783, some
nine months after the Provisional Articles of Peace had been signed at
Paris. It is as follows : " Voted that the select men of this town be
desired to move out of this town all those persons that have been over
and joined the enem.y, and have returned into this town, and that they
pursue the business as fast as they conveniently can according to law."
The selectmen on whom this task devolved were, Seth Sanford, James
Rogers, Stephen Betts, Hezekiah Sanford, and John Gray.
Several items that next follow are important as denoting the progress
of events. December 18th, 1781 : "Voted, that the select men be in-
structed to petition the General Assembly to annex this town to Dan-
bury Probate District," and the road committee was instructed to sell
the highway from Nobb's Crook to Captain Grays, and also the 'upright
highway" west of Micayah Starr's, from Nathan Rumsey's to the rear
of the long lots.
August 9, 1782, the town appointed delegates to a County Conven-
tion held in Greenfield "to inquire into the progress of illicit trade" : also
a Committee of Inspection to assist the informing officers in putting the
laws into execution.
August nth, 1783: It was voted "that the town will set up a sing-
ing school," and a tax of one penny on the pound was laid to pay the
singing master.
March 13th, 1797: "Voted not to admit Small Pox by innoculation ;
voted to admit Small Pox by innoculation next fall."
December 14th, 1791, a committee was appointed to apply to the
proprietors of the mile of commons for a title to the land in Redding
left by said proprietors for a "parade." (This "parade," familiar to all
HISTORY OF REDDING. 27
old inhabitants of Redding, was in the large field adjoining the Con-
gregational parsonage now owned by Miss Dayton; it was the scene of
many militia trainings in later days.)
December 19th, 1792: " Voted to reduce the highway from Danbury
to Norwalk to four rods wide, and to sell two rods." In 1795 : "Voted
that the selectmen prosecute those persons that cut timber on the high-
ways."
The first town-house was built early in 1798. It stood nearly in the
centre of the common, a few yards west of the present building.
From the plan submitted December 27th, 1797, by the building com-
mittee, we learn that it was "36 feet in length, and 30 feet wide, with 12
foot posts, covered with long cedar shingles, the sides with pine."
There was a chimney in each end, and fifteen windows with twenty lights
in each. Peter Sanford, Ezekiel Sanford, Samuel Jarvis, Aaron San-
ford, Andrew L. Hill, and Simon Hunger were appointed "to receive
proposals and contract for building the aforesaid Town House." The
builder was Daniel Perry. In 1807 there was a movement to petition the
General Assembly, "that Redding be made the shire town of Fairfield
County." In 1809 it Vv'as voted unanimously, " That we will prefer a
petition to the Congress of the United States for the establishment of a
Post Road through this town," and William Heron, Lemuel Sanford,
and Billy Comstock were appointed to draft the petition. This was suc-
cessful, and the first post-office in the town was shortly after established.
It was kept in the dwelling-house of Billy Comstock, who was the first
postmaster ; his house stood were the late Mr. Dimon Finch lived, at the
fork of the Danbury road, and that leading to Redding Centre, z>ia
Nobb's Crook. There are old people in town who remember this first
post-office, and the excitement attendant upon the arrival of the weekly
mail, carried by the great lumbering Danbury stage, which, with its
four horses, its red-faced driver, and crowd of dusty, sweltering passen-
gers, was the great tri-weekly event of the villages through which it
passed.
There is evidence that in early times the town exercised considerable
influence in public aflfairs. In the Farmer s Journal (Danbury) for April
8th, 1793, appears a circular letter "sent by a committee appointed to
correspond with the different towns in the county of Fairfield," from
Reading, as follows :
Reading, Apr. 2, 1793.
" Gentlemen : We are, by the inhabitants of this town, in a town
meeting legally warned for that purpose, appointed a committee to corre-
spond with the other towns in Fairfield County respecting the list of
persons entered on the records of Congress, a number of whom this town
apprehend are really undeserving. We are ordered to ask of you to adopt
2g HISTORY OF REDDING.
a similar modt; of appointing a committee ;to corre^^pond accordingly, and
if by due enquiry any person, or persons shall be found to be put on the
pension list, who arc undeserving, to adopt proper means for redress at
a proper board.
Signed :
Thaddeus Benedict,
William Heron,
Lemuel Sanford,
S. Samuel Smith,
James Rogers.
To the Selectmen of
And in the Farmer's Chronicle (Danbury) for January 6th, 1794:
"At a Town Meeting held in Reading, by adjournment, on the 23rd
day of December a. d. 1793, 'Voted unanimously. That this Town will
exert ourselves in every legal and constitutional method in our power to
prevent the sale of the western lands at present, and to obtain a repeal
of the act of this state appropriating the avails thereof for the support
of the ministrv and schools in this state, as we conceive the same to be
impolitic. And that a committee be appointed to correspond with the
other towns in this county to effect the purpose aforesaid, and that this
vote be sent to the committee appointed to sell those lands, with our re-
quest that they will omit to make any contract or sale of them till the sit-
ting of the next General Assembly.' "
And in the records of a town meeting held April 20th, 1818 :
"Voted, That our Representatives to the General Assembly to be hold-
en at Haftford in May next, be, and hereby are, instructed to use their
influence that measures be taken preparatory to forming a written con-
stitution for the Government of this State. That it is the opinion of this
meeting, that the State of Connecticut is without a written constitution
of Civil Government, and w^e believe it very important for the security
of the Civil, and Religious rights, and privileges of the Citizens, that the
powers and authorities of the Government should be distinctly defined."
The present town-house was erected in 1834. At a town meeting
held March 3d, 1834, Mr. Thomas B. Fanton made a proposition "that
he would engage to build a new Town House, same dimensions as the old
one, of good materials, covering to be of pine, with shutters to the win-
dows, outside of house to be painted, and the Whole inside and out, to be
finished in a workman like manner, to be erected near the old one, on land
belonging to the town, provided the town will g*ive him $400, and the old
house," and engaged to save the town from any expense on account of
materials provided by the committee to repair the old town house. This
proposition was accepted, and John R. Hill. Gershom Sherwood, and
Historic Houses.
C.r.Xl'RAl. I'L-rXAM-S HKADQrARTERS. 17/8-0.
lM-(,ni an old print of iS^h.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 29
Aaron Burr. 2d, were appointed a committee "to superintend building
said House." There were objections, however, to having the new house
built on the old site, and a meetmg held shortly after voted "to relocate
the house in the building owned by Thaddeus ]\T. Abbott recently occu-
pied for a school house."
But other parties objected to this plan, ai.d a third meeting was held
before a site satisfactory to all parties could be agreed on.
This meeting voted to locate it "on the Southeast corner of Thaddeus
M. Abbott's homelot, fronting the public parade on the South, and on the
west the Lonetown highway, provided that nothing in this vote interferes
with the contract made with Thomas B. Fanton for building said house,
and that it be no additional expense to the town." The building belong-
ing !to Mr, Abbott which stood on this site was moved away, and the
present town house erected in the summer of 1834.
From this point until the opening of the civil war the records indicate
only the usual routine of town business, and may be profitably passed
over in order to make room for the valuable and interesting Revolutionary
historv of the town.
CHAPTER IV.
Revolutionary History and Incidents.
Two years had passed since the opening of the War of Independence
— years of alternate victory and defeat to the colonists — when a hostile
armament of twenty-five vessels bearing two thousand men, the flower
of the British army, appeared off Compo, in Westport, on the Connecticut
shore. It was the 25th of April, 1777. A few days before news had
come to Lord Howe, commanding in New York, that a magazine of mu-
nitions of war had been formed by the rebels in Danbury, and which
afforded him a pretext for a descent on Connecticut — a step vvhich he
had long meditated. The region of country covered by the proposed
campaign had been swept of its able-bodied men, who were in the Con-
tinental ranks keeping a careful watch on his lordship's regulars ; ])ut that
there might be no balk in the operations, an overwhelming force of two
thousand picked men was detailed for the expedition. For commanders,
Howe chose a nondescript genius, one Governor Tryon, and two military
men of ability, General Agnew and Sir William Erskine. Tryon had
been Governor of New York ; he had the further merit of being intimately
acquainted with Connecticut, and of being consumed w'ith an inveterate
hatred for, and thirst for revenge on, the Yankees ; he had a special grudge
too against Connecticut, the sturdy little colony having thwarted him in
a variety of ways. Her dragoons had scattered the types of his news-
-.Q HISTORY OF REDDING.
paper organ through the streets of New York; her "Sons of Liberty"
had plotted ag-ainst him even in his own city, and she had treated with
contempt his proclamations inviting her to return to her allegiance, even
printing them in her gazettes as specimens of the governor's pleasant
humor.
Furthermore, he was well acquainted with the country to be traversed.
He had been as far inland as Litdifield, had probably visited Danbury,
and had been dined and f^ted at Norwalk, Fairfield, and New Haven.
He seems to have acted as guide to the expedition while his two advisers
attended to its miiitary details. The troops disembarked at Compo at
four in the afternoon, and the same day marched to Weston, about eight
miles distant, where they encamped for the night. To oppose these troops
there was only a militia corps of old men and boys, not equal in number
to one half the invading force.
Colonel Cook was in comniiand at Danbury with a company of un-
armed militia. General Silliman at Fairfield, General Wooster at Strat-
ford, and General Arnold at Norwalk could not muster, all told, more
than eight hundred raw, undisciplined men. Under these circumstances
Tryon's expedition can only be viewed as a picnic excursion into the
country, and as such no doubt he regarded it. On the morning of the
26th his army was early astir, and reached Redding Ridge, where the
first halt was made, about the time that the inhabitants had concluded
their morning meal. What transpired here is thus narrated by Mr. Hol-
lister in his admirable "History of Connecticut," vol. ii, chap. 12 :
"On the morning of the 26th, at a very seasonable hour, Tryon ar-
rived at Reading Ridge, where was a small hamlet of peaceful inhabitants,
almost every one of them patriots, and most of them farmers, who had
crowned the high hill, where they had chosen to build their Zion, with
a tall, gaunt church, which drew to its aisles one day in seven the people
that dwelt upon the sides of the hills, and in the Ixjsom of the valleys,
within the range of the summons that sounded from its belfry. By way
of satisfying his hunger with a morning lunch, until he could provide a
more substantial meal, he drew up his artillery in front of the weather-
beaten edifice that had before defied every thing save the grace of God,
and the supplications of his worshippers, and gave it a good round of
grape and canister, that pierced its sides through, and shattered its small-
paned windows into fragments." The only spectators to this heroic dem-
onstration were a few women and little children, some of whom ran away
at the sight of the red-coats, and others faced the invaders with a men-
acing stare."
Mr. Hollister is in the main a careful and accurate historian, but a
due regard for the truth of history compels us to say that he was mis-'
informed in regard to the above facts. The following account is believed
HISTORY OF REDDING.
31
to be correct, our principal informant being an aged inhabitant of Red-
ding, and a competent authority :
During the halt the main body of the troops remained under arms on
the green in front of the church. Tryon, Agnew, and Erskine were in-
vited into Esquire Heron's, who lived in the first house south of the
church. Here they were hospitably entertained with cake and wine, and
with many hopeful prognostications of the speedy collapse of the ''re-
bellion." Across the street from the church, in a house a few yards south
of the one now occupied by Daniel Sanford, lived Lieutenant Stephen
Betts, a prominent patriot, and at whose house it will be remembered the
county convention was held in 1779. A file of soldiers entered the house,
seized him, and he was taken with them on their march. James Rogers,
another prominent patriot, and Jeremiah Sanford, a lad of ten years, son
of Mr. Daniel Sanford, met a like fate. The lad, we may remark, was
carried to New York and died in the prison ships, June 28th, 1777.
Shortly before the army resumed its march, a horseman was observed
spurring rapidly down the Couch's Hill road toward them, and approach-
ed within musket-shot before discovering their presence ; he then turned
to fiy, but was shot, and severely w^ounded in the attempt. He proved
to be a messenger from Colonel Cook in Danbury, bearing dispatches to
General Silliman, by name Lambert Lockwood. Tryon had formerly
known him in Norwalk. where Lockwood had rendered him a service.
and seems to have acted on this occasion with some approach to mag-
nanimity, as he released him on parole, and allowed him to be taken into
a house that his wounds might be dressed.
The statement concerning the firing into the church is a mistake, and
I am assured that the reverse is true. It is said that the church was not
moles'ted at all (except that a soldier with a well-directed ball brought
down the gilded weathercock from the spire), and the fact that the rector,
the Rev. John Beach, as well as several of its most prominent members,
among them the Squire Heron above referred to, were most pronounced
loyalists, strengthens the assertion. The British army, after halting an
hour or two in the village, resumed its march to Danbury. with the cap-
ture and burning of which the reader is no doubt acquainted.
Meanwhile the patriots in Redding anxiously waited the approach of
the Continental army in pursuit. At length it came in view, marching
wearily, with dusty and disordered ranks, a little army of five hundred
men and boys, led by Brigadier-General Silliman in person. They had
marched from Fairfield that day, and were fully twenty-eight hours be-
hind the foe. who was then lying drunken and disorganized at Danbury.
A muster-roll of the little band would have shown a most pathetic ex-
hibition of weakness. There were parts of the companies of Colonel
Lamb's battalion of artillery, with three rusty cannon, a field-piece, and
32
HISTORY OF REDDING.
part of th€ artillery company of Fairfield, and sixty Continentals ; the rest
were raw levies, chiefly old men and boys. It was eight o'clock in the
evening when the troops arrived at Redding Ridge — an evening as dis-
agreeable as a north-east rain-storm with its attendant darkness could
make it. Here the troops halted an hour for rest and refreshment. At
the expiration of that time a bugle sounded far down the street ; then the
tramp of horsemen was heard, and presently Major-General Wooster and
Brigadier-General Arnold, at the head of a squadron of cavalry, dashed
into the village.
On hearing that the I^ritish were so far ahead, it is said that Arnold
became so enraged that he could scarcely keep his seat, and his terrible
oaths fell on his auditors' ears like thunder-claps. Wooster at once as-
sumed command, and the column moved forward through the mud as far
as Bethel, where it halted for the night. At Danbury, but three miles
distant, Tryon's force was sleeping in drunken security, and might have
been annihilated by a determined effort, but the command was too much
exhausted for the attempt.
Tryon the next morning was early astir, being aware that the militia
were closing in on him on all sides, and commenced a retreat to his ships,
taking the circuitous route through Ridgefield. On learning this move,
General Wooster at Bethel divided his command, one detachment under
Generals Arnold and Silliman marching rapidly across the country and
taking post at Ridgetiekl, while the other, commanded by himself, pressed
closely on Tryon's rear. The succeeding fortunes of the patriots — ^how
they met the foe at Ridgefield, how Wooster fell gallantly leading on his
men, how Arnold performed prodigies of valor, and how the enemy were
pursued and harassed until they gained the cover of their ships — 'has be-
come a part of our national history, and needs no recounting.
News that the British had landed at Compo, that they were encamped
at Weston, and would march through Redding the next day, was conveyed
to this town at an early hour, and occasioned the greatest consternation
to this town at an early hour, and occasioned the greatest consternation and
excitement. Money and valuables were hastily secreted in wells and other
places of concealment ; horses and cattle were driven into the forests, and
the inhabitants along the enemy's probable route held themselves in readi-
ness for instant flight. Herod's emissaries could not have excited livelier
emotions of terror in the hearts of Judean mothers than did Trwn's in-
vasion in the bosoms of the mothers of Redding. He seems to have
warred pre-eminently on women and boys. The latter especially he made
prisoners of. and consigned to the horrible prison-ships, either holding
them as hostages, or on the plea that they "would ver}' soon grow into
rebels." The women of Redding had heard of this propensity, and at
his approach gathered all the boys of thirteen and under — the older ones
were away under arms — and conveyed them to a secluded place near the
HISTORY OF REDDING.
33
Forge, where they were left under the charge of one Gershom Barlow ;
here they remained until the invader had regained his ships, provisions
being cooked and sent in to them daily.
Many other incidents of the invasion are current in the town.
On receiving intelligence of the landing at Comipo, Captain Read mus-
tered his company of militia, and forthwith marched to intercept the in-
vaders. At a place called Couch's Rock, in Weston, they came suddenly
upon the entire force of the enemy and were taken prisoners. Timothy
Parsons, one of the militiamen, had a fine musket which he particularly
valued ; this a grenadier took, and dashed to pieces on the stones, saying
it should waste no more rebel bullets.
Mrs. Thankful Bradley, living in Weston, near the Redding line, was
milking by the roadside when the troops surprised her. An ofificer told
her to remain quiet, a.nd they would not molest her. She followed his
advice and continued milking while the entire army filed by. With the
exception of kidnapping the lad Sanford, the British behaved with praise-
worthy moderation during their march through Redding. No buildings
were burned, and no such enormities committed as marked their descent
on Fairfield and New Haven two years later.
After their departure nothing further of a warlike nature occurred in
the town, until the encampment in Redding in the winter of 1778-9 of
the right wing of the Continental Army. These troops had been op-
erating along the Hudson during the fall, and as winter approached a
coimcil of officers decided that it should go into winter quarters at Red-
ding, as from that position it could support the important fortress of
West Point in case of attack, overawe the Cow Boys and Skinners of
Westchester County, and cover the country adjacent to the Sound. Ac-
cordingly, early in November, General Putnam arrived in Redding with
several of his general officers to select sites for the proposed camps. Three
were marked out: the first in the northeastern part of Lonetown, near
the Bethel line, on land later owned by Aaron Treadwell. The second
also in Lonetown. about a mile and a half west, on the farm of the late
Sherlock Todd, a short distance southwest of his dwelling-house. The
third camp was in West Redding, on the ridge lying east of Uriah Grif-
fin's, on land now owned by him, and about a quarter of a mile north of
Redding Station. The sites of all three camps may be easily distinguished
by the ruins of the stone chimneys which formed one side of the log huts
in which the troops were sheltered. The first camp was laid out with
admirable judgment, at the foot of the rocky blufifs which fence in on the
west the valley of the Little River.* Only a few heaps of stone mark the
site of the second camp, which was also laid out on the southerly slope of
♦ For a fuller account of this camp see Chapter v.
^, HISTORY OF REDDING.
a hill, with a stream of running water at its base. The same may be said I
of the camp at Long Ridge.
As to the exact location of Putnam's headquarters at this time, au-
thorities differ, but all agree in placing it on Umpawaug Hill. Mr. Bar-
ber, in his "Historical Collections," says it was the old house that stood
until recently on the comer of the road leading down to Sanford's Station,
a short distance north of Andrew Perry's present residence. Mr. Lossing,
in his "Field Book of the Revolution," makes the same statement ; but I
am informed by an aged resident, whose father was an officer in the Rev-
olutionary army, and visited General Putnam at his headquarters, that
they were in an old house that then stood between the residence of the
late Burr Aleeker and that now occupied by Mr. Ephraim Barlow, and
that the first-named was his guard-house. The question is one of little
importance perhaps, except to those who demand the utmost possible
accuracy in the statement of fact.
Some of the officers were quartered in the house now occupied by Mrs.
Seth Todd, then owned by Samuel Gould ; others in a house that stood on
the site of the one formerly occupied by Sherlock Todd. General Parson's
headquarters were on Redding Ridge.
While the army lay at Redding several events of importance occurred,
w'hich are worthy of narrating with some degree of particularity. The
troops went into winter quarters this year in no pleasant humor, and al-
most in the spirit of insubordination. This was peculiarly the case with
the Connecticut troops. They had endured privations that many men
would have sunk under — ^the horrors of battle, the weariness of the march,
'Cold, hunger, and nakedness. What was worse, they had been paid in
the depreciated currency of the times, which had scarcely any purchasing
power, and their devoted families at home were reduced to the^ lowest
extremity of want and wretchedness.
The forced inactivity of the camp gave them time to brood over their
wrongs, until at length they formed the bold resolve of marching to Hart-
ford, and presenting their grievances in person to the Legislature then
sitting. The two brigades were under arms for this purpose before news
of the revolt was brought to Putnam. He, with his usual intrepidjty and
decision of character, threw himself upon his horse and dashed down the
road leading to his camps, never slacking rein until he drew up in the
presence of the disaffected troops. "My brave lads," cried he, "whither
are you going? Do you intend to desert your officers, and to invite the
enemy to follow you into the country? Whose cause have you been
fighting and suffering so long in — is it not your own? Have you no
property, no parents, wives, or children? You have behaved like men
so far — all the world is full of your praises, and posterity wih stand
astonished at your deeds; but not if you spoil all at last. Don't you con-
HISTORY OF REDDING. 35
iider how much the country is distressed by the war, and that your of-
icers have not been any better paid than yourselves ? But ive all expect
i>etter times, and that the country will do us ample justice. Let us all
Stand by one another then, and fight it out like brave soldiers. Think
vliat a shame it would be for Connecticut men to run away from their
)fficers." When he had finished this stirring speech, he directed the
icting major of brigades to give the word for them to shoulder, march
o their regimental parades, and lodge arms, which was done ; one_soldier
■)nly, a ringleader in the affair, was confined in the guard-house, from
vhich he attempted to escape, but was shot dead by the sentinel on duty
—himself one of the mutineers. Thus ended the afifair, and no further
rouble was experienced with the Connecticut troops.
Nothing had so much annoyed Putnam and his officers during the
:ampaign of the preceding summer on the Hudson than the desertions
vhich had thinned his ranks, and the Tory spies, who frequented his
amps, under every vafiety of pretext, and forthwith conveyed the in-
"ormation thus gathered to the enemy. To put a stop to this it had been
ietermined that the next oft'ender of either sort captured should suffer
leath as an example, and according to the usages of war. The time for
butting this determination into execution soon arrived. One day some
scouts from Putnam's outposts in Westchester County captured a man
urking within their lines, and as he could give no satisfactory account
)f himself he was at once haled over the borders, and into the presence
>f the commander-in-chief. In answer to his queries, the prisoner said
;'hat his name was Jones, that he was a Welshman by birth, and had
iettled in Ridgefield a few years before the war commenced : that he had
lever faltered in his allegiance to the king, and that at the outbreak of
hostilities he had fled to the British army, and had been made a butcher
n the camp ; a few weeks before, he had been sent into Westcliester
Ibunty to buy beeves for the army, and had been captured as above nar-
rated. He was remanded to the guard-house and a court-martial at
)nce ordered for his trial. The result is given in the following docu-
nent found among the papers of the late Lieutenant Samuel Richards,
Paymaster in Colonel Wylly's regiment:*
"Feb. 4, 1779. Was tried at a General Court Martial Edward Jones
:or Going to and serving the enemy, and coming out as a spy — found
Ifuilty of each and every charge Exhibited against him, and according
o Law and the Usages of Nations was sentenced to suffer Death.
"The General approves the sentence and orders it to be put in Execu-
^:ion between the hours of ten and eleven a. m. by hanging him by the
leck till he be Dead."
* Many other papers from the Richards collection, both interesting and valuable,
^ill be tound in this work. The originals are in the possession of Hon. D. B. Booth.
£ Danbury, who has kindly allowed me to copy from them.
^(1 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Two days after another court-martial was held for a similar ofifence,
as the following proves:
"Feb. 6, 1779. At a Gen'l Court Martial was tried John Smith oJ
the 1st Connecticut Regiment for desertion and attempting to go to th(
Enemy, found guilty, and further persisting in saying that he will go t(
the Enemy if ever he has an opportunity. Sentenced to be shot to deatl
and orders that it be put in Execution between the hours of ten and twelv<
A. M."
General Putnam having two prisoners under sentence of death de^
termined to execute them both at once, or as he expressed it, "make
double job of it," and at the same time make the spectacle as terrible an<
impressive as the circumstances demanded. The lofty hill dominatinj
the valley and the camps (known to this day as Gallows Hill) was chosei
as the scene of the execution, the instrument of death being erected on its]
highest pinnacle. The details of the execution, for reasons which will
appear, I prefer to give in the words of the three different historians
who have chronicled it. Mr. Barber, in his "Historical Collections
Connecticut," p. 399, says :
"The scene which took place at the execution of these men is dej
scribed as shocking and bloody. The man on whom the duty of han|
man devolved left the camp, and on the day of execution could not b<
found. A couple of boys about the age of twelve years were ordered b;
General Putnam to perform the duties of the absconding hangman. ThI
gallows was about twenty feet from the ground. Jones was compellec
to ascend the ladder, and the rope around his neck was attached to th|
cross-beam. General Putnam then ordered Jones to jump from the la(
der. 'No, General Putnam,' said Jones, T am innocent of the crime lai|
to my charge ; I s'hall not do it.' Putnam then ordered the boys beforj
mentioned to turn the ladder over. These boys were deeply afifected h\
the trying scene ; they cried and sobbed 'loudly, and earnestly entreat*
to be excused from doing any thing on this distressing occasion. Put-
nam, drawing his sword, ordered them forward, and compelled them at
the sword's point to obey his orders. The soldier that was sbot for
desertion was but a youth of sixteen or seventeen years of age. Three
balls were shot through his breast : he fell on his face, but immediately
turned over on his back ; a soldier then advanced, and putting the muzzle
of his gun near the convulsive body of the youth, discharged its contents
into his forehead. The body was then taken up and put into a cofifin;
the soldiers had fired their pieces so near, that they set the boy's clothes
on fire, which continued burning. An ofificer wath a drawn sworn stood
by, while every soldier of the three brigades who were out on the occa-
sion was ordered to march by and look at the mangled remains."
Mr. Barber says in a foot-note that the atyove particulars were derived
Historic Houses. II
THi<: OLD COL. AAROX BARLOW HOUSE.
From its gable window the wife of one of the condemned men saw her
husband executed on Gallows Hill, about a mile to eastward.
Tn its southeast corner chamber Jf^el Rarlow wrote his "Vision of Colum-
HISTORY OF REDDING. 37
from an aged inhabitant of Reading, who was present on the occasion,
and stood but a few feet from Jones when he was executed. Mr. Hol-
hs'ter. in his "History of Connecticut," takes exception to the above ac-
count. In Vol. ii, page 375, of his work, he has the following note:
"The Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, who was pastor of the Congregational
church in Redding for a period of fifty years, officiated as chaplain to the
encampment during the winter, and was present at the execution. He
interceded with General Putnam to defer the execution of Smith until
Washington could be consulted — the offender being a youth of seventeen
years ; but the commander assured him that a reprieve could not be grant-
ed. 'Mr. Bartlett was an earnest and fearless Whig, and openly talked
and preached 'rebellion' — so much so, that the Tories, who were numer-
ous in the eastern part of the town, threatened to hang him if they could
catch him. In consequence of these threats he often carried a loaded
musket with him when on his parochial visits. His son and successor
m the ministry at Redding — the Rev. Jonathan Bartlett, now (1855) in
his ninety-first year — wdl remembers the Revolutionary encampment at
Redding and frequently visited it. He is sure that the story in Barber's
'Historical Collections' about Putnam's inhumanity at the execution of
.Smith and Jones is incorrect. Though not present himself, he has often
heard his father relate the incidents of the occasion ; and furthermore he
once called the attention of Colonel Asahel Salmon (who died in 1848,
aged ninety-one), who was a sergeant in attendance upon the execution,
to the statement, and he declared that nothing of the kind took place."
Another historian, Rev. Thomas F. Davies, in an historical sermon
delivered at Green's Farms in 1839, also takes exception to Mr. Barber's
statement. He says :
"Mr. Barber must have been misinformed. Reading is my native
town, and from my boyhood I have heard the history of the proceedings
on the occasion referred to, and was miidh surprised at the statements
in the 'Historical Collections.' The Rev. Mr. Bartlett, whose father was
chaplain on that occasion, informs me that General Putnam CQuld not
have been guilty of the acts there charged.
"That Mr. Barber may have something to substitute for the narrative
to which I object, I give the following:
"When General Putnam occupied the house of which Mr. Barber has
given an engraving, a scene occurred which presents the General in a
very amiaMe light. A poor man with a family needing support, and who
lived in the neighboring town of Ridgefield, was told by one acquainted
with his wants, that if he would visit General Putnam and hold a con-
versation with him, he would on his return, and on proof of the fact, give
him a bushel of wheat. The temptation in that time of scarcity and taxes
was great, and so also was the fear of intruding upon so distinguished
nQ HISTORY OF REDDING.
an individual ; but the stern necessities of his condition at length induced
the poor man to venture. He accordingly presented 'himself at head-
quarters, and requested the servant to solicit for him an interview with
the General. Putnam promptly summoned the man to his presence, di-
rected him to be seated, and listened with interest while the man with
great trepidation gave the statement which accounted for the liberty he
had taken. The General directed the servant to bring some wine, con-
versed for a time very pleasantly with his needy visitor, and then calling
for pen and ink, wrote a certificate in which he gave the name of the in-
dividual, and stated that he had visited and conversed with General Put-
nam, who signed it in his official character. Thus furnis'hed with the
means of giving bread to his family, the distressed individual returned
to his humble roof; and this anecdote, which I have on the very best
authority, is proof that Putnam was not destitute of those kind and gentle
affections which are so desirable an ornament of the most heroic char-
acter."
This diversity of statements led the writer to investigate the matter
more thoroughly than he would otherwise have done ; from the testimony
of several persons who were present it would seem that Mr. Barber was
misinfonned, and that no such scenes took place. Mr. James Olmstead
of Redding, who died in 1882, aged eighty-nine years, and whose father
was an oiTicer in the continental army and present on the occasion, gives
an entirely different version. In an article published in the Danbury
NezL's, he says :
"My father * * * being an officer himself and well known to
some of the officers on duty, was one of the few who were admitted
within the enclosure formed by the troops around the place of execution
and able to witness all that there took place. After prayer by the Rev.
Mr. Bartlett, the younger prisoner. Smith, was first brought forward to
his doom. After he had been placed in position and his death warrant
read, a file of soldiers was drawn up in line with loaded muskets, and
the word of command given. The firing was simultaneous, and he fell
dead on the spot. After the smoke had cleared away it was found that
his outer garment, a sort of frock or blouse, had been set on fire by the
discharge, and which was extinguished by a soldier who had fired. He
was within a few feet of the scaffold when Jones, pale and haggard, was
next brought on, his death warrant was read and he seemed to recognize
some few of his old friends, but said very little except to bid farewell
to all, and his last words, which were, 'God knows I'm not guilty,' and
he was hurried into eternity.
"My father had a pretty good general knowledge of General Putnam
and his eccentricities, and had there been any unnecessary hardships or
severity used in the treatment of the prisoners, he most certainly must
HISTORY OF REDDING.
39
have seen and known something of it, but in all I ever heard from him
or anyone else, no allusion was made to anything of the kind, and in view
of all the circumstances I think it may be safe to infer that no such thing
ocurred on that occasion."
As was to be expected, the citizens of Redding felt quite honored by
the selection of their town for the army's winter quarters, and welcomed
heartily the dusty battalions as they filed into camp ; but a few months'
acquaintance opened their eyes to some of the ways of soldiers, and
caused them to speed the army in the spring as heartily as they had wel-
comed it in the autumn. The soldiers argued that as they were fighting
the country's battles it devolved on the latter to furnish the sinews of
war, and plundered the neighboring farmers, whether Whig or Tory,
with the utmost impartiality. To them a well-stocked poultry yard or a
pen of fat porkers offered irresistible inducements. A milch cow never
failed of a circle of devoted admirers, v/hile bands of merry reavers
occasionally stole over the borders into the neighboring towns, and har-
ried in under cover of night droves of fat cattle, which were killed and
eaten with as little formality as they were taken. V/ith the morning
would come the owner complaining of these little peccadilloes, but as he
could never prove property nor identify the rogues, they usually escaped
punishment. After a time, however, the wary farmers foiled the depre-
dators by herding" their live-stock over night in the cellars of their houses
and in other secure places.
The ringleader in all these forays was Tom Warrups, an Indian,
grandson of the chief Chickens, whose story is given in the earlier pages
of this work, and one of Putnam's most valued scouts and messengers.
Tom possessed a great deal of individuality, and impressed himself on a
succeeding generation to the extent that numberless anecdotes are re-
membered and told about him to this day. Some of these, illustrating
the Indian character, are worthy the attention of the grave historian.
Tom had a weakness for liquor, which would have caused his expulsion
from the camp had it not been for his services as scout and guide. One
day he was seen deplorably drunk, and the officer of the day in disgust
ordered him to be ridden out of the camp. A stout rail was brought,
Tom was placed astride of it, four men hoisted it upon their shoulders,
and the cavalcade started. On their way they met General Putnam with
his aids, making the rounds of the camp. "Tom," said the General
sternly, "how's this? Aren't you ashamed to be seen riding out of camp
in this way?" "Yes," replied Tom, with drunken gravity. "Tom is
ashamed, vera mooch ashamed, to see poor Indian ride and the Gineral
he go afoot." Tom had a house on the high ridge back of Captain Isaac
Hamilton's, now owned by John Read. It was built, it is said,
in primitive Indian style, of poles set firmly in the ground, then bent and
fastened together at the top. This framework was covered with bark,
,Q HISTORY OF REDDING.
and roofed with reeds and rushes. Its furniture consisted of frame-
work bedsteads, with bedding- of skins, wooden bowls fashioned from
pepperage knots, huge wooden spoons, baskets made of rushes or long
grass, pails of birch bark, and an iron pot and skillet begged or borrowed
from the settlers. His sister Eunice was his housekeeper. Except in
war he was a worthless, shiftless fellow, and lived chiefly by begging;
hunting and trapping were his recreations. He would often absent him-
self from his hut for weeks at a time, sleeping in barns or in the forest.
A huge overhanging rock about a mile north of Georgetown often shel-
tered him on these occasions, and is still known as Warrups' Rock.
Tom's neighbor and landlord before the war was Colonel John Read,
son of the early setder of that name. On one occasion the colonel had
a company of gentlemen from Boston to visit him, and planned a grand
hunt in their honor. Tom was always master of the revels at such
times, and piloted the party on this occasion. In their rambles through
the forests they came to a spring, and being thirsty one of the party la-
mented that they had left their hunting cups behind. Tom at once slip-
ped off his shoe, and filling it with water offered it to the guest to drink ;
whereupon Colonel Read reproved him sharply for his ill-breeding. Tom
drank from the vessel while the homily was being delivered, and then
replaced the shoe, observing with the haughtiness of a king, "Good
enough for Indian, g^ood enough for white man too."
After the war Captain Zalmon Read and Tom were near neighbors,
ana the former had a cornfield in dangerous proximity to Tom's cabin ;
he missed the corn and suspected Tom, and watching, not only discovered
him to be the thief, but also his ingenious plan of procedure. About
midnight the Indian would come, basket in hand, and seated on the top
rail of the fence would thus address the field : " Lot, can Tom have
some corn?" "Yes, Tom," the lot would reply, "take all you want";
whereupon Tom would fill his basket with ears and march off. The
next night, as the story goes, the captain armed himself with a grievous
hickory club and lay in wait behind the fence. Presently Tom came, re-
peated his formula, and proceeded to fill his basket, but when he returned!
with it to the fence, it was occupied by the captain, who proceeded to]
repeat Tom's formula with a variation. *"Lot, can I beat Tom?" "Yes,'
the lot replied, "beat him all he deserves" ; whereupon the fun-loving
captain fell upon the culprit and gave him the thorough beating which
his roguery deserved.
One more anecdote of Tom must suffice. One day he went to aj
neighbor's house and demanded whiskey. No, the neighbor was of the]
opinion that whiskey was bad for Tom. "Rum, then." "No." "Cider.";
"No, cider was bad too; food he might have to keep him from starving,
but no fire-water." Tom ruminated. "Well," said he at length, "give!
HISTORY OF REDDING. 4 1
me toast and cider" — a favorite dish in those days — and in this way won
the desired stimulant.
Some years after, when age was creeping on, Tom and his sister re-
moved to the Indian reservation at Schaticook, in Kent, whither his
tribe had preceded him. and the time and manner of his death was un-
known to his white brethren in Redding.
This is a long digression, pardonable in this connection only because
its subject was one of the brave defenders of his country.
Among the papers in the "Richards Collection" are some that are in-
teresting as detailing little episodes of camp life, as well as some that
possess considerable historic value. They are as follows :
" Headquarters, Reading, May, 28, 1779.
" Daniel Vaughn and Jonath'n Gore of the 8th Connecticut Regt.
Tryd by a Brigade C. M. whereof Lt. Col. Sumner was President, For
Stealing a Cup from Capt. Zalmon Read of Reading, The Court are of
Opinion the charges against Vaughn and Gore are not supported.
" B. O."
"Camp, 2nd Hill, Nov. 14, 1778.
" The General having obtained permission of the Commander In
Chief to be Absent a few days from the Division, the Command will
devolve upon Brigadier Gen'l Huntington. Gen'l McDougal is happy
that it falls upon a Gentleman in whose care for and attention to the
Troops he has the utmost Confidence. The Orders will be issued as
usual at the Headquarters of the Division."
general Putnam's orders.
" Reading, Dec. 18, 1778.
" Lieut. Col. Butler of Wylly's Reg. is promoted to the command of
the 2nd Company Battalion and is to be obeyed as such. Col. Meigs is
appointed Inspector of the Division and to do the duty of Adj. General
for the same until further Orders — Quartermaster Belding of the First
Conn. Brigade is appointed Quartermaster of the Division and is to do
that duty until further Orders. David Humphrey Esq. late Brigade
Major to Gen'l Parsons is appointed aide de camp to Gen'l Putnam till
further Orders."
" Fei;. 13, 1779.
" The Gen'l Directs that no person be permitted to visit the Prisoners
under sentence of Death Unless at their Request as frequent Complaints
have been made that they are interrupted in their Private Devotions by
persons who came for no other Purpose but to Insult them."
42
HISTORY OF REDDING.
"^t a Cen'l Court Martial held at Bedford Oct. 3, 1778, By order of Gen^
Scott whereof Lt. Col. Blaisden was President.
" Elisha Smith a private in Capt. Stoddard's Co. 2d Regt. Light
Dragoons was tryed for Deserting to the Enemy last August and Pilot-
ing them into and against the troops of this State Defrauding the publick,
by selling his horse and Accouterments in a Treasonable Manner to the
Enemy and for Menacing and Insulting his officers while a Prisoner,
found Guilty, and Sentence Him to Suffer the pains of Death — His
Excellency the Commander in Chief Approves the Sentence and Orders
s'd Elisha Smith to be Executed next Monday the 12th Inst, at n
O'clock A. M. at or near Bedford as Gen. Scott shall Direct."
No date : " Divine Service will be performed to morrow at the
Church, to begin at 11 O'Clock a. m. Those off Duty are to March from
Camp so as to be at the Church by that time."
The "Church" was the Congregational at the Centre, and the preach-
er the Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett.
" Headquarters^ May 27, 1779.
" Major General Putnam being (about) to take command of one of
the Wings of the Grand Army, before he leaves the Troops who have
served under him the winter past, thinks it his Duty to Signify to them
his entire approbation of their Regular and Soldier like Conduct, and
wishes them (wherever they may happen to be out), a Successful and
Glorious Campaign."
Hazen's command seems to have been the first to break camp in the
spring, as the following proves :
" Head Quarters, Reading, March 21, 1779.
"Col. Hazen's Regt. will march to Springfield in 3 Divisions by the
shortest notice: the first Division will march on Monday next, and the
other two will follow on Thursday and Friday next. Weather permitting,
and in case the detached parties join the Regt. Col. Hazen will take with
him one peice of Cannon and a proportionable Number of Artillery men."'
April nth, the following order was issued:
" Head Quarters, Apr. nth, 1779.
" The officers are Requested to lose no time in Preparing for the field,
that they may be ready to leave their present Quarters at the Shortest
Notice. The Q. M. Gen'l — as far as it is in his power — will supply those
with Portmanteaus, who have not been furnished before, and those who
have or shall be provided are on no account to carry chests or Boxes into
the field. The portmanteaus are given by the publick to Supersede those
of such Cumbersome articles in order to contract the Baggage of the
Army and lessen the Number of Waggons, which besides saving the
HISTORY OF REDDING.
43
Expense, is attended with many obvious and most Important Military
Advantages. The General also thinks it necessary to give explicit notice
in time with a View to have the army as little Encumbered as possible
in all its movements, and to prevent burthening the public and the farm-
ers more than can be avoided. No officer whose Duty does not Really
require him to be on horseback — will be permitted to keep horses with
the Army — It ought to be the pride of an officer to share the fatigues,
as well as the Dangers to which the men are exposed on foot. March-
ing by their sides he will lessen every inconvenience and Excite in them
a spirit of patience and perserverance. Inability alone can justify a
Deviation from this necessary practice. Gen. Washington strongly
recommends to the officers to Divest themselves as much as possible of
Every thing Superfluous — Taking to the field only what is Essential for
Dining and Comfort. Such as have not particular friends within reach
with whom they would choose to confide their Baggage, will apply to
the O. M. Gen'l who will appoint a place for their Reception and furnish
Means of Transportation."
" Reading, May 24, 1779.
"Gen. Parsons orders the Brigade to be Ready to March to Morrow
at 6 o'clock A. M. Complet for Action."
This brigade seems to have returned to the Highlands via Ridgefield
and Bedford, as General Parsons dates his next order at Ridgefield^
May 30:
" That Col. Wyllys furnish a Sergt. Corp. and 12 privates to be post-
ed as a Guard this Night one quarter of a Mile in front of where his
Regt. is quartered on the road leading to Bedford. That Col. Meigs
furnish a Guard of the Same Number and Distance on the road leading
to Norwalk. The Revielle to be beat to-morrow morning at the Dawn
of Day, the troops to parade at 4 o'clock half a mile below the meeting
house, on the road leading to Bedford, for which place they will march
immediately after in the same order as this day."
" Bedford, May 31st, 1779.
" The troops of Gen. Parson's Brigade to have two Days. . . .per man
from Capt. Townsend .... refresh themselves, and be ready to march in
two hours to Parade near the Meeting house."
" Fish KILL, June 2, 1779.
"Gen. Parsons orders that Com'sr Sturm deliver one gill of Rum per
man, and two Days provision to the troops of his Brigade, this Day. —
The Or. master to make return for the sam."
44
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Hd. Qr., June 7th, 1779.
"General McDougal Orders a Detachment of 150 Men Properly
Officered from Gen. Parson's and Huntington's Brigades to parade at
12 o clock, with arms, ammunition, accouterments, Blankets and three
days Provisions in front of Gen. Hn. Bd." (Huntington's Brigade.)
" Hr. Qr. June 7th, 1779.
" The Grand Parade in front of Gen. Hn. Bd. 100 men properly
Officered from Hn. Bd. will parade for piquet at 3 o'clock for the future.
The Relief will parade at 8 o'clock in the morning. No persons will
pass the piquet who cannot give a Good Ac'ct. of himself."
" The Signal of Alarm will be three cannon fired Distinctly by the
Artillery in the front line."
The following orders show the route taken by the army in the fall
of 1778 from the Highlands to Redding:
" Head Quarters, Fredericksburg, Oct. 16, 1778.
"To morrow being the Anniversary of the Surrender of Gen'l Bur-
goyne and his Troops to the Arms of America under the Command of
Major Gen'l Gates, it will be Commemorated by the firing of thirteen
cannon from the Park of Artillery at 12 orClock."
" Head Quarters, Oct. 22, 1778.
"Nixon's, Parson's and Huntington's Brigades are to march to mor-
row morning at 7 'o'clock from the Line under the command of Major
Gen'l McDougall — Orders of March — Gen'l Nixon's Brigade leads,
Huntington's follows. Parson's brings up the Rear, Commanding Officers
of Corps will be answerable for the conduct of their men while on the
March. Artillery to March in Centre of each Brigade — the Baggage of
Gen'l Officers to March in Rear of the Troops, the other Baggage will
march in the same order. Forage and Commissary Waggons in the rear
of the Whole."
"New Milford, Nov. 5, 1778.
"The Honora^ble, the Continental Congress having on the 12th of Oc-
tober passed a Resolution to discourage prophaneness in the Army it is
inserted in this Division for the information of Officers, and Gen. Mc-
Dougall hopes for their aid and Countenance in Discouraging and Sup-
pressing a Vice so Dishonorable to human Nature, to the commission of
which there is no Temptation enough."
" Camp, New Milford, Oct. 26, 1778.
"Plis Excellency the Commander in Oiief has Directed the troops
to remain here till further orders — and be in Readiness to March at the
shortest Notice as Circumstances shall require. While the Division is
Reposed, two days bread will be on store Continually, Baked."
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HISTORY OF REDDING.
45
These interesting extracts might fitly conclude the story of the army's
encampment in Redding ; there are, however, some entries in the parish
records, proving that amid the horrors of war sly Cupid found a chance
to inflict his wounds, that are worthy of insertion. They are given as
entered by the Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett :
"Fe'b. 7, 1770. I Joined together in marriage James Gibbins a sol-
dier in the army and Ann Sullivan."
"March i8th, 1779. I joined together m marriage John Lines, a sol-
dier in the army, and Mary Hendrick."
"March 30, 1779. I joined in marriage Daniel Evarts a soldier, and
Mary Rowland."
"Apr. 15, 1779. I joined in marriage Isaac Olmsted a soldier, and
Mary Parsons."
"Apr. 28, 1779. I joined in marriage Jesse Belknap an artificer in
the army, and pAmice Hall."
"May 4, 1779. I joined in marriage William Little, Steward to Gen.
Parsons, and Phebe Merchant."
"May 23, 1779. I joined in marriage Giles Gilbert an artificer in the
army, and Deborah Hall.".
"March 9, 1780. T joined in marriage William Darrow a soldier,
and Ruth Bartram."
In the month of June, 1781, Count de Rochamibeau and the Duke de
Lauzun marched a column of French troops across Connecticut and took
post in Ridgefield, within supporting distance of Washington's army on
the Hudson. They passed through Redding on the march, and encamp-
ed over night, it is said, on the old parade-ground. Their supply-train
numbered eight hundred and ten wagons, most of them drawn by two
yoke of oxen and a horse leading.
CHAPTER V.
Putnam Memorial Camp-Ground.
HISTORICAL.
In a History of Redding, published in 1880, the author de-
scribed the site of Putnam's winter quarters of 1778-9, and predicted that
"it will in time no doubt become a favorite place of resort." On the
setting of the Connecticut Legislature in January, 1887, Hon. Isaac N.
Bartram, of Sharon, introduced the following resolution, Aaron Tread-
well, owner of the site, having previously agreed to present the land as
a free srift to the State :
46 HISTORY OF REDDING.
"Resolved by this Assembly, that a committee consisting of one Sen-
ator and four Representatives be appointed to investigate and report at
once on the practicability and desirability of obtaining for the state the
old Israel Putnam Camp Grounds in the town of Redding, on which
traces of said encampment still exist, and the erecting thereon of a suit-
able monument or memorial."
The resolution passed, and Senator Cole of Bethel, Messrs. Bartram
of Sharon, Gorham of Redding, Wessells of Litchfield, and Barbour of
Branford, of the House, were appointed a committee to visit the grounds
and report. Early in February this committee, accompanied by a num-
ber of interested members, proceeded to Redding. They were met at the
station by a delegation of citizens of Redding and escorted to the winter
quarters which they inspected. To this committee, by request, Charles
B. Todd presented a plan for the lay-out of the grounds, which he later
embodied in an article on the winter quarters in the New York Evening
Post, and which was widely copied by State papers.
" It is not proposed to erect a pleasure park, but a memorial. The
men it is designed to commemorate were strong, rugged, simple. Its
leading features, therefore, should be of similar character and of such
an historical and antiquarian cast as to direct the thought to the men and
times it commemorates. The rugged natural features in which the pro-
posed site abounds should be retained. I would throw over the brooks
arched stone bridges with stone parapets such as the troops marched over
in their campaigns through the Hudson valley. The heaps of stone
marking the limits of the encampment should be left undisturbed as one
of the most interesting features of the place. One might be reconstruct-
ed and shown as it was while in use. A summer house on the crag
guarding the entrance, might be reared in the form of an ancient block-
house, like those in storming or defending which Putnam and his rangers
learned the art of war. Such a structure, at this day, would be an his-
torical curiosity. I know of but two in the world — one on Sugar Island,
at the mouth of the Detroit River, and another at Mackinac Island, in
the Straits of Mackinaw. For the monument I would suggest a cairn of
stones from the neighboring limestone quarry, to be surmounted by a
pyramidal monolith of granite, ten feet high, each of its four faces bear-
ing an inscription as follows :
For the north face :
On this spot, and on two others situated one and two miles to the
westward respectively. Gen. Putnam's division of the Continental Army
encamped during the severe winter of 1778-9, enduring untold priva-
tions, in the belief that their sufferings would inure to the benefit and
happiness of future millions.
HISTORY OF REDDING. Ay
On the reverse:
The men of '76
who sutfered here.
To preserve their memory so long as time endures, the State of Connec-
ticut has acquired these grounds and erected this monument, A. D.
1887.
On the east face the names of the division and brigade commanders ;
on the west an extract from Putnam's address, sHghtly changed.
All the world is full of their praises
Posterity stands astonished at their deeds.
This plan, modified as to details, both by Mr. Todd himself, and from
suggestions by John Ward Stimson, Superintendent Isaac N. Bartram
and Engineers Hull and Palmer, has since been followed in the lay-out
of the Camp. The Special Committee, on February 9th, submitted tlie
following report :
Your Committee * * * visited the site on February 3d, and
found it to be a sloping hillside facing the east, diversified with crags
and plateaus and forming the west wall of the valley of Little River, an
affluent of the Saugatuck. The ground is two miles from Bethel, the
nearest railroad station, and five from Danbury, at which point railroads
from all parts of the state converge. A fine forest covers the greater
part of the site ; brooks flow through it falling in cascades over the crags,
and the general situation is commanding and delightful.
The heaps of stone marking the site of the log huts in which the
brigades were quartered, are forty-five in number and are arranged op-
posite each other in long, parallel rows defining an avenue some ten yards
wide and five hundred feet in length. These, with others scattered among
the crags, admirably define the limits of the encampment, and form one
of the best preserved and most interesting relics of the Revolution to be
found in the State, if not in the Country. It was here that Putnam and
his brigades wintered in 1778-9.
The owner of the site, Aaron Treadwell, offers to donate so much
land as the State shall decide to take for the purpose of preserving in-
tact forever the old Camp Ground, and for erecting thereon a suitable
memorial. Your Committee would recommend the acceptance of the
offer of Aaron Treadwell as a gift to the State, and the appropriation of
fifteen hundred dollars for the erection of a suitable memorial thereon.
They, also, recommend the appointment of a Committee of four, by his
Excellency, the Governor, to receive for the State, a deed of said site, and
for the laying out of the grounds and the erection of a memorial.
A resolution, embodying these recommendations, was passed on April
2ist.
48
HISTORY OF REDDING.
The committee appointed by Governor Lounsbury in accordance with
the resokition, comprised Hons. Samuel B. Gorham of Redding, and Isaac
N. Bartram of Sharon, Messrs. Charles B. Todd and Aaron Treadvvell
of Redding. This Committee caused to b- erected during the summer
of 1888 the present monument. It was apparent, "however, that the tract
of twelve acres which had been presented by Mr. Tread well, very inade-
quately preserved the autonomy of the former camp. The line of bar-
racks originally extended through the adjoining fields North nearly a
quarter of a mile, and to bring the limits of the former winter quarters
more within the control of the State, Mr. O. B. Jennings, of Fairfield,
purchased the Read property on the north for five hundred dollars, and
generously donated it to the State.
The whole tract now comprised thirty-two acres, and needed to be
fenced and made accessible by means of roads, walks, etc. Messrs. Hull
and Palmer, engineers of Bridgeport, were accordingly employed by the
committee to make a topographical survey and map, and prepare a plan
or lay-out. This plan, with the engineer's estimate of cost, etc., was
submitted to the Connecticut Legislature of 1889, at an early date, and
a Joint Select Committee of one senator and six representatives was
raised to proceed to Redding, view the monument and grounds, and re-
port. This Committee, consisting of Senator Bartram of Sharon, Repre-
sentatives Sharp of Pomfret, Aliller of Redding, Day of Brooklyn,
Chichester of Wilton, Burlingame of Canterbury, and Sunderland of
Danbury, visited the Camp early in February, 1889, and were again hos-
pitably received and entertained by the citizens of Redding. They re-
ported in favor of the whole amount called for in the engineer's estimate
— $20,608.55, and an act appropriating this amount passed both Houses
and was signed by Governor Bulkiey, June 19, 1889. A commission of
seven persons "to be appointed by the Governor," had previously been
created, and had been authorized "to accept on behalf of the State any
gifts of real estate or money which might be oflfered to the State, * *
and to take charge of the Camp Ground until August i, 1891, or until
their successors were appointed." Section 2 authorized the commission
"to cause said Camp Ground to be fenced and otherwise suitabh^ im-'
proved as they should deem meet and proper, provided they did not ex-
ceed the amount of money that might be given, together with the amount
appropriated by the State therefor, including pay for their own services."'
"Said commission to report in full their doings, and the amount by
them expended to the next general assembly."
Under the second act. Governor Bulkiey appointed the following gen-
tlemen as commissioners : Isaac N. Bartram of Sharon, Charles B. Todd
of Redding, Oliver B. Jennings of Fairfield, Clement A. Sharp of Pom-
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HISTORY OK RKDDING.
49
fret, Oland H. Blanchard of Hartford, Samuel S. Ambler of Bethel, and
James E. Miller of Redding.
The work of restoring the winter quarters and of laying out the
grounds was begun by this commission in July, 1889, and largely com-
pleted by the autumn of 1890. A stone house for public comfort and
as a museum of relics, a fountain with a jet of water playing on a bed
of Connecticut mineral, a walk between the stone heaps and some minor
details were left unfinished. It is to be regretted that succeeding com-
missions did not in all respects carry out the original plan, thus pre-
serving its unity. The present commission appointed by Governor Rob-
erts in 1905, comprising John H. Jennings of Southport, William Ward
of Naugatuck, William H. Hill of Redding, Thomas A. Evans of Bethel,
Charles S. Peck of Danbury, Clarence T. Hickok of Bethel, and George
A. Parker of Hartford, has done much to bring the grounds more into
harmony with the original design.
Since the gift of Mr. Jennings there have been several gifts of land
to the State. In 1893, Isaac N. Bartram in order that the entire site
mig^ht belong to the State, purchased of Henry Adams twenty-three
acres on the east of the Jennings gift and presented it. In 1900, the
heirs of Mr. O. B. Jennings presented a large tract of woodland on the
north. The total area of the Camp is now one hundred and two acres.
DESCRIPTIVE.
No Revolutionary relic at all approaching in completeness the Israel
Putnam Memorial Camp Ground in Redding can be found in America,
and a brief description of the encampment and of the strength, equipment
and organization of the army that occupied it can but be of interest in
this connection.
Col. Humphrey tells us that it was tlie whole right wing of the Con-
tinental Army, which had rendezvoused at White Plains that summer,
thence marched to Fredericksburg, and thence to Redding, leaving de-
tachments to garrison the Highlands. Major-General Israel Putnam
was Commander-in-Chief ; Major-General Alexander McDougall, Divi-
sion Commander ; Brigadier-General John Nixon, Commanding the first
Continental brigade : Brigadier-General Jedediah Huntington, Command-
ing the second Continental brigade ; Brigadier-General Samuel Parsons,
Commanding the third Continental brigade ; Brigadier-General Enoch
Poor, Commanding a brigade of the New Hampshire line ; Colonel Moses
Hazen, Commanding a corps of infantry, and General Sheldon, Com-
manding a corps of cavalry. It would be interesting to know precisely
how many men were encamped here, but it is difficult to fix the exact
number. Col. Humphrey says, that in this summer of 1778, three armies
were mobilized at White Plains, forming the right wing of the Grand
50
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Army ; that it contained sixty regiments of foot, in fifteen brigades ; four
batteries of artillery ; four regiments of horse, and several corps of State
troops. Not all of this army came to Redding, as before remarked, but
from the extent of the three camps, it is evident that a large portion of it
was encamped here.
Before telling how this great body was organized, officered and con-
trolled, it will be proper to sketch briefly the Commanders. With the
•history and exploits of General Putnam every school boy is familiar.
The quaint old colonial house at Dan vers, Mass., where he was born, is
still standing. The incidents of the wolf den, of the powder magazine
at Fort Edward, his gallantry at Bunker Hill and on many revolutionary
fields are twice-told tales and need not be recounted here.
General Alexander McDougall, the second in command, was a native'
of Scotland, having been born in the Island of Islay, in 1731. He settled
when quite young in New York city, and when the contest between Eng-
land and the Colonies began espoused warmly the patriot cause. He was
appointed June 30, 1776, Colonel of the first regiment raised for the war
in New York city. From this time his promotion was rapid. He was
made Brigadier General August 9th of the same summer; Major General
October 20, 1777, and witih his command was in the Battle of White
Plains, White Marsh, and Germantown. He had been in command of
the Highlands during this summer of 1778. In 1780 he was a delegate
from New York to the Continental Congress. He died in New York,
June 8, 1786.
John Nixon, senior Commander of the Connecticut Brigades, was
born in Philadelphia, in 1733, his father being a well-to-do ship merchant
there. He was port warden of Philadelphia in 1766. An ardent patriot
he early opposed tlie tyranny of King George, and in 1776 was commis-
sioned Colonel of a Philadelphia regiment to succeed John Cadwallader,
who was made Brigadier General. He served with distinction in the
battle of Princeton, and suffered with Washington at Valley Forge.
Jedediah Huntington was a native of Norwich, Connecticut, a mer-
chant and graduate of Harvard College. He entered the army as Colonel
at the beginning of the war, and gained the distinction of having served
under every general officer in the Revolution, except Stark.
Samuel H. Parsons was born in Lyme, Connecticut, May 14, 1737,
and was the son of the distinguished clergyman, Rev, John Parsons, He
was an able lawyer, and at the opening of the war was King's Attorney
for New London County, which office he resigned to enter the patriot
army. He originated the design of seizing Ticonderoga; was commis-
sioned Colonel of the 6th Connecticut Regiment, April 26, 1775, and
Brigadier General in the Continental Army by Congress in August, 1776.
He won the perfect confidence of Washington, and there is evidence
that he was employed by him on secret service to discover the designs
II
HISTORY OF REDDING. 5 1
of Sir Henry Clinton. During tJhis winter through Squire Heron, an
ostensible loyalist of Redding Ridge, he carried on a correspondence with
Clinton, undoubtedly with the knowledge of Washington and Putnam,
Heron being to Clinton a bitter tory, but in reality a friend to the colonies.
After the war General Parsons was a prominent figure in the settlement
of Ohio.
General Enoch Poor, Commander of the New Hampshire Line, was
born in Andover, Massachusetts, June 21, 1736. After the battle of Lex-
ington he raised three regiments in New Hampshire, and took command
of one. Congress in February, 1777, commissioned him Brigadier Gen-
eral. He had served with honor in the campaign against Burgoyne the
summer previous, having led the attack at Saratoga, and had been
present at the Battle of Monmouth in the summer of 1778. He died in
Camp, near Hackensack, the year after leaving Redding, 1780, and was
buried with military honors.
Let us next consider the regiments encamped here and learn what
we can of their formation, discipline, dress, accoutrements, and the rou-
tine of life at the camp. Sheldon's and Hazen's corps seem to have been
all the Continentals here, the rest being "state troops" of Connecticut and
New Hampshire.*
Both classes, state and continental, were, however, modeled largely
on the plan of the old militia system of the Colonies, and had been largely
recruited from that source. The militia system of Connecticut, just prior
to the Revolution, was one of the most perfect and effective ever devised.
The bloody French and Indian Wars from 1745, down, had been her
school and drill master. Let us study this system briefly. It was or-
ganized in 1739, with the Governor as Captain-General and Commander-
in-Chief. Thirteen regiments were formed at that time from the "train
bands," the militia unit, each commanded by a Colonel, Lieutenant-Col-
onel, and Major, who were commissioned by the Governor. A regiment
might also include a troop of horse. There was an annual "muster of
arms" on the first Monday of May, several "company" trainings a year,
and a "regimental muster" once in four years. In 1756 two "company
reviews" were instituted to be held yearly on the ist of May and ist of
October. In 1767 the Fourteenth Regiment was formed of Cornwall,
Sharon, Salisbury, Canaan and Norfolk. In 1769, the Fifteenth was
formed of Farmington, Harwinton and New Hartford. In 1771 the
Sixteenth, of Danbury, Ridgefield, Newtown and New Fairfield. In
1774 the Seventeenth, of Litchfield, Goshen, Torrington and Winchester,
and the Eighteenth, of Simsburv, New Hartford, Hartland, Barkhamsted
* State troops were not regularly mustered in, but were lent Washington by their
respective states when a special danger threatened, or for a certain purpose. They
•were usually under the orders of the Governor and Council of their states.
52
HISTORY OF REDDING.
and Colebrook. In October to meet the coming storm, four additional
regiments were formed. The Nineteenth, from East Windsor, Enfield,
Bolton and that part of Hartford east of Connecticut River. The Twen-
tieth, from the miHtary companies of Norwich. The twenty-first, from
Plainfield. Canton, Vohintown, and the South Company of Kilhngly ; and
the Twenty-second, of Tolland, Somers, Stafford, Willington and Union.
In May, 1776, two more regiments were formed, one in Westmoreland
County in Pennsylvania, then a part of (^Connecticut, and the other in
Middletown and Chatham. Later, in 1776, the Twenty-fifth was formed
cf East Haddam, Colchester and the Society of Marlboroug'h, while the
cavalry troops were organized into five regiments of light horse. So
tliat when the struggle opened, Connecticut had twenty-five regiments
of foot and five of horse, armed, officered, and to some extent drilled, that
could be called to her defence. All males between sixteen and fifty were
liable to serve in these regiments. Not a few of the men were veterans
seasoned in the French and Indian wars. The Assembly of 1776, mob-
ilized this force into six brigades, appointed a Brigadier-General for each
brigade, and two Major-Generals to command the whole. There were
then 26.000 men in the colony capable of bearing arms; 1,000 of them
beyond the Delaware. These men served in the Continental army in two
ways — as enlisted men when they left the state service and were known
as continental or regular soldiers, and as militia ordered by the Governor
or Assembly to some threatened point, when they were known as state
troops. In August, 1776, for instance. Governor Trumbull ordered all
the militia west of the Connecticut River — 14 regiments — ^to march to
the defence of New York.
The Continental service was modeled much after that of Connecticut.
The main difference between the continental and the militiaman was, that
the former took an oath "to be true to the United States of America, and
to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or op-
posers, whatsoever, and to observe and obey all orders of the Continental
Congress, and the orders of the General and officers set over me by them,"
while the state troops swore fealty to their State only. Congress, July
18, 1775, provided that the compan}' should comprise a captain, two lieu-
tenants, an ensign, four sergeants, four corporals, a clerk, drummer, fifer
and sixty-eight privates. Connecticut at its October session made the
same provision, although before that time the State companies had con-
sisted of one hundred men.
The camp equipment of the militia, provided the full quota had been
maintained, seems to have been sufficiently liberal. An order of 1775,
enumerates, "90 marquees or officer's tents, 500 private tents, cloth for
48 tents, and for 500 tents, 1,092 iron pots of 10 quarts each — if not pots
then tin kettles; 1.098 pails, 2 brass kettles of 10 gallons each for each
company, 2.500 wooden bowls. 4 frying pans per company, 6,000 quart
HISTORY OF REDDING.
:)3
runlets, 60 drums, 120 fifes, i standard for each regiment, a medicine
chest and apparatus not to exceed £40 in cost, a set of surgical instru-
ments for the corps, 70 books in quarto of one quire each, 2 reams of
writing paper, 10 of cartridge paper, i cart for each company, etc."
The Continental soldier had to furnish himself with a good musket,
carrying an ounce ball, a bayonet, steel ramrod, worm, priming wire and
brush, cutting sword or tomahawk, cartridge box containing twenty-three
rounds of cartridges, twelve flints and a knapsack. Each man was also
to provide himself with one pound good powder and four pounds of balls.
The rations of the militia were also sufficiently liberal, provided they
could have secured them — ^4 pound of pork, or one pound beef, i pound
bread or flour, 3 pints beer Friday, beef fresh two days in the week, j/2
pint rice or pint of meal, 6 ounces butter, 3 pints peas per week, a gill of
rum per day when on fatigue, and no other time. Milk, molasses, can-
dles, soap, vinegar, coffee, chocolate, sugar, tobacco, onions in season,
and vegetables at the discretion of the field-officers are mentioned. The
pay of officers and men was as follows : Major General, £20 per month ;
Brigadier General, £17; Colonel, £15; Lieutenant-Colonel, £12; Major,
£10; Chaplain, £6; Lieutenant, £4; Ensign, £3; Adju'tant, £5, los ; Quar-
ter master, £3; Surgeon, £7, los; Surgeon's mate, £4; Sergeant, £2, 8s;
Corporal, £2, 4s ; fifer and drummer, £2, 4s ; private, £2. If they found
their own arms £10 for use of the latter. The musket prescribed by
Connecticut must have a barrel 3 feet 10 inches long, ^ inch bore, bay-
onet blade 14 inches long, iron ramrod, good lock and stock well mounted
with brass, and the name of the maker on it. is, 6d, was given each man
who supplied himself with 3 pounds of balls, 3s for a pound of powder,
and 3d for six flints ; otherwise they were supplied out of the Colony
stock.
By November 14th, as remarked, the troops were all safely ensconced
in winter quarters. A few days after, with a terrible northeast snow-
storm, winter set in — one of the longest and severest ever known in this
region. The mercury sank to its lowest level, and the snow was so deep
that all surface landmarks were obliterated, and people traveled in their
sledges at will without regard to highways or fences. The poor soldiers,
half clad, illy supplied with blankets, camp equipage, food and medicine,
and housed in rude log huts, suffered terribly. Tales of the destitution
of those times are still current in the town, having been handed down
from father to son.
We have no account of the destitution at Putnam Camp from the
diarists of the period, but from whaJt has been recorded of other winter
quarters, we infer that it was bitter in the extreme. Putnam wrote to
Washington the spring before as follows : "Dubois Regiment is unfit to
be ordered on duty, there being not one blanket in the regiment. Very
J, - HISTORY OF REDDING.
few have either a shoe or a shirt, and most of them have neither stock-
ings, breeches nor overalls. Several companies of enlisted artificers are
in the same situation and unable to work in the field."
Dr. I'hatcher, in his diary, kept at Valley Forge the winter before,
adds to the picture :
"Thousands are without blankets and keep themselves from freezing
by standing all night over the camp fires. Their foot prints on the frozen
ground are marked in blood from their naked feet. For two or three
weeks, in succession, the men were on half allowance, now without bread
for four or five days, and again without beef or pork. A foreign visitor,
walking through the camp, heard plaintive voices within the huts, saying
"no pay, no clothes, no provisions, no rum," and whenever he saw a mis-
erable being flitting from one hut to another, his nakedness was covered
only by a dirty blanket."
Washington, in his letters to Congress, also refers in affecting terms
to the sad condition of the men in winter quarters.
At Lebanon and in Hartford, pitying, large-hearted Governor Trum-
bull was making the utmost efiort to succor the distressed troops, in
which he was heartily seconded by the Connecticut Assembly. For in-
stance, the latter body at its November session, 1776, enacted that the
select men of each town should procure and hold in readiness for the
soldiers, i tent, i iron pot, 2 wooden bowls and 3 canteens for each iiooo
of the grand list of said town; and in January, 1778, it ordered that each
town must provide i hunting shirt, 2 linen shirts, 2 pair linen overalls,
I pair stockings, 12 pair good shoes, and one-half as many blankets for
the continental soldiers. But the towns were so impoverished that, in
many cases, they could not respond to the requisitions, and the soldiers
suffered accordingly.*
Before describing the final breaking up, let us look in upon the camps,
and spend a day there with the soldiers. At sunrise, reveille calls them
from their beds. After their frugal breakfast, at ten o'clock comes "par-
ade," or as we would term it, "guard mounr."
The continental soldier, wlien presentable, made no doubt a gallant
show in his uniform of blue and buff with bayonets glistening and silken
standards waving.**
Once every two months the rules and regulations of Congress were
read to the men on parade, and there was often some general order or
*In 1778, the town of Redding petitioned the Legislature for relief. "Forty-
nine of her citizens," says the petition, "have gone to the enemy; six are dead or
prisoners; nine are in the corps of artificers; twenty-eight men are in the Con-
tinental Army, and one-hundred and twelve in the train bands," leaving scarcely
none to man the farms and produce money or supplies to meet the requisitions.
**The standard of the First Connecticut Regiment was yellow, of the Second,
blue; of the Third, scarlet; of the Fourth, crimson; of the Fifth, white; of the
Sixth, azure.
Plioti) by Miss Mary C. Boui^htoii.
This old Revolutionary elm is said to hi the largest elm in Connecticut.
One loot ;;hove the ground it has a girth of thirty feet six inches. The spread
of its branches is one hundred and twelve feet.
On the site of the cottage in the background (now owned by Miss Eleanor
Dayton) stood the house of the Widow Sanford. where the Continental of-
ficers banqueted in 1779.
I
t
HISTORY OF REDDING.
DD
felicitation of the Commander on some event of interest communicated
at the same time. The sutler's tents were open until the "retreat" was
beaten at sunset, and which sent every soldier to his quarters. Telling
Stories and singing patriotic songs were almost the only evening amuse-
ments of the soldiers. There were two talented young poets in the camp
at this time, whose stirring lyrics sung around the camp fires were well
calculated to cheer and animate the soldier, and lead him to forget, or en-
dure with cheerfulness his privations. These two poets were Col. David
Humphrey, aide-de-camp to General Putnam, and Joel Barlow, who had
just graduated at Yale College, where he had distinguished himself by his
patriotic commencement poem, the Prospect of Peace. Barlow was a
native of Redding, and his brother, Colonel Aaron Barlow, was a meri-
torious officer in the continental service, and the personal friend of Put-
nam. Both poets later rose to eminence, Humphrey becoming aide-de-
camp to, and later the friend and companion of Washington ; Barlow,
after filling various offices, died in Poland in 1812, while our Minister to
France.
On Sunday all the troops presentable were formed in column and
marched to the Congregational Church at Redding Centre, where they
listened to the sermons of the eloquent and patriotic Parson Bartlett, pas-
tor of that church.
There were also chaplains of their own in camp, one of them being
Abraham Baldwin, of New Haven, who later drafted the Constitution,
and became a Senator of the United States from Georgia.
One of the recreations of the officers was in practising the rites and
amenities of Free Masonry. While the army lay at Redding, American
Union Lodge, which followed the fortunes of the army, was re-organized
"on application of a number of gentlemen, brethren of the Ancient and
Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons."
Agreeable to the application a summons was issued desiring the mem-
bers to meet "At Widow Sanford's,* near Redding Old Meeting House,
on Monday 15th inst. (February, 1779), at 4 o'clock past M." At this
meeting General Parsons was elected Master. Records of several meet-
ings of the Lodge at "Redding viz. Mrs. Sanford's" follow. On March
25th the Lodge gave a state dinner w^hich is thus described :
Procession began at half-past 4 o'clock, in the following order :
Bro. Whitney to clear the way.
The Wardens with their wands.
The youngest brother with the bag.
Brethren by juniority.
*Who was she? According to Mr. John Nickerson, town clerk of Redding,
who has made a study of the subject, she was daughter of Col. John Read, 3d,
and widow of Sanford, and lived just east of the Congregational parson-
age on the site of the cottage now owned by Miss Eleanor Dayton.
56
HISTORY OF REDDING.
The Worshipful Master with the Treasurer on his right hand sup-
porting the sword of justice, and the Secretary on his left hand support-
ing the bible, square and compass.
Music playing the Entered Apprentice INIarch.
Proceeded to Esq. Havvley's where brother Little delivered a few sen-
timents on Friendship. The Rev. Dr. Evans and a number of gentlemen
and ladies being present.
After dinner the following songs and toasts were given, interspersed
with music, for the entertainment of the company :
Songs : Hail America f* Montgomery ; French Ladies* Lament ;
That seat of science, Athens,
And earth's great 'Mistress, Rome,
Where now are all their glories?
We scarce can find the tomb.
Then guard your rights, Americans,
Nor stoop to lawless sway,
Oppose, oppose, oppose, oppose.
My brave America.
Proud Albion's bound to Caesar
And numerous lords before,
To Picts, to Danes, to Normans,
And many Masters more.
But we can boast, Americans,
We never fell a prey.
Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, Huzza,
For brave America.
We led fair fredom hither.
And lo, the desert smiled,
A Paradise of pleasure
Was opened in the wild.
Your harvest, bold Americans,
No power shall snatch away,
A.ssert yourselves, yourselves.
Ye sons of brave America.
Torn from a world of tyrants,
Beneath the western sky
We formed a new dominion,
A land of Liberty.
The world shall own its Masters here.
The heroes of the day.
Huzza, Huzza, Huzza, Huzza,
For brave America.
God bless this maiden climate.
And through her vast domain
Let hosts of heroes cluster,
Who scorn to wear a chain.
And blast the venal sycophants.
Who dare our rights betray.
Preserve, Preserve, Preserve, Preserve,
Our brave America.
I
**The song. Hail America, was the most popular in the army. We give it
entire. It was sung to the tune of the British Grenadier:
HISTORY OF REDDING. 57
Lift up your heads my heroes,
And swear with proud disdain,
The wretch who would enslave you
Shall spread his snares in vain.
Should Europe empty all her force,
We'd meet them in array.
And shout and shout, and fight and tight,
For brave America.
Some future day shall crown us
The masters of the main.
And giving laws and freedom
To England, France and Spain.
When all the isles o'er ocean spread.
Shall tremble and obey
Their Lords, their Lords, their Lords,
The Lords of br^ve America.
Mason's Daughter ; On, on, My Dear Brethren ; Huntsmen ; My Dog and
Gun,
Toasts : General Washington ; The Memory of Warren ; Montgomery
and Wooster ; ReHef of the Widows and Orphans ; Ladies of America ;
Union, Harmon}' and Peace ; Social Enjoyment ; Contentment.
Music : Grand March ; Dead March ; Country Jig ; Mason's Daughter.
The festivities were concluded with a speech by Rev. Waldo. At
half-past 7 o'clock the procession began returning to the lodge room in
reverse order from the afternoon procession, music playing the Mason's
Daughter.
On April 7th they dined at 3 o'clock, going in procession as before,
and dining together "with a number of respectable inhabitants, gentlemen
and ladies ; the Rev. Dr. Evans delivered a discourse suitable to the oc-
casion ; after dinner there were the usual songs and toasts, and at six
o'clock the procession returned to the lodge room. Thanks were pre-
sented to the Rev. Dr. Evans for 'his discourse, and to Rev. Mr. Bartlett
and the other gentlemen and ladies who favored the lodge with their com-
pany at dinner."
Bro. Belden's bill for the "two feasts" is given :
i s d
For Thursday March 25th 45 o 3
Wednesday April 7th 81 14 11
Bro. Sills bill, April 7th 19 14 o
Bro. Little's bill, March 25th i 11 o
Bro. Little's bill, April 7th 4 16 o
The last meeting was held in Redding, April i6th, 1779, the Con-
necticut line having about that time marched to the Highlands for the
summer campaign.
58
HISTORY OF REDDING.
CHAPTER VI.
General Parsons and William Heron — A Chapter of the Secret Service
of the Revolution.
There were sold in London in 1882, at auction, and purchased by Dr.
Thomas Addis Emmett, of New York, two volumes in manuscript of the
Private Intelligence of Sir Henry Clinton while commanding in New
York. These volumes were subsequently pubUshed in the Magazine of
American History and created no little comment from the fact that cer-
tain letters therein from William Heron of Redding Ridge, to General
Oliver de Lancey, Clinton's Adjutant General, indicated Heron as an
emissary of the British, and that General Parsons was in communica-
tion with them with a view of selling out his country, as Arnold had re-
cently done. The letters, which form so serious an indictment of the
two patriots, begin February 4th, 1781, when Heron wrote from Redding
that he had hoped to see him (de Lancey) in New York before that
time, but had failed to obtain a flag of truce. He added that he had
been to Hartford and to the camps in the Highlands ; to the former to
sound the members of the Secret Convention (which had been held in
Hartford the November before) as to what had been done there; to the
latter to discover the feeling of the officers and soldiers in the Continental
camp, and had succeeded to his entire satisfaction, and he proceeded to
tell Clinton that the object of the Convention was to form a closer union
of the Eastern and York colonies, make Washington Dictator, and raise
money and supplies for the army (all of which had, no doubt, been borne
to Clinton by his numerous spies months before). In the Highlands,
he added, he spent a night with Parsons and Stark, both of whom were
his friends, and gave a very gloomy picture of the destitution and dis-
content of the soldiers (which also was perfectly well known to the
British Commander).
In another letter Heron cautions his correspondent against paying
any great attention to the reports of those who only "take up on hear-
say." "Some of this class," he continues, "deceive persons in high office
with you. They have no access to those from whom perfect knowledge
can be obtained," "Believe me," he continues, "there are but few who
are let into the secrets of the cabinet, nor could I know them were it not
for my intimacy with some of the principal officers in the civil and mili-
tary departments arising from my having been a member of the Legisla-
ture and being still continued one of a committee appointed by the As-
HISTORY OF REDDING.
59
sembly to examine into the staff department." While absent he would
"have made it a part of his business to acquire a perfect knowledge of
the state of the French at Rhode Island, but finding a person charged
with that duty, who he believed would do it with tolerable accuracy, he
had not done so." Again : "Private dispatches are frequently sent from
your city to the chief here by some traitors. They come by way of
Setauket (L. I.j, where a certain Brewster receives them at or near a
certain woman's."
In another letter he gives the name of one Bradley, a tory in Fair-
field, where dispatches for him might be left and where he would leave
his communications.
An admirable example of the manner in which Heron informed the
British Commander of important events after they had occurred, was his
account of the attempt by Colonel Humphreys, Washington's aide-de-
camp, to seize the person of the British Commander-in-Chief by a rush
upon his headquarters at No. i Broadway. "A daring enterprise was
lately concerted at the quarters of the chief here," he writes, and goes
on to describe the attempt after it had failed. So much was this the
case that after a time de Lancey began to grow suspicious, and com-
plained that Heron's inforination was either stale or of no importance.
The most important task Heron had been given was the winning over
to the British cause of his friend General Parsons, and de Lancey now
began prodding him to effect this. Heron replied that he had sounded
Parsons in several interviews, and he recounts one of their conversations.
He began by relating to him a conversation he had with a gentle-
man in New York in the highest confidence of the Commander-in-Chief,
in which he thus spoke of him (Parsons) : "Don't you judge him to
be a gentleman possessed of too much understanding and liberality of
sentiment to think that the welfare of his country consists in an un-
natural alliance with the enemies of the protestant religion, a perfidious
nation with whom no faith can be kept, as all the nations of Europe have
experienced," and went on to say that His Majesty's government, know-
ing him to be possessed of great talents, and with great influence in the
army and with the country, would wish to make use of him for the
laudable and honorable purpose of lending his aid in terminating this
unhappy war in an amicable reunion with the parent state. Should he
undertake it, government would amply reward him both in a lucrative
and honorary way and manner, besides making a provision for his son."
"He listened with uncommon attention," Heron continues, and replied
that it was a matter requiring deliberation and postponed it to another
opportunity. Next morning he sent for him, said he was well disposed
toward the proposition, doubted if he could influence the army, but
thought he could bring the officers of the Connecticut Line over.
6o HISTORY OF REDDING.
Other letters to the same effect followed, Heron holding out the lure
of winning over Parsons as a means of retaining the confidence of the
British and affording him a pretext for visits to the British camp, where
he used his eyes and ears with most excellent results for the patriot
cause.
To a casual reader of the above correspondence, it would appear that
both Heron and Parsons were engaged in treasonable communication
with the British, and that was the impression given when the letters were
first published. But those who know the men, and the methods by
which Washington and his generals gained their information of the
enemy's plans and movements, will see in it simply a ruse dc guerre of
a character often practiced by them and played by Heron and Parsons
in this instance with a shrewdness and nerve that must awaken our
hearty admiration. Parsons has been fully vindicated in a paper read by
Mr. J. G. Woodward before the Connecticut Historical Society in 1896.
But in that paper the author gave a very unfair and unjust portraiture
of Heron as a base and conscienceless person, who, while active in the
councils of the Whigs, was, for purposes of personal gain, selling in-
formation to the British, and endeavoring to corrupt General Parsons
as poor Arnold had shortly before been corrupted. But a brief examin-
ation of the character of Heron, of his environment, and of his later
career, will dissipate this false impression and do justice to one of the
boldest, most efficient and incorruptible patriots of the Revolutionary age.
Who was William Heron? His origin and early youth is shrouded
in mystery. He never spoke of it except to say that he was a native of
Cork, Ireland, and had been educated at Trinity College, Dublin. We
first hear of him as a teacher in the academy at Greenfield Hill ; later as
a capable surveyor and engineer laying out the colony roads. Just when
he settled in Redding does not appear, but it was sometime prior to the
Revolution. In personal appearance he was short, portly, florid, with a
deep bass voice and a countenance well calculated to disguise the true
sentiments of its owner.
General Parsons, in a letter to Washington, dated April 6, 1782, thus
describes him : 'T forgot to mention the name of Mr. William Heron of
Redding, who has for several years had opportunities of informing him-
self of the state of the enemy, their designs and intentions, with more
certainty and precision than most men who have been employed. * *
He is a native of Ireland, a man of very large knowledge and a great
share of natural sagacity, united with a sound judgment, but of as un-
meaning a countenance as any person in my acquaintance. W^ith this
appearance he is as little suspected as any man can be. An officer in the
department of the Adjutant General is a countryman and a very intimate
acquaintance of Mr. Heron, througli which channel he has been able
I
1 1 1.
Historic Houses,
RESIDENCE OF MISS EDITH EVERETT BURGESS.
Redding Centre.
On the site of this house stood in the Revolution the house of Deacon
Stephen Burr, uncle of Col. Aaron Burr. Col. Burr often visited there, and
wrote in his diary in Paris : "My Uncle Stephen lived on milk punch, and at
the age of eighty-six mounted, by the stirrup, a very gay horse and galloped
off with me twelve miles without stopping, and was, I thought, less fatigued
than I.'' (For sketch, see Connecticut Magazine, Vol. X, No. 2.)
j HISTORY OF REDDING. 6 1
frequently to obtain important and very interesting intelligence. * *
He has frequently brought me the most accurate descriptions of the j)0.sts
occupied by the enemy, and more rational accounts of their numbers,
strength and designs than I have been able to obtain in any other way.
As to his character, 1 know him to be a consistent national Whig ; he is
always in the field in any alarm and has in every trial proved himself
a man of bravery. He has a family and a considerable interest in the
state, and from the beginning of the war has invariably followed the
measures of the country. In opposition to this his enemies suggest that
he carries on illicit trade with the enemy, but I have lived two years next
door to him and am fully convinced he has never had a single article
of any kind for sale during that time. * •' I know many persons of
more exalted character are also accused ; none more than Governor Trum-
bull, nor with less reason. 1 believe the Governor and Mr. Heron as
clear of this business as I am, and I know myself to be totally free from
every thing which has the least connection with that commerce."
When the army lay in Redding in the winter of 1778-9, Parsons' head-
quarters were at Esquire Betts', on Redding Ridge, diagonally across
the wide main street from Heron's modest dwelling. It was then in
all probability that the two men first met and formed those intimate rela-
tions which led Parsons later to recommend Heron to Washington as
one of the most promising of their secret service emissaries. Together
during that winter the two men concocted a plot to outwit the British
Commanders. To the Whigs Heron was to remain a Whig. To the
Tories, then very numerous on Redding Ridge, he was to go privately
and acquaint them with the fact that he was an emissary of the British
Commander, and secretly acting as such. As occasion ofifered he was
to slip down to the British camp in New York, see and hear all that
Parsons and the patriot chief would wish to know, return and report.
When he could not go himself, he was to send, his favorite messenger
being, it is said, the gigantic Mohawk chief, Warrups, before referred
to. The way he gained the British lines was to ride to Fairfield, leave
his horse with a Tory there, cross the sound to Huntington on Long
Island, or an adjacent part, and thence make his way into the enemy's
lines at New York.
This mode of gaining information was a favorite one with Washing-
ton and his generals. For instance, Sergeant Major Champe, of Lee's
Legion, at the request of the latter, in a plot to capture the renegade
Arnold, deserted to the British, and no doubt of his treachery existed in
the minds of his comrades until his return to camp (having failed in his
object) disabused their minds. Similarly Sergeant Daniel Bissell. of
Windsor, deserted to the British for the purpose of gaining information
for his chief, was officially proclaimed a deserter, and being unable to
52 HISTORY OF REDDING.
get the desired information, or to return, remained with the British an
unwilling recruit for thirteen months. The most striking instance, how-
ever, is that of John Honeyman, of Griggstown, Pa., Washington's most
trusted scout, and of whom Stryker gives an extended account in his
"History of the Battle of Trenton." None of his comrades, not even
his wife, knew this man's true character. When Washington had a I
particularly difficult and dangerous piece of work to do, he employed
John Honeyman. Such an occasion presented itself a few days before
the famous descent on the Hessians at Trenton on Christmas night, 1776.
It was vitally necessary for the success of his plan that the Chief should
know, not only the number of the Hessians in their camp across the
Delaware from his post, but also the disposition of each regiment, the
position of every outpost, and of all scouts and videttes, together with
the personal habits of the Hessian commander and the customs of his
camp. John Honeyman was therefore sent for, secretly conducted to
headquarters and in a secret interview with the commander-in-chief was
told what was wanted and how to get it. Dressed as a drover, he went
into the Hessian camp with fat beeves to sell, loitered about like a gap-
ing rustic until he had obtained the desired information, and then, whip
in hand and with a rope dangling from his shoulders as if to tie calves,
he slouched out of the camp. Arrived outside the lines he saw two
American scouts some distance off, made prisoner of a cow in an ad-
joining barnyard, and led her off toward the British camp, snapping his
whip meantime to attract the attention of the scouts. They at once
pounced on him, bound him, carried him to American headquarters and
into the presence of Washington. Ordering out every officer the Com-
mander-in-Chief in half an hour was in possession of every fact neces-B
sary for his masterly coup. Honeyman was then placed in the guard
house with the promise of a short shrift next morning, but during the
night mysteriously escaped.
To return to Heron. The fact that he was of Irish birth is evidence
that he was a pretty good hater of the British. Another strong proof
of his patriotism is found in the fact that his townsmen were through-
out the struggle honoring him with office, or placing him on committees
to advance the patriot cause. For instance, April 2, 1777, he was placed
on a committee to hire recruits for the Continental army. June 2d,
I779> ^"^e was appointed delegate to a county convention on monetary
affairs; Dec. 27, 1780, on a committee to ascertain the length of time
certain citizens of the town had served in the army; April 16, 1781, on
Committee of Correspondence; Feb. 28, 1782, on committee to form
citizens into classes for recruiting purposes. Also for four sessions
during the war he served in the Assembly by vote of his townsmen, viz :
May, 1778; October, 1779; January, 1780; May, 1781 ; while at the close
HISTORY OF REDDING. 63
of the war, instead of being run off to Nova Scotia with the other hated
loyalists, he remained and represented his town in the legislature through
seventeen sessions, covering a period of eighteen years.
Heron, in personal bearing, was aristocratic and domineering, far
from popular, and nothing could have exacted such a tribute from his
townsmen but the fact known to them that he had performed a signal
service to their country. There is another very significant incident in
this connection. At a state banquet of members of American Union
Lodge, at Widow Sanford's (See Chapter V.), all officers. Gen. Par-
sons, as Master, presiding, Heron was given one of the most prominent
seats,* which would not have been the case had there been any question
as to his loyalty.
Heron died on Redding Ridge, Jan. 8, 1819, at the ripe old age of
seventy-seven years, and was buried in Christ Church yard. His tomb-
stone bears this inscription :
In Memory of
WiLiAM Heron, Esq.,
Who was born in the City of Cork, Ireland, 1742,
and died Jan. 8, 18 19.
I know that my Redeemer liveth and that He shall stand at the latter
day upon the earth.
CHAPTER VII.
Men of Redding in the Army of the Revolution.
Worthy of lasting honor were the men of Redding who in a time
that tried men's souls, left their homes to fight and endure for freedom
and equality in the ragged, half-starved, poorly equipped regiments of
the Continental Army. The publication by the State of Connecticut of
the rosters of all regiments and companies which served in that war, the
painstaking researches of family historians, and in particular William
E. Grumman's praiseworthy work in his "Revolutionary Soldiers of
Redding, Conn.," enable us to present here what is believed to be a com-
plete list of all citizens of the town who served by land or by sea in the
historic struggle.
*I have this from a citizen of Redding, a leading Mason, who informs me
that there is in existence, very jealously guarded by its owner, a book containing
a chart or plan of the table at this banquet, with the position of each guest in-
dicated thereon. My informant had seen the book, and the position occupied by
Heron was as above mdicated.
64
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Adams, Abraham — 5th Regt. Conn. Line, in Northern Army, 1775,
and saw service at St. Johns and Montreal. Dis. Nov. 28, 1775. Next
enlisted Sept. 27, 1777, for 8 mos. in 5th Regt. Conn. Continental Line.
Dis. Jan. 9, 1778. Was a pensioner.
Adams, Hezekiah — He was too young to serve as a soldier, but
joined the army as a teamster and on one occasion drove a wagon loaded
with Spanish milled dollars to Baltimore. D., Dec. 25. t8iq: b. in Lone-
town Cemetery.
Adams, Stephen — Brother of Hezekiah. Was in the 4th Regt.
Conn. Militia in the Fishkill Campaign, Octo., 1777. Enlisted in a Regt.
of Artificers, Mass. Line ; never returned. Supposed to have d. on the
prison ship Jersey in New York Harbor.
Andrews, Francis — Corp. in 4th Conn. Mil. in Fishkill campaign.
Appointed inspector of provisions, Mch. 13, 1780. (Name spelled "An-
dress" in records.)
Andrews, Jonathan — Private, 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill campaign.
Enlisted June 21, 1776, in Bradley's Battalion. Taken prisoner at Fort
Washington, N. Y., Nov. 16, 1776.
Andrews, Seth — On duty Oct., 1779. to guard the shore of Long-
Island Sound.
Barber, Bartholomew — Private in Bradley's Battalion, June 11 ta
Dec. 25, 1776. Corp., 5th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line, Mch. 4, 1777, for
3 years. Dis., Mar. 4, 1780.
Barlow, Aaron — Colonel, Lieut. The personal friend of General
Putnam. With the 5th Conn. Regt. in the Northern Campaign of 1775.
Disch. Nov. 28, 1775. Ensign, 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign.
Mem. Com. of Inspection, Dec. 22, 1777. From April, 1780, served 9^
mos. as Lieut, in Col. Beebe's Regt. of State troops on the Westchester
front. i\lay, 1781, Lieut, of Coast Guards at Green's Farms. Lieut.-
Col. 4th Conn. Mil., 1794-99. Died in Norfolk, Va., in 1800. (For
sketch, see Chap. IX.)
Barlow, Joel— Poet. Chaplain of 4th Mass. Brigade. D. near
Cracow. Poland, Dec. 24, 1812. (For sketch see Chap. IX.)
Barlow, Samuel — Brother of above. Served in the 5th Regt. Conn.
Line, in Northern Campaign. Disc. Nov. 28, 1775. On his way home
sickened and died at the house of David Mulford, in Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
An inscription on the tombstone of his father, Samuel Barlow, Sr., in
the old b. g. Redding, states: "His son, Mr. Samuel Barlow, resigned
his breath in the service of his country. He died and was buried at
HISTORY OF REDDING. 65
lynbeck 011 his return from the victory of St. Johns and Montreal, Jan.
;6, A. D. 1776, aged 2^ years.
Thus age and youth without distinction fall,
Death is the common lot prepared for all."
Bartlett, Daniel Collins — Son of Rev. Nathaniel. Served in
;th Regt. Conn. Line, and was present at the capture of St. Johns, Nov.
775. Disc. Nov. 28, 1775, and volunteered to accompany Montgomery
.gainst Quebec. Shared in the privations of that abortive campaign,
served in the levies gathered to defend Danbury in 1777, and as a private
)f the 5th Conn. Regt. in the Fishkill Campaign of the same year. D.,
)ec. 13, 1837, in Amenia, N. Y.
Bartlett, Russell — Bro. of above. Fifer in 6th Co., 5th Regt.
"onn. Line. Served in Northern Campaign. Disc, Dec. 11, 1775-
Vpr. 26, 1777, captured at Danbury by Tryon's dragoons and confined
n the old sugar house in New York, enduring its horrofs ; was released
nd returned home. Settled at Hartwick, near Cooperstown, N. Y. D.,
^ov. 21, 1828, and is buried at Cooperstown, near James Fenimore
Tooper, the novelist.
Bartram, Daniel — Served with the militia in Tryon's alarm, April,.
.y/y. Probably the Daniel Bartram who served in Major Starr's Regt.
)f Light Horse, at Fairfield in 1780-1.
Bartram, Isaac — Private in Regt. of Artificers, Mass. Line. En-
isted from Danbury, Aug. 22, 1777, for 3 years. Pensioned from Mch.
>4, 1818. D., Sept. 13, 1843; buried in Lonetown Cemetery. Grand-
ather of ex-State Senator Isaac N. Bartram of Sharon. Noted for his
;;kill as a worker in stone.
Bates, Ezra— Enlisted, June, 1776, in ist Battalion, Wadsworth's
Brigade ; served 6 mos. ; engaged in the battle of White Plains, N. Y.,
Oct. 28, 1776. Re-enlisted, Oct., 1778, and served 6 mos. as teamster,
md in 1780, 9 mos. in a Regt. of State troops on the Westchester front.
n spring of 1782, he enlisted in the ist Regt. Conn. Cont. Line, and
erved 8 mos. and 16 days. Disc, Jan. i, 1783.
Bates, Justus — Corp. 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign.
Batterson, Jeremiah — In 5th Regt. Conn. Line, Northern Cam-
)aign. Disc, Nov. 28, 1775. In 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign.
Belding, Moses — His family received supplies from the town in
780. Record unknown.
Bennett, Daniel— In Lt. Col. Canfield's Militia Regt. at West
^oint, Sept., 1781. Probably the Freeman of that name on rolls of 5th
56 HISTORY OF REDDING.
I
Regt. Conn. Line, May 12 to Dec. 13, 1775, and in Col. Sam. Elmore's
Regt. at Fort Schuyler (formerly Stanwix) in 1776.
Betts, Stephen — Taken prisoner in Tryon's Raid, 1777, being select-
man at the time; carried to New York, but released and returned home.
Private in 4th Regt. Conn. Mil. in Fishkill Campaign. Is called Lieut.
in the records. Intimate friend of Gen. Parsons and of Heron, 1778-9.
BiXBY, Elias — Private, 5th Regt. Conn. Line, Northern Campaign.,
Disc, Nov. 28, 1775. Enlisted for the war, Dec. 20, 1776, in 5th Regt..
Conn. Cont. Line; promoted Corp., Nov. i, 1778; Sergt., Mch. 3, 1779. 1;
Dis., Dec. 20, 1779. In the assault on Stony Point, July 15, 1779.
Brothwell, Benjamin — Served five terms in the militia under ;var-
ious alarms.
Burr, Ezekiel — Corp. in 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign, Oct.,
1777-
Burr, Jabez — Private, 5th Regt. Conn. Line, in Northern Campaign.!
Disc, Oct. 3, 1777. Was at Battle of White Plains, Oct. 28, 1776, and;
at the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga a year later. Died in Fairfield,
Vt., June 28, 1825.
Burr, Nathan — Bro. of above. Enlisted in Col. Elmore's Regt., j
1776, and later with Capt. Satterlee. Discharged for inability. Re- '
moved to Pawling, N. Y., where his des. reside, substantial men in thei
community. 1!
Burr, Stephen — Private in 4th Conn. Militia, Fishkill Campaign. ||
Burrett, Phillip — Sergt., 4th Conn. Mil. Fishkill Campaign.
Byington, John — In 5th Regt. Conn. Line, Northern Campaign.1
Disc, Oct. 15, 1775. Enlisted, Aug. 13, 1776, in Bradley's Battalion,;
Wadsworth's Brig. Served at Fort Washington, N. Y. Disc, Dec. 25,;
1776. ]\Ich. 13, 1780, appointed Inspector of Provisions. D., Jan. 26,
1834 ; bur. at Umpawaug, Redding.
CoBURN, Edward — Hired to fill the quota of the town of Redding,
and was assigned to Waterbury's State Brigade.
CoLEY, Gershom — Sergt. 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign. Mchi
13, 1780, chosen Inspector of Provisions.
CoLEY, James — Private 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign.
CoLEY, Nathan — In 5th Conn. Regt. in Northern Campaign. Disc.,.
Oct. 15, 1775. Enlisted for the war in 5th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line, Apr;
19. ^777- Corporal in 1778; Sergt., 1780. D., x\pr. 18, 1781.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 6/
Couch, Daniel — 5th Regt. Conn. Line, Northern Campaign. Disc,
July 4, 1775-
Couch, Daniel, Jr. — Enlisted in 4th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line, Jan. i,
1781, and received a bounty of £30.
Couch, Elijah — Served in New York in Major Skinner's Regt. of
Light Horse, June 11 to Aug. 3, 1776. Private. 4th Conn. Mil., Fish-
kill Campaign, 1777.
Davis, John — Lieut. Com. 9th Co., 4th Conn. Mil, 1776. Died the
same year.
Davis, John — Probably son of above. Served in various commands.
He continued in the militia service after the war and rose to be captain.
Died Oct. 15, 1840.
Dickenson, Lockwood — Enlisted in 20th Light Dragoons, under
Col. Elisha Sheldon, Sept. 14, 1780. Killed Mch. 14, 1782.
Dixon, James — Private, 4th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line, 1781. Enlist-
ed for the war and served in the Light Infantry under Lafayette. Com-
pleted his service in 2d Regt. Conn. Cont. Line.
Fairchild, David — In 5th Regt. Conn. Line, Northern Campaign.
Disc, Oct. 22, 1775. Captured in the Danbury Raid. Confined in Trin-
ity Church, N. Y. D., a prisoner. May 16, 1777.
Fairchild, Ezekiel — Brother of above. Also taken prisoner and
carried to N. Y. Returned. Made Inspector of Provisions, Mch. 13,
1780.
Fairchild, Is.\ac — Brother of above. In 5th Regt. Conn. Line,
Northern Campaign. Disc, Oct., 1775.
Fairchild, John — In 5th Regt. Conn. Line. Disc, Oct., 1775. En-
listed, Aug. 13, 1776, for defense of the state. Disc, Dec. 25, 1776.
Fairchild, Samuel — Corp. 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign, 1777.
Fairchild, Stephen — Private, 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign.
Wounded at Ridgefield, Apr. 27, 1777. The above six brothers were all
in the service at one time.
Fitch, Dr. Asahel — Surgeons' mate, 5th Regt. Conn. Line, in
Northern Campaign, 1775. Served as a private in 4th Conn. Mil., Fish-
kill Campaign. D.,^Mch. 31, 1793.
Foster, Timothy — Served in Lt. Col. Canfield's Mil. Regt. at West
Point, Sept., 1781.
Gold, Samuel— Enlisted Apr., 1775, in 5th Regt. Conn. Line, for
Northern Campaign, 1775. Jan., 1776, Sergt. under Capt. Isaac Hil-
68 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Hard. Sergt. in Wadsworth's Brig, from Apr., 1776, to Jan., 1777.
Was in the Danbury Raid, and wounded at Ridgefield. Corp. in the 4th
Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign.
Gray, Capt. John — One of the notable men of the town. He early
enlisted in the 4th Conn. Mil., Capt. Johnson Read's Co. (largely made
up of Redding men), and in Jan., 1778, succeeded to the command of
that company. _ While commanded by him the company marched in the
New Haven alarm, July 7th, 1779, and was in action at Norwalk, July
nth. He commanded the coast guards at Fairfield for a time, and after
the war was much in public life. He m. Ruhamah, half sister to Joel
Barlow, Aug. 7, 1757, and after filling many offices in the gift of his
townsmen, d. Oct. 25, 1793, and was bur. in the Old Burying Ground.
Gregory, Jabez — Private, 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign, 1777.
Griffin, Joseph — Private, 4th Conn. Mil, Fishkill Campaign. In
1777 enlisted for 3 years in Lt. Col. Jonathan Baldwin's Regt. of Ar-
tificers.
Griffin, Morris — 5th Regt., Northern^ Campaign, 1775. Later sea-
man on the Colony brig "Defense," Mch. 21 to June 22, 1776.
Hawley, Capt. William — A leading citizen. May, 1776, commis-
sioned 2d Lieut, of Capt. Elijah Abel's Co. State Troops; promoted ist
Lieut. June following. Oct., 1776, com. ist Lieut, in one of the eight
battalions then being raised. Lieut. 4th Conn. Mil. at Fairfield, Apr.,
1777, also in the Fishkill Campaign, Oct., 1777, and was appointed Com-
missary of the Fourth Militia Brigade. Was Capt. in 1780. He held
various town offices and rep. the town in the Genefal Assembly at most
of its sessions during the historic struggle. He d. Feb. 16, 1797, and
was bur. in the Old Burying Ground.
Hendrick, Josiah — Private, 4th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line. Enlisted
for 3 years, Jan. i, 1781, for £30 bounty.
Hendrix, Obed — Private, 4th Regt. Conn. Mil. Reported for re-
fusing to march to Fairfield when called out by Capt. Gray, his com-
manding officer, to oppose Tryon's landing, 1779. The Court, after
hearing the evidence, decided that the defendant was not guilty of the
matters alleged, and dismissed the case without costs.
HiLLARD, Isaac (Hilliard?) — Com. Lieut, in ist Bat. Conn. State
troops to serve from Nov., 1776, to Mch., 1777.
Hilliard, Thurston — Enlisted for the war as private in Lt. Col.
Jonathan Baldwin's Regt. of Artificers, Mass. Line. Wounded at York-
town by a splintered timber. Was a pensioner, beginning Sept. 4, 1794-
HISTORY OF REDDING. 6o
Milliard, William — Served in the 4th Conn. Mil., 15 days in Apr.,
1777. The succeeding Nov. enHsted as private in Lt. Col. Baldwin's
Regt. of Artificers, Mass. Line.
Hopkins, Henry — M. Mary Burr of Redding, July 26, 1763, and
then probably became a resident of the town. Was in the 5th Regt.
Conn. Line in the Northern Campaign, 1775. Corp. in the 5th Regt.
Conn. Cont. Line, Mch. 10, 1777; was reduced, Sept. i, 1779, and disc,
Mch. 10, 1780. He re-enlisted Jan. i, 1781, for 3 years, for £30 bounty,
and was assigned to the 2d Regt. Conn. Cont. Line. Later he was in
Col. Heman Swift's Regt. of the final formation. Is said to have served
every year of the war.
HoYT, William — Private, 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign, 1777.
Later in Lt. Col. Baldwin's Regt. of Artificers, Mass. Line.
Hull, Ezra — Served 4 mos. at New York in Col. David Waterbury's
Regt., 1776; 3 mos., from March, 1776, in Col. Gold Selleck Silliman's
Regt. (of Fairfield). Was in the Danbury Raid, the Fishkill Campaign,
1777, in the coast guards, and was called out under various "Alarms."
Was a pensioner, beginning Mch. 4, 1831. D. Mch. 5, 1837.
Hull, James — Private, 4th Regt. Conn. Mil, Fishkill Campaign.
Hull, John — Private, 4th Regt. Conn. Mil, Fishkill Campaign. In
team service 1778-9, drawing provisions to the winter encampment at
Redding.
Hull, John, Jr. — Son of above. In 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Cam-
paign. D., Apr. 7, 1838.
Hull, Lieut. Nehemiah — Lieut. 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign,
1777. In Jan., 1778, commissioned by the Legislature, Lieut, "of the
9th Co. or train band of the 4th Regiment this State." Filled many
town offices.
Hull, Zalmon — Private, 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign. Fam-
ily tradition says as teamster. D., May 18, 1839.
Jenkins, Calvin — Enlisted Apr. i, 1778, as musician, 5th Regt.
Conn. Cont. Line, and served to the end of the war. Pensioner, begin-
ning Nov. II, 1818. Lived in Lonetown.
Lines, David — In Lt. Col. Samuel Canfield's Regt. of Militia, at
West Point, Sept., 1781.
Lines, John — Probably in 2d Regt. Conn. Cont. Line. Received
£30 bounty in 178 1-2. His family was cared for by the town during
his army service.
70
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Main, Ezekiei^Iii the 9th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line, from Aug. 26
to Dec. 16, 1779.
Mallorv, Daniel, Jr.— 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign, 1777.
Later in Col. Canfield's Mil. Regt. guarding Horseneck.
Mallory, John— Private, 4th Conn. Mil. Failed to report on being
called out to resist the enemy at Fairfield. Reported to County Court
by his superior officer, Capt. John Gray. Seems to have made a good
defense, as the Court dismissed the case without costs to the defendant.
Marchant — (Merchant) — In 7th Regt. Conn. Line in the Northern
Campaign, 1775; later in Col. Bradley's Bat. from Aug. 13 to Dec. 25,
1776.
Marchant, Gurdon — Private in Lt. Col. Baldwin's Rgt. of Arti-
ficers, Mass. Line.
Marchant, Joel — Enlisted in Col. Phillip B. Bradley's Bat. July 3,
1776. Taken prisoner at Fort Washington, N. Y., but returned home.
Served at various "alarms " for short periods. Was wounded at Nor-
walk, July 11, 1779, on the British retreat from Ridgefield. Was a
pensioner. D., Mch. 24, 1844.
Marchant, John — In 7th Regt. Conn. Line, July 10 to Dec. 23,
1775. Corp. Bradley's Bat. June 21 to Dec. 25, 1776.
Meeker, Seth — Private 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign, d. Feb.
5, 1829.
Meeker, Stephen — 5th Regt. Conn. Line, Northern Campaign, 1775.
Enlisted for the war in 5th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line. Does not appear
on the rolls of May, 1778. Appears in a list of soldiers dis. or deserted
previous to January, 1780. Appears on the rolls of Capt. Parsons' Co.
2d Regt. Conn. Cont. Line, June, 1780, as Sergeant. His Regt. was con-
solidated with the 9th in 1781 as the 3d, and Stephen Meeker was drafted
from this Regt. into the picked Light Infantry Bat., commanded by the
Marquis de Lafayette, when he was promoted to be Sergt. His company
formed part of the column of Alajor Girnat which stormed a redoubt at
Yorktown.
Merritt, Ebenezer — Teamster, Oct. 1778. Re-enlisted Apr. i, 1779,
for one year, 4th Conn. Mil. In October, 1779, hired a substitute. En-
listed for 8 m'os. in the 8th Regt. Conn. Line, served till Jan. 15th, 1780.
Monroe. Daniel — Private 5th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line ; also served
in Capt. Taylor's Light Infantry, 2d Regt. Conn. Gont. Line.
Morehouse, Aaron — Fifer in Col. Silliman's Regt. at battle of Long
Island. Enlisted Nov. i, 1775, at the age of 16. Was with his Regt.
when it covered the retreat from New York City, Sept., 1776. Was in
HISTORY OF REDDIXG. J I
various "alarms" in the State militia. Served in Capt. Gershom More-
house's Co. (his father) during the FishkiJl Campaign. He removed to
Newtown, Conn., and died there Dec. 3, 1833, 'but is buried in Christ
Churchyard, Redding Ridge. He was a pensioner.
Morehouse, Billy — Brother of above. In the 4th Regt. Conn. Mil.
Also cited before the County Court at Fairfield for failure to march to the
relief of Fairfield in 1779, but satisfied the Court that he had a reasonable
excuse, as the complaint was dismissed without costs.
Morehouse, Elijah — Private 4th Conn. Mil. in the Fishkill Cam-
paign, 1777.
Morehouse, Capt. Gershom — A prominent citizen, enlisted as a
private but was soon commissioned 1st Lieut, ist Bat. Wads worth's
Brigade, and later promoted to a captaincy. He led "his company at the
battle of White Plains, N. Y., Oct. 28, 1776, and after it went out with
a flag of truce and met his son-in-law, a captain in the British army.
Later he served as 'Captain in the 4th Conn. Mil. in the Fishkill Cam-
paign, 1777. Filled various town offices. D. Jan. 22, 1805. (See
Morehouse Family, Chap. XXHL)
Morgan, Joseph — Also cited before the County Court to answer for
not marching with Capt. Gray's Company to the relief of Fairfield in
1779. He appeared and made so good a defence that the Court dis-
missed the case without costs.
Osborn, David — Sergt. 4th Conn. Mil. in Fishkill Campaign, 1777.
Parsons, Abraham — 'Enlisted while a boy. Was in the battle of
White Plains and in other parts of Westchester Co. In the skirmish at
Horseneck under Putnam, Feb. 25, 1779. Was a private in Col. Water-
bury's Regt. of State troops, 1781. After the war Mr. Parsons m. Urana
'Starr and settled on Gallows Hill, near one of the "Camps" of 1778-9.
He was a well educated man and full of anecdotes of Geneial Putnam
and other officers. He often drew vivid pictures of the privations en-
dured by the soldiers at the Camp which he himself had seen and
endured. He died in Ridgefield, March 16, 1852, at the ripe age of 88
years and 25 days.
Parsons. Daniel — Brother of above. Served five terms in the Rev-
olutionary army ; mostly in the 4th Conn. Militia. Rem. to Veteran,
Tioga Co., N. Y. Was a pensioner.
Parsons, Timothy — Captured by the British in the Danbury Raid
and carried to New York. Was a native of Norwalk but long a resident
of Redding, d. Nov. 30, 1810.
Patchen, Andrew — In 5th Conn. Regt. Northern Campaign. 1775.
n
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Patchen, Ebenezer— Private 5th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line for 3 yrs.
from Jan. 11, 1777. Tradition says he was the soldier wlio saved the
life of Arnold at Ridgefield, Apr. 27, 1777, by shooting a British soldier
who was aiming at the General.
Patchen, Jacob — Made prisoner in the Danbury Raid but escaped.
Private in the 4th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line for 3 years from Jan. i, 1781.
Was a pensioner.
Patchen, Martin — In 5th Regt., Conn. Line, in the Northern Cam-
paign, 1775. Mch. II, 1776, enlisted as seaman on the Colony brig "De-
fence," Capt. Seth Harding.
Perry, George — In 5th Conn. Regt., Northern Campaign. Sergt.
4t'h Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign, 1777.
Perry, Isaac — Daniel Perry received an order on the Colony treas-
urer for four shillings and sixpence for getting Isaac Perry, "a lame
soldier," home from the Northern Camp. He was in Capt. Zalmon
Read's Company, Col. Waterbury's Regt.
Platt, Isaac — An artificer in Col. Baldwin's Regt. of the Mass. Line.
Was a pensioner, d. Oct. 19, 1824.
Pl.\tt, Jonas — ^Made prisoner in the Danbury Raid. Private 4th
Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign, Oct. 1777. Recruit for the Cont. Army,
1780, for 3 mos. and received a bounty.
Platt, Samuel — ^Private in Col. Baldwin's Regt. of Artificers, Mass.
Line, for 3 yrs. from Dec. 24, 1777. Was a pensioner.
Platt, Zebulon — In 4th Conn. Mil. Was tw^ice reported by Capt.
Gray for failure to march with his company (Gray's) ; first, June 3, 1779,
to the North River "to join the troops there assembled and Defend
Against the enemies of the United States of America," and 2d, on July
7, 1779, "to march to Fairfield to join the troops there collecting to op-
pose the enemy." On the first count the Court found him not guilty but
levied the costs, "£30 lawful money," on him. On the second he was
found not guilty and the case was dismissed without costs.
Plummer, David — Enlisted from Redding, 178 1-2, received a bounty
of £30.
Read, Capt. Zalmon — He was a son of Col. John Read of Lonetown
Manor, and first entered the service in May, 1775, when he was commis-
sioned Captain of the loth Co., 5th Regt., Conn. Line for the Northern
Campaign. He served throughout that with honor and was discharged
Nov. 28, 1775. The next year found him at the defense of New York
as Captain of the 2d Co., ist Bat. Wads worth's Brig, of the Conn. State
troops. In March, 1777, he was in command of his old Company of the
HISTORY OF REDDING.
73
4th Regfiment and served in the Danbury Raid. In the Fishkill Cam-
paign he distinguished himself and received special mention. No further
record of service. Later mention of the name no doubt refers to his
son. D., Jan. 15, 1801.
Read, Ensign Zalmon — Son of above. Private in 4th Conn. Mil.,
Fishkill Campaign, 1777. Jan. i, 1781, was com. by Gen. Parsons En-
sign in the ist Regt. Conn. Cont. Line, and served mostly in the High-
lands until the disbandment of the army. He was a pensioner dating
from March 4, 183 1, receiving an annual allowance of $240. He died
Oct. 3, 1846, and is buried in the Read b. g.
Remong (Raymond?), Samuel — Enlisted Apr. i, 1778, 2d Regt.
Conn. Cont. Line. Deserted ; rejoined ; again deserted and was mustered
out May, 1780. Joined the Corps of Sappers and Miners Sept. 8, 1780,
and is supposed to 'have been at Yorktown, 1781. Was in the service as
late as 1783.
RoBBiNS, Ephraim — Was in Capt. Gershom Morehouse's Company
in the Fishkill Campaign. Was on various committees of the town, and
is said to have removed, where is not known.
Rogers, Ensign Joseph — Was Ensign in the 2d Regt. Conn. Cont.
Line and served from the spring of 1781 to the end of the war. Rem.
to Putnam Co., N. Y., after the war. Was a pensioner.
RuMSEY, Jeremiah — Served in the 2d Regt. Conn. Cont. Line from
Apr. 26, 1782 to Jan. i, 1783.
RuMSEY, John — ^Private 7th Regt Conn. Line, July to Dec. 1775.
Enlisted May 21, 1777, for the war and was in the 2d Regt. formation of
1783. Rem. to Vermont. Was a pensioner.
RuMSEY, Nathan — Was in the Northern Campaign in the 5th Regt.
Conn. Line. Disc. Nov. 28, 1775. Enlisted May 21, 1777, for the war,
-and was assigned to the 7th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line. Deserted August,
1780, but returned.
Ryan, Jeremiah — In the Northern Campaign, 5th Regt. Conn. Line.
Enlisted 1776, and served at Fort Schuyler: again Apr. 29, 1777, in the
2d Regt. Cont. Artillery and served as "bombardier" until 1 780-1. Called
"Green Jimmy" by his comrades.
Salmon, Col. Asahel — Served in various commands from the be-
ginning of the war. First in McDougal's N. Y. Regt. for 10 mos. and in
tlie 19th Continental Line. Was in the 4th Conn. Mil. in the Fishkill
Campaign and attained the rank of Sergt. From April, 1780, served 9
mos. in Col. Bezaleel Beebe's Regt. of State troops. From Feb., 1781, to
June 1783, he served in the 8th Regt. Conn. Cont, Line, second formation.
tjA HISTORY OF REDDING.
He remained in the militia service after the war and rose to be Lt.-Col..
of the 4th Conn. Mil. Pie was a pensioner.
Salmon, Gershom — In the 5th Regt. Conn. Line in the Northern
Campaign. Later served as private in the 4th Conn. Mil, Fis'hkill Cam-
paign.
Sanford, Aaron — Served in the 5th Regt. Conn. Line in the North-
ern Campaign, 1/75, and in the 4th Conn. Mil. in the Fishkill Campaign,
1777.
Sanford, David — A private in the 4th Conn. Mil. at the defense of
New York in June, 1776, and fought at White Plains October 28 of that
year, and was furloughed on account of sickness. Was in the Danbury
Raid and in the action at Ridgefield ; was also in the Fishkill Campaign,
and in several "alarms" at Fairfield and Norwalk. d. June 15, 1787.
Sanford, Ebenezer — ^In 1779 w-as in the coast guard at Green's
Farms, and in various alarms. In 1780 enlisted in the Regt. of State
troops commanded by Col. Bezaleel Beebe, and served 9 mos.
Sanford, Ezekiel — 'Com. Lieut, in 5th Regt. Conn. Line for the
Northern Campaign, 1775. Was ist Lieut, in Wadsworth's Brig, in the
defense of New York, 1776. In 1777, appointed Capt. in the 5th Regt.
Conn. Cont. Line; resigned Mch. 17, 1778. January, 1780, aippointed
Capt. in the 2d Regt. then being raised to defend the State, but declined.
He served on various town committees during the war. Was a pensioner.
d. Mch. 8, 1808.
Sanford, Ezra — Private, 4th Conn. Mil., Fishkill Campaign, 1777.
Sanford, James — Served throughout the war, first as a teamster.
In 1779-80-81, he was drafted for service in the coast guard at various
times and performed his duties acceptably. He was a pensioner.
Sanford, Seth — Ensign in the 4th Conn. Mil. in the Fishkill Cam-
paign, 1777. Was much in public life, holding various town offices.
Sherwood, Jehiel — Ensign 4th Conn. Mil., January, 1780.
Sherwood, Nehemiah — Served in various alarms under different
commanders. Pensioned in 1832.
Sherwood, Thomas— Private, 4th Conn. Mil., in the Fishkill Cam-
paign, 1777.
Smith, Erastus— A soldier in the 4th Regt. Conn. Mil. ; was haled
before the County Court at Fairfield in 1779, for refusing to march with
his regiment to the North River, and fined the costs, £22, i6s., though
the Court found him not guilty of the charge.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 75
Springer, John — Enlisted from Redding for £30 bounty, but desert-
ed June 26, 1 78 1.
Springer, Whala — Enlisted from Feb. 7, 1781, for bounty of £30.
Served acceptably and was disc. 1784.
Sturges, David — In 5th Conn. Regt. in the Northern Campaign,
1775, and in the 4th Conn. Mil. in the Fishkill Campaign, 1777.
Thompson, James — Enlisted from Redding, 1781, for £30 bounty.
Thorp, Lyman— In Col. Baldwin's Regt. of Artificers for 3 years.
Weeks, Micajah — Entered the Cont. service in 1776. Served in
various commands and had a somewhat remarkable career as a fighting
man. He fought in the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Germantown,
Monmouth, Stony Point and Yorktown, acquitting himself creditably in
each. Served five years. Was a pensioner. Rem. to Delaware Co., N.
Y., and d. Mch. 27, 1826.
Wheeler, Ephraim — Enlisted, May 12, 1777, for the war and was
' assigned to the 5th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line; he deserted Nov. 23, 1777;
rejoined the ranks, Apr., 1779, and again deserted, Feb. 10, 1780.
White Charles — Was in the 5th Conn. Regt. in the Northern Cam-
paign, 1775, and afterward served in the militia.
Williams, Jabez — Enlisted in the 5th Regt. Conn. Cont. Line, Dec.
16, 1776. Rem. to New Milford, Vt., about 1784.
Wilson, Isaac — Enlisted for the war Mch. 7, 1779.
Youngs, Christopher — Enlistd, 1781-2, for a bounty of £30.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Redding Loyalist Association and the Loyalists.
For many years after the Revolution the term ''Tory" was one of
reproach, of approbrium ; it conveyed not only reprobation, but detesta-
tion and contempt. Within the past few years, however, since the close
of our own civil war, a kindlier feeling toward the men who were loyal
to their king and country and did their duty as they saw it has obtained.
As a rule the loyalists were men of culture, wealth, refinement, and
leaders in their respective communities. In Redding at the outbreak of
the struggle, they were very numerous, so many indeed, and of so much
ability that they formed a "Reading Loyalist Association," and drew up
76
HISTORY OF REDDING.
a series of "Resolutions," which they sent to James Rivington's Gazet-
teer, the government organ in New York City, with a preamble as fol-
lows:
"Mr. Rivington : In the present critical situation of publick affairs,
we, the subscribers, Freeholders and Inhabitants of the town of Read-
ing and the adjoining parts in the County of Fairfield, and Colony of
Connecticut, think it necessary (through the columns of your paper) to
assure the publick that we are open enemies to any change in the present
happy Constitution, and highly disapprove of all measures in any degree
calculated to promote confusion and disorder ; for which purpose and
in order to avoid the general censure, incurred by a great part of this
colony from the mode of conduct here adopted for the purpose of oppos-
ing the British Government, we have entered into the following resolves
and agreements, viz :
First. Resolved, That while we enjoy the privileges and immunities
of the British Constitution we will render all due obedience to his most
Gracious Majesty King George the Third, and that a firm dependence
on the Mother Country is essential to our political safety and happiness.
Second. Resolved, That the privileges and immunities of this Con-
stitution are yet (in a good degree) continued to all his Majesty's
American subjects, except those who, we conceive, have justly forfeited
their right thereto.
Third. Resolved, That we supposed the Continental Congress was
constituted for the purpose of restoring harmony between Great Britain
and her colonies and removing the displeasure of his Majesty toward his
American subjects, whereas on the contrary some of their resolutions
appear to us immediately calculated to widen the present unhappy breach,
counteract the first principles of civil society, and in a great degree
abridge the privileges of their constituents.
Fourth. Resolved, That notwithstanding we will in all circumstances
conduct with prudence and moderation we consider it an indispensable
duty we owe to our King and Constitution, our Country and posterity,
to defend, maintain and preserve at the risk of our lives and properties
the prerogatives of the Crown, and the privileges of the subject from all
attacks by any rebellious body of men, any Committees of Inspection,
Correspondence, &c.
("Signed by one hundred and forty-one Inhabitants whose names
are to be seen at the Printer's." — adds Rivington.)
The effect of this document on the patriots of Redding was like that
of a red flag on a bull. They at once set to work to discover its signers
HISTORY OF REDDING.
n
and presently made public in a circular the entire list so far as they be-
longed in Redding. It was given out by the Committee of Observation
under this preamble :
"Whereas, There was a certain number of resolves published — and
whereas said Resolves are injurious to the rights of this Colony, and
breathe a spirit of enmity and opposition to the rights and liberties of all
America and are in direct opposition to the Association of the Con-
tinental Congress : and notwithstanding said resolutions were come into
with a (seeming) view to secure the said signers some extraordinary
privileges and immunities, yet either through negligence in the printer
or upon design of the subscribers, said signed names are not made pub-
lick — and now if there be any advantage in adopting those principles we
are willing they should be entitled there to ; and for which end and for
the more effectual carrying into execution said Association we have
taken some pains and by the assistance of him who carried said resolves
to said Printer we have obtained the whole of said names. But as we
mean not to publish the names of any except those who belong to said
Reading, their names are as follows :
David Knap^ Daniel Morehouse,
Andrew Knap, Ephraim Deforest,
Daniel Lyon, Lazarus Beach,
Nehemiah Seelye, Jr. Seth Hull,
Stephen Lacy, Hezekiah Platt,
James Adams, Zebulon Platt,
Zaccheus jNIorehouse, Timothy Platt,
Ephraim Whitlock, Lazarus Wheeler,
Jabez Lyon,
Prince Hawse,
Andrew Patch en,
EzEKiEL Hill,
David Manrow,
Obed Hendrix,
Isaac Platt,
Enos Lee,
John Lee,
Nathaniel Barlow,
AsAEL Patchen,
Benjamin Sturgis,
Ebenezer Sturgis,
William Lee,
Seth Banks,
David Turney,
John Sanford,
Joshua Hall,
Jonathan Knap,
James Gray,
Peter Lyon,
John Drew,
John Lyon,
John Mallery,
John Raymond,
Eli Lyon,
Enos Wheeler,
Da\id Crowfoot,
Thomas Munson,
Nehemiah Seely,
Charles IMcNeil,
Stephen Betts,
Ephraim Meeker,
John Layne,
Jonathan Meeker,
Samuel Hawley,
Jonathan Mallery,Jr.
John Seymour,
Jesse Bearsele,
Darling Oyer,
Ebenezer Williams,
Paul Bartram,
John Gyer,
Abel Burr,
Shubael Bennett,
John Picket,
John Picket, Jr.,
James Morgan,
Nathaniel Oyer,
Asa Norton,
Eleazur Olmstead,
Isaac Bunnell,
Thaddeus Manrow,,.
Joseph Gyer,
John Sherwood,
Simeon Munger,
Joseph Burr.
78
HISTORY OF REDDING.
The Committee adds :
"There are only forty-two Freeholders in the above number. There
are several minors, &c., to make the above number of seventy-four that
belong to said Reading, and we hereby hold them up to the publick as
opposers to the Association of said Congress.
Signed by order of the Committee of Observation for said town of
Reading,
Ebenezer Couch,
Chairman."
The "Association" met this by publishing the entire list of signers,
one hundred and forty-two in all, and the war began in earnest. Not
all of those who had signed were ardent adherents to the British cause,
and a little "pressure," which the Whigs well knew how to apply, soon
won them over to the patriot cause. Others were loyalists from innate
conviction, and these were treated with such severity that they fled into
the forests and caves of the earth, whence, wherever possible, they made
their way into the British lines. The story of the suffering and sacrifices
of a few of them may properly find a place in these annals.
Their most trusted and beloved leader was no doubt the Rev. John
Beach, Rector of Christ Episcopal Church on Redding Ridge.* Obe-
dience to his king was to him as obligatory as obedience to his God, and
neither threats nor persecution could move him from the path of duty.
He was not active ; he signed an agreement not to take up arms for the
British cause; also one not to discourage enlistments in the American
army (a paper signed by many of the loyalists in the fall of 1775) ; but
in the use of the Liturgy in the church service he steadfastly refused to
omit the prayers for the king, a position which soon brought upon him
the active persecution of the Whigs. In 1888 there was found among
the papers of Charles Beach, great grandson of the stern preacher, the
following letter, which speaks for itself :
" Redding, Feb. 12th, 1778.
"Dear Sir : We have no disposition to restrain or limit you or others
in matters of conscience. But understanding that you, in your Public
Worship, still continue to pray that the King of Great Britain may be
strengthened to vanquish and overcome all his enemies, which manner of
praying must be thought to be a great insult upon the Laws, Authority,
and People of this State, as you and others can but know that the King
of England has put the People of these United States from under his
protection. Declared them Rebels, and is now at open war with said
States, and consequently we are his enemies.
'''See Chapter x.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
/9
"Likewise you must have understood that the American States have
declared themselves independent of any Foreign Power — Now Sir, in
order that we may have peace and quietness at home among ourselves,
we desire that for the future you would omit praying in Public that
King George the third or any other foreign Prince, or Power, may
vanquish, etc., the People of this Land.
"Your compliance herewith may prevent you trouble.
"We are. Rev. Sir, with due Respect, your obedient humble servants.
"To the Revd. John Beach.
Lem'l Sanford,
Wm. Hawley,
Justices.
Hezekiah Sanford,
Seth Sanford,
Thad. Benedict,
John Grey,
Wm. Heron,
Selectmen of Redding." *
Mr. Beach, however, continued to read the prayers for the King, and
tradition says that one Sabbath while so engaged a zealous partisan
fired at him through the open door, the bullet imbedding itself in the
sounding-board behind him. Years after, when that sounding-board
was taken down, the bullet was discovered, taken out and kept in her
work basket for many years by Mrs. James Sanford of Redding, a
grand-daughter of the divine. When the tablet to the memory of Mr.
Beach was placed in the present church edifice on Redding Ridge, the
bullet, at the suggestion of the Rev. Mr.. Wilkins. then Rector, was
placed in the tablet, where it now remains. On another occasion a party
of soldiers entered his church at Newtown and threatened to fire on him
if he read the prayers for the king. This statement is on the authority
of the late Bishop Williams, who related the anecdote to the clergy in
Dr. Marble's study in Newtown, after the service at the opening of the
present Trinity Church in Newtown, and afterward wrote it out at the
request of the late Rev. Dr. Beardsley, as follows :
"Stopping for the night at an inn in the neighborhood of Schuylers-
ville (N. Y.), perhaps in the place itself, I met an aged man, the father,
I think, of the innkeeper, who told me that he was born and passed his
early life in Newtown, Conn. He also told me that he perfectly re-
membered being in the church at Newtown when soldiers entered, ser-
vice being then in progress, and threatened to shoot the officiating minis-
ter, the Rev. John Beach, if he read the prayers for the king and the
*From Miss Rebecca D. Beach's "Beach-Sanford Genealogy," p. ii5-
8o HISTORY OF REDDING.
royal family, Mr. Beach, he said, went on as usual, with no change
or even tremor in his voice, and read the obnoxious prayers. My in-
formant added that he believed (his recollection on this point was not
quite positive) that they, struck with the quiet courage of Mr. Beach,
stacked their muskets and remained through the service."
It is also told of him, that he was taken once from his house by an
armed squad and escorted to the foot of the hill near by and there com-
manded to kneel down and pray, as they were about to shoot him. He
knelt and prayed, not for himself, but for them, and with such fervor
and power that, dismayed and conscience smitten, they silently withdrew,
leaving him unharmed.
Mr. Beach continued in his policy of passive resistance, but did not
live to see the defeat of his cause, as he died March 19, 1782, at the ripe
old age of eighty-two.*
Lazarus Beach, son of Rev. John Beach, followed in the footsteps of
his father, and was a thorn in the flesh of the patriots of Redding. The
following extracts from the minutes of the Governor and Council show
the manner of proceeding adopted by the Whigs in disciplining their
Tory neighbors :
"Lazarus Beach, Andrew Fairchild, Nathan Lee, Enos Lee, Abel
Burr, of Reading, and Thomas Allen, of Newtown, in the county of
Fairfield, being Tory convicts and sent by order of law to be confined in
the town of Mansfield to prevent any mischievous practices of theirs,
having made their escape and being taken up and remanded back to his
Honor the Governor and this Council, to be dealt with, &c.
"Resolved, and ordered by the Governor and his Council aforesaid,
that the said Lazarus Beach (&c.) be committed to the keeper of the
goal in Windham, within said prison to be safely kept untill they come
out thence by due order of the General Assembly, or the Governor and
his Council of Safety, and that they pay cost oFtheir being apprehended
and being remanded, etc., allowed to be £25, 3s, od. Mittimus granted
Jan'y 28, 1777."
On Feb. 10, 1777, by another order of the Governor and Council the
same persons were ordered discharged from the goal on their parole, on
their paying all the costs of commitment and all costs that had since
arisen. Beach, Burr, Fairchild and Allen were ordered to return to
Mansfield and there abide under the direction of the Committee of In-
spection of that town, while the two Lees were permitted to return home
on their giving bonds for their good behavior. Mr. Beach probably saw
the error of his ways as the war progressed, for after it closed he was
*For a further account of Mr. Beach, see Giapter X.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 8 1
permitted to reside on his ample estate in Redding and there died Jan.
20, 1800.
The case of Dr. Nehemiah Clarke of Hartford, was as sad and pa-
thetic as is to be found in any of the annals of self-sacrifice, or the lives
of the martyrs. When the war broke oat he was living in Hartford
with an interesting family, a lucrative practice, and a comfortable home.
No man's prospects in the capital city were more flattering. Yet con-
science made him an adherent of the Crown, and so obnoxious to the
Whigs was he that early in 1774 he removed to Redding, probably be-
cause of the influential colony of tories there. In an evil hour, in
February of that year, he returned to Hartford to adjust some business
affairs there, was seized by a mob and so maltreated that his life was
despaired of. Managing to escape he returned to Redding, but the
patriot arm was long enough to reach thither, and soon after his arrival
there he was again seized by a "numerous banditti," to use his own
words, and thrown into the guard house, from which he could only
effect his release by signing a bond of iiooo not to go over to the enemy..
This did not afford entire protection, however, for on the loth of May,
probably because of indiscreet acts or words on his part, he was forced
again to flee to the woods for safety and remained there, leading the life
of a hunted animal until the December following, when he succeeded in
reaching the British lines, leaving his wife and five children in the hands-
of his enemies without any means of support. He served through the
war as a surgeon in the British army and on the concluding of a treaty
of peace removed, with other loyalists, to the wilds of New Brunswick
and was one of the grantees of the present beautiful city of St. John,,
capital of that province.
The following extracts from court records will show the legal pro-
cess employed in the confiscation of Tories' estates. Such extreme meas-
ures were not usually adopted unless the person had actually gone over
to the enemy:
"On information of the selectmen of the town of Redding, in Fair-
field County, showing to the Special County Court, held at Fairfield in
and for said county on the 6th day of August, 1777, That there is Real
Estate Lying in said Redding which Belongs to Joseph Burr, of said
Redding, who has put and continues to hold and screen himself under
the Protection of the Ministerial Army, &c. A writ was issued by Or-
der of said court, dated August 7th, 1777, to seize and to hold said estate
and to be dealt with according to law. The said Burr was called at this
Court and made Default of Appearance. Thereupon this Court have
now Considered the Evidence Relative to said Burr's screening himself
as aforesaid, Do order that the Real Estate of said Burr, According ta
32 HISTORY OF REDDING.
the Officers' Return on said Writ, be Leafed out for the use and benefit
of this State — and for that purpose this Court has Appointed Thad's
Benedict, Esq., of Redding."
His goods atKl chattels were taken under another instrument, as fol-
lows:
Fairfield, Adj'd County Court,
2d Tuesday, Decembr., 1777.
"On Information of the selectmen of the Town of Redding in Fair-
field County, Showing to Lemuel Sanford, Esq., Justice of the Peace
for said County, That there is Goods, Chatties and effects in said Redding
which Belongs to Joseph Burr, of said Redding, who had put and con-
tinues to hold and screen himself under the protection of the Ministerial
Army, &c. Said Justice issued out a Writ, dated Aug'st 14, 1777, to
seize and to hold said Estate and to be dealt with according to Law.
The said Burr was called at this Court — made Default of Appearance — •
This Court, having considered the evidences Relative to said Burr's
screening himself as aforesaid, do order that the Goods and effects, ac-
cording to the Officer's Return on said Writ of said Burr, be Forfeited
to the Use and Benefit of this State, and that they be sold according to
law, and that execution be Granted, &c."
In December of the same year the real estate of the unfortunate exile,
which had been ordered leased in August, was ordered sold, as appears
by the following :
"Whereas, the selectmen of the Town of Redding in Fairfield Coun-
ty, did inform John Read, Esqr., Justice of the Peace for said County,
that there is estate in Redding and Fairfield, in said county, that Belongs
to Joseph Burr, late of said Redding, who has gone over to, Joined with
and Screened himself under the protection of the Ministerial Army, &c. ;
said Burr was Summoned to appear at this Court to show reason why
said Estate should not be Declared Forfeit, &c., as per Writ on file, dated
October 15th, 1778. Said Burr was called at this Court and made De-
fault of Appearance. Thereupon this Court, having considered the evi-
dence Relative to said Burr's Screening himself as aforesaid. Do order
that the Estate of said Burr be and the same is hereby Forfeited to and
for the use and Benefit of this State, and that the same be Further Dealt
with According to Law."
Isaac Drew, Ephraim DeForest, John, Joseph and Peter Lyon, and
Daniel Read, were among those whose lands were confiscated by regu-
lar Court proceedings. Many others were fined for refusing to perform
military duty. But at last peace came — the Whigs were triumphant.
What now was to be done with the men who had gone over to the
€nemy and fought against their old friends and neighbors? Manifestly
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
Redding Centre.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 83
there was no place for them in the new Commonwealth. Lucifer among
the heavenly hosts would not have been more out of place. Banishment
was the stern decree, and the Whigs of Redding were by no means back-
ward in carrying it out. They called a town meeting Aug. ii, 1783,
and "Put to voute," "whether it is the minds of this Aleeting that ye
selectmen of this Town be desired to remove out of this Town all those
Persons that have been over to and Joined the Enemy and returned into
this Town, and that they pursue the business as fast as they conveniently
can according to Lazv. Passed in the Affirmative."
A few who had prominent kindred among the Whigs, or who had
not rendered themselves particularly obnoxious, were spared, but most
of them were driven into exile. The British Government granted them
lands in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, where they made new homes
wonderfully like to those they left behind, as the traveler along the
beautiful shores of the Bav of Fundv can but note.
CHAPTER IX.
The Congregational Church, 1 729- 1 906.
The Congregational church was the first religious body organized in
the town. Deeply impressed as were our Puritan forefathers with the
value of religion to the soul, they were equally impressed with its value
to the state, and were careful to rear, side by side with their civil struc-
ture, the Church, in which, as they beHeved, the pure Gospel of Christ
was preached, and the soundest principles of morality inculcated. Proof
of their pious care in this respect is to be found in the history of Redding,
as in that of almost every New England town. As early as August,
1729, but three months after they had wrung a reluctant consent from
the mother town to assume parish privileges, we find them providing for
the settlement of a minister among them in the following manner :
"At a Society Meeting held in the Society of Redding, Deacon
George Hull chosen Moderator. It was voited that s'd Society would
give for the settlement of a minister in s'd society the sum of seventy
pounds, and a house, and his wood, and bring it up, and the next year
eighty pounds, and raise five pounds a year till it comes to one hundred
pounds a year. It was voted, that Edmond Luis, esquire, shall decide
84 HISTORY OF REDDING.
the matter as to seting the meeting hous, it was voited that s'd Mr. Luis
should come the first week in October to decide the matter afores'd."
No minister was settled, however, until 1733 ; the first church edifice
was erected early in 1732. It stood a few yards west of the present
Methodist church, and nearly in the centre of the public square or com-
mon.* A photograph or rough sketch even, of this first church in Red-
ding, would be invaluable to men of the present day ; we are certain,^
however, that it was a much more elegant and finished edifice than was ;
common in the new settlements. It was two stories high, as we shall i
see, and of quite respectable dimensions. It was also lathed and plas-
tered, and furnished with galleries, and windows of imported glass, but
further details are lacking. All that is to be found in the church records
concerning the building is contained in the following extracts :
November 12th, 1730. — It was voted "that we will build a meting-
hous in said society for the worship of God in the Presbyterian way.
Voted that the meting-hous shall be thirty feet long, twenty eight feet
wide, and two stories high, voted, that Lemuel Sanford, Thomas Wil-
liams, and Daniel Lion, (be) chosen committee for (building) s'd met-
ing hous."
Feb. 23d, 1 730-1. — "You that are of the minds that all those persons
that do, or hereafter may inhabit in this parish, which profess themselfs
to be of the Church of England, shall have free liberty to come into this
meting hous that is now in building, and attend the Publick worship of
God there, according to the articles of faith agreed upon by the assembly
of Divines at Seabrook, and established by the laws of this Government,
and be seated in s'd hous according to their estats."
November 3d, 1732. — "Stephen Burr hath undertaken to cart stones
and clay for the underpinning the meting hous for i lb. los. cod. Daniel
Lion hath undertaken to underpin the meting hous and tend himself for
2 lbs. 4s. od. Daniel Lion hath undertaken to get the lath and lay them
on for 3 lbs. os. od. Stephen Burr and Theophilus Hull are chosen
committee to take care of the parsonage" (probably to secure a par-
sonage for the expected preacher, as it is not likely that one was then
built).
It was as yet, however, a church without a pastor. Mr. Elisha Kent
had been called in October, 1730, but had declined, as we infer from the
silence of the records on the subject. A Society meeting held Alay 8th,
1732, extended a similar call to the Rev. Timothy Mix, and deputed
*The corner-stone of the old church may still be seen on the common, a little
south of a line drawn from Prof. Frank Abbott's to the store formerly occupied bjr
Mr. Mandeville.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 85
Deacon George Hull "to go to the association at Stanford to ask advice
concerning the settlement of Mr. Mix"; but this call, as in the case of
Mr. Kent, seems to have been declined. At length a unanimous call was
made to the Rev. Nathaniel Hun, as follows :
Jan. 31, 1732-3. — "At a society meeting held in the parish (of) Read-
ing, George Hull chosen Moderator for s'd meting, Mr. Nathaniel Hunn
by a voit neniinc contradicente was made chois of for the minister of s'd
parish, furthermore it was voited at s'd meting to settle upon the s'd Mr.
Hunn's yearly sallery as followeth, that is, for the first year of his ad-
ministration, seventy pounds current money or bills of Public Credit in
New England, the second year, seventy-five pounds, for the third year,
eighty pounds, for the fourth year, eighty five pounds, the fifth year
ninety pounds, the sixth year, ninety five pounds, the seventh year, a
hundred pounds, all in currant money as afores'd, and so on a hundred
pounds a year during the term of his continuance in the ministry in s'd
parish, and also to give the s'd Mr. Hunn the whole and sole priviledge
of all the parsonage land belonging to s'd parish, and to provide him his
firewood, during the term aboves'd, also to find him a convenient dwell-
ing hous for the first five years, also to give the s'd Mr. Hunn, a hun-
dred acres of land on or before the day of his ordination."
Feb. 20th, 1732-3. — "It was voited that the ordination of Mr. Hunn
shall be on the 21st day of March next," and John Read and George
Hull were chosen a committee "to represent the parish concerning the
ordination of Mr. Hunn." From this point we have for a guide the
church records in the handwriting of Mr. Hunn, its settled pastor. It
is called "A Book of Records Wherein is an account, ist of the trans-
actions of the church, 2d of persons received to communion, 3rd of per-
sons baptized, 4th of marriages, 5th of deaths, 6th of persons who re-
new the covenant."
The Rev. Sidney G. Law, in his Centennial Sermon, dehvered at
Redding, July 6th, 1876, thus speaks of Mr. Hunn's pastorate:
"His first record is very brief for so important a matter, viz : 'March
2ist, 1733, I was separated to the work of the ministry by prayer and
fasting, and the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery.' The next
record gives the choice of deacons, viz: 'At a church meeting INIarch
29, 1733, we made choice of Stephen Burr for a deacon, and some time
after we chose Theo. Hull to the same service. . . . ' The next
records relate to the adoption of Tate and Brady's version of the Psalms,
first for one month, and then for the indefinite future. The first mem-
bers of the church enumerated by Mr. Hun were as follows : Col. John
Read and wife. Theophilus Hull and wife, George Hull and wife, Peter
Burr and wife, Daniel Lion and wife, Daniel Bradley and wife, Stephen
35 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Burr and wife, Ebenezer Hull and wife, John Grififen, Nathaniel San-
ford, Thomas Fairchild, Lemuel Sanford, Benjamin Lion and wife,
Mary wife of Richard Lion, Isaac Hull, Esther wife of Thomas Wil-
liams, Esther wife of Benjamin Hamilton. Thus it appears that the
church was organized with twenty-six members, including the two dea-
cons, about the time that Mr. Hun was ordained, viz., the 21st of March^
1733. Mr. Hunn married Ruth, a sister of Col. Read.* He was pastor
of the church sixteen years. During this time he received about ninety-
two men)bers into the church, the most of them by letter of recommenda-
tion from neighboring churches. He performed thirty-five marriages
and one hundred and ninety-two baptisms. He died while on a journey,
and was buried in Boston in 1749. His widow, Ruth Hunn, died in 1766,
and was buried near her brother. Col. John Read, in the cemetery west of
the parsonage."
Mr. Hunn's administration seems to have been a happy and prosper-
ous one, and few events of importance occurred during its continuance.
The records are taken up with cases of church discipline, with additions
to his salary, providing his firewood, and with repairs to the meeting
house.
in 1738 it was voted "to finish glassing the meting hous, and to finish
seating the meting hous as is begun, and do something to the pulpit."
In 1739, "voted, that Sergt. Joseph Lee shall get Mr. Hun's wood, and
have seven pounds for it." "Voted that the place for putting up warn-
ings for society meetings be changed from Umpawaug to the mill door."
In 1740, "voted to rectifie the meting hous in the following articles, viz.
to put in new glass where it is wanting, and to mend the old. To lay
some beams in the gallery and double floor. To fasten the meting hous
doors ; to m.ake stairs up the gallery ; to put a rail on the foreside of the
gallery," and "that the place for parish meeting shall be at the school
house, by the meting hous for the future." In 1741, "voted, to seat the
meting hous in the lower part with plain strong seats." In 1742, "voted
to impower the parish committee to agree with a person to beat the drum
as a signal to call the people together on the sabbath." Again, Feb. 15,
1743-4, "It was voted that the timber and boards provided for seating
the meeting house, shall be improved to that end for the use of the
Parish." These entries though unimportant in themselves give us
pleasant glimpses of the healthy and active life of the church. Mr. Hunn
died in the summer or fall of 1749, and for the four following years the
'''She was a daughter of the Hon. John Read, who settled at Lonetown in
1714. Both Mr. Law and Mr. Barber are in error in supposing that the original
John Read lived and died in Redding. He removed to Boston in 172-2. and his
son John succeeded to his title, and to the manor at Lonetown. The latter is
the one mentioned in these records.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 8/
church was without a pastor. A call was extended to Mr. Solomon Mead
in March, 1751, without success, and in November of the same year to
the Rev. Izrahiah Wetmore, with a like result. The interim was im-
proved by the people, however, in building a new church, which stood
nearly on the site of the present edifice.
The first action in this important matter was taken at a Society meet-
ing held Feb. 9, 1748, when it was put to vote "whether it be necessary
to build a new meting hous in s'd Parish," and passed in the affirmative ;
whereupon "Left. Joseph Sanford" was appointed agent for the Society
to prefer a memorial to the next General Assembly, "to afHx the place
whereon the meeting house should be built." The successive stages by
which the building grew to completion are defined in a very interesting
manner in the records. Dec. 29th, 1799, "It was voted that Deacon
Burr and others be a committee to see that there is timber got, and saw-
mill logs for a meeting house in this Parish, s'd timber to be 37 ft. in
width and 46 ft. in length." Jan. 17th, 1750, the County Court in ses-
sion at Fairfield, on the memorial of Redding, appointed Thomas Bene-
dict, Esq., and Capt. Josiah Starr, of Danbury, and Samuel Olmsted,
Esq., of Ridgefield, a committee to afifix the place whereon the m.eeting-
house should be built ; to act with these, the Society appointed a com-
mittee composed of John Read, Stephen Burr, Joseph Sanford and
Ephraim Jackson. Jan. 29th, 1751, a committee was appointed "to agree
with some persons to build the new meting hous." It would appear
that ground had not been broken for it as early as April 25th, 1751, for
at that date a committee was appointed to meet the County Court's com-
mittee "to find a place for the meeting house."
It was probably completed and ready for use early in the summer of
1752, as on the 22d of June of that year a call was extended to the Rev.
Mr. Tammage to be their preacher, and the old meeting house was sold
to Jehu Burr for £34. The manner in which this meeting-house was
"seated" (which did not occur until 1763) is an interesting commentary
on the manners and customs of the day, and has the further merit of
novelty, it being doubtful if another record can be found in New Eng-
land detailing so minutely the method of assigning pews in the early
Puritan churches. We copy from the records of a Society meeting held
at Widow Sanford's, June 23d, 1763 :
"Put to vote whether the meeting house of s'd society shall be seated
in ye form following viz. a com'te being appointed to Dignify ye pews
and other seats in s'd Meeting House the Respective members of s'd
society shall sit in s'd pews and seats according to their Rank and De-
gree to be computed by their several lists and age, viz. upon ye two last
years lists, and to allow three pound per year to be added to a person's
gg HISTORY OF REDDING.
List for his advancement in a seat, and all at ye discresion of s'd com'te
who shall be appointed to Dignify s'd pews and seats, and to inspect the
Respective lists and ages of s'd members."
The committee appointed was Joseph Sanford, Ebenezer Couch, and
Stephen Burr; but Messrs. Sanford and Burr declining to act, Ephraim
Jackson and Joseph Banks were chosen in their place. This committee
was unable to settle the question satisfactorily, and a meeting was held
August nth, 1763, at which the following action was taken:
"It was put to vote whether the Dignity of ye pews and seats in ye
meeting house should be in the following manner viz. ye pew adjoin-
ing ye pulpit stairs first in Dignity: ye pew adjoining ye grait doors,
west side, second in Dignity : the fore seat third in Dignity, the second
pew west of ye pulpit, fourth : the second seat, fifth : the second pew
north from the west door, sixth : the fifth pew north of ye west door
seventh : the third pew north of the west door, eighth : the second
pew west of ye grait doors ninth : the first pew south of ye west
door, tenth : the third seat, eleventh : the second pew south of the west
door twelfth : the fourth seat, thirteenth : the front seat in ye gallery,
fourteenth : the fore seat on ye side of the gallery, fifteenth : the pews
and seats upon ye east end of ye meeting house of Equal Dignity with
those upon the west side in same manner and order as they are above
mentioned. Passed in the negative."
Three months later another meeting was called, and adopted the
following plan:
"The respective members of the society shall sit in ye pews and seats
of the meeting house of s'd Society according to their rank or degree,
to be computed by their respective lists and ages, viz. upon the lists
given in upon the years 175 1 and 1761 and 1762, and to allow three
pounds per year to be added to a person's list for his advancement in a
seat or pew the Respective lists and ages of s'd members are to be in-
spected, also to give the committee chosen at this meeting power to seat
those that are new comers, and have not . . in s'd society, to seat
them at s'd committee's discresion.
"Likewise to seat ye Widows in s'd Society at the best of ye Com-
mittee's judgment, which method of seating s'd meeting house shall
continue until s'd Society at their meeting shall order otherwise.
"Also voted that s'd com'te shall seat those women whose husbands
belong to the Church of England at their discresion."
The Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, the second pastor of the church, was
ordained May 23d, 1753, the next year after the church was built. From
RESIDENXE OF JOHN B. SANFORD,
Redding Centre.
The house now occupied by Jonathan Bartlett Sanford is one of the most
historic places in the town. In 1753 the Congregational Church in Redding
called the Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, of Guilford, to be its second pastor.
It was the custom of those days to give a settlement to the new pastor,
and this church gave Mr. Bartlett twenty acres of land.
In May, 1753, he brought his bride, Eunice Barker Russell, to Redding,
and immediately began building a house on the settlement land.
Into this house were built the strong, sturdy principles of the man who for
more than half a century did grand service in helping to shape the destiny of
the new country. The proportions of the house were laid out on a gener-
ous scale, and unlike most country houses of that period, the rooms are large
and the ceilings high, and only skilled workmen could have wainscotted the
walls and titted the panels with such care and exactness that they show in a
very slight degree the wear of a century and a half.
In the "Keeping Room" is a corner cupboard, with shelves for the
family china, and on the walls are fine portraits of the benign pastor and his
wife. A capacious brick oven opens from the side of the great kitchen fire-
place, and is still in perfect condition for use.
This house was scarcely finished when the French and Indian war broke
out and the young wife must have known many anxious hours while tiie pas-
tor was absent on his ministrations among his scattered parishioners.
When the spirit of discontent with British rule swept over the colonies,
it was under this roof that many earnest conferences were held, and when
the time for action came the sons of the family were freely sent to aid the
cause of liberty.
Fearing some sudden attack Mr. Bartlett had stores of ammunition secret-
ed in the garret to aid in protecting the little hamlet.
The doors of this hospitable house were always open to the youth of the
place for whatever instruction the pastor could give them, and among many
notable men whose early education began here perhaps the most widely known
was Joel Barlow.
Rev. Jonathan Bartlett succeeded his father in the ownership of the house.
He was a man of rare scholarship and a close friend of Dr. Timothy Dwight,
who was a frequent visitor at the house.
In 1847, Lemuel Sanford, a nephew of Rev. Jonathan Bartlett, built a house
adjoining the main house on the east side, and after the death of his uncle,
came into the possession of this historic place, which has ever since been the
family home.
Mr. Sanford filled the offices of Judge of Probate, Town Clerk and Treas-
urer for a continuous period of thirty-five years, and during that time all the
records of the town and church were kept in the house without any of the
modern safeguards of safe or vault.
The house is remarkable for having remained unchanged in outward
form or interior arrangement and seems in good condition to stand the storms
of another centurv.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
89
the record in his own handwriting, we learn that the ministers who as-
sisted at his ordination were as follows :
"The Rev. Mr. White of Danbury made the first prayer. The Rev.
Mr. Todd of East Guilford preached the sermon. Rev. Mr. Kent made
the ordaining prayer. Rev. Mr. Mills of Ripston gave the charge, Rev.
Mr. Judson of Newtown gave the right hand of fellowship, and Rev.
Mr. Ingersoll of Ridgefield made the concluding prayer."
Mr. Bartlett came to Redding when a young man fresh from his col-
legiate studies, and continued pastor of the church over which he was
ordained for fifty-seven years — the longest pastorate, it is said, known
to the New England churches. He is described as a gentleman of the
old school, kind and considerate, of an equable temper, a just man, a
fine scholar, and an eloquent preacher. During his term of service the
crude settlement in the wilderness assumed "the dignity of a town. The
church grew from infancy to manhood and the country passed from the
position of dependent colonies to that of free and sovereign states. In
the War of Independence Mr. Bartlett's sympathies were entirely with
the patriot cause; two of his sons entered the army, munitions of war
were stored in his house, and he himself frequently officiated as chaplain
■during the encampment of Putnam's division in the town in the winter
of 1779. Like many of the New England clergymen of that day, he
was the teacher of such youths in his charge as might desire a liberal
education, and among the many whom he thus fitted for usefulness was
the celebrated poet and statesman, Joel Barlow. Mr. Bartlett died Jan.
II, 1810, and was buried in the old cemetery west of the church. The
simple inscription upon his tombstone reads as follows :
The Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett.
Died, January 11, 18 10, aged 83 years.
"I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live." — Jesus Christ.
During the entire period of Mr. Bartlett's ministry we have in thf
church records but one entry of importance, and that is of interest as
marking the legal status of the Episcopal Society in the town. This
entry is as follows :
"To Seth S. Smith of Redding, in Fairfield Co. Greeting, Whereas
by law the Episcopal Church in said Redding is become a distinct society
whereby the members of the Presbyterian church in said Redding have
"become the first society in said town. These are therefore by authority
of the State of Connecticut to command you to warn and give notice to
all the members of said first society, and all others who by law are ob-
liged to contribute toward the support, and the worship, and the ministry
90
HISTORY OF REDDING.
with the same, to meet at the meeting house in said Redding on Monday
the 20th of December at 12 in order to choose a moderator and necessary-
officers.
"Redding, December 14, 1785."
The Rev. Jonathan Bartlett, third minister of the church, was ordain-
ed as colleague with his father, Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, in 1796. The
first of the church records in his handwriting is as follows :
"Feb. 3, 1796. I was separated to the work of the ministry and or-
dained as colleague with my father Nathaniel Bartlett over the Congre-
gational church in Redding in Gospel order and form. The ministers
who performed the work were as follows viz. the Rev. Israhiel Wetmore
chosen Moderator, Robert Ross made the ordaining prayer, Elisha Rex-
ford made the introductory prayer, David Ely preached the sermon.
Imposition of hands by N. Bartlett, R. Ross and Rexford. John Ely
gave the right hand of fellowship, Samuel W. Stebbins made the con-
cluding prayer."
Of the life and ministry of this most excellent man, one who knew
him intimately, the Rev. Thomas F. Davies, thus wrote:
"In February, 1796, Mr. Bartlett was ordained colleague with his
father, and after a faithful ministry of thirteen years, greatly esteemed
and beloved by his people, was dismissed on account of ill-health, and
by his own request. His heart was gladdened near the close of his
pastoral life by a powerful and general revival of religion among the
people of his charge. After his dismission, and when his health had been
in a degree restored, he preached from time to time to destitute congre-
gations in the vicinity, and at different periods, as occasion required, to
the church of which he had been pastor, with great acceptation and use-
fulness. As a preacher he was eminently distinguished, for he was a
man 'mighty in the Scriptures.' Large portions of the Word of God, en-
tire epistles even, dwelling in his memory, and when an impaired vision
rendered the perusal of a book difficult or painful, he reviewed in his
own mind, and often rehearsed to others, portions of the Scriptures with
comments which rendered his society delightful and instructive. He
was a man of native eloquence, and great skill in the examination and
exhibition of the subject which came before him. He was a scribe, 'well
instructed in the things of the kingdom, a workman that needed not to
be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.' While aiding other
societies, he was eminently a benefactor to the church and society of
which he had been a pastor, for in addition to the ministerial services
gratuitously rendered, he gave in money in his various benefactions
more to the society than the entire amount received from it during the
HISTORY OF REDDING. 9 1
whole period of his ministry, and has also left it a legacy of three thou-
said dollars. Useful, honored, and beloved he lived in his native town,
inhabiting for nearly a century the same residence, for he was born in
the house in which he died. With a calm and humble trust in God, in
the entire possession of his mental powers, and with little apparent suf-
fering, he fell asleep in Jesus."
Rev. Daniel Crocker, of Bedford, N. Y., was called in August, 1809.
as colleague with Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett. He was a good man and a
successful pastor, and served the church fifteen years, being dismissed in
1824. The Rev. Charles DeWitt Tappen was called, but not settled.
The next pastor chosen was Mr. William C. Kniffen in 1825. He was
dismissed in 1828. The Rev. Burr Baldwin was next called, but not
settled. The next pastor was the Rev. William L. Strong, formerly pas-
tor at Somers, Tolland Co., Conn. He was installed June 23d, 1830,
and dismissed Feb. 26th, i'-835. In September, 1835, following Mr.
Strong's dismissal, a subscription was commenced for the erection of the
present church edifice, which was built in 1836. The expense was not
to exceed $2,500 with the old meeting-house. In December of the same
year a unanimous call was extended to the Rev. David C. Comstock, but
was not accepted at that time. In IMarch, 1837, Rev. Daniel E. Manton
was called, but not settled. In June of the same year the Rev. Jeremiah
Miller was called, and was installed July 12th, 1837. Mr. Miller was
dismissed in 1839. In the following year, 1840, Mr. David C. Com-
stock was ordained and installed pastor of the church. He was dis-
missed in 1845. After him Daniel D. Frost, after preaching as stated
supply for eighteen months, was ordained December 30th, 1845. He
continued pastor ten years, being dismissed October 13th, 1856. In 1857
the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Mr. Root. In 1858 the Rev. Enoch
S. Huntington supplied the pulpit one year. He presented the com-
munion service to the church, for which he received its thanks. In 1859
the church was remodelled and painted, receiving the beautiful fresco
which long adorned it. In i860 Rev. W. D. Herrick became pastor, and
so continued until 1864. After him Rev. E. B. Huntington, and also
Rev. Mr. Barnum, preached for a short time. Rev. S. F. Farmer sup-
plied in 1865. Rev. K. B. Glidden was installed September 12th, 1866;
resigned December, 1868. In 1869 the Rev. Charles Chamberlain be-
came pastor. He resigned in September, 1871.
Rev. Sidney G. Law. to whom I am indebted for the above summary
of the later history of the church, became acting pastor June ist, 1872,
and after a prosperous ministry of six years resigned in 1878.
The Rev. William J. Jennings was installed Dec. 17th, 1879, and con-
tinued pastor until March, 1892, when he resigned because of failing
strength, by this act closing his active ministry. He spent his closing
92
HISTORY OF REDDING.
years in his native town of Westport, and when he died was brought
back to Redding for burial by the side of his wife and son in the ceme-
tery by the parsonage.
In September, 1892, the Rev. Clare L. Luther was invited to become
acting pastor of the church and was ordained here in October, 1892.
During his pastorate the church edifice was remodeled and a large room
for social and religious purposes added to the rear of the church. He
also undertook the arduous work of transcribing and indexing the
church records. A new manual of the church was also published during
his pastorate. He resigned in May, 1898, and was succeeded by the
Rev. Edward R. Evans, who was ordained pastor in May, 1899, and con-
tinued to serve until October, 1903. In August, 1904, the Rev. Louis
A. Godard became acting pastor. In June, 1906, Mr. Godard severed
his connection with the church, and his successor has not yet been called.
Some statistics of this ancient church ready gathered to my hand
will prove interesting and valuable. The complete list of those who
served it as pastors, with the date of their ordination and dismissal, is
as follows :
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Nathaniel Hunn Mar. 21, 1733 1749
Nathaniel Bartlett May 23, 1753 Jan. 11, 1810
Jonathan Bartlett Feb. 3, 1796 June 7, 1809 Mar. 22, 1858
Daniel Crocker Oct. a, 1809 Oct 24, 1824
Wilham C. Kniffen June 8, 1825 Dec. 17, 1828
William L. Strong June 23, 1830 Feb. 26, 1835
Jeremiah Miller July 12, 1837 July 23, 1839
David C. Comstock Mar. 4, 1840 April 8, 1845
Daniel D. Frost Dec. 30, 1846 Oct. 15, 1856
Enoch S. Huntington 1858 1859
W. D. Herrick i860 1S64
K B. Glidden Sept. 12, 1866 Dec, 1868
Charles Chamberlain i86g Sept., 1871
Sidney G. Law June I, 1872 June I, 1878
DE.ACONS. APPOINTED. DEACONS. APPOINTED.
Stephen Burr 1733 Lemuel Sanford 1808
Theophilus Hull 1733 Aaron Read 1808
Lemuel Sanford 1740 Joel Foster 1820
Daniel Mallory 1740 • Lemuel Hawley 1832
Joseph Banks 1776 Samuel Read 1832
Simon Couch 1776 Charles D. Smith 1854
Lemuel Sanford 1785 Rufus Meade 1854
Stephen Betts 1785 Thaddeus M. Abbott 1854
Deacons serving since 1854 have been, John H. Lee, Henry S. Os-
born, Ebenezer Hill, and Jonathan B. Sanford.
YEAR. CONVERSIONS. YEAR. CONVERSIONS.
^8o8-9 75 1838 30
1823 40 1852 24
1829 8 1855 12
183I 20
N
I
HISTORY OF REDDING. g^
On Wednesday, Sept. 5, 1883, with appropriate ceremonies, the
church celebrated the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its birth.
CHAPTER X.
Christ Church, 1722-1906.
By Rev. Alanson Welton.
The present town of Redding is one of the few places in the old
Colony of Connecticut where the Episcopal ministry is entitled to the
distinction of having been first on the ground, laying foundations, and
not building upon those already laid. The Church of England was not
planted in New England without strenuous and bitter opposition from
the Puritans, who were first in the field. By old English law, indeed,
that church was established in all the plantations ; yet it is manifest from
the records of the colonial legislation of the charter government of Con-
necticut, that previous to 1727, the church of which the king was a
member was not recognized as having a right to exist. Congregation-
alism was the established religion, "in opposition to which there could
be no ministry or church administration entertained or attended by the
inhabitants of any town or plantation, upon penalty of fifty pounds for
every breach of this act;" and every person in the colony was obliged
to pay taxes for the support of this establishment.
In this uncongenial soil the Anglican Church of Connecticut was
planted — strange to say, not by foreign-born missionaries, but by sece-
ders from the ministry of the Congregationalists. The pioneers in this
movement were Timothy Cutler, Rector of Yale College ; Daniel Brown,
tutor ; James Wetmore, of North Haven ; and Samuel Johnson, of West
Haven, a former tutor in the college. These gentlemen, after a pro-
fessedly careful and prayerful examination of the subject of church
order, discipline, and worship, which' resulted in a conviction that the
English Church followed most closely the teaching of the Scriptures and
the practice of the church of the first ages, sent to the trustees of the col-
lege a formal statement of their views, and declared for Episcopacy — to
the no small surprise and consternation of their colleagues in the col-
lege and church. The four went to England for Episcopal ordination,
where Brown died. The three survivors returned in 1722, as mission-
aries of the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign
Parts," Johnson only being sent to Connecticut. The ante-Revolution-
q, HISTORY OF REDDING.
ary history of the church at Redding Ridge is mostly to be found in the
archives of this Society, as pubUshed in the "Documentary History of
the Protestant Episcopal Church in Connecticut," and the Rev. Dr.
Beardsley's "History of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut" — from
which sources, mainly, this sketch has been compiled.
A letter was addressed to the secretary of the S. P. G., dated October
19th, 1722, signed by John Glover and twelve other heads of families in
Newtown, Thomas Wheeler, of Woodbury, and Tyloses Knapp, of Chest-
nut Ridge, thanking the Society for the services of the Rev. George
Pigot, missionary at Stratford, and earnestly soliciting the appointment
of a missionary for themselves at Newtown.
The next year, 1723, Mr. Pigot was transferred to Newport, R. I,,
and the Rev. Samuel Johnson, his successor at Stratford, "accepted all
his missionary duties in Connecticut."
In 1727, the Rev. Henry Caner [pronounce Caiiner] was sent to Fair-
field, of which town Chestnut Ridge was a part. After having named in
his report the several villages or hamlets in the vicinity of his station, he
says : "Besides these, there is a village northward from Fairfield about
eighteen miles, containing near twenty families, where there is no min-
ister at all, of any denomination whatsoever ; the name of it is Chestnut
Ridge, and where I usually preach or lecture once in three weeks." In
1728 he says there are four villages "about Fairfield, — Green Farms,
Greenfield, Poquannuck and Chestnut Ridge, three of them about four
miles distant, the last about sixteen." The same year, the name of Moses
Knapp appears as a vestryman of the church at Fairfield.
In 1729, "Moses Knap, Nathan Lion, and Daniel Crofoot" objected,
in a meeting of the [Presbyterian] "Society of Redding" "against" the
"hiering" any other than a minister of the Church of England. These
three names appear again in the list of Mr. Beach's parishioners in 1738.
The Rev. Dr. Burhams [Churchman's Magazine, 1823] says: "The first
Churchman in Reading was a Mr. Richard Lyon, from Ireland, who died
as early as 1735." He also says on the authority of "an aged member
of the Church in Reading," that "Messrs. [Richard?] Lyon, [Stephen]
Morehouse, [Moses] Knapp, [Joshua] Hall, [William] Hill, [Daniel]
Crofoot, and [Lieut. Samuel] Fairchild, appear to have composed the
first Church in Reading." Nathan Lyon died in 1757, in the fifty-fourth
year of his age. Mr. Caner reported in 1728 seven families at Chestnut
Ridge; the number reminding us of the "House of Wisdom" with its
"Seven Pillars," as the first Puritan organization at New Haven was
named.
Mr. Caner was succeeded at Chestnut Ridge, in 1732, by the Rev.
John Beach, a pupil of Johnson in Yale College, and afterward Presby-
terian minister at Newtown for several years. As Mr. Beach was a
HISTORY OF REDDING.
95
resident of East Redding for about twenty years, and pastor of this
church full half a century, his history is substantially that of the parish,
or mission, over which he presided. His pastorate was the longest of
all the ante-Revolutionary clergy. He was born in Stratford, October
6th, 1700; graduated from Yale at the age of twenty-one, and licensed
to preach soon afterwards. He is said to have been selected for the
Presbyterian pastorate at Newtown as a "popular and insinuating young
man," well fitted to check the growth of Episcopacy, which was there
thriving under the ministry of Caner and Johnson. Many Churchmen
must have "joined in settling him with Presbyterian ordination," for in
1722 they claimed to be a majority of the population, whereas, for some-
time after his "settlement," Mr. Johnson ministered to only about five
families. "From these visits . . . frequent and earnest discus-
sions resulted between the two teachers, the influence of which was soon
evident to Mr. Beach's congregation. After two or three years of
patient study and meditation he alarmed his congregation by his frequent
use of the Lord's prayer; and still more by reading whole chapters from
the Word of God. Next he ventured to condemn a custom, common in
their meetings, of rising and bowing to the minister, as he came in
among them, and instead of which be begged them to kneel down and
worship God. At length [in January, 1731], "after he had been a
preacher more than eight years, he told them from the pulpit that,
^ From a serious and prayerful examination of the Scriptures, and of the
records of the early ages of the Church, and from the universal ac-
knowledgment of Episcopal govei'nment for fifteen hundred years, com-
pared with the recent establishment of Presbyterian and Congregational
discipline,' he was fully persuaded of the invalidity of his ordination, and
of the unscriptural method of organizing and governing congregations
as by them practised. He therefore, ' In the face of Almighty God,' had
made up his mind to 'conform to the Church of England, as being Apos-
tolical in her ministry and discipline, orthodox in her doctrine, and primi-
tive in her worship.' He aflfectionately exhorted them to weigh the sub-
ject well ; engaged to provide for the due administration of the sacra-
ments while absent from them, and spoke of his intended return from
England in holy orders. So greatly was he beloved, that a large propor-
tion of his people seemed ready to acquiesce in his determination." But
the others, in evident alarm and consternation at this "threatened defec-
tion from their ranks," held a town meeting "to consult" as to "what
was possible to be done with the Rev. Mr. John Beach, under present
difficulties"; "voted to have a [day of] solemn fasting and prayer; .
. to call in the Ecclesiastical Council of Fairfield to direct and do
what they shall think proper, under the . . . difficult circumstan-
ces respecting the Rev. Mr. Beach, and the inhabitants of the town of
96
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Newtown — also that the first Wednesday of February [1732] be ap-
pointed for the fast."
The council met, and in spite of Mr. Beach's remonstrances proceed-
ed to depose him from the ministry. "From this resulted a printed dis-
cussion" between him and his deposers, which ultimately helped rather
than hindered the Church of England.
Mr. Beach returned from England in Episcopal orders, and took
charge of the Newtown and Redding mission in the autumn of 1732.
From this period his history and that of his mission may be more ac-
curately told in the language of his own letters to the Secretary of the
S. P. G.
" Newtown in Connecticut^ August 7th, 1735.
"Reverend Sir, I think it my duty to acquaint the venerable So-
ciety with the present state of my parish, although the alteration since
my last has not been very considerable. I have baptized twenty-nine
children and admitted twenty-five persons more to the communion, so
that the number . . . now at Newtown, Reading, and the places
adjacent, is ninety-five. I preach frequently and administer the Sacra-
ment at Ridgefield . . . about eighteen miles distant
where there are about fourteen or eighteen families of very serious and
religious people who have a just esteem of the Church of England, and
are very desirous to have the opportunity of worshipping God in that
way. I have constantly preached, one Sunday at Newtown ; and the
other at Reading; and after I have preached at Reading in the day-time,
I . . . preach at Newtown in the evening; and although I have
not that success I could wish for, yet I do, and hope I always shall, faith-
fully endeavour (as far as my poor ability will allow), to promote that
good work, that the venerable Society sent and maintained for me. I
am, Rev. Sir,
"Your most humble servant,
"John Beach."
As a specimen of his manner of defending himself against personal
attacks we have the following from a controversial pamphlet, in reply
to John Dickinson, of New Jersey, in 1736:
"1 have evened the scale of my judgment as much as possibly I
could, and to the best of my knowledge, I have not allowed one grain of
worldly motive on either side. I have supposed myself on the brink
of eternity, just going into the other world, to give up my account to
my great Judge; and must I be branded for an antichrist or heretic, or
apostate, because my judgement determines that the Church of England
is most agreeable to the Word of God? I can speak in the presence of
God, who knows my heart better than you do, that I would willingly turn
I
HISTORY OF REDDING. 97
Dissenter again, if you, or any man living will show me reason for it.
But it must be reason (whereby I exclude not the Word of God, which
is the highest reason), and not sophistry and calumny, as you have
hitherto used, and will convince a lover of truth and right."
In 1739 he says: "I have one hundred and twenty-three communi-
cants, but they live so far distant from each other, that commonly I can
administer to no more than about fifty at once, which occasions my ad-
ministering it the more frequently; and, though I meet with many dis-
couragements, yet I have this satisfaction, that all my communicants
(one or two excepted) do adorn their profession by a sober, righteous
and godly life." In 1743, some three years after Whitefield began his
famous "revival of Puritanism," Mr. Beach says : "My people are not
at all shaken, but rather confirmed in their principles by the spirit of en-
thusiasm that rages among the Independents roundabout us ; and many
of the Dissenters, observing how steadfast our people are
while those of their own denomination are easily carried away with every
kind of doctrine, have conceived a much better opinion of our Church-
than they formerly had, and a considerable number in this colony have
lately conformed, and several Churches are now building where they
have no minister. . . . Were there in this country but one of the
Episcopal order, to whom young men might apply for ordination, with-
out the expense and danger of a voyage to England, many of our towns
might be supplied which must now remain destitute." (This letter is
dated at "Reading, in New England," as all his published reports are,
between 1740 and 1760.) "My people are poor, (he continues) and
have but few negro slaves, but all they have, I have, after instruction,
baptized, and some of them are communicants." In October of the same
year he says : "I beg the venerable Society's direction in an afifair I
am just now perplexed with. There are about twenty families
at New-Milford and New-Fairfield, which are about fifteen miles hence.
I preach to them several times a year, but seldom on the Lord's day.
They frequently come to Church at Newtown ; but by reason of the dis-
tance, they can't attend constantly, and their families very seldom, and,
when they can't come to Church, they meet together in their own town,
and one of their number reads some part of the common prayer and a
sermon. They are now building a Church. . , . But the Inde-
pendents, to suppress the design in its infancy, . , . have lately
prosecuted and fined them for their meeting to worship God according
to the common prayer. . . . The case of these poor people is very
hard ; if, on the Lord's day, they continue at home, they must be punish-
ed; if they meet to worship God according to the Church of England
in the best manner they can, the mulct is much greater; and if they go
gy HISTORY OF REDDING.
lo the Independent meeting . . . they must endure the mortifica-
tion of hearing the Church vilified."
After the death of the Rev. Joshua Honeyman missionary at New-
port, R. I., in 1750, the church of which he had the care, petitioned the
Society that Mr. Beach might be sent to them, as their minister. The
petition was granted, but Mr. Beach felt constrained, on account of
feeble health to decline the appointment; fearing,-. as he said, that "the
people might complain that a wornout man was iiriposed upon them."
The first church on Redding Ridge, which vvas built in 1733, and
was quite small, was in 1750 replaced by another on the same site, fifty
feet long and thirty-six wide, surmounted by a turret, which, in 1797,
was replaced by a steeple in which was placed the first bell. This church,
according to the style of the period, was furnished with square, high-
backed pews, with seats on their four sides ; so that some of their occu-
pants had to sit with their backs to the minister. And though others
doubtless besides Bishop Jarvis "could see no necessary connection be-
tween piety and freezing," there was no heating apparatus in the churches
until considerably past the beginning of the present century. "Trinity
Church, New Haven, had no means of being warmed until 1822, and
none of the rural churches were supplied with stoves until a much later
period." Many persons in the rural districts were in the habit of walk-
ing several miles, barefooted, to church in summer, and probably did
not feel the lack of shoes a great privation. So common was it for men
to go to church without their coats, that the first time Bishop Seabury
preached in New Haven, a dissenting hearer reported that "he preached
in his shirt-sleeves." Often the family was mounted, the parents with
a child in arms to be christened, upon one horse, and the older children
upon another. Sometimes the whole family were clustered together up-
on the ox-cart or sled, and thus they went up to the house of God.
In 1759, three years after the breaking out of the "Old French War,"
Mr. Beach, writing from "Reading, Connecticut, in N. England," says:
■"My parish is in a flourishing condition, in all respects, excepting that
we have lost some of our young men in the army ; more, indeed by sick-
ness than by the sword, for this countrymen do not bear a campaign so
well as Europeans."
Eh'. Johnson's playful remark to his son that "Mr. Beach had al-
ways these seeming inconsistencies, to be always dying, and yet relish-
ing mundane things," would seem to indicate that his friend was not
really so near death's door as he often imagined himself ; for example, in
1761, when he says: "My painful and weak state of body admonishes
me that, although this may not be the last time of my writing, yet the
last cannot be far off" ; and he had supposed himself a "worn out man"
several years before.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 99
Writing from "New-Town, Oct. 3, 1764," he reports: "My con-
gregation at Reading has increased very Httle for some years past, by
reason that many who were wont to attend there, though Hving at a
distance of 6, 8, or 10 miles, have lately built [eachj a small church near
them, where they can more conveniently meet; viz., at Danbury, Ridg-
bury, North Fairfield, and North Stratford; which has very much re-
tarded the growth of the congregation at Reading: which .
now consists of about 300 hearers at one time." Under date of April,
1765, he says: "I am now engaged in a controversy with some of the
Independent Ministers about those absurd doctrines, the sum of which
is contained in a thesis published by New Haven College last Septem-
ber. . . . They expressly deny that there is any law of Grace
which promises eternal life upon the condition of faith, repentance and
sincere obedience; and assert justification only by the law of innocence
and sinless obedience. Though my health is small, and my abilities less,
I make it a rule never to enter into any dispute with them unless they
begin, yet now they have made the assault, and advocate such monstrous
errors as do subvert the Gospel, I think myself obliged by my ordination
vow, to guard the people as well as I can against such strange doc-
trines."
Again he writes in October of the same year, after the publication
of that precursor of Revolution, the memorable "Stamp Act," of 1765 :
"My parishes continue much in the same condition as in my last. I have
of late, taken pains to warn my people against having any concern with
seditious tumults with relation to the stamp duty enjoined upon us by
the Legislature at home: and I can with truth and pleasure say, that I
cannot discover the least inclination towards rebellious conduct in any
of the Church people." A year later he says : "For some time past, I
have not been without fear of being abused by a lawless set of men who
style themselves the Sons of Liberty, for no other reason than that of en-
deavoring to cherish in my people a quiet submission to the civil govern-
ment. . . . It is very remarkable, that in part of this Colony, in
which many missions and Church people abound, there the people are
vastly more peaceable and ready to render obedience to the Government
of England; but where there is no mission and few or no Church peo-
ple, they are continually caballing, and will spill the last drop of blood,
rather than submit to the late Act of Parliament." In 1767, he says:
"It is some satisfaction to me to observe, that in this town [Newtown],
of late, in our elections, the Church people make the major vote, which
is the first instance of this kind in this Colony, if not in all New Eng-
land." Again in 1769: "There are in these two parishes about 2400
souls, of whom, a little more than half profess the Church of England.
Here are about fifty negroes, most of whom after proper instruction
lOO
HISTORY OF REDDING.
have been baptized. . . . Here are no heathens or infidels. I com-
monly baptize about lOO children in one year, among them some black
children. My actual communicants are 312. Here are no Papists or
Deists." In 1771 he writes: "In Reading, my hearers at once are
about 300. There is a meeting of Presbyterians about two and a half
miles from our Church, in which the congregation is not so large as
ours. In a manner, all . . . who live near the Church join with
us; scarce any go by the Church to meeting." "The Church, (he says
in 1774) stands not in the centre of the town, but on one side, to accom-
modate the Church people, who live near, though out of the bounds of
Reading."
One of the most interesting of his reports is that of May 5th, 1772:
"It is now forty years since I have had the advantage of being the
venerable Society's Missionary in this place. . . . Every Sunday I
have performed divine service, and preached twice, at New Town and
Reading alternately; and in these forty years I have lost only two Sun-
days, through sickness ; although in all that time I have been afflicted
with a constant cholic which has not allowed me one day's ease, or free-
dom from pain. The distance between the Church ... is be-
tween eight and nine miles, and no very good road ; yet I have never
failed ... to attend at each place according to custom, through
the badness of the weather, but have rode it in the severest rains and
snow storms, even when there has been no track, and my horse near
sinking down in the snow-banks ; which has had this good effect on my
parishioners, that they are ashamed to stay from Church on account of
bad weather. ... I have performed divine service in many towns
where the Common Prayer had never been heard, nor the Holy Scrip-
tures read in public, and where now are flourishing congregations of the
Church of England ; and in some places where there never had been any
public worship at all, nor sermon preached by any teacher, of any de-
nomination.
"In my travelling to preach the Gospel, once was my life remarkably
preserved, in passing a deep and rapid river. The retrospect of my
fatigues, lying on straw, &c, gives me pleasure; while I flatter myself
that my labor has not been quite in vain; for the Church of England
people are increased more than 20 to i, and what is infinitely more pleas-
ing, many of them are remarkable for piety and virtue; and the Inde-
pendents here are more knowing in matters of religion, than they who
live at a distance from the Church. We live in harmony and peace with
each other, and the rising generation of Independents seem to be en-
tirely free from every pique and prejudice against the Church." In a
previous report, he said : "They who set up the worship of God accord-
HISTORY OF REDDING. lOl
ing to our Liturgy, at Lanesboro', at Nobletown and Arlington, proceed
chiefly from my parishes. But notwithstanding these frequent emi-
grations, my congregations increase."
His last report, which was made about six months before his death,
is dated October 31st, 1781, and is as follows:
"It is a long time since I have done my duty in writing to the vener-
able Society, not owing to my carelessness, but to the impossibility of
conveyance from here. And now I do it sparingly. A narrative of my
troubles I dare not now give. My two congregations are growing : that
at Reading being commonly about 300 and at New Town about 600.
I baptized about 130 children in one year, and lately 2 adults. New
Town and the Church of England part of Reading are, I believe, the
only parts of New England that have refused to comply with the doings
of the Congress, and for that reason have been the butt of general
hatred. But God has preserved us from entire destruction.
"I am now in the 826. year of my age ; yet do constantly, alternately,
perform and preach at New Town and Reading. I have been 60 years
a public preacher, and, after conviction, in the Church of England 50
years ; but had I been sensible of my inefficiency, I should not have un-
dertaken it. But now I rejoice in that I think I have done more good
towards men's eternal happiness, than I should have done in any other
calling.
"I do most heartily thank the venerable Society for their liberal sup-
port, and beg that they will accept of this, which is, I believe, my last
bill, viz: £325, which, according to former custom, is due. [Probably
at £50 per annum for six years and a half, or from 1775.] At this age
I cannot well hope for it, but I pray God I may have an opportunity to
explain myself with safety; but must conclude now with Job's expres-
sion : 'Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends !' "
Tradition has preserved a few incidents in his experience during the
War of Independence:
"In the autumn of 1775, several officers of the militia, having collect-
ed a number of soldiers and volunteers from the different towns in West-
ern Connecticut, undertook to subdue the tories. They went first to
Newtown, where they put Mr. Beach, the Selectmen, and other prin-
cipal inhabitants, under strict guard, and urged them to sign the Articles
of Association, prescribed by the Congress at Philadelphia. When they
could prevail upon them neither by persuasion nor by threats, they ac-
cepted a bond from them, with a large pecuniary penalty, not to take up
arms against the Colonies, and not to discourage enlistments into the
American forces."
J02 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Shortly after the declaration of Independence (i. e. July 23d, 1776)
the Episcopal clergy of the colony fearing to continue the use of the
Liturgy as it then stood — praying for the king and royal family — and
conscientiously scrupulous about violating their oaths and subscriptions,
resolved to suspend the public exercise of their ministry. "All the
churches were thus for a time closed, except those under the care of Mr.
Beach. . . . He continued to officiate as usual" (as himself testi-
fies) during the war. "Though gentle as a lamb in the intercourse of
private life, he was bold as a lion in the discharge of public duty ; and,
when warned of personal violence if he persisted, he declared that he
would do his duty, .preach, and pray for the King till the rebels cut out
his tongue."
Whether the following were separate incidents, or are but different
versions of one and the same, is uncertain: It is related that a squad
of soldiers marched into his church in Newtown, and threatened to shoot
him if he prayed for the king ; but when, regardless of their threats, he
went on, without so much as a tremor in his voice, to offer the forbidden
supplications, they were so struck with admiration for his courage, that
they stacked their arms and remained to listen to the sermon.
A band of soldiers entered his church during service, seized him, and
declared that they would kill him. He entreated that, if his blood must
be shed, it might not be in the house of God. Thereupon they took him
into the street, where an axe and block were soon prepared. "Now, you
old sinner (said one), say your last prayer." He knelt down and pray-
ed : "God bless King George, and forgive all his enemies and mine, for
Christ's sake." One of the mob then pleaded to "let the old fellow go,
and take some younger man instead."
The following is familiar to the people of Redding Ridge parish.
The old church of 1750 had a single door in the centre, and the pulpit
and chancel were at the west end, opposite the door. A squad of sol-
diers, seven in number (hired, it is said, by 'Squire Betts with a gallon
of French brandy to shoot Mr. Beach), gathered before the open door
of the church, and from one of them a bullet was fired which lodged in
one of the ribs of the sounding-board, a foot or more above the head of
the venerable preacher. As the congregation sprang to their feet in un-
feigned consternation to rush from the church, he quieted them by say-
ing: "Don't be alarmed, brethren. Fear not them that kill the body,
but are not able to kill the soul ; but rather fear him which is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell ;" and then proceeded with his dis-
course as if nothing had happened.
The "History of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut" informs us
that "the Redding Association of Loyalists was a strong body, whose
secret influence was felt throughout the mission of the venerable pastor ;"'
HISTORY OF REDDING. IO3
but how or in what way that influence was exerted, does not appear.
The "Sons of Liberty" have been already mentioned in Mr. Beach's re-
ports.
After the death of Mr. Beach in 1782, the Revs. Richard Samuel
Clarke and Andrew Fowler officiated here alternately for a short time.
Clarke emigrated to Nova Scotia with others of the missionaries, and
many of the members of their flocks, in 1784 or 1785. He returned on
a visit in October, 1786. The discontinuance of the stipends of the mis-
sionaries by the S. P. G., whose charter restricted its benefactions to
the British provinces and plantations, was a severe blow to the Episcopal
churches, which had been already greatly weakened by the efifects of the
War of the Revolution. Mr. Beach's congregation were exceptions to
the general rule, in that they increased while others diminished in fium-
bers ; but whether few or many of the Redding Churchmen formed a
part of the thirty thousand Loyalists who, Hawkins says, emigrated to
the British provinces from New England and New York, it is impossible
to ascertain. It is not probable, however, that there were half that
number of Churchmen in all New England at the close of the war.
The next name on the list of ministers of this parish is that of Tru-
man Marsh in 1785, who "visited the Parish every third Sunday"; but,
as he was not ordained till 1790, he must have been only a licensed lay-
reader, though it is not improbable that he preached — as some of that
class did, in those days when there was a dearth of ordained ministers.
In 1794, the Rev. David Perry, M. D., minister of the parishes of Red-
ding, Ridgefield, and Danbury, in consequence of some reports to his
disadvantage as a cleryman, and of some errors in regard to baptism,
was suspended from the ministry, and the next year, at his own request,
deposed. He returned to the practice of medicine in Ridgefield.
The revenues of the Church were gathered after the Revolution
much as they were before. "The Episcopal parishes were taxed to
build churches and to sustain religious services, and the Diocesan Con-
vention assessed the parishes to provide for the Bishop's Fund. Each
parish was required to make an annual return of what was called the
'Grand Levy' — that is, its taxable list according to its last enrolment —
and upon this return rested the right of a lay delegate to his seat in the
convention. The resolution which fixed this rule was adopted in 1803.
The first published Grand Levy appeared in the Journal of 1806; and
from that time onward for fifteen years the roll of the lay delegates was
accompanied by the taxable list of the several parishes which they repre-
sented. If the list of any parish exceeded ten thousand dollars, such
parish was entitled to . . . two delegates." The Grand Levy of
the Redding Parish in 1806 was $12,960.
"It is interesting to note the changes since that period in the relative
I04
HISTORY OF REDDING.
wealth of the Church in Connecticut. In those early days, as reported,
Litchfield was stronger than Waterbury or Hartford, Woodbridge was
stronger than Meriden, Huntington than Derby, Redding than Bridge-
port, and Newtown than New Haven."
The longest pastorate since Mr. Beach was that of his great-grand-
son, the Rev. Lemuel B. Hull, who resigned his charge in 1836, after
twelve years' service. "In 1815, a fund of a little more than $3,000 was
raised."
On the second Tuesday in October, 1833 — the year in which the
present church edifice was built — the Annual Convention of the Diocese
at Norwich failed to organize for want of two more lay delegates to form
a quorum. "On the morning of that day, at three o'clock, the steam-
boat New England, on her passage from New York to Hartford, having
on board seventy-one persons, burst both her boilers near Essex, and
eight persons were immediately killed and thirteen seriously injured.
Among those who were fatally injured were Mr. John M. Heron and
Dr. Samuel M. Whiting, lay delegates from Christ Church, Redding;
and they were within a mile of their landing-place at the time of the
accident."
In the spring of that year several members of the parish withdrew by
certificate ; among these was John Meeker, clerk.
At a parish meeting, October 25th, 1834, the vestry were instructed
"to take proper [legal] steps to procure the Records of the Parish from
the hands of the late Clerk, without delay." At another meeting in De-
cember following, the agents of the parish (James San ford, Jr., and
Charles Beach) were authorized to "prosecute to final judgment such
suits as they should deem necessary for the recovery of the books,
records, funds or other property of the Society, before any Court proper
to try the same."
In October, 1835, fifty dollars were appropriated from the parish
treasury "to enable the agents to carry on the suit commenced against
the heirs of John Meeker, deceased." Some money was thus recovered,
but the records have never yet been found.
In 1847 the old parish debt of $870 (incurred in the building of the
church in 1833) was paid by subscription.
In 1850 the parish fund, about $2,700, which before had been held
as a loan by members of the parish, was by a considerable efifort, and
against the desire and judgment of the minority, collected and invested
in the stock of the Fairfield County Bank. The same year the church
edifice was altered and repaired, at an expense of $380.2^. "On Advent
Sunday" of this year, "the last Sunday of my ministry" (says the Rev.
Joseph P. Taylor'), "the sum of $600 was collected at the Offertory for
the purpose of building a new parsonage."
HISTORY OF REDDING. 10$
"The above-named sum," says the Rev. Orsamus H. Smith, his suc-
«cessor, "having been put upon the plate in written pledges, there re-
mains of them unredeemed in April, 1853, from fifty to one hundred
dollars," which being "part of the money relied upon for the building,
. the Vestry were obliged to borrow it, and it remains a debt
upon the parish. The new house was finished in October, 1851, and im-
mediately occupied by the family of Mr. Smith.
In 1858, says the Rev. W. W. Bronson: "The Glebe lot was very
much improved by the purchase of a strip of land [on the west side]
and the erection of a suitable fence, mainly through the exertions of the
ladies of the parish."
In 1863 the organ was repaired, and the broken bell replaced by a
new one of similar tone, from Meneeley's, at Troy.
In 1873 the church spire was repaired, and the old [English] weath-
ercock, a relic of Colonial times (one of whose legs had been shot off by
one of Tryon's soldiers in 1777), having persistently refused to remain
upon his perch, was excused from further duty, and a gilded cross erect-
ed in his place. The venerable bird, however, is still to be seen on one
of the outbuildings of the great-grandson of the Rev. John Beach, in
East Redding. The parsonage was adorned in 1874 with a new and
spacious veranda, in 1876 with a set of blinds.
The noticeable incidents of the year 1879, were the destruction of the
church sheds by fire on the evening of the 12th of May, and the acquisi-
tion of a baptismal font of Italian marble, purchased with contributions
of the Sunday-school and other members of the parish, collected during
the rectorship of the Rev. Mr. Kelley.
On July 6, 1888, the church having been enlarged and wholly reno-
vated, was reopened by Bishop Williams, many of the clergy and a great
congregation being in attendance. About 1891 a vocalion organ with
two manuals and pedals was added.
LIST OF MINISTERS OFFICIATING IN THE PARISH OF CHRIST
CHURCH, REDDING.
FROM TO
Rev. Henry Caner 1727 ^732.
" John Beach Oct., 1732 Mar. 19, 1782.
" rs'claA^'^i^"'-'" '^8-
" Truman Marsh 1795-
( Officiated a short
'" David Belden 1786 ■) time only, on ac-
' count of ill-health.
" Ambrose Hull 1789 I79i-
" David Perry, M. D 1791 Susp'd Nov. 1794
" David Butler Jan. 20, 1799 1804.
"' Elijah G. Plumb Jan. 30, 1806 181 1.
" Reuben Hubbard 1812 1818.
^' Ambrose S. Todd, D. D 1820 1823.
I06 HISTORY OF REDDING.
FROM TO
Rev. Lemuel B. Hull 1824 Feb. 23, 1836.
" Edward J. Darken, M. D Aug. 1836 Dec. 25, 1837.
" Charles Jarvis Todd June, 1838 Easter, 1842.
" William Atwill May 8, 1842 1845.
" David H. Short, D. D Easter, 1845 1846.
" Abel Nichols 1846 1847.
" Joseph P. Taylor Easter, 1847 Dec, 1850.
" Orsamus H. Smith Nov. 29, 1850 Mar. 31, 1853
" Abel Ogden July 10, 1853 Died May 8, 1854
" James Adams Autumn, 1854 Oct., 1856.
" Wm. White Bronson 1857 i860.
" Alfred Londerback May 25, 1861 Aug. 5, 1862.,
" Henry Zell March 12, 1863 Died Nov. 5, 1863
" Wm. L. Bostwick Easter, 1864 June 15, 1867.
" John W. Hoffman Dec. 6, 1S68 Nov. 30, 1871.
" Charles W. Kelley Jan. 5, 1873 April 30, 1876.
" Ximenus Alanson Welton July i, 1877 July 8, 1883.
" G. Morris Wilkins & others Supplv
" Martin B. Dunlap Aug. 17, 1884 Nov. 26, 1888.
" Alexander Hamilton 1890
" William A. Swan Apr. 10, 1892 September, 1899.
" Charles Thompson Caerr Oct. 15, 1901 June i, 1903,
" William H. Jepson Oct. 15, 1903 Now Rector
The number of communicants belonging to Christ Church, Redding,
as reported at different periods, were :
In 1809 55 In i860 59-
" 1810 63 " 1863 55
" 1811 67 " 1866 45
" 1815 61 " 1869 i7
" 1817 61 " 1873 40
" 1845 42 " 1874 55
" 1851 60 " 1875 61
" 1854 56 " 1877 59
" 1856 57 " 1878 64
" 1858 58 " 1879 65
" 1859 56
CHAPTER XI.
Methodist Episcopal Church— 1 789- 1 906.
When Jesse Lee left New York on the mission which was to quicken
and vitalize the New England churches, his first resting-place was at
Norwalk, where he preached on the highway under a spreading elm, no
house being opened to him. From Norwalk he proceeded to Fairfield
and New Haven, and from the latter place to Redding. He reached this
town on Wednesday, the 24th of June, 1789, and from this period we are
to date the origin of the Methodist Church in Redding, although some
six months elapsed before it was formally organized. In his journal un-
der the above date, Mr. Lee thus narrates some of the incidents of this
first visit :
METHCMMST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, REDDING CENTRE.
HISTORY OF REDDING. lO/'
"I travelled a stony road to Redding and according to directions call-
ed on Esquire Benedict but he was not at home; so got my horse and
rode to Mr. Rogers to consult him about the matter. While I was talk-
ing to him Mr. Bartlett a Congregational minister came by, and being
informed who I was asked me home with him. After I had been there
a while he asked me some questions relative to doctrines, and I endeavor-
ed to inform him what kind of doctrines we preached. He said he could
not invite me into the meeting house, because I held what he thought
was contrary to the gospel. I told him I did not expect an invitation to
preach in the meeting house, but if I was asked I should not refuse.
However Mr. Rogers sent his son down in a little time to let me know
that there was a school house that I could preach in, so I made the ap-
pointment for the people at six o'clock. Having met at that hour I
preached on 'Isa. 55:6: 'Seek ye the Lord while he may be found,' &c.
I bless God that I had some liberty in preaching."
The school-house where this first sermon was delivered probably
stood on the common near the old meeting-house. The few and simple
doctrines that Mr. Lee preached were the witness of the Spirit, the entire
efficacy of the Atonement, and the possibility of falling from grace, and
they were presented with so much force and earnestness as to produce a
deep impression on those who heard them ; yet he had no time to remain
and note the effect produced, but rode away the next day, carrying his
tidings to other communities. Twice again Lee visited Redding — July
8th, and September i6th of the same year — without seeing any fruits of
his efforts ; for, although many were impressed with the truth of his
doctrines, they hesitated about coming out openly and joining the new
sect. At length on his fourth visit, December 28th, 1789, he "joined two
in society for a beginning. A man who has lately received a witness
of his being in favor with the Lord led the way, and a woman who I
hope was lately converted, followed." This was the second Methodist
society organized in New England, the first being at Stratford. The
first two members mentioned above were Aaron Sanford and his mother-
in-law, Mrs. William Hawley. Mr. Sanford by this act became the first
male member of the ^Methodist Church in New England ; he was at once
appointed leader of the class thus formed, and its meetings were held
for years at his house. After its organization the growth of the So-
ciety was very rapid, chiefly through the class-meeting, and that agency^
so effectively used by Methodism, the lay preachers.
It is unfortunate that, owing to the loss of the early records of the
church, we can give the names of but few of its original members.
From the records of the first society I copy the following certificate,
dated December 15th, 1789:
I08 HISTORY OF REDDING.
"I hereby certify that Aaron Sanford of Reading, has constantly at-
tended the Methodist meetings in this town, and pays his part toward
my support as a minister of the gospel.
"Jesse Lee."
Similar certificates were given, February 9th, 1790, to Hezekiah San-
ford, and August 6th of the same year to Isaac Sherwood and S. Samuel
Smith.
From the church book of baptisms which has been preserved, we
learn that prior to 1794 the early preachers had baptized children of
Daniel and Anna Bartram, Silas and Huldah Merchant, Jonas and Lucy
Piatt, Paul and Mary Bartram, Jabez and Sarah Gorham, Elijah and
Menoma Elder, Aaron and Mary Odle, John and Sarah Sherman, Uriah
and Hannah Mead, Benjamin and EHzabeth Knap, Chester and Elizabeth
Meeker, Charles and Lucy Morgan, Ezekiel and Easter Bertrani, Jesse
and Martha Banks, Isaac and Betty Piatt, and Aaron and Eunice Hunt,
and we may safely reckon them as members of the church at that time.
Early in 1790 Lee organized his first circuit in New England; it was
called the "Fairfield Circuit," and embraced Norwalk, Fairfield, Strat-
ford, Milford, Redding, Danbury, Canaan, and intermediate places. The
first regularly appointed minister whose name appears on the Society
records was John Bloodgood, who was here as early as January 21st,
179 1, perhaps earlier. He was a native of the South, and after serving
on the Fairfield Circuit one year, was transferred to the Baltimore Con-
ference, to which his ministerial labors were chiefly confined. He died
in 1810. Like most of his colleagues, he preached in the school-houses,
under trees, sometimes in the barns, but always so fervently, and with
such native eloquence, that multitudes flocked to hear him. He was suc-
ceeded at the May (1791) session of the Conference by Nathaniel B.
Mills and Aaron Hunt.
]\Ir. Mills is described by his colleague, Mr. Hunt, as "a. man small
in stature, intelligent, sound, an able preacher, and rather inclined to
dejection." He was born in New Castle County, Delaware, February
23d, 1766. He entered the Baltimore Conference in the spring of 1787,
and after a laborious ministry of forty-two years, both in New England
and the South, was compelled in 1835 to retire to the ranks of the super-
annuated, where he remained until his death in 1844. His colleague,
Rev. Aaron Hunt, was born in Eastchester, Westchester County, N. Y.,
March 28th, 1768, and entered the Methodist ministry in 1791, making
some of his first essays at preaching on the Redding Circuit.
I" I793> while preaching in Redding, he married Miss Hannah San-
ford, daughter of the Mr. Aaron Sanford before mentioned, and shortly
after "located" in Redding, where he continued to reside for many years,
HISTORY OF REDDING. IO9
and where most of his large family of children were born. Mr. Hunt
was prominent among the early Methodist preachers, and was well
known throughout the State. During his pastorate the church had been
encouraged by a visit from the eminent Bishop Asbury, who passed
through Redding in June, 1791, during his hasty tour through New Eng-
land, and preached here "with much satisfaction," as he remarks in his
journal. The church received another and longer visit from him in Sep-
tember, 1796. "The society in that village," says Mr. Stevens, the his-
torian of Methodism, "had been gradually gathering strength. They as-
sembled to greet him at Mr, Sandford's, where he gave them an encour-
aging discourse from i Peter i: 13-15." From this time until 181 1,
the record of the church is one of continued growth and prosperity ; re-
vivals were frequent and accessions many; classes were early formed at
Lonetown, Redding Ridge, Sanfordtown, Boston, and at Long Ridge, the
latter some years later becoming a separate church organization.
Still the society was without a house of worship, and the want was
beginning to be severely felt. In 1803 they first leased the town-hall for
a place of public worship, as appears by the following extract from the
town records: "At a town meeting held December 12, 1803, it was
voted, 'That the Town House be leased to the Methodist Society for $15
per year to be used as often, and as much as they please for public wor-
ship, and said Society to repair all damage done to the Town House
while they are assembled therein for public worship.' " This lease was
continued from year to year at varying rates, until the erection of the
first church in 181 1. Of the building of this edifice we have no data
except such as is contained in this extract from the society records :
"At a Society meeting of the Methodists, duly warned and held at
the house of William Sanford in Redding, on Tuesday the 30th day of
October, 1810. Voted, that Seth Andrews, William Sanford, and John
R. Hill be a committee to said society for the ensuing year, to do and
transact all temporal business. Voted, that our said committee carry
round a subscription paper immediately to raise money for the purpose
of building a Meeting-House in said Redding, for the purpose of Divine
Worship.
"Aaron Sanford, Clerk."
The church was built the succeeding summer. It stood on the site
of the present residence of Mrs. Wolsey Randle, on land purchased
of Jonathan R. Sanford, Esq. His deed conveying the land, dated June
6th, 1811, was given to Seth Andrews, William Sanford, and John R.
Hill, trustees for the Methodist church and society in Redding, the con-
-sideration being $130. No actual description of the first church is pre-
served to us, except that it was built after the usual fashion of Methodist
churches in those days. It had no steeple nor tower, no ceiling except
I JO HISTORY OF REDDING.
the roof, and there were no means of warming it, except by foot-stoves
carried in by the female worshippers. With the above exceptions, the
following description of an early Methodist church would probably ap-
ply to this in every particular:
"The building was as unpolluted by paint within and without as when
its timbers were standing in their native forest. A gallery extended
around three sides. At the extreme end of the left gallery was a small
room partitioned off for class meetings. The pulpit was elevated about
six feet above the floor, and in form resembled a large dry goods box,
the breastworks so high as almost to conceal the preacher if small of
stature from view. From the pulpit extended a staircase conducting to
the class-room in the gallery, to which the preacher and the members
repaired at the close of the public service." *
None of the incidents in the history of the old church are so vividly
remembered and described as the quarterly meetings which were held
there. The quarterly meeting to the early Methodist was the most im-
portant of all the institutions of the church, and those held in Redding
were especially noteworthy ; it was a sort of home-coming to the mother-
church, and at such times all the Methodist homes in town were open to
the brethren from abroad. The presiding elder and the two preachers
on the "Circuit" were always present on these occasions, and the mem-
bership was gathered from Danbury, Ridgefield, Easton, and Newtown,
as well as from places more remote. The exercises on these occasions
began at 9 o'clock on Sabbath morning with the "love-feast" and the
passing of bread and water, of which all partook, as a token of their
brotherhood in Christ. At 10.30 a sermon was preached by the elder.
At 12 M. the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered. At i
p. M. another sermon was preached, generally by one of the preachers in
charge. At the conclusion of this discourse the genial elder would pro-
ceed to designate to the guests their respective places of entertainment.
T he day was usually concluded by a series of prayer-meetings held in the
different districts, and conducted with great warmth and fervor.
The old church seems to have been intended for a temporary struc-
ture, and was succeeded in 1837 by the present neat and commodious
edifice. A brief account of the erection of the present building will be
interesting and probably nezv to many, though barely seventy years have
elapsed since its timbers Vv^ere standing in the forest.
We find on the society records the following entries :
"The members of the Methodist Episcopal Society of Redding are
hereby notified and warned, that a society's meeting for said society will
be held on Tuesday the 26th day of instant January at one o'clock p. m.
*Sermon of Rev. J. L. Gilder, before the N. Y. East Conference.
HISTORY OF REDDING. Ill
at the Methodist Church in said Redding for the purpose of taking into
consideration the propriety of building a new church in said society, and
locating the same near the intersection of the roads near the Town
House, appointing a building committee to superintend and carry said
object into effect, make arrangements to dispose of the old house if
thought proper, and to do any other business proper to be done at said
meeting.
"Sherlock Todd,
Jesse Banks,
Aaron Mallett,
Trustees.
"Redding, Jan. 20, 1836."
A society meeting was held at the appointed time — Rev. H. Hum-
phreys being chairman, and Thomas B. Fanton, clerk. It was then
voted "To approve of the proposed plan in the caption of the subscription
paper to raise subscriptions and build a new house. ..."
It was also further provided "that the said House shall be located
somewhere near the four corners that intersect at Redding Town House,
But the said object not to take effect, unless the sum of Two thousand
Five hundred Dollars be subscribed, and the said House be built within
eighteen months from the date hereof."
Voted: "To build a House agreeable to the above caption, provided
a place be obtained that is approved by the committee appointed for that
purpose."
Voted: "To appoint a Building Committee of three persons to super-
intend, and take charge, and contract for the same House, viz. : Thomas
B. Fanton, John R. Hill, and Gershom Sherwood."
Voted : "To add two more to the building Committee — Jesse Banks
and David Duncomb."
Voted : "To adjourn the meeting two weeks from this day at one
p. M.
"Thomas B. Fanton, Clerk."
No account of the adjourned meeting is to be found in the society
records. The twenty-five hundred dollars needed were speedily sub-
scribed, and the building was erected in the summer of 1837 and dedi-
cated in December of the same year, Rev. C. K. True preaching the ded-
ication sermon.
In 1868, during the pastorate of Rev. William T. Hill, the church was
thoroughly remodelled and refurnished. The pulpit was cut down, and
the antique pews exchanged for the present neat and comfortable ones.
The rededication service at this time was perhaps the most interesting
occasion in the history Of the church. Bishop Janes was present, and
J 1 2 HISTORY OF REDDING.
preached the dedication sermon to an audience that filled every nook,
and corner of the building, and many old pastors and friends of the
church added by their presence to the interest of the occasion.
In September, 1870, Rev. Aaron Sanford Hill gave to the churcb
some ten acres of land lying in the northerly part of the town, the income-
from which was to be appropriated to the use of the church. This gift
Mr. Sanford supplemented by another of $4,000 in 1871, of which the
interest only was to be used in meeting the expenses of the church. This
fund is known as the Sanford Hill Fund. In 1877 another benefaction
of $500 was given by William A. Sanford, Esq., to be applied in the same
manner as the preceding.
Revivals in the church have been frequent, and attended with gratify-
ing results; notably in 181 5 under the preaching of Rev. Reuben Harris^
in 1822 during the pastorate of Aaron Hunt, in 1838 under that of Rev.
John Crawford, in 1855 under Rev. E. S. Hebbard, and in 1867 under!
Rev. William T. Hill.
According to the minutes of the Annual Conferences the following-
ministers were appointed to Fairfield Circuit (which included Redding),,
beginning with its organization in 1790 :
1790 John Bloodgood.
1791 Nathaniel B. Mills, Aaron Hunt.
1792 Joshua Taylor, Smith Weeks.
1793 James Coleman, Aaron Hunt.
1794 Zebulon Kankey, Nicholas Snethen.
Those appointed to Redding Circuit were :
1795 Daniel Dennis, Timothy Dewey.
1796 Elijah Woolsey, Robert Leeds.
1797 David Buck, Augustus Jocelyn.
1798 William Thatcher.
1799 David Brown.
1800 Augustus Jocelyn.
1801 Samuel Merwin, Isaac Candee.
1802 James Coleman, Isaac Candee.
1803 James Campbell, N. U. Tompkins.
1804 Peter Moriarty, Sylvester Foster.
1805 Peter Moriarty, Samuel Merwin.
1806 Nathan Felch, Oliver Sykes.
1807 James M. Smith, Zalmon Lyon.
1808 Noble W. Thomas, Jonathan Lyon.
1809 Billy Hibbard, Isaac Candee.
1 8 10 Nathan Emory, John Russell.
1811 Aaron Hunt, Oliver Sykes, and John Reynolds.
To
To
To
HISTORY OF REDDING. II 3
8i2 Seth Crewel, Gilbert Lyon, S. Beach.
813 Aaron Hunt, Henry Eames,
814 Ebenezer Washburne, Reuben Harris.
815 Elijah Woolsey, Reuben Harris.
816 Samuel Bushnell, John Boyd.
817 Samuel Bushnell, Theodocius Clarke.
818 James M. Smith, Theodocius Clarke.
819 J. S. Smith, Phineas Cook.
820 Laban Clark, Phineas Cook.
821 Laban Clark, Aaron Hunt.
822 Samuel Cochrane, Aaron Hunt.
823 Samuel Cochrane, John Reynolds.
824 Elijah Woolsey, John Reynolds.
Redding- and Bridgeport Circuit :
825 Marvin Richardson, H. Humphreys, Frederic W. Siger.
826 Marvin Richardson, H. Humphreys.
827 Henry Stead, John Lovejoy, J. C. Bontecue.
Redding Circuit :
828 Henry Stead, Gershom Pearce.
829 Ebenezer Washburn, Gershom Pearce.
830 Ebenezer Washburn, Oliver V. Ammerman.
831 James Young, Josiah Bowen.
832 Nicholas White, Jesse Hunt.
833 Jesse Hunt, John B. Beach.
834 Josiah Bowen, John B. Beach.
Reddinsf and Newtown Circuit:
[835 Humphrey Humphries, Josiah L. Dickerson, John Davies.
[836 Humphrey Humphries.
March 28th, 1837, the society, "after due deliberation, existing cir-
cumstances being considered, voted to try a station the ensuing year";
which was accordingly done, and the Rev. Humphrey Humphries be-
came the first stated pastor.
Since then the church has enjoyed the undivided care of its pastors,
and has been generally prosperous and aggressive.
The list of pastors since 1837 comprises many well-known names and
will be read with interest. They are as follows :
1838 John Crawford, 2d; Morris Hill.
1839-1840 Paul R. Brown.
1 841 -1 842 Daniel Smith.
1843 Phillip L. Hoyt.
TI4
^
HISTORY OF REDDING
1844-1
845
William F. Collins.
1S46-]
847
Joseph D. Marshall.
1 848-]
849
Jacob Shaw.
1850-]
851
John L. Gilder.
1852-]
853
Friend W. Smith.
1854-J
855
E. S. Hibbard.
1856-]
857
Hart F. Pease.
1858-]
859
George C. Creevy.
1859-1
860
Wm. H. Gilder.
i860-]
862
J. W. Home.
1 862-]
864
George Hollis.
1 864-]
867
David Nash.
1 867-]
870
Wm. T. Hill.
1870-]
872
T. C. Beach.
1 872-]
874
W. R. Webster.
1874-]
877
Joseph Smith.
1877-]
879
John Dickinson.
1879-]
881
J. S. Haugh.
1881-]
884
J. 0. Munson.
1884-]
[885
Henry Aston.
1885-]
[888
L. P. Perry.
1888-]
[889
Nelson L. Porter.
1889-
[892
David Taylor.
1892-]
[894
E. L. Bray.
1894-]
[899
B. C. Pilsbiiry.
1899-
[901
F. M. Moody.
1901-
[903
G. A. Veits.
1903-
1905
Jabez Scott.
1905-
1907
H. Q. Judd.
Of the above list but one, Rev. Jacob Shaw, died and was buried in 1
Redding. Of the laymen who nobly aided these clergymen in their
ministry many will be held in grateful remembrance by the church. The
names most familiar to the early membership perhaps, were those of the
lay preachers : Aaron Sanford, Hawley Sanford, Rory Starr and Wal-
ter Sanford ; the class leaders : John R. Hill, Abraham Couch, Urrai
Mead, Sherlock Todd, and Bradley Burr; and the official members:
Thomas B. Fanton, David S. Duncomb, Aaron Sanford, Jr., Charles
Gorham, Eben Treadwell, and John Edmonds.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT LONG RIDGE.
The origin of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Long Ridge, as
narrated by the Rev. Paul R. Brown, pastor of the church in 1842, was
as follows :
HISTORY OF REDDING. 1 1 5
''One evening as Father Coleman (a Methodist preacher) was pass-
ing through Starr's Plain on his way to Danbury, he saw a man sitting
on the fence by the wayside, and inquired the distance to town. The
man told him, and added: "Are you a doctor"? "No, sir." "Are you
a lawyer"? "No, sir." "Then," said the man, following up the ques-
tion, "What are you"? Father Coleman answered, "I am a Methodist
preacher." "Methodist Preacher! What's that"? replied the man. "If
you will open your house and invite in your neighbors I will let you hear
a Methodist preacher the next time I come this way," was the reply.
The offer was accepted, and Father Coleman preached to them on his
next visit. He soon organized a class, and among the members of that
class was the man who sat upon the fence and questioned the preacher.
After that the class grew into a society, and in due time a small church
was built at Long Ridge, which gave way to a larger edifice in the course
of a few years."
The first church was built when the society consisted of but eleven
members under the following circumstances : They were assembled for
the weekly class-meeting at the house of one of their number, and on
speaking of their need of a church, Uriah Griffin remarked that if
he had a hundred dollars in hand he would build them a church. David
Osborne, the youngest member present, at once agreed to furnish the re-
quired sum, and the church was built the same year. This was in 1820-1,
during the pastorate of the Rev. Laban Clark. The little society at once
became connected with Redding Station as an auxiliary, the preacher in
charge there having the care of its temporal concerns, and filling its pul-
pit once in four weeks.* In the interim the pulpit was supplied by the
lay preachers, Aaron Sanford, Morris Hill, Aaron S. Hill, of Redding,
Rory Starr, of Danbury, and others. The society's connection with Red-
ding ceased in 1848, and the same relation was formed with the church
in Bethel. For several years past it has been a separate station. The
pastors of the church from 1820 to 1848 were the same as those of Red-
ding, and are given in the history of the Redding Church. The pastors
since 1848 have been as follows:
1848-1849 Morris Hill.
1850 Elias Gilbert.
1851-1852 Charles Bartlett.
1853-1854 George Stillman.
1855-1856 Samuel H. Smith.
1857-1858 John Crawford.
*The present church edifice is situated in Danbury, a few yards from the
Redding line, but as the church was so long identified with Redding, it was
thought proper to preserve its history here.
ij5 history of redding.
1859 David Osborn.
1860-1861 Sherman D. Barnes, local preacher.
1 862- 1 863 Elias Gilbert.
1864 William H. Adams.
1865 J. W. Bramblee.
1866-1867 G. W. Polley, local.
1868 Stephen J. Stebbins.
1869 James H. Crofut, local.
1870 Frank F. Jorden, local.
1 87 1 William P. Armstrong, local.
1872 Frank J. Jorden, local.
1873 Joseph W. Pattison, local.
1874-1875 William Cogswell, local.
1876 Joseph W. Pattison, local.
1877-1878 Charles A. Wilson, local.
1879-1881 Henry A. Van Dalsem.
1881-1882 George W. Peterson.
1 882- 1 883 Henry Wheeler.
1883-1884 Joseph D. Munson.
1888 Nelson L. Porter. . j
1894-1896 Robert J. Beach. j
1896-1897 F. H. Sawyer.
1 897- 1 898 George W. Osmun. i
1898-1901 D. Carl Yoder. ■ :
1901-1903 A. J. Amery. j
1 903- 1 904 John L. Clymer.
1904-1905 William S. Reed.
1905- 1906 Floyd W. Foster.
1906 John W. Mace.
A few yards from Redding Station, on the banks of the Saugatuckl
River, is situated the old camp-ground, noted for being the place where
the first camp-meeting of the Methodists in New England was held.
Just when this event occurred we are unable to state, but it was about
1810, probably under the leadership of Nathan Bangs. The tents of this
first assemblage were of the most primitive kind, many of them being
constructed of the branches of trees, and others of blankets stretched over
a frame-work of poles. Meetings continued to be held in this grove
every year for over sixty years.
About i860, owing to some difficulty in leasing the grounds, and
from other causes, the meetings here were discontinued, and another
camp-ground opened at Milford, Conn., on the line of the Naugatuck
Railroad.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
117
This grove was, however, soon abandoned, never having been popu-
lar with the Methodist pubhc. In 1878, after the lapse of nearly
twenty years, the old camp-ground at Redding was reopened, and that
year a very successful and well-attended meeting was held there.
It was supposed, then, that the grove would be purchased and con-
tinue to be used for camp-meeting purposes, but this desirable consumma-
tion was not effected.
CHAPTER Xll.
The Baptist Church in Georgetown (now extinct.)
That there was a society of Baptists in Redding as early as 1785,
appears from an entry in the records of the First Society, dated Decem-
ber 9th, 1785, where Michael Wood has a certificate given him by John
Lee, Deacon, as a member of the Baptist church in Redding.
Similar certificates were given to John Couch, Micayah Starr, and
Jabez Wakeman ; but we have no evidence of the existence of a church
here until 1833. O'^ the 28th of January of that year an ecclesiastical
council was held at the house of Timothy Wakeman, in Redding, and a
church formally organized. The record ol the proceedings of this meet-
ing constitutes the first entry in the Church Book of Records, and is as
follows :
"Chose Elder Thomas Lascombe Moderator, and Elder Nathan Wild-
man, Clerk. Invited Brethren present to a seat with the Council. Pro-
ceeded to hear the Articles and Covenant, also reasons why they wished
to be constituted into a Church. The Council unanimously voted to
proceed to the constitution. Repaired to the meeting house. Intro-
ductory prayer and sermon by Elder Nathan Wildman. Right hand of
fellowship in behalf of the Council, and closing prayer by Elder Thomas
Lascombe.
"Nathan Wildman, Clerk."
There were but 18 original members — 4 males and 14 females. For
some years there was no settled pastor, and the pulpit was supplied al-
ternately, once in four weeks, by Elders S. Ambler, of Danbury, and
Stephen B. Bray, a licentiate from Southbury, Conn. Elders N. Wild-
man, of Weston ; Erastus Doty, of Colebrook, Conn., and Chandler Cur-
tis also preached occasionally. June 3d, 1837, the church extended a
unanimous call to Rev. William Bowen, of Mansfield, Conn., which was
accepted, and he became the first pastor of the church. He continued
I 1 3 HISTORY OF REDDING.
to sustain this relation to the church until November, 1838, when he was
dismissed, owing to the inability of the society to meet his salary. The
same month the church edifice was nearly destroyed by mob violence —
the only instance of the kind that ever occurred in this staid and con-
servative town.
It was 1838, the period of the slavery excitement, when abolitionist
and pro-slavery men engaged in almost daily conflict, and men thought
to stifle with shot-gun and bludgeon the first faint stirrings of the na-
tional conscience. A few pithy entries in the church records thus refer
to the aft'air:
"Nov. 26th. Rev. Nathaniel Colver lectured on slavery in our
meeting house — was disturbed by unruly persons."
"27th. Another lecture on Slavery molested as night before."
"28th. Meeting house blown up by a mob, but not entirely destroy-
ed."
This is all the information the church records give us on the subject,
but from the files of the Norwalk Gasette for that year we glean a full
account of the affair. This article is interesting, as showing the man-
ner in which even the Whigs handled the question of slavery at that
time.
"High-handed Outrage. — We learn that Judge Lynch has been ex-
ercising his summary proceedings in this vicinity within the week past.
Colver, the abolitionist lecturer, has been holding forth, as we understand,
for a number of evenings, on the subject of immediate emancipation, in
the Baptist church in Redding, and in the course of his lectures had taken
occasion to exhibit before his audience the practical oiiial ganiationism of
the Vice-President of the United States, the Hon. Richard AI. Johnson.
We are informed that he accused this distinguished personage of mak-
ing merchandise of the ofifspring of his own loins, of selling his own
sons and daughters into slavery. This so enraged some of his political
partisans, that they determined to abolish the walls which had echoed the
nefarious libel upon 'Dick, the Tecumseh Killer.' So, after the lecture
was concluded, a keg of gunpowder was deposited under the church
which had been profaned by these abolition orgies — and about two
o'clock on the morning of the 29th ult. the church was blown 'sky-high/
as John Randolph used to say. It was a small building of one story»
and not worth more than $500. But notwithstanding the provocation,
and notwithstanding the comparatively trifling amount of damage oc-
casioned by this wanton outrage, we most sincerely deprecate the pre-
valence of a spirit which does violence to the dearest rights of every
freeman in the land — the freedom of speech and of opinion. We are no
apologists for the intemperate and fanatic zeal of the abolitionists; but
we deem it the duty of every press in the land to cry out against such
HISTORY OF REDDING.
119
violations of the Constitution and laws. And though we would denounce
in the severest terms the exasperating conduct of the abolitionists, we
would at the same time do our utmost to bring the trespassers upon the
rights which the Constitution guarantees to every citizen and the viola-
tors of the public peace, to condign punishment." *
This action of the mob, with the dissensions engendered by it, proved
a sad blow to the church, and from which it never fully recovered, al-
though it continued in existence for several years. Elder John H. Water-
bury served the church as pastor for some months in 1839, and was suc-
ceeded in 1841 by Elder John Noyes, of North Haven.
Mr. Noyes' letter of dismission from the Baptist church in North
Haven is as follows :
"The Baptist Church in North Haven to the Baptist Church in Reading,
"Dear Brethren. This certifies that Rev. John Noyes and his wife
Ann are members of this church in good standing, and as such we com-
mend them to your Christian affection and fellowship. We have voted
that when they are received by you, we shall consider their connection
with us dissolved.
"In behalf of the church in North Haven.
"M. F. Robinson, Clerk.
"May I, 1841."
April 2d, 1842, Mr. Noyes was dismissed to Phillipstown, N. Y.
Rev. George Crocker, of Danbury, supplied the pulpit for the succeed-
ing twelve months. Elder David Pease was the next preacher, he being
called February nth, 1844. His connection with the church was short
and uneventful. There is no record of any other preacher being called ;
in fact, the society was becoming too weak to support an organization,
and shortly after, in October, 1847, was dissolved by the unanimous vote
of its members.
*A resident of Georgetown at the time gives the following additional par-
ticulars: About two o'clock on the morning following Mr. Colver's lecture, the
inhabitants of Georgetown were startled by a tremendous report and rumbling
noise, which jarred the houses and broke the windows in the immediate neighbor-
hood. In the morning, this unusual disturbance was found to have been caused
by the explosion of a keg of powder which had been placed directly under the
pulpit, a portion of the underpinning of the church having been removed for that
purpose. The pulpit was demolished, the front of the building displaced several
fefjt, the windows broken out, and the walls destroyed.
J20 HISTORY OF REDDING.
CHAPTER Xlll.
The Methodist Protestant Church in Georgetown.
(Now the Congregational Church.)
The Methodist Protestant Church in Georgetown had its origin in a
small schism in the Methodist Episcopal Church, commencing about
1818, in the New York Conference.
Among the ministers who seceded from the church at this time was
the Rev. William M. Still well, who, in 1820, organized a small class of
persons in Georgetown, sharers in his peculiar ideas of church polity,
but who still retained the name of Methodist, though called by their op-
ponents Still wellites. In 1829 a convention was held and adopted the
name of Methodist Protestant, and in 1839 the church at Georgetown
was formally organized as the Methodist Protestant Church and Society
of Wilton Circuit. The first members of the class, so far as can be ascer-
tained, were Ebenezer Hill, Banks Sherwood, David Nichols, Isaac Os-
borne, and Benjamin Gilbert and wife. The first minister was Rev.
William M. Stillwell. The first entry in the church records is as fol-
lows:
"The first Methodist Protestant church in Redding was organized in
the year of our Lord 1839, on the 15th of the 9th month, at a regular
warned meeting held at the house of Sturges Bennett. The following
officers were chosen. David Nichols, chairman, John O. St. John, sec-
retary. John O. St. John was duly elected clerk of said society, and the
oath was administered by Walker Bates, Esq. John O. St. John was
also elected Treasurer of said society."
Aaron Osborne was the first sexton. (He was to open the church
thirty minutes before service, sweep the house, make the fires, and at-
tend to the lights, for a yearly salary of $6.00.)
A house of worship had been built in 1839, prior to the organization
of the church, by John O. St. John and Charles Scribner. For a num-
ber of years the church records show only the ordinary routine of busi-
ness. In 185 1, March loth, a society's meeting passed the following
resolutions :
"Resolved, ist: That we take into consideration the amount of Dam-
age sustained by the society, by the Danbury and Norwalk R. R. crossing
the society's grounds near this house of worship. 2nd : That the assess-
ment of damages by crossing the society's grounds be left to three men
— one chosen by the trustees, one by the Rail Road contractors, and
these two to choose a third. 3rd : That the trustees be instructed to hold
HISTORY OF REDDING. 12 1
the contractors or Rail Road Company responsible for all damage to the
society's house of worship."
To these resolutions a meeting held December 27th, 185 1, added the
following :
"Resolved, by vote of this meeting that the society's committee be au-
thorized to give by deed to the Danbury and Norwalk Railroad Com-
pany a right of way across said Society's ground, for the consideration
of one hundred and fifty Dollars." At a meeting held February 19th,
1853: "On motion S. M. Main and Hiram St. John, were appointed a
committee to circulate a subscription to raise money to build a parson-
age house." A meeting held November 17th, 1853, voted: "that the
society's committee be authorized to circulate a subscription paper, to
raise money to the amount of six hundred dollars for the purpose of pur-
chasing Mr. Weed's house for a parsonage; and at a subsequent meeting
held November 26th, the committee were authorized to purchase Mr.
Weed's house so soon as six hundred dollars is pledged for that purpose."
It was also voted that the "horse sheds be located 40 feet south of the
butternut tree in the yard, provided the ground can be obtained for one
dollar."
At a meeting held December 7th, 1867, Messrs John R. Sturges, J.
O. St. John and Sturges Bennett were appointed a committee to ascer-
tain the denominational preferences of all the members of the church,
"with a view to a change of name to that of Congregational, or that of
letting it be the"JvIethodist Protestant Meeting."
This committee reported to an adjourned meeting, held December
14th, in favor of a change of name, and by a unanimous vote the name
of the church was changed from Methodist Protestant to Congregational.
It was also voted to petition the next legislature to change the name of
the society in accordance with the above vote, and to secure to the Con-
gregational Society the property now held by the Methodist Protestant
Society. The committee appointed for this purpose were Messrs. David
E. Smith, Hiram St. John, and E. G. Bennett. From October, 1865, to
May, 1875, the church was supplied by Rev. Samuel St. John, of George-
town. He was succeeded by Rev. Albert H. Thompson, of Yale Theo-
logical Seminary, who supplied the pulpit until November, 1876. Mr.
Thompson's successor was Rev. C. B. Strong, of Hartford Seminary,
who remained until the close of 1877. The present pasitor, the Rev. C.
A. Northrop, began his labors with the church January 6th, 1878, and
was ordained and installed as pastor October 2d, 1878.
The records of the Methodist Protestant Church give no data of the
settlement or dismissal of pastors. From old members of the church,
however, I gain the following names of those who served the church in
122 HISTORY OF REDDING.
this capacity. The Hst is probably complete,* though tHie names are not
given in the order of succession. They were : William M. Stillwell,
Stephen Treadwell, Abram Glasgow, Stephen Remington, Sheme-
all, Vredenburgh, James Summerbell, Aaron G. Brewer, Richard
K. Diossy, James RoUiston, William McCutchen, William H. Bosely,
William Cliff, Samuel M. Henderson, Jacob Timberman, Wade,
Elizur W. Griswold, Merwin Lent, William H. Johnson, John L. Am-
bler, Joseph J. Smith, Joshua Hudson, Thomas K. Witsel, John H.
Painter, M. E. Rude, William C. Clarke.
CHAPTER XIV.
History of Schools.
We have before spoken of the care of our Puritan ancestors to pro-
vide for the church and the ministry in their infant settlements. They
were equally careful to furnish them with the school and the teacher. If
piety was one of the pillars of democracy, so also was intelligence ; and
church and school were alike deemed indispensable to the growth and
security of the state; hence we find the pioneers of Redding making
early provision for the establishment of schools among them. The first
recorded movement of the parish in the matter was in 1737, when, at a
parish meeting held December 26th, 1737, it was voted to have a parish
school, and to maintain said school by a parish rate. John Read, Joseph
Lee, Joseph Sanford, John Hull, Nathan Lion, Stephen Morehouse, and
Daniel Lion were the first school committee. The meeting also voted:
"that said school be divided into three parts, that is to say, five months
in that quarter called the Ridge, and five months on the west side of the
parish near the mill, and two months at Lonetown, understanding that
the centre of division is the meeting-house, and that Stephen Burr be-
longs to the west side."
These were the original school districts of the town ; in them the first
rude school-houses were erected, and from the one to the other went the
peripatetic school-master as his duties called him. These school-houses
were built of logs ; their furniture was of the most meagre description,
consisting of a sloping desk of boards affixed to the wall and extending
around three sides of the building, benches of rough-hewn plank and a
planed pine board whereon the student "figgered" with bits of charcoal.
Nor was the curriculum of the schools much more extensive. Reading,
*To 1880.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
123
writing, and arithmetic were all that was then thought necessary for the
country boy to know ; further knowledge was to be acquired in schools
of a higher grade.
As years passed on, and new families moved into the place, the dis-
tricts became strong enough each to support its own school.
Hence we find a parish meeting held December loth, 1742, voting:
"that the interest of the school money belonging to the parish shall be
divided into three equal parts for the year ensuing, for the maintaining
of three separate schools (each to be kept by a master), one third part
of the money for that part of the Parish east of Little River, one third
part for that part of the Parish between Little River and the Saugatuck
River, and one third for that part west of the Saugatuck. Provided,
that each part of the Parish as above divided, keep a school as above-
said three months in the year ensuing, but if any part of the Parish fail
in keeping a school as abovesaid, the other two parts that keep said
school, shall equally divide the said money between them, and if two
parts of the Parish fail in keeping a school as abovesaid, that part of the
Parish that shall keep said school the three months, shall draw the whole
of the school money." The same districts are defined in the appro-
priation of the school money in 1743 as being "the school on the West
side of Aspetuck River, the school by Mill River (Saugatuck), and the
school by the Church."
In 1745 the appropriation was made to the same districts, with the
provision that each should "keep a school with a school master sufficient-
ly capable to learn children to Wright and Reade."
There seems to have been no change in this respect until 1764, when
it was voted : "that the school money should be subdivided according to
the lists within such subdivisions." In 1768 the bounds of the districts
were first set out by a committee appointed at town meeting for the pur-
pose. This first committee consisted of Stephen Mead, Daniel Hill, and
Daniel Sanford. The school committee for this year, appointed at town
meeting, consisted of seven, and it is probable that each represented a
district — which would give us seven districts in the town at that time.
December 19th, 1792, the following important vote was taken: "that
the school money shall be lodged with the Treasurer, and he to collect
the interest arising on the school bonds annually by the first day of April,
the Interest already arisen and unpaid to be collected forthwith, and in
failure of payment of back interest, he to send the bond, or bonds, and
collect principal and interest, and to conduct in the same manner on
neglect of annual payment of interest on said Bonds, and to pay said
Interest and School Money to the School Committee as it may be ap-
propriated by the committee of the Districts annually."
As to the source or origin of these school bonds, or by whom taken,
124
HISTORY OF REDDING.
I am unable to give a positive answer. The town of Redding has a
school fund of $400, distinct from the State fund, and which dates back
to a period beyond the reach of memory or tradition; it is more than
probable, however, that it was the sum realized from the sale of lands in
Litchfield County in 1733, called western lands, and which was divided
among the several towns in proportion to their poll list and ratable estate
for that year and to be secured and forever improved for the use of the
schools kept in said towns according to law. Redding, unlike most of
her sister towns, has preserved this fund inviolate, and still uses its pro-
ceeds in support of her schools. In 1795 came the sale of the Western
Reserve, and Connecticut's munificent grant to her common schools,
which has put them in the front rank of educational forces, and con-
tributed so much to the material prosperity of the State. In October of
that year the inhabitants of Redding met, and formed themselves into a
school society, in order that they "might have the advantage of the
monies arising from the sale of western lands." Peter Sanford, James
Rogers, and Simeon Munger were the first committee chosen by this
society. Prior to 1870, the cost of supporting the schools above that
derived from the school funds was borne by the parents or guardians of
the scholars, but in that year the legislature passed a law compelling the
towns to maintain free schools, and this plan has since been pursued.
From an early period Redding has been favorably known for the
number and excellence of her select schools ; some of these were conduct-
ed by the pastors of the different churches, and others by professional
teachers. One of the earliest of these schools was that kept by S. Samuel
Smith, Esq., in the centre. The Rev. Jonathan Bartlett opened a school
for boys and young men about 1795, that attained a high reputation and
flourished for a term of years ; his school was kept in his dwelling-
house — now the residence of Mr. Lemuel Sanford. The first boarding-
school in town was opened by Mr. Walker Bates about 1825. Mr. Bates
was a pupil of Mr. Bartlett's, and a very successful teacher. A few
years after, Mr. Eli Gilbert opened a select school at the centre, which
continued in successful operation for a term of years ; and in 1836 two
schools were established on Redding Ridge — one by Mr. John Osborne,
the other by Mr. Aaron B. Wilson.
One of the most noteworthy schools of the town was the Redding
Institute, founded by Daniel Sanford, A. M., in the fall of 1847. (See
Chapter XXII.)
The boarding-school opened by Mr. Burton Bradley about 1850, and
Miss Polly Sellick's boarding-school for young ladies, founded in 1844,
were successful and well-conducted institutions. The Misses Sanford
also had a select school for young children.
In 1878 Rev. Aaron S. Sanford, of New Haven, donated the sum of
five thousand dollars for the endowment of a High School. This muni-
HISTORY OF REDDING.
125
ficent gift was accepted by the people of the town, and the Hill Academy
was incorporated under the laws of the State. The first trustees of the
institution, seven in number, were Francis A. Sanford, Aaron Tread-
well, John Todd, X. Alanson Welton, Stephen Sanford, Thaddeus M.
Abbott, and Arthur B. Hill.
The first principal of the academy was Mr. T. M. W. George, of
Hartford, who closed his first year's labor July ist, 1879.
CHAPTER XV.
Manufactures.
In 1793, under a State law, a specific tax was laid on the various
trades and professions, and from the grand list of that year we may
gather accurate knowledge of the number of tradesmen, artisans, and
professional men in the town at that time.
The following table is prepared from this list :
Trade or Profession.
Tax.
ATTORNEYS.
Thaddeus Benedict $60
S. Sam Smith 5°
PHYSICIANS.
Thomas Davies 10
Thomas Peck 10
TRADERS,
James Rogers 25
Benj. Sanford & Co 25
Stephen Betts & Co 25
William Heron 25
Ezekiel Jackson & Co 25
Abijah Parsons 25
tailors.
Justus Whitlow 5
Joel Byington 5
clothier.
Elisha Bradley 5
wheelwright.
Joel Gray 5
COOPER.
Stephen Gray 5
joiners.
Eli Lyon 5
Stephen Lyon 5
Daniel Perry 5
Trade or Profession. Tax.
blacksmiths.
Aaron Barlow $ 5
Thaddeus Abbott 5
Enoch Merchant 5
weavers.
Chauncey Merchant 5
saddler.
Edward Starr 5
tanners and shoemakers.
Asahel Salmon 5
tavern-keepers.
Stephen Betts 15
Ezekiel Sanford 15
Ezekiel Jackson 15
Abel Burr 15
grist-mills.
Ephraim Wheeler 3
Stephen Burr and Daniel Perry.... 6
Seth Meeker & Co 4
Crawford & Sanford 5
saw-mills.
Stephen & John Fairchild 4
Oliver Sanford 4
Barlow & Sanford 6
Enos & Seth Wheeler 4
iron-works.
Oliver Sanford 10
120 HISTORY OF REDDING.
From this date down to 1850 the town made a very creditable ad-
vance in manufactures. The iron smelting works of Oliver Sanford in
Sanfordtown were one of its earliest and most prominent industries.
Ore was broug'ht from Brookfield and Roxbury in great wagons and
smelted at the mills, and after smelting was conveyed in the same man-
ner to Westport or Norwalk, and shipped to various points. This enter-
prise was the pioneer of its kind in America, and proved quite profitable
to its projector. The works were entirely destroyed in the great freshet
of 1805, and never afterward rebuilt, the business being removed to
Valley Forge. Fulling-mills were early erected, the first, probably, by
Abraham Fairchild about 1742, near Nobb's Crook, on the Saugatuck
River. The first woollen-mill was erected in 181 2, near the site of the
old fulling-mill, by Comstock, Foster & Co. It did a prosperous busi-
ness through the war and for some years afterward. It was later bought
by Mr. Joel Foster, one of the members of the old company, who con-
tinued the business until the burning of the factory in 1843, or 1844.
Carriages began to be built in Sanfordtown as early as 1800, and the
business soon became one of the leading industries of the town. Ephraim
Sanford built the first carriage factory in the rear of the house on the
corner now owned by Mr. George Treadwell. He was succeeded in
1820 by his two sons David and Enoch A. Sanford. David Sanford
died in 1834, and the business was continued by Enoch A. Sanford, the
susviving partner. A few years after, Daniel Sanford was admitted a
partner, and the firm entered largely into the Southern trade. In this
they proved unfortunate, and failed. Subsequently Mr. E. A. Sanford
formed a partnership with Charles Duncomb, and later with G. A. San-
ford, by whom the business was conducted with varying success. In its
palmiest days this firm did a large business, employing from twenty-five
to thirty men, and maintaining a depot for their goods in New York.
Mr. Aaron Bartram built a carriage factory in 1840 and in gompany
with Mr. Eben Wilson did a large business for a term of years. Mr.
Bradley Sanford began the manufacture of carriage axles in Sanford-
town in 1833, and continued it until 1838, when he was succeeded by
Mr, G. A. Sanford.
Hat-making was at one time a prominent industry in Redding. To
Mr. Billy Comstock is due the credit of erecting the first hat manufactory,
which stood near his house in the Boston district. Mr. Daniel Gould
had a large hat shop in Lonetown, and later Mr. Jesse Banks carried on
the business somewhat extensively in Sanfordtown. He employed at
one time from twenty-five to thirty men, and supplied the Southern and
West India market. Mr. Milo Lee also carried on the business for a
number of years, first with Mr. Banks, and afterward in a factory near
his house. Bricks were made at one time by Mr. Alanson Lyon, on
HISTORY OF REDDING.
127
Redding Ridge; and in the same district a large shirt manufactory was
once in successful operation, under the management of Mr. Curtis Fan-
ton, and his son, Henry Fanton. In 1856 the Redding Manufacturing
Company was organized in Sanfordtown for the manufacture of pins,
and other small articles of brass. A large building in Sanfordtown, long
icnown as the pin factory, was built by this company; for a time its
prospects for a successful career were excellent, but owing to some mis-
management on the part of the directors, it soon proved a failure.
The Hill Limekiln in Lonetown is perhaps the oldest lime-burning
establishment in the State. It was probably opened at an early day by
Colonel John Read, who was the owner of the tract of land in which the
quarry is situated. In 1810 it came into the possession of Jolm R. Hill,
a grandson of Colonel Read, who conducted an extensive business and
acquired a fortune. Mr. Hill retired in 1823, and was succeeded at dif-
ferent periods by his sons Aaron S. Hill, Moses Hill, William Hill, and
John L. Hill. These gentlemen conducted the business with the same
energy and success that had characterized their father's management.
Since Mr. John L. Hill's retirement, the business has been conducted,
successively, by Messrs. Ames & Osborne, Barnes, Smith, Philo Wood,
John Todd, and Arthur Todd.
In 1842 Squire James Sanford built a foundry on tlie Aspetuck River
in the Foundry district, and entered largely into the manufacture of
agricultural implements. He had before invented an improved hay-cut-
ting machine, in whidi the cutting was done by revolving cylinders
furnished with knives, which he manufactured here, and which had an
extensive sale throughout the country.
The Aspetuck River, dashing through a gorge in this district, fur-
nishes abundant water-power,, and this the skill and energy of the San-
ford brothers long utilized in the manufacture of buttons. Their three
button factories had a capacity of between three and four hundred gross
of buttons per day, employed twenty-eight hands, and made this district
one of the busiest and most prosperous localities in the town.
The pleasant village of Georgetown, in the western part of Redding,
owes its existence largely to the establishment in its midst of the Gilbert
& Bennett Manufacturing Company's works. An account of tihis great
corporaition written for this work by its late president, possesses, since his
death, a peculiar interest.
128 HISTORY OF REDDING.
CHAPTER XVI.
The Gilbert-Bennett Manufacturing Company.
By Edwin Gilbert.
I have been asked to give an account not only of the above named
company but of the conditions of manufacturing that obtained in my boy-
hood and youth. These were very different from those of the present
day. There were then no great factories, with ingenious and compli-
cated machines doing the work of many hands, and a system of organ-
ization as perfect and complete as that of any army. The day of the
traveling tailor and shoemaker who went from house to house providing
shoes and clothing for the families, had barely passed. Such things as
were manufactured — and their volume was very small compared to that
of the present day — were made in small shops by the proprietor and a
small force of journeymen and apprentices. Such were the conditions
when in 1818 the idea occurred to Benjamin Gilbert, of Georgetown, that
the unused, long hair of cattle and horses collected by him in his business
of tanner and currier might be turned to account by weaving into sieves
for the use of housewives in sifting meal and flour. He accordingly
made a loom in which his wife, a woman of great energy and strong
character, wove the hair, and himself made the "hoops," out of sawed
strips of wood, by shaving them with the old-fashioned drawing knife.
This was the first sieve ever invented. It met a popular demand and it
was soon necessary to introduce machinery to saw and smooth the hoops.
A good deal of this work was also let out to the neighbors, thus intro-
ducing the idea of co-operation and concerted action, as seen in the mod-
ern factory. When twelve dozen sieves a day were being produced the
business was thought a large one, and the firm moved from the basement
of the Gilbert homestead, where it began operations, into an old saw mill
near by.
About 1826, Mr. Gilbert also invented a machine for picking hair,
which proved very successful, and the business so increased that a room
was secured in a s'hop in connection with David Nichols, where a small
water-wheel furnished power to run the picker and the twisting machine
which gave the necessary "curl" to the hair. Another idea of Mr. Gil-
bert's about this time, was the making of mattresses from hair, anrl -^i -o
of using it to stuff the cushions of carriages, and very soon the firm was
furnishing the great carriage manufactories of New Haven, Bridgeport
and ortier cities with hair for this purpose.
Soon after, Sturges Bennett, of Wilton, who had married the eldest
daughter of Benjamin Gilbert, took an interest in the business, under the
i
HISTORY OF REDDING. 120
firm name of Gilbert & Bennett, and assisted in every way to secure suc-
cess. It thus became necessary to obtain a salesman to dispose of their
goods, and Edmund Hurlburt, of Wilton, was secured and made a very
successful salesman, travehng all over New England with horses and
Vvagon, collecting the raw material and selling the finished product.
About 1829 the firm was enlarged by the admission of Mr. Hurlburt
(who meantime had married another daug-'hter of Benjamin Gilbert) and
of William J. Gilbert, the eldest son of the founder.
In 1834 the business had so increased that a mill site was bought
nearly opposite the present Georgetown railroad station, and a mill built
thereon, always known as the "red mill," and used until its destruction
by fire in 1889, a period of fifty-five years. In 1842 Edwin Gilbert, the
second son of the founder was admitted a member of the firm, and as his
health was delicate, he was sent out on the road to sell goods, as his elder
brother had been doing for years, journeying as far west as Ohio. In
1847 Benjamin Gilbert, the founder, died after an illness of several years
that incapacitated him for active business. Previously, in 1837, some
fine wire had been secured and woven into wire cloth on a carpet loom
owned by a neighbor — the first wire cloth ever maide in America, and
which rendered possible in a short time the manufacture of wire sieves.
In 1850 the manufacture of glue was added to the company's busi-
ness and some important improvements in its manufacture were intro-
duced, notably the substituting of wire for cotton netting on which to
dry it, as 'had formerly been done. This revolutionized the method of
drying glue and has been adopted by all makers. In April, 1856, David
H. Miller, who had previously had some experience in the business in
New York, joined the company's staff as bookkeeper and by his business
ability contributed greatly to its success. He is at this present writing
(February, 1906) Vice-President and Treasurer.* In 1857 the company
began the manufacture of coal hods and continued it until 1864, and in
1861 the manufacture of painted wire cloth, which was the first to be put
on the market. A wire mill was built in 1863 for the manufacture of
iron wire, and other buildings added from time to time as business de-
manded it. Two years later machinery was introduced for weaving
wire cloth in power looms which before had been done by hand.
On Sunday, May 11, 1874, just at the sun rising, the cry of "fire"
startled the village, and the latest, most complete and most valuable of
the factory buildings was found to be on fire. There was no fire ap-
paratus with which to fight the flames, and the company's officials and
the throngs of men, women and children that quickly gathered could do
nothing but look on while building after building with its intricate and
costly machinery was reduced to as'hes. In an hour and twenty minutes
*Elected President on Mr. Gilbert's death.
I30
HISTORY OF REDDING.
the labor of years was destroyed, and a pnoperty loss of $200,000 sus-
tained, on which there was an insurance of but $40,000. Dismay was to
be seen on every face — for nearly all were dependent on the factories for
■their daily bread — ^but they were reassured by the officers of the company
who declared that the shops should be rebuilt before the snow flew.
In rebuilding two new departures were necessary — the firm was or-
ganized as a joint stock company, and the Danbury & Norwalk Railroad
was prevailed on to run a spur track up to the factories, thus giving much
better facilities for shipping freight. In the new factories the latest
hygienic and sanitary improvements were introduced, and much more
cositly and ingenious machines for the manufacture of the company's
staples were constructed. On March 23, 1877, the glue and curled hair
department of the business was sold, the company turning its attention
more particularly to the production of wire goods. There is no product
of wire more universally used at present, perhaps, than galvanized wire
cloth, and this product the Gilbert-Bennett Manufacturing Company was
the first to invent and place on the market.
Thus briefly and imperfectly I have sketched the origin and progress
of an industry. When one compares the cellar basement of 1818 and its
one article of manufacture with the present factories, covering 150,000
square feet in an area of some fifteen acres, requiring 400 horsepower
to drive them, with nearly 600 employes, and scores of patented machin-
ery and processes turning out many tons daily of wire cloth, wire netting,
wire fencing, fire proofing, and other products of wire, many of them
first invented and introduced by the company, the contrast is almost
startling, and one can but wonder if the same ratio of improvement is to
be continued for the next seventy-five years, and if so, as to the state of
perfection that will then be attained.
CHAPTER XVII.
Miscellaneous.
A favorite dish with the Latin nations is the olla podrida — a thing of
shreds and patches, composed of odds and ends of the larder that could
be utilized in no other way. This chapter is intended as a sort of mental
olla podrida, and we have no doubt will prove as varied, if not as savory,
as the dish above described. For our first ingredients we inseft some
quaint and curious extracts from the town records as follows :
January 2d, 1778. It was voted, "that the selectmen provide a Spade,
Pick Axe, and Hoe to be kept for the use of digging graves." August
HISTORY OF REDDING. j -y j
II, 1873, "Voted, that the town will set up a singing meeting. Voted
to lay a tax of id. on a pound to pay the Singing Master." March 13,
1787, "Voted not to admit Small Pox by innocuktion : Voted to admit
Small Pox by Innoculation next fall." October. 19th, 1795 : "Voted that
the selectmen prosecute those persons that cut timber on the highways."
September 19th, 1798: "Voted that the dis'trict to which Silas Mer-
chant belongs, shall pay him $2 for his dragg." In 1801 tlie town
voted to relinquish to Enoch Merchant the fine imposed on him
by William Heron, Esq., for "admitting puppet s'hows into his house
•contrary to law." December 20th, 1802, John Read, Jr., was "ex-
cused" for admitting puppet shows into his house, "on said Read's
paying the costs." In 1804 it was voted, "that this town will not
remit to Ebenezer Robinson of Danbury, the fine imposed on him by
William Heron Esq. for breaking the Sabbath, which fine is now uncol-
lected." The same year Aaron Read was appointed "Keeper of the
Key to the Town House." In 1807, it was voted to remit the fines' —
$1,67 in amount — of Peter Bradley, and Nancy his wife, for Sabbath-
ibreaking: also voted, that William Heron Esq. be paid $11.08, amount
of costs in defending a suit brought by William P. Jones against him,
for a fine collected and paid into the treasury o'f the town. In 1808,
-voted that the town will remit the fines of all those persons who labored
•on the Sabbath the 31st of July last past, in this town, on payment of
costs. In 1817, Daniel Sanford and Aaron Burr were appointed a com-
mittee to procure the fish called pike, and put in Umpawaug Pond. In
1840 it was voted, that if any non-resident should kill birds within the
limits of the town he should be fined and if he killed robins, except in
case of sickness, he should be fined $5.
In the records of a town meeting held December 8th, 1806, occurs the
following curious entry : "Voted, that S. Samuel Smith, Lemuel Sanford.
and Benjamin Meeker be a committee to write to William Crawford re-
questing him to name the person belonging to Redding to whom he de-
livered Mrs. Sarah Fleming's letter in May last, notifying him that in
case of refusal, the Inhabitants of this town, will feel them'selves author-
ized to declare bo the world, that he never did deliver such a letter to any
person belonging to Redding."
Conversing with an aged citizen of Redding on the generous and
confiding nature of our towns-people, he substantiated the fact by a list
of the public enterprises wbich they had aided at diflferent times, with the
amount contributed to each, as follows :
Eagle Bank, New Haven $ 6,000
Virginia Land Company 8,000
'Michigan Land Company 20,000
Betliel Bank 40,000
Midland Railroad 20,000
Making a total of $94,000
132
HISTORY OF REDDING.
The above in round numbers. He is quite sure that there have been
enough minor enterprises aided to swell the grand total to $100,000.
Isaac Hilliard was a poet of considerable local celebrity whom Red-
ding had the honor of producing, but at this late day I am able to collect
but few facts and anecdotes concerning him, and most of these are
gathered from the Federal journals, who were his traducers, owing to
the fact that Mr. Hilliard, like a true poet, had espoused the cause of the
people and was a Whig, The Nezu England Republican of August 29th,
1804, has this to say concerning him :
"Forlorn Hope.
"Isaac Hilliard, a wretched vagabond, originally of Reading, in Fair-
field County, has lately published a large pamphlet, in which he warmly
advocates the cause of democracy. To criticise such a work, one must
sink himself to a level with the author ; that is, he must become an idiots
or a lunatic, or a brute. The composition is just about on a level witii
Peter St. John's poetry. The pitiable but wrong-headed writer is now
busied in hawking his pamphlets about the streets. He presents them to
every man whom he is not afraid to insult, and tells those to whom he
delivers them, to pay him twenty-five cents each, if they like the work;
otherwise to return it. Never was a man better fitted to any cause than
Hilliard to democracy ; and never was a cause better adapted to the man
engaged in it than democracy to Hilliard."
The pamphlet referred to above, entitled the "Rights of Suffrage,"
and also Mr. Hilliard's chief poem, "The Federal Pye," tihe writer has
been so fortunate as to procure. They are included in a pamphlet of
some seventy pages, printed at Danbury in 1804.
A brief examination of the first-named work would force one to con-
clude that, however brilliant a poet Mr. Hilliard may have been, he was
not a master of prose. His nouns, adjectives, nominatives, and verbs are
so commingled, that it is difficult to separate them ; but in his preface Mr.
Hilliard observes that he has written for persons of limited education,
and had not therefore adopted a lofty and flourishing style — Si fact which
explains, perhaps, the somewhat ungrammatical construction of his sen-
tences. An extract from his poem "The Federal Pye" we will submit
for the criticism of the reader. At a Federal "caucus" one Holdfast, a
Federalist, arises and opens the proceedings with the following speech :
"Brethren, I know you see my tears,
The strong expression of my fears.
There's no one here that is a stranger —
Then every one must know our danger.
Poor people all begin to see
Their rights are gone, they are not free ;
I
HISTORY OF REDDING. T -^ i
Some wicked men espouse their cause,
And say they're lost by cruel laws.
They have found out, as sure as death.
That they are taxed for their breatih.
I am very sorry that our youth
Should ever find out so much truth:
The poor old men now make a noise
And say we tax all their poor boys.
Somehow or other, those poor souls
Find other States don't tax their polls.
They say 'tis cruel, and a sin
To pay for breath which they breathe in —
And now they all set up this note,
If they pay taxes they will vote :
They say they've found what we're about —
We taxed their polls and left ours out.
That faculties, and the poll tax
They wish were under the French axe,
Together with all those that like 'em,
And let it have one chance to strike 'em.
Why, they might just as well have said
They Avished all Federal rulers dead.
The poor will rise in every nation
When they are drove to desperation."
Etc., etc.
Redding is now much sought after by invalids for its health-giving
properties, but it has been occasionally visited by epidemics of a fearful
character. Small-pox, before Dr. Jenner's discovery of inoculation, was
a fearful scourge, and news of its appearance in town always excited the
wildest apprehension. The roads near the infected spot were at once
fenced up, and no one save the physician and nurse was permitted to
have any communication with the stricken farnily. If the disease became
epidemic, pest-houses were erected in secluded localities, whither the
patients were removed. Those dying of this disease were placed in a
rude cofifin, and buried at midnight, the clergyman standing at a safe
distance and reading in a loud voice the service for the dead. An epi-
demic called the "camp distemper" raged in the town in 1780 — the year
succeeding the encampment here of Putnam's division. It seemis to have
been of the same general character as the dysentery, but from the fact
of its raging more violently in the neighborhood of the camps was called
the camp distemper.
A severer scourge was an epidemic that visited the town about 18 10,
and which displayed many of the characteristics of Asiatic cholera.
134 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Strong men were stricken down by it in a day, and there was scarcely a
house where there was not mourning for the dead. In one school district
alone, Lonetown, it is said that twenty died of tihis disease. The victims
of this scourge were interred in the old cemetery near the Gongregational
Church. They were buried hastily, at midnight, and the Rev. Nathaniel
Bartlett, who officiated on the occasion, stood on the ledge a few yards
south of the church and there read the burial service in tones so loud
they were heard by residents on Umpawaug Hill, fully two miles distant.
The legal document by which a slave was freed in 1806 is a rara avis
in 1906, and reminds one that no longer than one hundred years ago our
fathers here in Connecticut were slave owners. We copy it from the
original now in possession of Miss Julia H. Sanford, of Redding :
"To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting:
"Know ye, that whereas Pomp, a negro man, formerly a slave for
life to our honored father Hez'h Sanford, late of Redding, deceased, the
heirs of s'd Hez'h Sanford's estate verbally agreed that s'd Pomp sliould
go free at the age of twenty-five years, provided that he conducted him-
self well and was appraised and inventoried according to said time and
set off to Aaron Sanford that term of time as part of his portion. S'd
Pomp grows uneasy and says he wants a writing to show, and part of his
time given off, and further says he will serve one year faithfully from
the first day of this inst. April, 1806. Hence we, Aaron Sanford, Hez'h
Sanford, and Wm. Sanford, three of the executors on the estate of Hezh.
Sanford, late of Redding, deceased, agree and promise to set s'd Pomp
free at the ist day of April, 1807, or when he, the s'd Pomp is of full age
by law to be set free, on condition that the authority and selectmen will
give a certificate or letter of emancipation, and set him free according
to law. The condition further is that the s'd Pomp is to serve the s'd
Aaron Sanford faithfully in his business of farming one year from the
s'd I St day of April, 1806, that is, until the ist day of April, 1807, and
try to be prudent, and take good care of his property, and not see it wasted
or squandered away, and not to steal or take any of s'd Aaron Sanford's
property for his, the s'd Pomp's use and benefit, and to behave himself
well as a servant, and not to use any bad language. And the s'd Aaron
Sanford is to give in the remainder of time to bring s'd Pomp to the age
of twenty-five years, which will be four months and twenty days.
"In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands, in Redding, the
7th day of April, 1806.
"Aaron Sanford,
"Witness : ' Hezh. Sanford,
"Aaron Morehouse, Wm, Sanford,
Joseph Hawley,
Lemuel Sanford."
HISTORY OF REDDING.
135
Another heirloom treasured by Miss Sanford and which we are per-
mitted to copy is the "setting out" or marriage portion given by her grand-
father, Andrew Lane Hill, to his daughter Hannah on her marriage to
Isaac Beach, Sept. 26, 1797. Mr. Hill was a wealthy man for his day,
and the list shows what was thought proper and necessary for a maid of
quality at that time :
£ s. d.
2 cows valued at 9 o o
Feather beds, bolsters and pillows at 13 15 o
One 4 ft. cherry table at 2 o o
One set of drawers at 10 o o
One common dining table at 10 18 o
One small round ditto (mahogany) 250
One looking glass 6 6 o
Six Windsor chairs, 3 1-6 2 ii o
Six common kitchen do 1-6 170
One red chest o 10 o
By two brass kettles 2 18 5
59 yards of furniture callico 600
8 pr. sheets at 20 800
8 ditto of pillow cases i 12 o
14 towels, case of diaper, 15 yds i 10 o
18 yards ditto, ditto in table linen i 16 0
By sundries of crockery, bo't of Lemuel Sanford &
Stephen Betts 2 2 i
3 tin milk pans at 2-4 070
6 table spoons at i o 6 o
6 silver i 8 4
By one brass skimmer o 3 6
By two dishes o 2 4
By two iron candlesticks 016
By cash to buy crockery o 3 o
By tin plate & other tinware o 5 11
1798 p'd the blacksmith for boiling kettles, iron, etc. . i 8 o
Iron pot & kettle 091
Copper tea kettle 18-9 i 9 3
Brass candlesticks, warming pan, 13-6, shovel &
tongs, 12 I 5 6
Brasses, &c., for drawers 136
Brass andirons, 2 2-6, common ditto & gridiron.... 206
Two trammels and 13 1-4 pewter at 1-9 132
Block tin teapot 060
Pare of small bellows o 3 o
I bedquilt I 12 o
3 bed carry (?) blankets 300
1 coverlid i o o
2 underbeds o 18 o
Case of washed knives and forks i 11 10
Two sets of china cups & saucers i 2 o
One woman's riding saddle 6 o o
One pr. sugar tongs 020
One hair sieve 0 3 o
By fulling iron by Marchand 060
A cedar tub made by Seth Wheeler o 9 o
A bedquilt 3 o o
By a great spinning wheel o 10 o
By a churn made by Seth Wheeler o 8 o
Jan. by a flax stretcher o 8 o
99 made by Marchant o 16 o
136
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Nov. by a small 99 looking glass o 9 o
Freight 9-1 p'd Henry Sturges for bringing the
looking glass from New York 009
An old account-book mildewed and mouldy, its leaves discolored by-
time, and its writing half illegible from the same cause, may not be sup-
posed to furnish very interesting reading ; yet if one will go through its
pages carefully, he may cull much that is both instructive and entertain-
ing.
A book of this character, 130 years old, the daybook and ledger of a
former merchant of the town, furnishes the follov/ing extracts :
Jan. 24, 1751. Jeavis Hull, Dr.
£ s. d.
To I ink horn 3/6, reckning 3/ o 6 6
July 2. To 2 qts. rum 16/6, i do. 11/6 i 7 o
" 13. To 2 qts. rum 22/, the sugar 6 /, rubston 2^/6 i 11 6
" 22. To 2 qts. rum 22/ i 2 o
Sept. 24. To 2 hanks bar. 8/ rum, 2/6. 0 10 6
Dec. 3. To I ax 55/, i pint rum 2/6 310
1752. To licker 4/p, licker 1/6 o 6 3
1750. Daniel Gould, Dr.
£ s. d.
Dec. 2. To making clock o 9 O
1751. To punch 2/ 0 2 O
May 16. To 17'^ buckram 16/, 24** woding 16/ i 12 o
Aug. 22. To punch 6/^ rum 2/6 o 8 8
Sept. II. To I qt. wine 12/ o 12 o
There is also credited to Mr. Gould:
I cow waid 389 lb., @ 1/9 25 18 8
Robert Seeley, Dr.
July 3, 1753. To Testament 25/, 2 trays 12/,
Oct. 22. To 2 lb. nails 14/, i comb 14/,
To parshon 15/, to 10 lbs. hogs fat 20/,
To I brom 6/, to bunit paper 3/, silk 6/.
Other entries at this period are:
I gal. molasses at 19/, % bush, salt 17/, almonek 1/9, Philip 6/, i pail 12/, I
skimmer 2/('^y i basket 9/, 14 yds. Calocho 13/9, i tray of pins 4/, 2 lbs. brimestone
12/, To paid the pedler 34/, to sundrys training day 25/6, i cake soap 8/, by 3 dear
skins £28, OS. od., 4 bbls. £3, % bush, ots 8/, i doz. butins 6/, To poundeg. of sheep
8/, I hogshed 80/, i hankerchief 25/, 6 pipes 2/6, To writing note_2/, i sickle 23/,
% bl. powder 11/, i botle 3/, 8 sqr. glass 40/, 90 lbs. pork £9, los. 9d., i pr. cards
45 /, I lb. Tobacco 4/, 17 bush, rj'e in Boolston cleaned £11, 12s. 9d., i oz. Indigo
15/, To charge of writ 16/, 2 qts. Methegling 20/, i beaver hat £13, i caster hat
£i, I frying pan 78/, V2 lb. allam 4/, i Spanish dollar 64/, i pr. gloves 23/, i cart-
whip 5/, I pr. nee-buckles 6/6, 4 lb. 11 oz. Tobacco 20/10, 3%; lbs. hay sead 54/6, I
pr. cart wheels £7, los., i grindston 50/, i lb. shot 3/6, 2 vinegar cruses 20/, i
mustard pot lo/, ^ quire paper 7/, i lb. lead 4/, poundeg of 14 hogs 39/4. 2 qt.
basons 42/, By poundeg of Barlow's hors 8/, 6 tacks 1/6, To interest, and fall of
money 6/, flints 3/, 2 doz. pewter buttons 7/, 35 bush, wheat in Boston cleaned
£55, i8s., 3d., I bbl. pork in Boston £20, i hat band 2/.
This list might be extended indefinitely, but enough has been given
to show the prices of articles in general use at that day.
I
HISTORY OF REDDING.
137
A Lodge of Free Masons was once in active operation on Redding
Ridge, as is shown by the following extract from the records of the Grand
Lodge :
"Oct. 19th, 1796. A petition from sundry Free-masons residing in
the towns of Redding and Weston, was presented to the Grand Lodge
of Free-masons then in session at New Haven, praying to be formed into
a new Lodge, which petition was laid over until the next session of the
Grand Lodge. At the next session of the Grand Lodge of F. &: A. M.
held at New Haven on the 17th May, 1797, the prayer of the petitioners
was granted, and a Lodge formed under the name of Ark Lodge No. 39,
F. 81 A. M. and William Heron was appointed Master."
At the October session 1804, of the Grand Lodge, Lemuel Sanford
represented Ark Lodge, also at the May Session 1808, the October ses-
sion 1808, and the May Session, 1813.
In 1823, a Lodge was built by the Members of Ark Lodge No. 39, on
Redding Ridge. This Lodge continued its labors until May 12th, 1839,
when it surrendered its charter to the Grand Lodge.
On the 23d of December, 1869, the charter was again taken up by the
following members : David H. Miller, Chas. A. Jennings, Chas. H. Can-
field, Lewis Northrop, Chas. O. Olmsted, David E. Smith, H. R. Osborn,
E. Thompson, Aaron H. Davis, Luzon Jelliff, Seth P. Beers and Water-
man Bates, and is still working, its present Lodge Room being situated
in Georgetown.
A Lodge of Odd Fellows succeeded that of the Free Masons on Red-
ding Ridge, but only continued in active operation for a few years.
One of the earliest antislavery societies in the State was organized
in Georgetown, in December, 1838. Dr. Erasmus Hudson and Rev.
Nathaniel Colver were appointed by the Connecticut Anti-slavery Society
agents for the evangelization of the State, and in October, 1838, entered
Fairfield County in the furtherance of their mission. They lectured at
Sherman, Danbury, Redding, Georgetown, and Norwalk, being driven
from each place in succession by mobs who abuse'd and threatened, and
in some cases stoned them. At Norwalk they were burnt in effigy, and
assailed with brickbats and all manner of missiles. At Weston they or-
ganized the first society in the county. In November a call was issued
for a convention to be held in Redding^ (Georgetown), December 12th,
1838. On the 29th November, Messrs. Colver and Hudson went to
Georgetown to hold meetings. They met on Monday night in the Bap-
tist church, but the mob was so violent that the meeting was adjourned
until Tuesday evening. All through Tuesday there was great commo-
tion among the enemies of the cause, and this culminated in the evening,
when a mob composed of men and boys, some with painted faces and
some wearing masks, surrounded the church, and assailed it with stones,
I'^g HISTORY OF REDDING.
clubs, and hideous outcries. Being dispersed by the citizens the band
betook itself to quieter forms of miscRief. Dr. Hudson drove to the
meeting a beautiful milk-white horse, and on that night his tail was
sheared so closely that it resembled a corn-cob ; and other outrages were
committed. At this meeting a society was organized, called the George-
town Anti-slavery Society. Tlie constitution of this society bears date
December 4th, 1838; its officers were: President, Eben Hill; Secretary,
William Wakeman ; Treasurer, John O. St. John.
From the lofty ridges which form a distinguishing feature of our
landscape, fine views of the Sound, the shipping, and of a pleasant coun-
try of farms may be obtained. The "Glen" in the valley of the Saugatuck
is widely famed for its beautiful and picturesque scenery. The valley
of the Aspetuck, in the eastern part of the town, also offers many attrac-
tions to the tourist. Little River, in the upper part of its course, flows
through a wild and picturesque region and is a famous trout stream.
Gallows Hill, in the western part of the town, near Redding Station, was
the scene of the execution of a spy and a deserter in the war of the Rev-
olution.
CHAPTER XVllL
Redding in the Civil War.
The news flashed over the Vv'ires in 1861 that the flag had been fired
upon at Sumter, and that war was imminent, was received by the citi-
zens of Redding with the same courage and decision that had been dis-
played by their ancestors at the opening of the Revolution, nearly a hun-
dred years before. The old flag had been dishonored, and the Union, the
inalienable birthright bequeathed by the fathers, had been declared to be
at an end.
It was felt to be a time for action, for the burying of party differences,,
and for uniting in support of the measures which were at once adopted
for overcoming the threatened evil. Public meetings were h'eld, at wliich
sentiments of the purest patriotism were expressed, and volunteers hast-
ened to enroll themselves for the defence of the flag. These acts of loy-
alty were supplemented by certain practical measures adopted at special
town meetings, and which can be best exhibited by extracts from the
town records of the period. On the 23d of April, ten days after Sumter
fell, the following "Notice" was issued:
"The legal voters of the town of Redding are hereby notified and
warned to attend a special town meeting to be held at the Town House
Photo by Miss Sarah Marlettc Tabnagc.
THE SAUGATUCK VALLFA' FROAF PINNACLE ROCK. OX THE
¥\RM OF G. A. TALMAGE.
The river escaping from the cleliles of The Glen here flows through smil-
ing meadows to hi compressed a mile l>elovv in the grim jaws of the Devil's
Mouth.
Photo by (". B. ToUi.
Till'. Gl.FX XI". AR XOBR CROOK.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
139
in said Town on Monday Apr. 29, 1861, at 2 o'clock p. m., to consider
the expediency of appropriating funds to defray the expenses of the fam-
ilies of those who enlist in the service of the U. S. army under the present,
call of the President for troops.
"John Edmond,
Burr Meeker,
Francis A. Sanford,
Selectmen of Redding.
"Redding, April 23, 1861."
"At a special Town Meeting legally warned and held in Redding on
the 29th day of April, 1861, Walker Bates, Esq., chosen Moderator.
"Voted, unanimously, that an appropriation be made from the treasury
of the Town, for the families of those who have enlisted, or may enlist
from the town in the service of the U. S. Government under the present
call of the President for troops, the same being a call for 75,000 volun-
teers for the space of tihree months.
"Voted, unanimously, that such appropriation be as follows, to wit^
three dollars per week for each of the wives, and one dollar per week for
each of the children of the several persons enlisting as aforesaid, during
the time of service of such person under said call.
"Voted, that a committee of three be appointed for each grand divi-
sion of the town, to disburse the foregoing appropriation — such commit-
tee to receive no pecuniary compensation for their services. Sturges Ben-
nett, Thaddeus M. Abbott, and James Sanford chosen such disbursing
committee.
''Voted, that the selectmen be instructed to draw orders on the Treas-
urer of the Town on application of either of the foregoing named com-
mittee, in favor of such as are entitled to an appropriation as aforesaid,,
under the foregoing vote.
"Voted, that the selectmen be in'struoted to call a special town meeting
as soon as practicable, for the purpose of making an appropriation for
those who enlist from this town in the service of the U. S. Government.
"The above and foregoing is a true record.
"Attest, Lemuel Sanford,
"Tozvn Clerk"
A call for additional troops was issued by the President early in the
summer of 1862, and a draft to fill it seemed imminent. Under these
circumstances a special town meeting was held July 26th, 1862, at which
it was voted, "that the selectmen be a committee to correspond with the
Adjutant-General, to ascertain whether if the town fumislhed its quota
140 HISTORY OF REDDING.
under the recent call for additional troops, it would exempt the town
from a draft under said call," and the meeting was adjourned to July
31st, 1862, to await the action of the Adjutant-General. His answer
being in the affirmative, the meeting on reassembling, July 31st, passed
this resolution: "Resolved, That a bounty of fifty dollars be offered to
every volunteer from this town, who shall enlist into tihe service of the
United States between the present time and the 20th of August next,
under tlie present call for additional troops, such bounty to be paid to
each volunteer enlisting as aforesaid, on certificate of his acceptance from
the proper authority when presented to the selectmen." A subsequent
meeting held August 23d extended the time in which the bounty would
be paid to September ist. Sej^tember ist, a meeting was held for the
equalization of bounties, and the bounty of $50 was voted to all who
had enlisted prior to the vote of July 31st, 1862, as well as to all who
should enlist hereafter, except those enlisting under the first call of tlie
President for troops.
The selectmen were also authorized "to borrow sudli sum of money
as might be needed to carry out suc'h vote. Mr. John Edmond was also
appointed an agent for the town to ascertain the full number of those
who had enlisted from the town. Six days after, September 6th, another
town meeting was held and voted an additional bounty of $50 to all who
had previously enlisted (except under the first call), and an additional
bounty of $100 to all who should thereafter "volunteer to fill up the quota
under the present call," thus making the bounty paid each volunteer $200.
Throughout the war the town was anxious to avoid a draft, and made
strenuous efforts to fill its quota by volunteering. July 13th, 1863, when
a fourth call for troops was daily expected, a town meeting was held,
and the selectmen authorized to draw from the treasury of the town and
pay over as a bounty "to each person who shall or may be drafted under
the next call of the United States Government for troops, and who shall
not be able to get excused for physical inability, or any other cause, the
sum of $300, or such less sum as the Secretary of War shall fix upon
for the procuration of a substitute" ; and George Osborn, David S. Jolm-
son, and Daniel Rider were appointed a committee to procure recruits.
Substantially the same plan was pursued by the town for filling its quota
under the various calls of the Presiden't for troop's, and so successfully,
that no draft ever occurred within her limits. The sum total of the war
expenses of the town is variously estimated at from twenty-two to twenty-
five thousand dollars.
The war record of Redding, so far as it relates to the number of men
furnis'hed the General Government, is, it is believed, exceeded by but few
towns in the State. From official returns in the Adjutant-General's of-
fice, it appears that Redding furnished one hundred and eight men to the
land forces of the United States — more than one-fifteentb of the entire
riintii by Miss Sarah Marlctt : Taliiiai^c
ROCK GORGE, LI TlLl-: RIVER, SAXFORDTOWX.
A RlvDDING ['ASTORAL.
/'//o/o />y C\ />. I'odd.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 14!
population of the town, and fully one-tliird of all its able-bodied male
inhabitants. To tliis number must be added many of her sons who en-
listed in other towns and States. The names of these one hundred and
eight soldiers constitute a roll of honor whose lustre time will not dim,
but brighten, and which all good citizens will be glad to see preserved in
this enduring form. They are given with as full details as can be gath-
ered from the somewhat meagre returns in the Adjutant-General's office.
SECOND REGIMENT (arTILLERY).
1. Andrew H. Sanford, volunteered Jan, 5, 1864, was taken sick
through fatigue and exposure while in Virginia, and died in hospital in
Philadelphia, June 5, 1864.
2. Morris H. Sanford, volunteered July 21, 1862 ; was made 2d Lieu-
tenant, Co. C; promoted to be ist Lieutenant Aug. i, 1863. Again pro-
moted to be Captain. Was wounded in the shoulder at the battle of
Fisher's Creek.
THIRD REGIMENT (THREE MONTHS). MUSTERED IN MAY I4, 1861.
3. George W. Gould, Co. G. Honorably discharged Aug. 12, 1861..
FIFTH REGIMENT. MUSTERED IN JULY 12, 1861.
4. John H. Bennett, Company A. Transferred to Invalid Corps
Sept. I, 1863.
5. Rufus Mead, Jr., Co. A. Re-enlisted as a veteran Dec. 21, 1863.
6. Hezekiah Sturges, Co. A. Died Oct. 14, 1861, and is buried in
the Hull Cemetery, Sanfordtown.
7. Arthur M. Thorp, Co. A. Transferred to the Invalid Corps
Sept. I, 1863.
8. Benjamin F. Squires, Co. A. Served three years, and was hon-
orably discharged.
SIXTH REGIMENT. MUSTERED IN OCTOBER 28, 1863.
9. John Foster, Co. B.
10. Francis De Four, Co. C.
11. John Murphy, Co. G.
SEVENTH REGIMENT. MUSTERED IN SEPTEMBER 5, 1861.
12. Andrew B. Nichols, Co. D. Re-enlisted as a veteran. Killed
at the battle of Drury's Bluff, Va., May i6, 1864.
13. Oscar Byington, Co. D.
14. William Nichols, Co. D. Discharged for disability Jan. 3, 1863.
15. George W. Peck, Co. I. Enlisted in United States Army Nov.
4, 1862.
142 HISTORY OF REDDING.
16. Henry Clark, Co. I, recruit. Enlisted Oct. 30, 1863.
17. Jerome Dufoy, recruit. Enlisted Nov. 6, 1863. Killed at Olus-
■tee, Fla., Feb. 20, 1864.
18. Emil Durand, recruit. Enlis'ted Nov. 2, 1863.
19. H. R. Chamberlain, recruit. Enlisted Nov. 4, 1863.
20. 'Henry D. Harris, recruit. Enlisted Oct. 29, 1863.
21. Peter Hill, recruit. Enlisted Oct. 31, 1863. Transferred to U.
S. Navy Apr. 28, 1864.
22. Robert Hocli, recruit. Enlisted Nov. 3, 1863.
23. John Miller, recruit. Enlisted Nov. 4, 1863.
24. John H. Thomas, recruit. Enlisted Nov. 3, 1863.
25. Antoine Vallori, recruit. Enlisted Oct. 29, 1863.
26. William Wilson, recruit. Enlisted Nov. 6, 1863.
2y. William Watson, recruit. Enlisted Nov. 2, 1863. Transferred
to U. S. Navy Apr. 28, 1864.
EIGHTH REGIMENT. MUSTERED IN SEPT. 25, 1861.
28. Aaron A. Byington, Corporal, Co. H.
29. Lewis Bedient, Co. H.
30. Thomas Bigelow, Co. H. Re-enlisted as a veteran Dec. 24, 1863.
31. William Hamilton, Co. H. Re-enlisted as a veteran Dec. 24,
1863.
32. William H. Nichols, Co. H. Re-enHsted Jan, 5, 1864.
33. Franklin Paine, Co. I. Died March 8, 1862.
34. Albert Woodrufif, Co. I. Discharged for disability May 11, 1862.
35. Charles M. Piatt, recruit. Enlisted Feb. 24, 1864.
NINTH REGIMENT.
36. Michael Dillon, recruit. Enlisted Feb. 17, 1864.
TENTH REGIMENT. MUSTERED IN SEPT. 21, 1861.
37. Francis H. Grumman, Co. D. Died Apr. i, 1864.
ELEVENTH REGIMENT. MUSTERED IN OCT. 24, 1861.
38. Nathan Cornwall, Sergeant, Co. A. Re-en'listed Jan. i, 1864,
and promoted to First Lieutenant. A prisoner at Andersonville.
39. Samuel B. Baxter, Co. A. Discharged for disability Dec. 4,
1862!
40. Charles O. Morgan, Co. A. Wounded by the fragment of a
shell, and discharged for disability June 3, 1864.
41. George Sherman, Co. K, recruit. Enlisted Feb. 16, 1864.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
143
TWELFTH REGIMENT. DATE OF MUSTER FROM NOV. 20, 1861, TO JAN. I,
1862.
42. George Green, Co. B. Died June ii, 1863, of wounds received
at Port Hudson.
FOURTEENTH REGIMENT.
43. George Lover, Co. A. Mustered in June 16, 1862.
44. Wesley Banks, Co. E. Mustered in Oct. i, 1863. Died Feb. 12,
1864, of wounds received at Morton's Ford, Va.
SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT. DATE OF MUSTER FROM JULY I4 TO AUG. I4,
1862.
45. Waterman Bates, Co. A. Discharged for disability Dec. i8, 1863.
46. Edmund Treadwell, Co. D. Taken prisoner in Florida.
47. George W. Banks, Sergeant, Co. G. Discharged Sept. 15, 1862.
48. David S. Bartram. Enlisted as a private in Co. G, Aug. 16,
1862. Promoted to 2d Lieutenant May 8, 1863. Participated in the bat-
tle of Chancellorsville ; and was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, July 3,
1863. Was an inmate of rebel prisons for twenty-two months, experi-
encing in succession the horrors of the Libby Prison at Richmond, and
of the prison pens at Danville, Macon, Savannah, Charleston, Columbia,
and Goldsboro. He was paroled March i, 1865, near Wilmington, N.
C, and succeeded in reaching the Union lines at the latter place.
49. Morris Jennings, Co. G. Discharged for disability March 26,
1863.
50. James M. Burr, Co. G. Discharged for disability March 9, 1863.
51. Martin Costello, Co. G. Taken prisoner.
52. Andrew D. Couch, Co. G. Killed at Chancellorsville May 2,
1863.
53. John W. DeForrest, Co. G. Discharged for disability Apr. 4,
1863.
54. Edmund Godfrey, Co. G. Discharged for disability March 9,
1863.
55. George Hull, Co. G.
56. Burr Lockwood, Co. G.
57. John Lockwood, Co. G.
58. Aaron Peck, Co. G.
59. John M. Sherman, Co. G. . Discharged for disability Dec. 10,
1862.
60. George Whalen, Co. G.
144
HISTORY OF REDDING.
TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT. DATE OF MUSTER FROM AUG. 1 5 TO SEPT. 20,
1862.
61. David H. Miller, Major of the regiment. Discharged Aug. 31,
1863.
62. Obadiah R. Coleman, Co. D. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
63. Charles A. Gregory. Discharged same date.
64. George W. Gould, Corporal, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
65. Azariah E. Meeker, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
66. Frederic D. Chapman, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31. 1863.
67. Henry H. Lee, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
68. Charles Albin, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
69. Edward Banks, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
70. Henry W. Bates, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1B63.
71. Charles H. Bates, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
72. Smith Bates, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
73. Lemuel B. Benedict, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
74. Peter W. Birdsall, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
75. William F. Brown, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
']6. Henry F. Burr, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
yy. Martin V. B. Burr, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
78. Aaron Burr, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
79. Ammi Carter, Co E. Died Aug. 12, 1863.
80. William Coley, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
81. Cyrus B. Eastford, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
82. William Fanton, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
83. Charles A. Field, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863:
84. Samuel S. Gray, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
85. James F. Jelliff, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
86. Charles Lockwood, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
87. Elihu Osborne, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
88. John Osborne, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
89. Henry Parsons, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
90. Henry Piatt, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
91. Sanford J. Piatt, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
92. James J. Ryder, Co. E. Discharged Aug 31, 1863.
93. George E. Smith, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
94. Anton Stommel, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
95. Jacob B. St. John, Co. E. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
96. Ralph S. Meade, Co. G. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
97. Henry Wheelock, Co. G. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
98. George S. Tarbell, Co. G. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
99. Almon S. Merwin, Co. G. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
100. L>Tnan Whitehead, Co. K. Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
HISTORY OF REDDING
loi. Seth P. Bates, Sergeant, Co. E.
Discharged Aug. 31, 1863.
H5
Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.
MUSTERED IN MARCH 8, 1864.
TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT ( COLORED).
102. John H. Hall, Co, A.
103. John M. Coley, Co. E.
104. Theodore Nelson, Co. E. Died Apr. 6, 1864.
105. Lafayette S. Williams, Co. E.
106. Edward Voorhies, Co. E.
107. Joseph F. Butler, Corp., Co. G.
108. Henry B. Pease, Co. G.
109. Cato Johnson, Co. G.
On February 4, 1862, a meeting was held in Georgetown for the pur-
pose of electing officers for Co. E, 8th Regt., 2d Brigade, Conn. State
Militia, the Company being known as Co. E, National Guard.
David H. Miller
Hiram St. John
Geo. M. Godfrey
John N. Main
Jas. Corcoran
Lewis Northrop
David S. Bartram
Aaron O. Scribner
Wm. D. Gilbert
Aaron H. Davis
Alonzo Dickson
Jerem'h R. Miller
Edw'd Thompson
Seth P. Bates
Geo. W. Gould
Albert D. Sturges
elected Captain Redding.
1st
2d
1st
2d
3d
4th
5th
1st
2d
3d
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
PRIVATES.
Lieut Wilton.
Lieut Wilton.
Sergt Redding.
" Wilton.
" Weston.
" Redding.
" Wilton.
Corpl Redding.
Wilton.
. Redding.
• Wilton.
John W. Mead Ridgefield.
Moses Comstock Wilton.
James Lobdell "
James F. Jelliff Weston.
Hezekiah B. Osborn Redding.
Joseph R. Lockwood Wilton
Henry Parsons Redding.
Wm. H. Canfield "
Minot S. Patrick "
Charles A. Jennings Wilton.
Edwin Gilbert Redding.
Df.vid E. Smith "
Hiram Cobleigh
Samuel A. Main
Anton Stommel
George L. Dann Wilton.
Jonathan Betts Weston.
Charles Olmsted Wilton.
Charles Albin Redding.
Fred D. Chapman
Henry Hohman ,
Wm.'B. Smith "
146 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Wm. E. Brothwell Wilton.
Azariah E. Meeker Redding.
Charles S. Gregory
Charles S. Meeker "
Charles H. Downs
Wm. Coley "
Lorenzo Jones
Henry F. Burr
Obadiah P. Coleman
Charles H. Canlield
John L. Godfrey Wilton.
Sylvester Albin Redding.
The company uniformed itself and drilled until August, 1862. When
Grovernor Buckingham called for troops to serve for nine months, the
entire command volunteered its services, and was accepted. The com-
pany was immediately recruited up to 108 men, and reported for duty
at Camp Terry, New Haven, where it was mustered into the U. S. ser-
vice as Co. E, 23d Regt. Conn. Vols. On the formation of the 23d
Regt., Capt. Miller was promoted to be Major of the regiment. Geo. M.
Godfrey was elected Captain of Co. E, to fill the vacancy caused by the
promotion of Capt. Miller; and John N. Main promoted to 2d Lieuten-
ant, to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Lieut. Godfrey.
The company was sent with the regiment from New Haven to Camp
Buckingham, on Long Island, and from thence by steamer Che Kiang
to New Orleans, where it was embodied in the 19th Army Corps, under
Gen. Banks. It was engaged at Lafourche Crossing, La., on June 21,
1863, with a superior force, but came out victorious.
The Company was "mustered out" at New Haven, Sept. 3, 1863, after
a service of nearly thirteen months.
CHAPTER XIX.
Biographical.
JOEL BARLOW.
Joel Barlow, the poet and statesman, was born in Redding, March
24th, 1754. He received his early education first from the Rev. Mr.
Bartlett, pastor of the Congregational church in Redding, and second at
Moor's preparatory school for boys, near Hanover, N. H. He entered
Dartmouth College in 1774, at the age of twenty, and shortly after re-
moved to New Haven and was entered at Yale. His college course was
a highly creditable one in many respects. During the college terms he
was a faithful student, especially winning distinction for literary attain-
ments ; and during the long summer vacations he joined the Continental
1
BISHOP THO^fAS F. DAVIKS.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
147
army as a volunteer, and aided in fighting the battles of his country. He
graduated in 1778. From 1779 to 1783, he was chaplain of one of the
Connecticut regiments in the Revolutionary army. Shortly after leav-
ing the army in 1783, he married Miss Ruth Baldwin, daughter of
Michael Baldwin, Esq., of New Haven, and in 1785 settled as a lawyer
in Hartford, Conn. In Hartford Mr. Barlow appears as lawyer, journal-
ist (editor of the American Mercury), bookseller, and poet. In the latter
capacity he produced a revision of Dr. Watts's "Imitation" of the
Psalms, and also, in 1787, his famous poem, "The Vision of Columbus."
In 1789 he accepted from 'the Scioto Land Company the position of
foreign agent for the sale of their lands in Europe, and went to England
and later to France for this purpose ; but shortly after his arrival the
company made a disgraceful failure, and he was again thrown on his
own resources. Fortunately, his literary reputation had made him quite
a lion in the French capital, and he easily succeeded in obtaining work
on the French journals. Later he embarked in some mercantile ven-
tures, which proved successful and brought him a competence. He at
first participated actively in the French Revolution, which broke out
soon after his arrival in France, but becoming disgusted with the atro-
cities of the Jacobins, he withdrew and went over to England. In Lon-
don, in 1791, he published his "Advice to the Privileged Orders," a work
which drew out a formal eulogium from Fox in the House of Commons.
This was succeeded in 1792 by his "Conspiracy of Kings," a poem so
bitterly hostile to royalty, that he found it prudent to leave England for
France immediately on its publication. On his return to France, at this
time, the privileges of French citizenship were conferred on him, only
before accorded to but two Americans, Washington and Hamilton. In
1793 he accompanied Gregorie, former Bishop of Blois, and other digni-
taries to Savoy, and aided in organizing that country into a department
of the Republic. While here he wrote his "Hasty Pudding," the mock-
heroic, half-didactic poem, which has chiefly endeared him to his coun-
trymen. In 1795 President Washington appointed him consul to Algiers,
with instructions to ratify the long pending treaty with the Dey, and to
liberate the American prisoners there. Colonel Humphreys, American
Minister to Portugal, an old friend of Mr. Barlow, himself came to
Paris to urge him to accept ; and proving successful, the two friends left
Paris on the 12th of September, 1795, for Lisbon. From Lisbon Mr.
Barlow proceeded to Algiers via Alicant, and after a year and a half of
effort, succeeded in ratifying the treaty and in liberating the captives.
He then returned to France. During the succeeding eight years he re-
sided in an elegant villa near Paris, formerly the property of the Count
Clermont Tonnere, enjoying the friendship of the chief men of the na-
tion, as well as that of all Americans of eminence who visited the capital.
148
HISTORY OF REDDING.
But in 1805 the desire to once more revisit the land he had left seven-
teen years before, became too strong to be resisted longer, and disposing
of his estates in France, he returned in July of this year to America. He
was warmly received in his native land, and after an extensive tour, ex-
tending into the western country, he returned to Washington, where he
built an elegant mansion called Kalorama, and which was widely famed
in its day for its beauty and elegance, and as being the resort of all the
famous men of the times. At Kalorama, Barlow gave his chief atten-
tion to the cultivation of the Muses, and to philosophical studies. Here,
in 1808, he finished his poem, "The Columbiad," which was printed at
Philadelphia, and was one of the most elegant volumes ever issued from
the American press. He also busied himself with collecting materials
for a general history of the United States. In 1811 President Madison
offered him the responsible position of Minister to France, in the hope
that his reputation and his influence with tlie French Government might
secure for us a treaty giving indemnity for past spoliations on our com-
merce and security from further depredations. Barlow accepted the
position from motives of the purest patriotism, in the belief that his
talents and position might be made useful to his country. He sailed from
Annapolis in July, 18 11, in the historic frigate Constitution, Captain
Hull, which had been placed at his disposal by the Government. His
negotiations with Napoleon, while on this mission, were conducted
through the Duke de Bassano, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and covered
a space of nearly a year and a half. Napoleon acknowledged the justice
of the claims of the United States, and expressed a willingness to ratify
a treaty of indemnity ; but he was so absorbed in directing the campaign
against Russia, and in his other operations on the European field, that it
was very difficult to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion.
At length, on the 25th of October, 1812, Mr. Barlow received a letter
from the Duke de Bassano, written at Wilna, Poland, saying that the
emperor had deputed the business of the treaty to him, and that if Mr.
Barlow would come to Wilna, he had no doubt but that the treaty might
be speedily ratified. Barlow, on receipt of the note, at once set out, and
travelling night and day, reached Wilna about the first of December,
only to find the village filled with fugitives from Napoleon's retreating
army, while Bassano was far out on the frontier hurrying forward rein-
forcements to cover his Emperor's retreat. Disappointed, Barlow left
Wilna and set out on his return to Paris, but was overwhelmed by the
debris of the army, an'3 suffered all the horrors and privations of that
terrible retreat. At his age he was unable to endure the ordeal, and at
Zarniwica, an obscure village in Polanid, he was seized with an acute
attack of pneumonia, which in a few days terminated his life, December
26th, 1812. His nephew, Thomas Barlow, who accompanied him as
HISTORY OF REDDING.
J 49
secretary, provided; a hasty Burial in tlie village cemetery and then con-
tinued his flight. There, so far as is known, his remains still rest,
wholly forgotten by an ungrateful country. Some years ago an effort
was made to have his ashes removed to his native land, and a bill, ap-
propriating money for that purpose, passed the Senate, but was stifled
in conference. There were few men even in that heroic age who did
deeds more worthy of grateful recognition by the American people. ( For
a fuller account, see Life and Letters of Joel Barlow, by Charles B.
Todd, New York, 1886.)
COL. AARON BARLOW.
Colonel Aaron Barlow, uncle of the preceding, was a tried and trusted
officer of the Revolution and the personal friend of Gen. Israel Putnam.
He built the large colonial house on the corner in West Redding now
owned by Mr. J. L. Blackman (see engraving), which, with its great
double stone chimneys and long roof nearly reaching the ground in the
rear, quite fills one's ideal of the old Colonial dwelling. In its long
kitchen, tradition says, while the army lay in Redding, "Old Put." and
its owner often sat far into the night with a pitcher of mulled cider be-
tween them, fighting their battles of the French and Indian wars o'er
again or discussing affairs of the country. A copy of the diary kept by
Colonel Barlow during the gallant expedition of Generals Schuyler and
Montgomery in the fall of 1775 for the capture of INlontreal and Quebec
and the ultimate conquest of Canada, is in the writer's possession.
At the time of this expedition he was "second sergeant of the Tenth
Company in the Fifth Regiment of Connecticut Troops, commanded by
Colonel David Waterbury, Jr., Esq.," as his commission states. This
regiment was part of the quota of thirty thousand men raised in New
England in the summer of 1775 to aid in the siege of Boston, and to take
part, with the New York troops, in the expedition against Canada.
Barlow's company, commanded by Captain Zalmon Read, was recurited
largely in Redding, and marched from that town to Norwalk, June 2,
1775, and the next day to Stamford, where it joined the regiment:
June 10 we marched to Greenwich ; June 12 we marched to King street and
had a general review. The same day we marched to Greenwich. June 26 we
marched to New Rochelle. June 27 we marched to Harlem. June 28 marched
to Bowery Lane near New York. June 29 marched to our encampment two miles
northwest of New York City and pitched our tents. July 19 we struck our tents
and marched to Harlem and pitched our tents. July 26 we struck our tents and
embarked on board for Albany.
At this point the young soldier's diary begins, and, as affording in-
teresting glimpses of the minutiae of the march, as well as of the daily
life of the Continental soldier, is worth transcribing in full :
I
I t-Q HISTORY OF REDDING.
Harlem, July 25. — Col. Waterbury with his company, Captain Mead and Cap-
tain Smith set sail for Albany. The other seven companies is received orders tc
sail to morrow. About 10 of the clock I set out for home expecting to meet th^
Regiment at Albany. Being very poorly with much difficulty I reached home thal^
night about 10 of the clock. I remained very poorly and stayed at home 21 days.
Redding, Aug. 16. — I set out to join the regiment, but where I know not, in
company with Sergeant Joseph Rockwell about 12 of the clock. My left foot grew
so lame that I could hear no weight in the stirrup. We rode as far as David Bar-
low's in New Fairfield; there we took dinner. In the afternoon we rode as far as
Dover and put up at one French's Tavern.
Dover, Aug. 17. — 'We went on our journey and came about twelve of the clock
to Ur.cle Israel White's at Sharon. There I dined with them. Sergeant Rockwell
went to his father, Wood's being nighest neighbor. There we tarried with our
friends till next morning.
Sharon, Aug. 18. — About 9 o'clock we set out on our journey for our intended
place ; we had not rode above 2 or 3 miles before a pain came in -my right knee ; at
the same time the pain in my left foot quite left me. About 12 of the clock we
stopped in the south west corner of Shuflfer and took dinner. My knee continued
growing worse and worse very fast. I being loth to lose company with much diffi-
culty got on my horse again. We rode about six miles and my knee grew so bad I
thought I could ride no farther and put up to a tavern; here anointed my knee with
Rattle snake's grease and tarryed about two hours : my knee very much swelled and
so lame I cannot go one step, nor raise my weight. Sergt. Rockwell being a mind
to go forward, with some trouble I got on my horse again. We rode this night as
far as Nobletown, where we put up. I was in great distress and pain after I came
into the house. There happened in a neighbor and I got him to ride my horse for
the Doctor. He came a'bout 10 of the clock in the evening, rubbed my knee and
gave me some drops.
Nobletown, Aug. 19. — I got up about sun rise feeling poorly and very lame.
We got breakfast and Sergt. Rockwell .being a mind to go forward and I loth to
lose company concluded to go forward. The Doctor Bleeded me and bathed my
knee a long time, and gave me a vial of his ointment and a vial of his drops. About
9 of the clock we set out for Albany and rode about 7 miles into the edge of Clav-
erack. My knee began to pain me as bad as ever and we stopped at a tavern. I
being resolved to stay till next morning Sergt. Rockwell concluded to tarry with
me. The Landlady being a good nurse sweat my knee this night.
Claverac, Aug. 20, Sunday. — About 8 of the clock we set out in hopes to reach
Albany this day. We rode as far as Kinderhook. Here I met an old acquaintance
going to Albany with a wagon empty. I thought I could ride easier in the wagon
than on my horse, he being willing to carry me I got Sergt. Rockwell to lead my
horse. I rode to Albany with much ease. Come to Greenbush we left our horses
and ferried over the river into the city and put up at Thomson's Tavern.
Albany, Aug. 21. — Here I found Sergt. Johnson of New Stratford and sent
my horse home by him. This morning I went to the Commissary to see if I could
tarry a few days till I grew better. He said I might go to whatever place suited
me best. I went to one Mr. Zolters. Here I dined on a very good pot pie. This
afternoon there was about 500 Indians, some of all the 6 nations came into the city
in order to agree with the United Colonies not to fight against them.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
151
Albany, Aug. 22. — The Indians encampKicl on Albany Hill. I went up to take a
view of their encampment. I found them to be very likely, spry, lustry fellows,
drest very nice for Indians; the larger part of them had on ruffled shirts, Indian
stockings and shoes, and blankets richly trimmed with silver and wampum.
Albany, Aug. 23. — I went to the city to see some thieves tried for their life, 3
negroes, Dick, a boy about 14 years old, one negro condemned to be hanged, one to
'be whipt, 39 stripes on the naked body, rest one week and receive 39 more, to lie
in prison one month and then be banished. The other negro and boy receive 39
apiece.
Albany, Aug. 24. — I saw a man come from Ticonderoga and says Coll. Water-
bury's Regiment is now there but expects to march for Fort St. Johns in about 10
days, which made me think of going forward as quick as possible to join the Regi-
ment before it marched.
Albany, Aug. 25. — This day the 6 nations of Indians is to tell their minds to
the United Colonies by interpreters on both sides. I went to see them. There
■was a large body of square seats made by the old dutch church for the Indians to
set on. They made a very beautiful show, being the likeliest, brightest Indians I
ever saw. They agreed to set in the corner and smoke their pipes if we let them
alone. The colonies agreed to give them a present of 150 pounds worth of goods,
the goods to be in laced hats, Indian blankets, calico, Holland, wampum, and other
furniture for their use.
Albany, Aug. 26. — I expected to set out for Ticonderoga with some teams and
wagons my knee not being quite so strong as it was before. About one of the
clock we set out on our journey. It being a cold, wet, uncomfortable day I got a
very bad cold. We travelled to Half Moon, there we put up.
Half Moon, Aug. 27, Sunday. — ^Being very cold for the season my knee grew
so stiflf and lame I can hardly walk. The caravan got up their teams, and we went
oflF very early. I rode on the cart the bigger part of the day. We went this day
about seven miles above Still Water.
Still Water, Aug. 28. — ^My knee is very lame, with much difficulty got on the
cart, went this day 2 miles below Fort Edward.
Fort Edward, Aug. 29. — iBeing wet we tarried till one o'clock before we set
out. We went within five miles of Fort George.
Below Fort George, Aug. 30. — We set out very early for Lake George where
we arrived about nine of the clock. There I met with many of my acquaintance
belonging to New Canaan under Capt. Baldwin of New Canaan which had the
care of the Battoes. He gave us encouragement that we should have a passage
over the lake next morning. Here I met Joseph Rockwell who left me at Albany.
Fort George, Aug. 31. — About 9 of the clock we went on board the Battow for
Ticonderoga, it being 35 miles. The wind being ahead we went only to Saberday
Point, which is 24 miles from Fort George and lodged on green feather (Hemlodc
boughs).
Saberday Point, Sept. i. — We embarked on board our Battow very early. The
wind being ahead we came to the landing about 9 of the clock, it being three miles
from the Fort (Ticonderoga). Our regiment marched for Fort St. Johns* 2 days
*A British stronghold on the west shore of Lake Champlain.
152
HISTORY OF REDDING.
ago, and there we found about 150 of Coll. Waterbury's soldiers, the sick and the
cowards, also Capt. Read came in last night by Skeensborough. This afternoon
went to view the Fort. I found it a very strong beautiful fort.
Ticonderoga, Sept. 2. — There is about 1000 of Coll. Waterbury's Regiment
discharged;** a large numlber of Coll. Hermen's Regiment discharged; how many
I cannot tell. Coll. Herman's Regiment very sickly but not a man died till last
night.
Ticonderoga, Sept. 3, Sunday. — The Gunsmith, Blacksmith, Carpenters and
Joiners all went to work the same as any other day of the week.
Ticonderoga, Sept. 4. — We are loading one sloop and 12 Battoes for St. Johns.
Here is 2)7 of Coll. Waterbury's Regiment to go in one Battow. We got ready to
embark on board about sun set; the wind being ahead the sloop could not sail. The
Battow rowed off and left her. We rowed this night as far as Crown Point and
landed about 12 in the night. Here we took up our lodging some in the Battow,
some went on shore it being very dark we could see now and then a light. Some
got to the old French Barracks. As for my part Lieut. Briggs and I and 2 other
soldiers got in an old house and took up our lodging among the fleas. It being very
wet and cold we lodged very uncomfortably this night.
Crown Point, Sept. 5. — I went to view the fort. I found it to be a very strong,
curious fort. The Barracks within it are very beautiful, three in numlber, three
stories high. The wooden work is consumed by fire. The stone work is all good
and strong. I returned to our Boats and there we cooked a very good breakfast
of venison. About 9 of the clock we embarked on board for our intended harbor
in company with the other boats, the wind being very strong ahead we had to row
18 miles and put up in a place we called Shelter Harbor about 3 o'clock in the
afternoon. The wind held so strong ahead we concluded to take up our lodging
here this night in the woods. About sun set there came another Boat and lodged
with us, the others being behind. Here we kept a guard all night. In the evening
one of our soldiers could not be found, I being Sergeant of the Guard this night
went to relieve the Sentinel about one o'clock. I being 15 rods from our encamp-
ment in the thickest of the bush stept on a man which made me almost cry out
"Indian." I knowing his voice did forbear.
Shelter Harbor, Lake Champlain, Sept. 6. — The wind being fair we sailed up
the lake a few miles. The wind soon turned ahead we being obliged to drop sail
and row; we out rowed all the Battow and lodged on an island our boats crew
alone.
Lake Champlain, Sept. 7. — 'The wind being fair we sot sail this morning the
west side of the lake about 10 af the clock. The wind rose so very high and the
lake so extremely rough that it broke our mast. We dropped our sails as quick
as possible and went to rowing, being still on the west side of the lake and the
wind strong in the South East — a dreadful rough, rocky shore. We made for it.
We came within one rod of the shore it being so rocky we could not land without
losing our Battow perhaps many of our lives, being exceeding heavy loaded. Some
cried "Push her ashore." The officers were a mind to go around a point a little
ahead of us. We had one sailor aboard, Nehemiah Gorham, who stept to the helm,
turned her stern to the shore, and said, "The boat will not live to go around that
Point!" Tie told us to double man the oars and we would try for an Island about
**Their term of enlistment had expired.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
153
40 rods from us against the wind. We all clapped to the oars and rowed with
much difficulty and /great distress. Every wave seemed as if it would swallow up
our small boat; but through the mercy of God we all arrived safe at the small
Island. We had not been here long before we saw the sloop and other boats pass
by us on the other (East) side of the Lake the wind being south east, the Lake
was not so rough that side, which made us wish ourselves with them. We tarried
here till about 4 o'clock afternoon when the wind ceasing a little we hoisted sail
again and sailed until about 8 in the evening and took up our lodging in the wood
our boats crew alone.
Lake Champlain, Sept. 8. — ^We sot sail very early. About 8 o'clock we over-
took the sloop aground 8 miles this side of Islandore. As we sailed by the Quar-
ter Master General spoke to us in a speaking trumpet and said St. Johns was taken
day before yesterday. We shot a gun and Huzzaed. About 8 o'clock we came to
Islandore to our Regiment which landed here the 4th instant. I soon heard that
St. Johns was not taken. They went out on scout about 1000 men, and came to
within a mile and a half of the Fort where they were fired upon by some Indians
and Regulars. They returned the tire. There was a hot fire for about 15 minutes.
They run off and we retreated back a few rods and put up a Breast work. We
lost 8 men and 6 wounded. 4 of Major Hobby's, 4 of Capt. Mead's killed, Major
Hobby and Capt. Mead wounded and 4 privates. In the evening they flung bombs
at us and drove us out of our Breast work. We retreated back about a mile and
put up another Breast work and tarried here till day.
Islandore, Sept. 10, Sunday. — There are orders for 25 men out of every com-
pany to go to Shambalee about 4 miles above St. Johns. Our company was called
out to see who were willing to go. The number turned out very soon. We cooked
our victuals and carried 4 days allowance and clothes to shift ourselves once.
About 4 of the clock in the afternoon we set out on our journey. As we came
near the place where we had our first fight we discovered the enemy before they
saw us, some on the shore and some on the Lake in Batteaux. We fired at those
on the shore. They returned the fire — grape shot from their swivel boats and small
arms from the shore. Our row gallies fired on their boats. The fire continued
about ID minutes very hot, then they ran off. We kept our ground till day. We
found one Regular and two Indians dead. We suppose we killed some on the
water, and wounded some, but not certain. We stripped the Regular and found
a very fine gun and sword — the gun with two Barrels the neatest I ever saw, a
fine watch some money, and very neatly dressed.
St. Johns, Sept. 11. — ^^Morning we returned back to Islandore very much fa-
tigued and tired out.
Islandore, Sept. 12. — Very wet and cold for the season. Our allowance is only
pork and flour which makes very hard living.
Islandore, Sept. 13. — We built a fashen (fascine) battery and placed two can-
non in order to command the Lake that the enemy may not come upon us. Cold
and uncomfortable weather for the season.
Islandore, Sept. 14. — 'Fitting up to go to St. Johns as quick as possible in order
to take the Fort.
Islandore, Sept. 16. — Our Regiment is called out to see who will go by land
and who by water. General Schuyler this morning set out for home. Brigadier
General Montgomery commands by land Col. Waterbury by water. Of our Regi-
ment Capt. Douglas' and Capt Reads company's go by water. Orders is out for
154
HISTORY OF REDDING.
all to hold themselves in readiness to strike their tents to morrow morning at the-
Beat of drum. This day a party of our men went to Shambalee.
Islandore, Sept. 17, Sunday. — We have orders to strike our tents and pack up
our baggage in order to march for Fort St. Johns. We all embarked about 11 of
the clock. We came within about two miles and a half of the Fort, when the
Land forces landed and marched forward one mile and encamped. We lay on the
water till night. They fired cannon and Bomb shells at us. Our row gallies fired
45 cannon balls at them but no damage done.
St. Johns, Sept. 18. — ^Our land forces built a large breastwork around their en-
campment in order to lay siege against the Fort. Resolved to take the Fort or
lose our lives.
St. Johns, Sept. 10. — They cut a road toward the Fort in order to draw their
cannon. The Shambalee party took this day 12 waggon loads of Provision, Rum,,
Wine, & Ammunition, from the Regulars and received no damage from them.
Toward night the Regulars came out upon the Shambalee party. They wounded 3.
of our men and took 2 prisoners. Our men took some provisions and drove them
to the fort.
St. Johns, Sept. 20. — A number belonging to the water craft went to work with
them on land — we cut a road and made bridges within half a mik of the Fort.
They fired Bomb shells and cannon Balls more or less every day at us but they
have done us no damage by it.
St. Johns, Sept. 22. — ^\ve went to building a fasheen Battery about 100 rods
this side of the Fort. We carried them through the bushes very still undiscovered
by the Regulars till just at night a boat came along the lake about 12 Rods from
the shore. A party discovered them, crept down in the bushes by the side of the
Lake till they came against us, when they fired on them. They all dropt in the
boat. They soon fired on us from the Fort, grape shot, cannon balls, and Bomb-
shells did rattle. General Montgomery very narrowly escaped, a Bomb shell fell
within three feet of him but we received no damage from them this day.
St. Johns, Sept. 23. — They went to work at the Breast works. They fired on us
and killed one man with a cannon ball through the body. The breast work is now
about 4 feet high.
St. Johns, Sept. 24, Sunday. — ^A number of the water craft men went to work
with those on the land at building a fasheen Battery about a half mile from the
Fort in order to place two cannon to command the latter. They fired on us all day
but no damage done.
St. Johns, Sept. 25. — We placed two mortars in our upper breast work and 2
cannon in the other Battery about 50 rods below. About 3 of the clock in the after-
noon we began to play upon them. There was a very hot fire on both sides until
night but I believe no great damage done.
St. Johns, Sept. 26. — It being very wet cold uncomfortable weather but little
business done this day.
St. Johns, Sept. 27. — The storm continued till about 3 in the afternoon: then
the fire began very hot on both sides till night. They killed one of our men with a
Bomb shell and wounded one. What damage we did them is uncertain. Begins to
storm rain again.
St. Johns, Sept. 28. — ^The storm continues, a cold wet uncomfortable day. But
little firing this day.
HISTORY OF REDDING. I 5 5
St. Johns, Sept. 29. — The fire is very hot on Iboth sides, both Bomb shells and
cannon balls but little damage that I know.
St. Johns, Sept. 30. — Cold stormy weather. Firing on both sides but little dam-
age done.
St. Johns, Oct. I, Sunday. — The storm continues very cold. We went to work
at Breast work round our encampment for fear of the Canadians and Indians.
There is talk that 2000 of them are coming against us but hope it is nothing but
camp news. But little firing this day.
St. Johns, Oct. 3. — Cold, stormy weather yet. 250 Canadians built a breast
work the east side of the Lake about 100 Rods from the Fort. Firing on both
sides every day but no great damage done.
St. Johns, Oct. 4. — ^About 10 of the clock the Regulars went across the Lake
in a floating Battery, which was begun for a sloop but never finished, in order to
drive off the Canadians. They fired cannon at 'them about half an hour and then
with small arms. They attempted to force our Breast work. There was a very
hot fire on both sides about half an hour. The Canadians stood their ground well.
The Regulars retreated back to their row galley and rowed back to the Fort. The
Canadians received no damage except one man wounded. What damage the Reg-
ulars received is uncertain.
St. John, Oct. 5. — Last night the old scow came in from Ticonderoga. This
day we have carried it to our Bomb Battery in order to play on the Fort. This
day very pleasant.
'St. Johns, Oct. 6. — We placed the old scow in the Bomb Battery in order to
play on the Fort. This evening we flung 8 Bombs on the Fort. They flung 24 at
our encampment. No damage done.
St. Johns, Oct. g. — This evening about 50 bomb shells flung on both sides. No
damage that I know of.
St. Johns, Oct. II. — This evening about 40 Bomb shells on both sides. But
little damage done except one man's thigh broke with a Bomb shell.
St. Johns, Oct. 12. — This day Seth Chase of Capt. Mead's Company died that
was wounded yesterday. Nothing remarkable only very cold.
St. Johns, Oct. 14. — We opened a Battery on the east side of the Lake about 60
rods from the Fort where two twelve Pounders are placed and played on the Fort
with all our cannon and mortars. The hottest fire this day ever hath been done
here. We flung some Bombs in the Fort ; what damage done I know not.
St. Johns, Oct. 15, Sunday. — Last night Ezra Morehouse of Capt. Dimons Regi-
ment died with sickness. One man killed at the east Battery. The most fire this
day ever hath been in one day yet.
St. Johns, Oct. 16-19. — Three more cannon placed at the east Battery. Firing
on both sides every day.
St. Johns, Oct. 20. — Last night about 8 o'clock the Regulars at Shambly Fort
resigned themselves prisoners after two days seige, with one cannon, there being
80 men, 20 swivels, 50 barrels powder, and 500 stands of arms.
St. Johns, Oct. 21. — This day we sent a flag of truce to see if they would give
liberty to bring the prisoners and baggage by the Fort at the Lake. They were
immediately granted liberty and they were brought this day aboard of our sloop
and schooner.
^56
HISTORY OF REDDING.
St. John, Oct. 22, Sunday. — They beat a parley at the Fort and sent a Flag of
truce to see if our General would send in three women which are amongst our
prisoners, they being officers wives, now in the Fort. The General immediately
sent them in.
St. John, Oct. 23-24. — The prisoners set out for Hartford under the command
of Col. Whiting. Firing more or less every day.
St. Johns, Oct. 25. — One of the Battalion of Yorkers killed with a cannon Ball
in camp this day.
St. Johns, Oct. '2.'j. — We moved our cannon and mortars from the gun and
bomb battery the west side of the Lake to Headquarters in order to carry them to
the north side of the Fort.
St. Johns, Oct. 28. — ^We packed up our baggage and marched four miles and
encamped 2 miles above the Fort. This night we built a Fasheen Battery about 50
Rods north side of the Fort.
St. Johns, Oct. 29, Sunday. — The Regulars discovered our Battery. We guard-
ed it with 100 men, I being one of the Guard. They flung upwards of 100 Bomb
shells, some cannon and grape shot at us. Wounded one man, broke two guns.
One Bomb shell broke within 4 feet of me which made me almost deaf. I believe
there were 20 shells broke within two rods of me. This night we dragged four
cannon and five mortars to this Breast work in order to play on the Fort.
St. Johns, Oct. 30. — ^But little firing this day. This night we played these can-
non and mortars.
St. Johns, Nov. i. — ^We opened our Battery about 9 o'clock. There was the
hottest fire that hath been yet about six hours and they beat a parley and set a
flag of truce.
St. Johns, Nov. 2. — They sent a flag of truce out three times before the matter
was settled. The business being settled about 7 o'clock they resigned themselves
Prisoners. They are to march through the country with their own private property
with the honors of war giving up the Fort and all the King's stores.
St. Johns, Nov. 3. — About 8 of the clock we marched into the Fort there being
a large artillery, about 600 stands of arms, about 600 Prisoners.
St. Johns, Nov. 5, Sunday. — We have received orders to march to morrow to
Montreal. The Prisoners marched for Hartford this day.
St. Johns, Nov. 6. — We marched 10 miles this day towards Montreal.
Lapaine, Nov. 7. — We marched 6 miles into Lapaine town and there pitched
our tents. The weather being cold makes it very uncomfortable living in tents.
Lapaine, Nov. 10. — The snow is almost over shoes, a very cold, stormy day,
which makes it very uncomfortable for poor soldiers who live in tents.
Lapaine, Nov. 11. — About 8 o'clock we struck our tents and marched about half
a mile to the River St. Lawrence and embarked on board the Batteaux and rowed
about six miles toward Montreal and landed on St. Paul's Island, about 3 miles
from Montreal. This evening at the firing of a cannon Governor Carlton and all
the Regulars embarked on board the shipping with all the King's stores and sailed
down the River.
St. Paul's Island, Nov. 12, Sunday. — We embarked on board the Batteaux and
rowed within one mile of town and landed and marched into the suburbs, and
(^Hk
tA^t^
HISTORY OF REDDING.
157
lodged in houses this night. The Canadians kept a guard round the walls of the
city this night.
Montreal, Nov. 13. — We marched into town about 9 o'clock to the Barracks
and cleaned them out in order to live in the same.
Montreal, Nov. 15. — ^Began to enlist soldiers to tarry the winter coming. Cold
stormy weather.
Montreal, Nov. 16. — ^Fitting ourselves to return home. Orders to march to
morrow very early.*
Montreal, Nov. 17. — We embarked on board the Batteaux and rowed across to
Longgine and marched six miles to Lapaine, and lodged in houses this night. Ex-
treme cold for the time of year.
Lapaine, Nov. 18. — Marched to St. Johns 18 miles, it being a very frozen time
we marched through dry.
St. Johns, Nov. 19, Sunday. — All hands at work fitting to set sail to morrow
morning. Ordered to embark at the firing of the morning gun.
St. Johns, Nov. 20. — The wind being ahead so that we can not sail ; About sun-
set the wind turned to be fair but very little air stirring. All ordered to be aboard
as we may be ready to set sail if the wind should rise. Cold winter weather. The
ice is hard so that it will bear horses and carts.
St. Johns, Nov. 21. — The wind being fair we set sail about 9 o'clock. There
being but very little wind we sailed only 15 miles to Islandore and lay aboard the
sloop it being a very stormy, uncomfortable day.
Islandore, Nov. 22.. — The wind being almost ahead we set sail and sailed about
one mile. We made such poor way ahead we dropt anchor and lay this day on the
cold Lake. It being a very stormy day lodged aboard this night.
Lake Champlain, Nov. 23. — The wind being ahead we towed the sloop about
3 miles. It being a stormy winter-like day the sloop's crew lodged aboard except
myself and two more who lodged in a French House very comfortably.
Lake Champlain, Nov. 24. — ^The wind ahead we tawed the sloop about 50 rods
and dropt anchor. Again in the afternoon we towed about 4 miles and dropt
anchor. All lay aboard the sloop this night.
Lake Champlain, Nov. 25. — The wind almost ahead and very calm. We only
sailed about 10 miles : all lay aboard the sloop this night it being a very stormy
night.
Lake Champlain, Nov. 26, Sunday. — ^Being a very cold snow storm the wind
in the north we sailed about 60 miles to Crown Point, and dropt anchor and lodged
at the Point this night.
Crown Point, Nov. 2^. — Set sail before sunrise for Ticonderoga, it being very
calm. We arrived at Ticonderoga about 3 o'clock in the afternoon it being 15 miles.
Ticonderoga, Nov. 28. — ^We drawed three Batteaux i mile and a half by land
into Lake George in order to cross the Lake to morrow in the morning.
Ticonderoga, Nov. 29. — We embarked on board the Batteaux this morning, the
wind being strong ahead we rowed only 12 miles to Saberday Point, and lodged
there this night on the cold ground, the snow being about six inches deep.
*The effort to enlist men would seem to have failed.
158
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Lake George, Saberday Point, Nov. 30. — The wind beiiijf strong ahead with
much difficulty we rowed 24 miles to Fort George. Lodged this night in the Bar-
racks.
Fort George, Dec. i. — Our baggage being brought in sleighs we marched 17
miles, two miles below Fort Edward, and lodged at Esquire Tuttles.
Fort Edward, Dec. 2. — 'We marched 18 miles to Saratoga and lodged at San-
dered Bemejess, it being a very wet night. li
/Saratoga, Dec. 3, Sunday. — ^The snow being gone we left our sleighs and got
carts and marched 36 miles to the New City, it being a very muddy day.
New City, Dec. 4. — (Marched 12 miles to Albany and loaded our baggage aboard
the sloop in order to set sail to morrow morning.
Albany, Dec. 5. — ^The wind being strong ahead we lay this day in town waiting
for the wind to turn in our favor. !
Albany, Dec. 6. — 'The wind being near west we set sail about 9 o'clock.
The diary fills the last pages of a manuscript book entitled "Aaron
Barlow's Book of Orders at New York, began June 13, a. d. 1775," the
first twenty-four pages being taken up with the General and Regimental
Orders issued while the troops lay at New York and up to the capture of
the fort at Islandore.
In the Fishkill Campaign, Oct. 5-19, 1777, Col. Barlow served as En-
sign in Captain John Gray's Company, 4th Connecticut Militia. In
April, 1780, tie was commissioned Lieutenant in Captain Jesse Bedl's Com-
pany, Col. Bezaleel Beebe's Regiment of State troops, and served on the
Westchester front. In May, 1781, we find him a Lieutenant of the coast
guard at Green Farms. After the war he achieved distinction in civil
life. He served a term as Deputy Sheriff of Fairfield County, was four
terms in the Connecticut Legislature, in October, 1792, May and Octo-
ber, 1794, and May, 1795. In the militia service he rose through the
grades of Captain and Major to be Lieutenant-Colonel of the 4th Con-
necticut Regiment. He was interested with his brother, Joel Barlow,
in several industrial enterprises, notably the building of a grist mill (on
the site of the one now occupied by J. L. Blackman) for the kiln drying
of corn for export to the West Indies. He is also said to have establish-
ed an iron foundry with his brother Joel in Weston, probably at the
present Valley Forge. Joel Barlow often spent his college vacations
with his elder brother, Aaron, and is said by family tradition to have
written his Vision of Columbus in this house. In 1800, Col. Barlow went
to Norfolk, Va., and died there the same year of yellow fever.
AARON SANFORD.
Aaron Sanford, the first male member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church in New England, bapt. May 29, 1757, settled in the centre and
lived in the old colonial house on the brow of the hill overlooking the
^ , Ps . bt-O/
~)
HISTORY OF REDDING.
159
valley of Littlq River, now untenanted. He was the leader of the little
class of Methodists organized in Redding by Jesse Lee in 1790. The
Methodist circuit preachers in their rounds often shared his hospitality,
and held their meetings in his house. Later in life he became an accept-
able local preacher in that church. His diary, beginning in 1818 and
ending in 1844, is in the possession of his grand-daughter, Miss Julia
H. Sanford, and shows in a striking way his religious devotion and deep
conscientiousness. He records going to prayer meeting, class meeting,
and quarterly meeting in Danbury, Ridgefield, Loantown, Norfield,
Starr's Plain, Lee's Chapel, Egypt School-house, and other places, and
speaks of meeting the sick and praying with them. Jan. 16, 1821, he
records : "I went to Nath. Couch's and saw all the children of Thomas
N. Couch, late deceased, and talked about religion and prayed with
them." March 30, 1823 : "I went to meeting. Mr. Hunt preached. In
the intermission my Daughter Hannah spoke with power. It was ren-
dered a great blessing." (When one recalls how rigorously the "Stand-
ing Order" enforced the Pauline injunction, "Let your women keep
silence in the Churches," this was indeed an innovation.) May 2, 1824.
he records that "Alice Miller (the Girl) preached. I went." (Perhaps
the first instance of a woman's preaching in New England.)
Prayer meetings, class meetings, band meetings, love feasts, quarter-
ly meetings, camp meetings, and society meetings are mentioned as
among the means of grace enjoyed by these early Methodists.*
STEPHEN R. MALLORY.
"Stephen Russell Mallory, second son of Charles Mallory, of Red-
ding, Conn., was born in the West Indies in 1814, and came to the
United States when but three months old. In 1819 he accompanied his
father to Florida, and was placed at an 'old field school' near Mobile,
from whence he was removed to the academy at Nazareth, Pa., where he
spent several years. He returned to Florida in 1830, and established
his residence at Key West, where he embraced the profession of law.
Mr. Mallory filled many important trusts under the State and General
Governments, and was collector of the customs and superintendent of the
revenue at Key West, under Mr. Polk. In 1850 he was elected to the
United States Senate for the term of six years." The above is from
Gleason's "Pictorial Companion" for 1853. Mr. Mallory's subsequent
career as Secretary of the Confederate Navy is familiar to the reader.
MAJOR-GENERAL D. N. COUCH.
Major-General Darius N. Couch was born of Redding parents, in
South-East, New York, July 25th, 1822. The following sketch of his
'•'See also the Sanford Family, Chapter XXIII.
l6o HISTORY OF REDDING.
career, taken largely from Cullum's History of the Officers and Gradu-
ates of the United States Military Academy, will be read with interest:
"Darius N. Couch, born in New York, appointed from New York,
cadet at United States Military Academy from July ist, 1842, to July
I St, 1846, when he was graduated and promoted in the army to Brevet
Second Lieutenant 4th Artillery. Served in the war with Mexico in
1846-47-48, being engaged in the battle of Buena Vista, Mex., as Second
Lieutenant in Captain Washington's Battery, Light Artillery, for which
he was brevetted First Lieutenant for gallant and meritorious conduct.
Participating in the occupation of the Seminole country in 1852-3, he
planned and executed at his own expense a scientific expedition into
Central and Northern Mexico, the results of which were very creditable
to his enterprise. He married, in 1854, a daughter of Hon. S. L. Crock-
er, of Taunton, Mass., and grand-daughter of Isaiah Thomas, founder
of the Antiquarian Society of Worcester, Mass., and author of the 'His-
tory of Printing.' The next year he resigned from the army. At the
breaking out of the Rebellion, being settled in Taimton, Mass., he raised
the 7th Reg. Alass. Vols., and proceeded to Washington in July, 1861.
Was made Brigadier-General in August, and assigned to the command
of a brigade in the defence of that city. In McClellan's Campaign on
the Peninsula, General Couch commanded the ist Division, 4th Army
Corps, holding the left of the line at the siege of Yorktown. At the bat-
tle of Fair Oaks, his brave Division held its ground for more than
two hours against the combined attack of the Confederate troops. With
part of his Division he reinforced Hooker in the hot action of Oak
Grove, June 25th, 1862, and was in various skirmishes during the seven
days until July ist, on which morning General McClellan posted him on
the main road leading to Richmond, where was fought the successful
battle of Malvern Hill.
"Being promoted to the rank of Major-General, July 4th, 1862, he
joined Pope with his Division on the retreat from Manassas, in the
Northern Virginia Campaign. October, 1862, in command of the 2d
Army Corps, Campaign of the Rapahannock. At Fredericksburg, De-
cember I2th, 13th, 14th, and 15th, it fell upon General Couch to assault
Mary's Heights, in which desperate work that brave, magnificent 2d
Army Corps lost more than 4,000 men. The loss of his Corps at the
disastrous battle of Chancellorsville, where he was second in command,
was very heavy. In November, 1864, he joined Thomas, who was be-
sieged at Nashville, and was assigned by that commander to the com-
mand of an Army Corps. In the battle which followed he commanded
a division, turned Hood's left, and captured several pieces of artillery
and many prisoners. In North Carolina, March, April, and May, he aid-
9^in6i^i^
HISTORY OF REDDING. l6l
ed Sherman in closing the war. Resigned in June, 1865, the Great
Rebellion having been crushed out.
"The General has for several years resided at Norwalk, Conn., hav-
ing been Quartermaster-General at Hartford during the years 1877-78."
GIDEON H. HOLLISTER.
Hon. Gideon H. Hollister, of Litchfield, was a descendant of two of
our Redding families, as will be seen by reference to the notes on the
Gray and Jackson families. He was born December 14th, 1818, in
Washington, Conn., and graduated at Yale College in 1840. Studied
law in Litchfield, and was admitted to the bar in April, 1842. He prac-
tised law in Litchfield until 1859, when he opened an office in New York.
He went as United States Charge d' Affaires to Hayti when that country
was under the administration of Salnave. In 1855 he published a His-
tory of Connecticut in two volumes, of which two editions, of two thou-
sand copies each, have been exhausted. He was the author of three his-
torical dramas, one of them bearing the title of "Thomas a Becker."
He also wrote a legal treatise on the Law of Eminent Domain.
ORVILLE H. PLATT.
Orville H. Piatt, late Senator of the United States, was of Redding
ancestry. (See Piatt family.) He was born in Washington, Conn.,
July 19, 1827, and after receiving an academic education, studied law
and was admitted to the bar in 1849. He at once opened a law office
in Meriden, Conn., which city thereafter became his home. Entering
politics he became Clerk of the State Senate, 1857; State Senator, 1861-2;
member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, 1864, and again
in 1869, when he served as Speaker. In 1879, he was elected to the
Senate of the LTnited States and held the office by successive re-elections
until his death in 1905. Senator Piatt was. at the time of his death, the
recognized leader of the Senate, and high in the confidence of the Presi-
dent and of the leaders of his party.
EBENEZER J. HILL.
Ebenezer J. Hill, who has represented the Fourth Congressional
District of Connecticut in the House of Representatives at Washington
since 1895, was born in Redding, August 4, 1845, (See Hill Family), and
educated at the public schools of Norwalk, whither his father soon re-
moved, and at Yale College. His first public office was that of Burgess
of Norwalk, and he was twice chairman of the Board of School Visitors
of that city. He was a delegate to the National Republican Convention
of 1884; a member of the State Senate, 1886-7; 0"g term on the State
Republican Committee; and in 1895 was elected to represent the Fourth
District in Consfress, which office he now holds.
1 52 HISTORY OF REDDING,
BISHOP THOMAS F. DAVIES.
Bishop Thomas F. Davies of the Protestant Episcopal Diocese of
Michigan, though born in Fairfield, was of Redding ancestry. For our
sketch of him we cannot do better than to quote from a sermon of the
Rev. Edward M. Jefferys, delivered in his former church of St. Peter's,
Philadelphia, on the fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, 1906 :
"Bishop Davies was descended from a Welsh family which came to
America from Herefordshire in 175 1. He was born in Fairfield County,
Connecticut,, August 31st, 1831. It was a year that is usually reckoned
a turning point in American history — the year that saw great questions
which had lain more or less dormant since the beginning of our history
becoming questions of the day, and shaking society to its foundations.
The Bishop was descended from a long line of ancestors who had been
clergymen of the Church of England, and devoted to the crown. From
these stanch loyalists he inherited a disposition which, while it was
genial, tender and sympathetic, was always conservative in politics and
churchmanship.
"His education was gotten in the famous schools of his native State,
the New Haven Grammar School, Yale University, and Berkeley Divin-
ity School at Middletown. At Yale he was a student at a time when
there were many men in the University who afterwards became famous
in the various walks of life, and yet it is stated by those who were then
in a position to know, that he held a real leadership in the student body,
and a distinct pre-eminence in the estimation of the Faculty.
"His wit and kindness, his bigness of frame and heart and mind, gave
him the leadership of the undergraduates ; his quiet dignity, his strength
of character and his fine scholarship gave him influence with President
Woolsey and the leading professors, and it is said by his college chum
(ex-President White, of Cornell), that more than once he was used by
the students as an ambassador to make intercession to the Faculty for
some delinquent, and that 'in more than one case his intercession pre-
vented severity.'
"At the age of twenty-two Bishop Davies obtained the Berkeley
Scholarship, and graduated from Yale with the famous class of '53.
"Following in the footsteps of many of his ancestors, he decided to
study for Holy Orders, and entered the Berkeley Divinity School under
the Rt. Rev. John Williams, Bishop of Connecticut. For six years he
lived with Bishop Williams, became his secretary, and laid the founda-
tions of an intimate friendship which lasted till the Presiding Bishop's
death.
"Bishop Davies had a remarkable talent for languages. He was one
of the best Greek scholars Yale University ever produced, and two
HISTORY OF REDDING.
163
years after his graduation he occupied the chair of Hebrew and Cognate
Languages at the Berkeley Divinity School. Bishop Davies was or-
dained deacon by Bishop Williams in 1856, and priest the following year.
"In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, he was called from the mis-
sionary work about Middletown, and the chair of Hebrew at Berkeley,
to the rectorship of St. John's Church, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
"He remained in Portsmouth till 1868, when he was elected rector
of St. Peter's Church, Philadelphia. He was rector of this parish for
twenty-one years, and during all that time he maintained the high stand-
ard left him by his distinguished predecessors.
"His rectorship in this parish was a conspicuous success. Statistics
can never measure what he did, no matter how instructive they may be;
but we must not forget that during his rectorship three thousand souls
received Holy Baptism, one thousand persons were confirmed, the En-
dowment Fund was begun and successfully continued, St. Peter's House
established, two churches built, the influence of the Parish extended in
many directions, and seven hundred thousand dollars contributed for
Church purposes.
"On St. Luke's Day, 1889, the beloved rector was consecrated in this
Church Bishop of Michigan. One of his consecrators was Bishop Wil-
liams, of Connecticut, his life-long friend and mentor.
"Bishop Davies's ministry in the diocese of Michigan was abundantly
blessed. His life-long missionary spirit served him well. Many new
missions were established under his wise direction, and weak parishes
were revived and strengthened. The Church in the city of Detroit en-
joyed great prosperity during his entire episcopate, more than keeping
pace with the development of the city in the period of its greatest growth.
Bishop Davies died in the city of Detroit, Mich., November 9th, 1905."
JUDGE WILLIAM STRONG.
Judge Strong, though born in Somers, Conn. (1808), resided in
Redding from 1830 to 1835, his father, the Rev. William L. Strong,
having been pastor of the Congregational Church here during that
I period. Judge Strong graduated from Yale College in 1828, made his
maiden speech as a lawyer before a Justice Court in Redding, settled
as a lawyer in Reading, Pa., became a member of Congress, a Judge of
the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and in 1870 was appointed a Jus-
tice of the Supreme Court of the LTnited States. (See also the Strong
Family.)
WILLIAM A. CROFFUT.
William x-\ugustus Croffut, author, was born in Redding in 1836.
Entered newspaper work in 1854, was a private in the United States
164
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Army in the Civil War. Was some time editor of the Alinneapolis Tri
biine, Rochester (N. Y.) Democrat, New Haven Palladium, and Daib
Post of Washington, D. C. Executive officer of the U. S. Geologica
Survey, 1888-94. In 1899 he organized and became secretary of tin
Anti-Imperialist League; is President of the Liberty League; is Ph. D
of Union College. Dr. Croffut is a prolific author, having written tei
volumes of poems and several of verse, among the former being, *Tbi
Vanderbilts," "Folks Next Door," '"A Mid-summer Lark," "The Opei
Door of Dreamland," and the "Crimson Wolf." He also wrote tha
opening ode for the World's Columbian Exposition in May, 1893. Hi
resides in Washington, D. C.
DANIEL NASH MORGAN.
The first paternal ancestor of Mr. Morgan in this country was James
of Handoff, the fourth son of William Morgan, of a branch of the Tredei
gar Morgans of Wales, who was born in 1607, and came to Bostotr
Mass., in 1636, and to New London, Conn., in 1640. He niarried Man
gery Hill, of Roxbury, Mass., August 6th, 1640. (His brother Mile:
settled in Springfield, Mass.) The succeeding generations were Johi:
Morgan, born 1645, who married Rachel Dymond, Nov. 16, 1665 ; Isaa.
Morgan, born Oct. 24th, 1670, died Nov. 25th, 1754; Peter Morgan, bor:
about 1705, who died in Norwich, Conn., August 13th, 1786. He mai^
ried Elizabeth Whitmore of Middletown, Conn., February 23, 1738.
Zedekiah Morgan was born in Norwich in 1744. He married Rut
Dart, (daughter of John Dart and Ruth Moor Dart, born Dec. 28, 1745)
in New London, January 26th, 1769. He moved to Newtown in thi
Hopewell district, purchasing a tract of territory covering 690 acre;
which is still known as the Morgan farm. He was in the Revolution
ary war and during one winter a large number of horses belonging tt
the American Army were kept on his premises. His son, Hezekiah Moi
gan, was born July 24th, 1773. He lived nearly all his life in Reddim
Conn., and died March 24th, 1857. He married Elizabeth Sanford, thli
eldest daughter of John and Anna (Wheeler) Sanford of Redding, Df
cember 27th, 1796. She was born October 13, 1763. and died Angus
5th, 1853.
Ezra Morgan, son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth (Sanford) Morgar
was born in Redding, February 21st, 1801. In his early manhood fci
moved to Newtown, and for more than forty years conducted a generr
store at what is still known as Morgan's Four Corners. He had a larg
farm, was president of the Hatters' Bank in Bethel for years, was a men
ber of the Legislature three sessions, and held numerous other publ
positions. He died June 9th, 1871. He married, June 5th, 1838, Hai
nah Nash, daughter of Regan Daniel Nash, of Westport, Conn. Mr
lofici 1
%
;aa|
ihi
HISTORY OF REDDING.
165
Morgan passed from this life April 15th, 1883. Mr, Nash was born
May 12, 1770, (a descendant of John Nash, the first white child born in
Norwalk), and after a long, useful and successful career as a miller and
financier, died August 2d, 1865. Mr. Nash married, Oct. 8, 1808, Re-
becca Camp, of Norwalk, Conn. She was born December i8th, 1774,
and died on April 8th, 1854.
Daniel Nash Morgan, the eldest son of Ezra and Hannah Nash Mor-
gan, was born at Newtown, Conn., August i8th, 1844. He attended
the district school until ten years of age, and then the Newtown Aca-
demy or the Bethel Institute until he was sixteen ; then for five years he
was a clerk in his father's general store. For one year following his
majority he was proprietor of the store. For about three years there-
after he was of the firm of Morgan and Booth of Newtown Centre. In
1869 he went to Bridgeport and until January ist, 1880, was in the dry
goods and carpet business under the firm name of Birdsey and Morgan.
At the earnest request of business friends he became, in 1877, ^ director
of the City National Bank of Bridgeport, and in January, 1879, its presi-
dent, holding that position until May 26, 1893, when he resigned to as-
sume the office of Treasurer of the United States, having been appointed
by President Grover Cleveland on April nth, 1893, and confirmed by
the Senate April 15, 1893. On June ist, 1893, he gave to his predecssor
a receipt for $740,817,419.78 2-3. On retiring from the office, July ist,
1897, he took from his successor a receipt for $796,925,439.17 2-3.
Mr. Morgan has repeatedly held public office by gift of his fellow
citizens, positions wholly unsought by him. As a Democrat in 1873-4
he was a member of the Common Council of his adopted city. In
1877-8, on the Board of Education, and again from 1898 to 1904. In
1880 he was elected Mayor of the City of Bridgeport and again in 1884.
In 1883 he represented Bridgeport in the lower house of the State Legis-
lature, and was a member of the State Senate in 1885, 1886, and 1893.
It was during the latter session that he was appointed Treasurer of the
United States, the eighteenth person to hold the position since the forma-
tion of the government. In private life and in business Mr. Morgan
has held many positions of trust. He was for many years vice-president
and then president of the Mechanics and Farmers Saving Bank in the
days of its infancy, when it needed strong hands to support it and gain
the confidence of the public. From the inception of the Bridgeport
Hospital he aided the enterprise and was for several years its President.
He was parish clerk thirteen years, then Junior Warden and afterward
Senior Warden of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church. He was for
two years Worshipful Master of Corinthian Lodge, 104. F. A. M.. and is
a member of Hamilton Commandery, 45, K. T., and of Pequannock
Lodge, 4, I. O. O. F. Mr. Morgan was the candidate of his party for
1 56 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Governor in 1898, and in the election by the Legislature of Connecticut
in 1899, of a United States Senator, he received their votes for that ex-
alted position. He was also a member of the building committee of the
Y. M. C. A. of Bridgeport, and for years one of its directors, and is also
interested in the Bridgeport Scientific and Historical Society.
Mr. Morgan has been a wide traveler both in foreign lands and in
his own country. If he has a fad it is for the collection of autographs
and autograph letters, of which he has an exceptionally large and fine
collection. His scrap books filled with clippings would make quite a
library.
Mr. Morgan married, June loth, 1868, Medora Huganen Judson,
daughter of the late Captain William A. Judson, of Huntington, Conn.,
who was captain of a ship making a trip to China before he was 21.
He was a descendant of William Judson of Stratford, Conn., in 1639.
Mr. Judson was prominent in the afi:airs of his town, having been a mem-
ber of both branches of the Legislature, County Commissioner, and was
the trying Justice of the Peace for very many years.
Mr. and Mrs. Morgan have two children now living, Mary Hunting-
ton Morgan, born November 29, 1873, who married, June 9th, 1904,
Daniel Edwards Brinsmade, and William Judson Morgan, born May 17,
1881, who married, February 9th, 1904, Helen Jeannette Brinsmade, of
Huntington, Connecticut, born Aug. 15th, 1881, daughter of Daniel Sey-
mour Brinsmade and Jeannette (Pardee) Brinsmade. A daughter, Flor-
ence Newton Morgan, born in Huntington, Conn., Dec. 5th, 1876, died
April 1 8th, 1878.
The following from Miss Rebecca D. Beach's history of "Reverend
John Beach and John Sanford and their Descendants," will be of interest
to some living in Newtown and Reading:
"Mrs. Morgan (Daniel N.) is herself a descendant of John Beach
the first,
Through John and Flannah Staples, Ebenezer and Mehitable Gibson,
John and Rebecca, Hezekiah and Silliman, Rebecca and Agur
Judson, William Agur Judson and Marietta Beardsley. Marietta Beard-
sley was the daughter of Ebenezer Beardsley and Maria Beach, who was
the daughter of Ebenezer (brother of Hezekiah) and Abbie Beach.
The double connection explains itself. The marriages and full family
records of the two brothers, Hezekiah and Ebenezer Beach, can be found
in the first volume of Town Records (Huntington) at Shelton, Conn.
(Town Clerk's Ofifice).
Ezra and Hannah (Nash) Morgan had eight children. Elizabeth
Sanford Morgan, the eldest child, born March 31st, 1839, married the
late Rufus Davenport Cable, of Westport, Conn., Oct. 15th, 1862. Of
REV. A. J. SMITH.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 1 67
their six children, three daughters are Hving, Mrs. Marcus Bayard But-
ler, Mrs. Edward J. Buehner, and Mrs. George A. Robson.
Mrs. E. S. (Morgan) Cable, beside the subject of this sketch, is now-
living.
The other children who are not living and who died unmarried, were :
Mary Camp, Harriet Louisa, Cornelia Jane, Hannah Sophia, and Freder-
ick Ezra Morgan.
The youngest member of the family, Edward Kemper Morgan, born
March i6, 1859, died at Bridgeport, April 14th, 1906. He married
Charlotte Adelaide Judson of Huntington, Sept. 27, 1883. She has two
sons, Daniel Judson Morgan, born June 10, 1885, and Frederick Ed-
ward Morgan, born February 13, 1890.
Mr. Morgan relates the following stories of his paternal and maternal
grandfathers, Hezekiah Morgan and Daniel Nash :
'Tn 1844, the year of my birth, my grandfather Nash was seventy-four
years old. That was four years before the New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad was built. Mr. Nash was in New York of a Satur-
day morning and anxious to get home. He missed the Harlem trains,
which ran but once or twice a day, so he walked over forty miles to
Westport that day, a part of the way in a snow storm. On his arrival
home it was feared he had taken his last walk after such prolonged exer-
tion, but he declared next morning that he did not have an ache or a
pain in his body; and he lived for twenty-one years afterward, into his
ninety-sixth year.
"When my grandfather Morgan was a youth, owing to an illness that
indicated a fatal termination, 'his physician recommended a sea voyage
as a remedy, which he took, taking with him his shroud. A friend went
with him simply for a pleasant trip, but was taken sick and died while
on the voyage, and was buried at sea, clothed in the funeral garb men-
tioned above."
The late high sheriff, Thomas Sanford, related to me many years ago
the following incident of Redding politics : "When the members of the
Legislature were elected one at a time — when a town was entitled to two
— and Redding so regularly Republican that Democrats voted simply to
stand by their colors, after your grandfather (Hezekiah Morgan) had
voted and started for home thCj count of votes showed that a Democrat
had been elected, which so elated the victors that they sent me after your
grandfather to return and vote for another candidate. When I over-
took him and told him my errand, he replied that he felt like saying as
did Simeon, 'Lord, let now thy servant depart in peace, for I have seen
thv salvation.' "
1 68 HISTORY OF REDDING. >
EDWIN GILBERT.
Edwin Gilbert was born in Georgetown, Conn., September 7th, 1812,
and died at his winter home, Crescent City, Florida, February 281th, 1906.
Mr. Gilbert's career emphasizes the fact often noted that in our country
of opportunities men may succeed under the most adverse circumstances,
provided they are born with a genius for mastery and leadership.
His father, Benjamin Gilbert, learned the allied trades of tanner,
currier and shoemaker, and was following them when the lad was born
and continued to do so for some six years later. But lie possessed inven-
tive genius and business ability of a high order and was not long con-
tent with the humble role of village shoemaker. In 181 8 he founded the
present Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company by taking the long
hair of cattle, which he collected as a tanner, and weaving it into sieves
for the use of house-wives in sifting meal and flour. Aided by his ener-
getic wife, his business prospered, and at the age of sixteen the boy, Ed-
win, left school and took a subordinfite position in his father's factory.
Here he displayed an inventive talent and business aptitude greater even
than his father's, and rose through all the grades — including the selling
of the firm's products "on the road," then almost the only way of dis-
tributing goods — until in 1844, at the age of thirty-two, he was admitted
a member of the firm, which some time before had been enlarged by the
admission of his brother-in-law, Sturges Bennett, and of his elder broth-
er, William J. Gilbert. Two years later, October 26, 1846, he was mar-
ried to Miss Elizabeth Jones, of Wilton, Conn. Mr. Gilbert remained
a member of the firm of Gilbert & Bennett until its incorporation in 1874
as the Gilbert & Bennett Manufacturing Company, when he was made
a Director. The next year, 1875, he was elected Superintendent and
Treasurer, and in 1884, President, which position he held for twenty-
two years, or until his death in 1906, at which time he had been a mem-
ber of the company for sixty-two years.
It is no injustice to Mr. Gilbert's able associates to say that much
of the success of the great corporation of which he was so long the head,
was due to his inventive genius, courage, energy, and business capacity.
The many patented machines and improved processes by which the com-
pany produces its specialties at a cost which enables it to hold the mar-
ket were most of them invented by him. He had a keen judgment of
men, and in the selection of subordinates for liTs great business, showed
a sagacity that amounted almost to intuition. His courage and energy
were most markedly shown at the time of the great fire of May 10, 1874,
when nearly all of the "Upper Factories" were burned, entailing a loss
of $200,000, on which there was an insurance of but $40,000. Those
were the times that tried the souls of the officials of the company re-
tXi
cd
HISTORY OF REDDING.
169
sponsible for its continued existence and success. Not only were the
factories and finished product in ashes, but the complicated machinery,
and in some cases the patterns themselves were destroyed. To restore
them would be the work of months ; meantime the firm's large orders for
goods could not be filled and would be given to others ; notes also would
come due that must be met. Then there were the employes, who must
be given work and wages. To many the outlook seemed hopeless ; but
Mr. Gilbert never despaired.
"We will build it all up anew," he declared, and it was done. Most
of the labor of rehabilitation fell on him. One intimately associated with
him describes him as often walking the floor all night during this period,
studying how to meet the responsibility thrust upon him. He was ably
seconded in the struggle by his loyal and faithful wife. Gradually the
sun broke through the clouds. Creditors were considerate and notes
were extended. The factories were rebuilt in a much more modern and
substantial manner, and in a few years the business showed a healthful
recovery and was on a much more satisfactory basis.
But Mr. Gilbert was something more than a successful business man.
He was a religious man in the best sense. Philanthropy — love of his
"kind — was innate. He took great interest in his employes, encouraging
them to own their homes. On his initiative the company put into effect
a rule placing a premium on temperance, and provided model tenements
which are leased to employes at a rental of $3.00 and $4.00 a month.
Life's farm at Branchville, where the children of the New York tene-
ments are given a fresh air outing during the summer months, was donat-
ed by him. To it he gave large sums during his life and remembered it
handsomely in his will. Said Life, in an editorial notice of his death,
"The children have lost a benefactor and Life mourns a faithful friend."
He was firm in his friendships, generous and hospitable.
Progressiveness was a marked trait in his character. Until his de-
cease he had as strong an interest in any improvement designed to aid
his business as when in the prime of life. Said a friend, an eminent
lawyer of judicial mind, "Mr. Gilbert and Dr. Seward were the only old
men I ever met who lived for the future rather than in the past." In
later life he took great interest in agriculture, and created, near George-
town, a model farm of three hundred and fifty acres on which various
experiments designed to benefit the industry were carried on. An orch-
ard of young apple trees on it he caused to be grafted. "But, Mr. Gil-
bert," urged a friend, "Why do you do it? You will never live to eat
any of the friiit." "No," he repHed, "I shall not, but others will." This
farm Mr. Gilbert left to Storrs Agricultural College with sixty thousand
dollars, on condition that it should be used as an agricultural experiment
station.
I JO HISTORY OF REDDING.
Air, Gilbert died possessed of an estate valued at half a million dol-
lars, over one-half of which was donated to various worthy institutions.
WILLIAM H. GILDER.
Of the many earnest, self-sacrificing men who served the Methodist
church in Redding none perhaps are more worthy of lasting remem-
brance than William H. Gilder, who was here in 1859-60 — the year before-
the great war. Of that war a little later Mr. Gilder was one of the un-
laureled heroes. At its beginning he was commissioned chaplain of the
40th New York Volunteers, and accompanied his regiment to the front,
where he soon won recognition as an earnest and faithful chaplain. In
April, 1864, when Hancock's Division — to which his regiment was at-
tached— lay at Brandy's Station, A^a., smallpox broke out among the men.
Tent hospitals, to which the infected were removed, were hastily im-
provised. There was a dearth of nurses to serve therein, all fearing the
dreaded scourge. The patients suffered in consequence and many died
who might with careful nursing have recovered. Unable to bear the
sight of so much unrelieved suffering Mr. Gilder volunteered as a nurse,
although he had never had the disease, and entering on his task himself
died with the malady on April 13, 1864. He was given a military
funeral, at which the whole of Hancock's Division turned out to do him
honor. To him his gifted son, Richard Watson Gilder, thus refers in
his poem, "Pro Patria" :
Comrades ! To-day a tear-wet garland I would bring,
But one song let me sing,
For one sole hero of my heart and desolate home :
Come with me, comrades, come !
Bring your glad flowers, your flags, for this one humble grave ;
For soldiers, he was brave !
Though fell not he before the cannon's thunderous breath,
Yet noble was his death.
True soldier of his country and the sacred cross.
He counted gain not loss ;
Perils and nameless horrors of the embattled field
While he had help to yield.
But not where mid wild cheers the awful battle broke,
A hell of fire and smoke,
He to heroic death went forth with soul elate.
Harder his lonely fate.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
171
Searching where most was needed, worst of all endured,
Sufferers he found immured.
Tented apart because of fatal, foul disease —
Balm brought he unto these.
Celestial balm, the spirit's holy ministry-
He brought, and only he.
Where men who blanched not at the battle's shell and shot,
Trembled and entered not.
Yet life to him was oh, most dear — home, children, wife —
But, dearer still than life.
Duty — that passion of the soul which from the sod
Alone lifts man to God.
The pest house entering fearless — stricken, he fearless fell,
Knowing that all was well ;
The high, mysterious Power whereof mankind has dreams.
To him not distant seemed.
So, nobly died this unknown hero of the war ;
And heroes near and far.
Sleep now in graves like his, unfound in song or story —
But theirs is more than glory.
PROF. FRANK F. ABBOTT.
Frank Frost Abbott, the son of Thaddeus Marvin and Mary Jane
Abbott, was born in Redding Centre at the homestead, where his father
and grandfather lived before him, and which he now occupies as a sum-
mer home, on March 27, i860. He received his education in the district
school of Redding, in Albany, in Yale University, from which he was
graduated as salutatorian of the class of 1882, and in the University of
BerHn. In 189 1 'he was made Doctor of Philosophy by Yale Univer-
sity, in which institution he had been an instructor for several years. In
the autumn of the year mentioned he accompanied President Harper to
Chicago to assist in the organization of the newly founded University of
Chicago, being the first member of the faculty chosen in that institution.
He is now Professor of Latin there. In his department he has special-
ized in palaeography, epigraphy, and Roman history, and in view of this
fact was made American Professor in the School of Classical Studies in
Rome in 1901-2. Most of his published work has been in one or another
of the fields above mentioned. It consists of the Selected Letters of
1^2 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Cicero, a treatise on Roman Political Institutions, a History of Rome,
The Toledo Manuscript of the Germania of Tacitus, scientific articles in
the American Journal of Philology, the Archiv fiir lateinische Lexiko-
graphie, the Classical Reviezv, and Classical Philology, and more popular
papers on Roman literary history in the Yale Review, the New England
Magazine, the Nation, and other periodicals. He is one of the editors
of Classical Philology, a quarterly journal devoted to research in classical
antiquity.
PROF. MYRON R. SANFORD.
Prof. Myron R. Sanford, born in Redding and attended Redding In-
stitute until he entered business with his father. In Wesleyan Univer-
sity, 1876-80. In charge of the Classical Department of Wyoming Sem-
inary, Kingston, Penn., from 1880 to 1886. Assistant Professor of
Latin, Haver ford College, 1886-7. Professor of Latin, Haverford Col-
lege, 1887-90. Dean of the College and Professor of Latin, 1890-93.
Travel and study in the summer of 1892, in Germany and Italy. 1893-4,
student in Classical Philology in the University of Leipsic; 1894, student
of Archaeology in Rome. Professor of the Latin Language and Litera-
ture in Middlebury College, 1894-1906. Author of "Temporibus Hominis
Arpinatis" ; contributor to magazines, etc.
PROF. AARON L. TREADWELL.
Prof. Aaron L. Treadwell was born in Redding, December 23, 1866.
Educated in the public schools and in Miss Abbie Sanford's private
school at Redding Centre, and prepared for college at Staples Academy,
Easton, Conn. Graduated with B. A. at Wesleyan University, Middle-
town, in 1888; Assistant in Natural History at Wesleyan, 1888-91; M.
A., ibid, 1890; Professor of Biology and Geology, Miami University,
Oxford, Ohio, 189 1 -1900; Fellow, University of Chicago, 1892-96 and
1897-8; Ph. D., University of Chicago, 1899; Prof, of Biology, Vassar
College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., 1900, which position he now holds. Mem-
ber of the staff of instructors of the Marine Biological Laboratory,
Wood's Holl, Mass., since 1898. Has published many zoological articles
in scientific journals.
DAVID S. FAIRCHILD.
Dean of the Medical College of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa,
is of good old Redding stock, being the son of Eli, the son of David, the
son of John, who was the son of Abraham Fairchild, who came to Red-
ding in 1746 from Norwalk. The latter's son John, born in 1764, was a
soldier of the Revolution, and it is said of Abraham that he had at one
time six sons in that historic struggle.
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HISTORY OF REDDING.
173
Dr. Fairchild was born in Fairfield, Vt., whither his father removed
about 1844. He attended the academies of FrankHn and Barre, Vt.,
after which he studied medicine for a time with Dr. J. O. Cramton of
Fairfield, then attended medical lectures at the University of Michigan,
during the years 1866, 1867 and 1868. Following his graduation at Al-
bany, N. Y., December, 1868, he located in High Forest, Minn., where
for three years he was engaged in a gjeneral practice. He located in
Ames, Iowa, in 1872. In 1877 he was appointed physician to the Iowa
Agricultural College, and in 1879 was elected professor of physiology
and comparative anatomy, which position he held until 1893, when he
resigned to accept the position of surgeon for the Chicago & Northwest-
ern R. R., covering all the lines of that system in the state. He had served
as local surgeon for this road in 1884, and through his satisfactory per-
formance of the work was promoted two years later to district surgeon;
in 1897 he was appointed special examining surgeon for the Chicago,
Milwaukee & St. Paul railway system; in 1882 he was elected professor
of histology and pathology in the Iowa College of Physicians and Sur-
geons, Des Moines, and in 1885 was transferred to the chair of pathology
and diseases of the nervous system ; in 1886 he was given the chair of
theory and practice, after which time no change was made until his elec-
tion to the deanship. For two years previous to the incorporation of the
college as a part of Drake University he served as its president. The
doctor was engaged in general practice for some sixteen years, but for
the past eleven years has devoted himself almost exclusively to consulta-
tion, giving particular attention to surgery and nervous diseases. He
has contributed numerous articles to the medical journals, and his papers
have attracted wide attention in the various medical societies. He has
always taken a great interest in medical organizations. In 1873 he issued
a call to the profession of Story County to meet for the purpose of form-
ing a county medical society, and, at the organization, was elected its
president. In 1874 he assisted materially in organizing the Central Dis-
trict Medical Society, and in 1886 was made its president. He became
a member of the Iowa State Medical Society in 1874, was elected second
vice-president in 1886, first vice-president in 1894, and president in 1895.
He is active in the work of the Western Surgical and Gynecological As-
sociation, and fills the position of president; is prominent in the Ameri-
can Medical Association, the National Association of Railway Surgeons,
and the American Academy of Railway Surgeons. He was a delegate
to the International Medical Congress in 1876; assisted in organizing the
Iowa Academy of Sciences, and was chairman of the committee appoint-
ed by the State Medical Society to prepare a history of m.edicine in Iowa.
Dr. Fairchild was elected Dean of the IMedical Department of Drake
University in 1903, which position he has since held.
I 74 HISTORY OF REDDING.
RICHARD HILL LYON.
Richard Hill Lyon, a leading citizen and veteran newspaper worker
of South Bend, Ind., is a native of Redding. He was born on the old
Hill-Lyon estate, a short distance south of the village, December 20,
1848. His parents were Capt. Eli, 2d, and Louise Winton Lyon, and
he is therefore connected with several of the old and influential fami-
lies of Fairfield county, including those of Hill, Hull, Beach, Hawley,
Sanford, Read, Beardsley, Winton, Seeley, and others. In 1856 he
went with his parents to Ypsilanti, Michigan, where the family remained
for four years on the farm of Samuel B. Read, a former resident of Red-
ding. There Richard attended the common schools and also the State
Normal. In i860 another move was made to the western part of Michi-
gan in Van Buren county, where Capt. Lyon settled on a new farm.
There the lad experienced all the hardships as well as the charms of life
in the wilderness. There he became an apprentice in the village printing
office at Decatur, and finished his trade in Chicago. In 1874 he located
in South Bend, Ind., entering the mechanical department of the South
Bend Daily Tribune, then a new enterprise in the field of Indiana journal-
ism. For over 30 years he was connected with that institution, rising
by his own merits from the printer's case to the editorial chair. He
relinquished the latter position late in the year 1905, owing to failing
health, but is still a member of the stafif of the Tribune as special writer,
and his contributions in the editorial column, as well as those of a legen-
dary, historcial and reminiscential character, are highly interesting. He
is the author of many works of local history, the most pretentious of
which is an illustrated work, "La Salle in the Valley of the St. Joseph."
which he wrote in conjunction with Charles H. Bartlett, and which gives
a .thrilling account of the adventures of the great French explorer in
the vicinity of South Bend in 1679. He was the first white man to set
foot on the soil of Indiana. Mr. Lyon is a vigorous as well as an orig-
inal writer, and his efforts, covering a variety of subjects, are eagerly
read and widely copied by the press. He is a popular member of society,
a talented vocalist, and has given much attention to the advancement of
the cause of music in South Bend and in the state. He has composed
much creditable music of the sacred order. With his estimable wife,
known for her charitable and church work and social activities, Mr.
Lyon lives in an attractive residential part of the city, where he has a
picturesque home on a high terrace, modeled after the quaint old Hill
homestead in North End, and the place is known as Redding Ridge.
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HISTORY OF REDDING.
ALBERT B. HILL.
175
Albert Banks Hill was born at Redding, Conn., May 28th, 1847. -Al-
bert Banks Hill and Arthur Bradley Hill were twins ; and the youngest
of seven children of Bradley Hill and Betsey (Banks) Hill.
Bradley Hill's mother was the niece of Joel Barlow, LL. D., poet,
author and diplomat; who was born in Redding, Conn., in 1754, and died
in Poland in 1812. Albert Banks Hill was the son of Bradley Hill of
Redding, Conn., who was the son of William Hill of Fairfield, Conn.,
who was the son of Moses Hill of Fairfield, Conn., who was the son of
Joseph Hill of Fairfield, Conn., who was the son of William Hill of
Fairfield, Conn., who was the son of William Hill of Fairfield, Conn., who
was the son of William Hill of Fairfield, Conn., who came over from
England in 1632, twelve years after the Mayflower, and finally settled
in Fairfield, Conn. It is recorded that "he was a man of note among the
■colonists."
Mr. Hill attended the common schools of Redding and prepared him-
self for college with the aid of one term at private school. In 1866 he
entered the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale and graduated as Ph. B.
with the Class of 1869. In 1870-1871, he was instructor in Mechanics
and Surveying, Yale, S. S. S., and received degree of C. E. In 1871 he
entered the City Engineer's Department, New Haven, Conn., and was
put in charge of the party on Survey of the City of New Haven. In
1872 he was made Assistant Engineer in charge of sewer construction ;
and from 1883 to 1892 was City Engineer of New Haven. Since 1892
he has been in private practice as Civil and Consulting Engineer, with
office at New Haven, Conn.
Mr. Hill has held the following offices: 1883-1892, City Engineer,
New Haven, Conn.; 1892, Director American , Society Civil Engineers;
1905, President Connecticut Society Civil Engineers. He is a member
of the following societies and clubs : Graduates Club, New Haven,
•Conn. ; Chamber of Commerce, New Haven, Conn. ; Connecticut Aca-
demy of Arts and Sciences, Connecticut Society Civil Engineers, Ameri-
<:an Society Civil Engineers, New England Water Works Association,
Finance Committee, Organized Charities Association of New Haven,
Conn.
Some of the Engineering Works designed by Mr. Hill and executed
under his direction as Engineer, were : The swing bridge over Norwalk
River at South Norwalk; the steel arch bridges over Mill River, New
Haven; over Lake Whitney, Hamden; over Lieutenant River, Lyme.
The suspension bridge over Lake Whitney, 270 feet span, for New
Haven Country Club. The stone arch bridges, East Rock Park. Rein-
forced Concrete arches, in Cheshire, Hamden, Waterbury, and over
I 76 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Ash Creek, Bridgeport. Electric Railway bridges on various lines radi-
ating from New Haven. Park drives : The East Rock, West Rock, and
Beacon Hill Park Drives, New Haven Public Park system. Portions of
the New Haven sewerage system ; sewerage systems for Danbury, and
for Shelton, Conn. ; disposal works for Litchfield, Conn. ; Outfall system,
Greenwich, Conn. Electric Railways : Norwalk to South Norwalk ;
South Norwalk to Roton Point; Norwalk to Winnipauk; New Haven
to Bridgeport ; Bridgeport to Fairfield and Southport ; New Haven to
Derby; New Haven to Cheshire; Cheshire to Waterbury; Cheshire to
Milldale; New Haven to Wallingford ; New Haven to East Haven;
Palmer to Ludlow, ]\Iass. Water Works: As Consulting Engineer to
The New Haven Water Company, the Bridgeport Hydraulic Company,
and the Greenwich Water Company ; the design of the recent reservoir
dams of these corporations. The Saltonstall tunnel of The New Haven
Water Company, one-third of a mile long under the Saltonstall Ridge.
The construction of the Filtration Plant of The New Haven Water Com-
pany.
ISAAC NEWTON BARTRAM.
Isaac Newton Bartram was born in Redding, March 25, 1838. Son
of Isaac Hamilton Bartram and grandson of Isaac Bartram, an artificer
of the Revolution, enlisting from Redding and serving through the war.
His mother was Lydia Piatt, daughter of Isaac Piatt, who also served
through the Revolution as an artificer from Redding.
Mr. Bartram has held many public offices in Sharon, Conn., where
he settled in 1865. Representative from Sharon in the General Assem-
bly in 1868, '72, '76, '86, '87, 91, and in the State Senate from the 19th
District in 1889-90. He was appointed Commissioner of Putnam Camp
in 1887 by Governor Lounsbury, and was re-appointed by Governor
Bulkley and by Governor Morris, holding the office eight years. While
a representative in 1887, Mr. Bartram introduced the resolution for re-
storing Putnam's old winter quarters. He married Miss Helen Dorothy
Winan of Sharon. Their children were, two boys, who died in infancy,
Phebe M., who married Charles Rockman Pancoast and resides in Phila-
delphia, and Blanche W., who married Henry R. Moore, who died in
1905.
THEODORE C. SHERWOOD.
Theodore C. Sherwood, son of Moses and Elizabeth Taylor Sher-
wood, was born in Redding, Connecticut, January 3rd, i860. Educated
in the common schools of Foundry District No. 10 and at Redding In-
stitute. Began business life at the age of sixteen with Sanford & White-
head, general merchants at Redding Ridge, and remained in their employ
Photo by H. J. Kcniicl.
RESIDENCE OF GOYN ADDISON TALMAGE.
Glen Neisrhborliood.
Photo b\ I'roJ. John //. Sit'>itc\ey
LIVING ROOM-NORTH SIUE.
Showing chimney one hundred and fifty years old.
Photo hy I'lof. John II. X/.-nicycr
LIVIXG ROOM — EAST SIl»lv
HISTORY OF REDDING.
1/7
for one and a half years, after which he was a school teacher for three
terms in Newtown, Conn., and his native town. Was graduated at
Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in February, 1879,
and remained on the farm teaching school until April, 1880, when he
broke the home ties, so strong in all rural New England communities,
and started west. Until August, 1881, he wandered through the states
of Michigan, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, and Iowa, without becoming
permanently settled. Having satisfied his Yankee curiosity in Jooking
over the Great West, and his small capital run down to a single fifty-cent
piece and fifteen hundred miles from home, on August 8th, 1881, he
secured employment as station clerk on the Burlington Railroad at Pacif-
ic Junction, twenty miles south of Council Blufifs, Iowa, their key to the
great Trans-Missouri Territory, then at the high tide of its immigration.
The bridge between Pacific Junction, Iowa, and Plattsmouth, Nebr., was
the only one at that time across the Missouri River north of Kansas
City, except the Union Pacific Bridge between Council Bluffs and Omaha.
At this place he remained until October, 1888, having succeeded in mak-
ing himself a pretty good railroad man, it is to be presumed, as he was
soon rewarded with promotion.
In October, 1888, he was offered the Superintendency of the Des
Moines & Kansas City Railroad at Des Moines, Iowa, which he accepted
and held until January, 1896, when being offered the position of Assist-
ant Gen'l Manager of the Kansas City, Pittsburg and Gulf R. R. (now
the K. C. S.), then under construction from Kansas City, Mo., to Sabine
Pass, Texas, on the Gulf of Mexico, he accepted and held the position
until April, 1897, when he was made General Manager in charge of con-
struction of its allied lines north of Kansas City. January ist, 1898, af-
ter nearly seventeen years of pretty constant and strenuous railroading,
Mr. Sherwood concluded "to go off the track," as he expressed it, and
resigned his position to go into business for himself, which he did, asso-
ciating himself with two others in a partnership for the purpose of whole-
sale dealing in lumber under the name of the Crescent Lumber Com-
pany. Starting it new, the three have succeeded in building up a large
and prosperous business.
Mr. Sherwood was married, October 23rd, 1894, at Eddyville, Iowa,
to Miss Mary W^illiams, still living. They have two sons, Theodore, Jr.,
born May 15th, 1896, and John, born February 8th, 1898.
In a letter to the author Mr. Sherwood adds :
"As to my success, I feel I have succeeded, although in these days
what constitutes success is a much mooted question — money being the
standard largely used. If success is having a happy family and being
happy with them, succeeding in accomplishing the things that one starts
out to do at various times in life, being in a position to educate one's
1^8 HISTORY OF REDDING.
children, living without the pinch for necessities staring one in the face,
having a comfortable home with good health and in good fellowship
with all the world, is success, I am pleased to say I have been a success.
New England people transplanted do well most anywhere, if trans-
planting is not done too late or too early. There is to my mind a right
time, 1 8 to 25 years of age being best. But any New England young
man who has but little money, no acquaintance and no influence, who
starts out 1,500 miles from home, or contemplates doing so, should make
up his mind that he has a man's work before him, and work that de-
mands about sixteen hours per day of constant attention. The idea of
a good time laid aside for quite a season, temperate in his habits and his
word to be depended upon absolutely at all times. In my struggle,
many a time the panorama of the rocky hillsides of old Redding appeared
to me in my homesickness, and during such times those old hillsides look-
ed pretty good to me. But the old Puritan idea of having started out
once to do what you believed right and not quit until it was accomplish-
ed, sustained me, and I persevered. And while I shall always think of
and keep in mind my birthplace, I must confess that I am glad I trans-
planted myself when I did."
DUDLEY SANFORD GREGORY.
Dudley Sanford Gregory, Mayor of Jersey City, N. J., and quite
prominent in the affairs of that city for many years, was a native of Red-
ding, a descendant of the Sanford and other prominent families.
Attorney General Bates of Missouri, was of Redding ancestry.
In the several professions Redding has been well represented. Dr.
Asahel Fitch, the first physician who settled in the town, is remembered
in Fairfield County as a worthy man, and one of its most respectable
practitioners of medicine. He was among the principal pioneers in the
formation of the County Society, but died soon after its organization.
His death occurred in 1792, or about that period. I understand that he
was the grandfather of Professor Knight, of Yale College.
Among the physicians of Fairfield County who enjoyed a long and
successful practice was Dr. Thomas Davies, of Redding. He removed
to Redding in 1793, on the decease of Dr. Fitch, and there continued in
the duties of his profession until his death, which occurred in 1831. Dr.
Davies possessed the reputation of being among the first of the physi-
cians of the county who assumed regularly obstetrical duties, and so
successful were his labors, that he became particularly eminent in that
department.
The doctor was once summoned as an important witness to appear
before the Court in Fairfield, and not appearing, the sheriff was sent to
I
HISTORY OF REDDING.
179
compel his attendance. Being absent, and learning on his return that
the officer was awaiting at a pubHc-house in the vicinity, he without no-
tice to the official rode to Fairfield, and appeared before the Court. On
the question occurring with the Court regarding the costs attending the
capias, he requested one or two of his legal friends to excuse the delin-
quency. The judge decided, notwithstanding, that the law must be ob-
served and that the doctor must bear the expenses. Dr. D. then request-
ed a hearing in his own behalf, which being granted, remarked: "May
it please the Court : I am a good citizen of the State, and since I was sum-
moned to attend this Court I have introduced three other good citizens
into it." * The Court replied, that for so good a plea, he would leave the
parties to pay the expenses.
Bishop Thomas F. Davies was the only male descendant of Dr.
Davies.
Among the later practitioners of the town. Dr. Charles Gorham was
very widely known and respected. He was the son of Meeker Gorham
and Elizabeth Hubbell, of Greenfield Hill, in the town of Fairfield. He
began the study of medicine with Dr. Jehiel Williams, of New Milford,
and afterward pursued his studies at the College of Physicians and Sur-
geons in New York. He settled in Redding in 1816, at the age of twen-
ty-one years, and practised as a physician and surgeon in Fairfield Coun-
ty forty-two years. He married Mary, daughter of William King Com-
stock, of Danbury. Dr. Gorham is described as a man of more than
ordinary strength of character, with a well-balanced mind and sound
judgment. He was fond of scientific investigations, and was remarkable
for close observation and power of analysis. He died at his residence
in Redding Centre, September 15th, 1859.
Dr. Moses Wakeman succeeded Dr. Gorham, and until his death, Jan-
uary 6, 1892, enjoyed an extensive and lucrative practice. He was born
in Fairfield, November, 1829. Studied medicine with his uncle, Dr. Na-
thaniel Wheeler, of Paterson, N. Y., for three years, during which period
"he attended two full courses of lectures at the New Haven Medical Col-
lege, from which institution he received the degree of M. D. After
practicing four years in Putnam County, N. Y., on invitation of Dr.
Charles Gorham, Dr. Wakeman, in 1858, formed a partnership with him
which continued until the latter's death in 1859. On May 31, 1864, Dr.
Wakeman was married to Harriet White, daughter of Samuel and Mary
(Sanford) Collins of Redding. Their children were, Mary Collins,
Henry W. (deceased), and Harriet Wheeler. Mary Collins married Dr.
Ernest H. Smith, April 9, 1890. They have two boys, Herman White
and Homer Morgan.
*FroTn an Address before the Connecticut Medical Convention, in 1853, by
Rufus Blakeman, M. D.
I ^,o HISTORY OF REDDING.
Dr. Ernest H. Smith was born in 1863; prepared for college at the
Boston Latin School; graduated at Amherst College, 1885, and at the
College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in 1889. Saw six
months service in the Emigrant Hospital on Ward's Island, and in 1890
settled in Redding, where he has since remained in the practice of his
profession.
Among the later practitioners of the town Dr. Annie M. Read, now
retired, enjoyed an extensive practice in this and adjoining towns. She
graduated from the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in 1865, from the
Woman's Aledical College of the New York Infirmary in 1877, and after
six months hospital practice began a general medical practice in Redding,
from which she retired in 1904.
Among clergymen may be enumerated the following : Rev. Justus
Hull, Rev. Lemuel Hull, Bishop Thomas F. Davies ; Rev. William T.
Hill, former Presiding Elder of New Haven District; Rev. Aaron K.
Sanford, at one time Presiding Elder of Poughkeepsie District, New
York Conference; Rev. Aaron S. Hill, Rev. Morris Hill, Rev. Moses
Hill, Rev. Hawley Sanford, Rev. Aaron Sanford, Rev. Morris Sanford,
Rev. A. B. Sanford, Rev. Piatt Treadwell, Rev. Albert Miller, Rev.
Leroy Stowe, and Rev. Joseph Hill. Several of these have attained
eminence in their chosen profession. The Rev. Arthur B. Sanford, after
fitting for college at Reading Institute, graduated from Wesleyan Uni-
versity and entered the Methodist ministry. After filling important ap-
pointments, he was, in 1890, chosen assistant editor of the Methodist Re-
vieiv, filling the chair acceptably until 1900, when he again entered the
pastorate. He has been Secretary of the New York East Conference
for many years, and has served on important boards and committees,
(For sketch, see Sanford Family, Chapter XXIV.)
The Rev. William T. Hill has been in the New York East Confer-
ence for fifty-one years, and still preaches occasionally. He has held
many important appointments and from 1876 to 1879 was Presiding
Elder of the New Haven District, and from 1880 to 1883 of the New
York East District. He was pastor in Redding in 1884.
The Rev. Albert Miller, D. D., graduated from the University of
Michigan at Ann Arbor, with the degree of A. M., and later received
the degree of D. D. from Illinois Wesleyan University. He has had
several offers at various times to enter the educational field, but remained
in the Methodist ministry, choosing Iowa for his field of labor, until last
year, when he accepted the appointment of agent for Cornell College in
California. He has been Presiding Elder and has filled other important
appointments on Conference boards and committees, and in the pastorate.
The Rev. Arthur J. Smith, the popular pastor of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church in Danbury, spent a portion of his boyhood in Redding,
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HISTORY OF REDDING. igl
his father, the Rev. Joseph Smith, having been pastor here for three
years from 1874. Rev. Arthur Smith graduated from Wesleyan Aca-
demy, Mass., in the business course, in 1874; from Hackettstown, N. J.,
in 1882, in the coUege preparatory course, and from Drew Theological
Seminary in 1885. In 1906 i'rovidence University, Ohio, conferred the
degree of D. D. Since joining the ministry in 1885 he has held some of
the most important pastorates in the gift of his Conference.
The following State Senators have been natives or citizens of Red-
ding: Thomas B. Fanton, elected in 1841 ; Lemuel Sanford, 1847; Cor-
tez Merchant, 1855; Francis A. Sanford, 1865; James Sanford, 1870;
Jonathan R. Sanford, 1877 ; Isaac N. Bartram, 1890.
Thomas Sanford, former High Sheriff of the county, and at one time
nominee of the Democratic party for Comptroller of the State ; Henry
Sanford, formerly president of Adams Express Company, and Aaron
Sanford, of Newtown, formerly High Sheriff of Fairfield Counly, were
natives of Reddinef.
CHAPTER XX.
The Summer Colony.
Who among city residents was the lirst to discover the beauties of
Redding and build a summer house here is an interesting question. The
distinction, no doubt, belongs to Frederick Driggs of New York, who,
in 1900, bought a tract of land in the Foundry District and built in the
greenwood near the banks of the Aspetuck a hunting lodge of logs hewn
from the neighboring forest. Mr. and Mrs. Driggs are fond of hunting
and fishing and what time he can snatch from business is spent largely
in this unique forest home. J. W. Teets, of New York, came next, buy-
ing, in 1901, of Mrs. Edward P. Shaw, a lot south of her house, and
erecting thereon a pretty colonial dwelling after plans by Ralph S. Town-
send, a New York architect. Soon after, Frank Dunell, of New York,
bought the Henry Whitehead place on Redding Ridge, and has improved
and remodeled it, making of it an attractive country seat. Mr. Dunell
is an enthusiast in photography and has a fine collection of photographs
of Redding landscapes taken by himself.
The following is believed to be a complete list of summer resi-
dents, in addition to those named above, now (August, 1906) in
Redding, given, not in the order of their coming, but according to
locality: Noble Hoggson. of New York, in the old Hull Bradley
place, east of the Ridge, one of the stately old homes of Redding,
1 82 HISTORY OF REDDING.
which he has greatly beautified and improved. The interior decora-
tions of this house are exceptionally rich and elegant. A short
distance east John Stetson of New York, bought the Hiram Jennings
place, built, it is said, by Lazarus Beach, son of the Rev. John Beach,*
and is making it into a beautiful country home. Last year Daniel San-
ford bought the Thomas Ryan house and farm, formerly Deacon Lemuel
Hawley's, and is making extensive improvements therein. A wing is
being added on each end, and the interior is being remodeled and fitted
with sanitary plumbing and all modern improvements. When fitted it
will be used as a school room and dormitory in winter, and as the Ridge
Inn in summer. On Couch's Hill, a mile north of the Ridge, Lester O.
Peck bought the large Simon Couch farm and built on it a handsome
cottage in colonial style, from plans by a New York architect. Mr.
Peck has since bought the farms adjoining him of Ralph Mead and J.
W. Sanford, and is one of the largest owners of real estate in Redding.
On the lower slope of Redding Ridge, Jeanette Gilder, editor of the
Critic, bought the old Floyd Tucker place and does much of her literary
work there. On the west side in Sanfordtown, Jesse B. Cornwall of
Bridgeport, bought a tract south of George Sanford's and built on the
crest of the hill an elegant stone cottage in extensive grounds.
The Beers farm, diagonally across the road from George Sanford's
has recently been sold to Francis Forman Sherman. Goyn A. Talmage
bought the old Hezekiah Hull farm, near the former Hull district school
house, and retaining the old stone chimney built around it a pretty sum-
mer cottage, preserving the ancient colonial style, and the huge fire-
place in which an ox might be roasted w^hole. On the same road a
short distance west toward the Glen, Francis V. Warner, editor of Pear-
son's Magazine, has bought the old Andrew's place and will have it re-
built for a summer home. In the Glen, Henry M. Dater, of the New
York Bar, built and has occupied for several seasons a log cabin some-
thing like that of his friend, Frederick Driggs, in the Aspetuck Valley.
Farther up the Saugatuck Valley, Albert Bigelow Paine, the well known
author, bought and remodeled the old Bouton place. Diagonally across
from him, a few hundred yards away, stands the old John Davis home-
stead, later occupied by Noah Sherwood, which, with the farm of about
one hundred acres connected with it, was bought in 1906 by Samuel L.
Clemens (Mark Twain). Later Mr. Clemens bought nearly a hundred
acres of fine old forest on the south, bringing his estate to the pictur-
esque banks of the Saugatuck River, and will erect on the hill above it
a costly stone villa of the Italian order of architecture, and which will
be fitted for a winter as well as summer residence.
* This distinction is also claimed for the Hull-Bradley ^)lace.
u^
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Q
Pi
o
u
* HISTORY OF REDDING. 1 83
On Umpawaug Hill, in West Redding, several homes and farms have
recently been sold to New York parties for summer residences. Prof.
, Lucius M. Underwood, of Columbia College, has transformed the Eph-
raim Barlow homestead into a pretty summer cottage, as has his neigh-
bor, Frank F. Ewing of New York, the old Stephen Rider place on the
south. G. E. Clapp of New York, in the Helen Merchant place, John
Doig of New York, in the old Benedict homestead, and Charles Moore
of New York, in the Irad Carter place, are other new comers in this
section, which is growing rapidly.
In the Center, William S. Hill of New York, recently bought of Mrs.
Harriet Wakeman the lot between Dr. Smith's and the Methodist par-
sonage and will build soon a handsome cottage thereon. Howard Am-
ory of New York, has recently bought of Joseph Squires some twenty
acres adjoining Miss Burgess on the north, and will build thereon soon it
is said. Mrs. Janet O. Thompson has also bought of Joseph Squires the
corner lot, store and house, for many years occupied by David Johnson
for store, post offiice and dwelling house.
Henry Ruff, who in 1905 purchased the old Squires homestead in the
Center, sold it to Charles Singer of New York at double the original
cost.
Half a mile north of the Center, Edward Deacon of Bridgeport, has
bought three farms, those of the late Walter Edmonds, Jesse Sherwood^
and Isaac Piatt adjoining, and is making extensive improvements in the
first named with a view, it is said, of becoming a permanent resident.
The lofty ridges in Loantown, in the northern part of the town, af-
fording some of the finest views in the world, still remain largely in the
hands of the original owners, who have not placed them on the market.
One of the most attractive of these, the Aaron M. Read place, was sold
in 1905 to Abraham G. Barnett, a wealthy manufacturer of Pittsburg,
Penn., who, it is said, will shortly become a resident.
Early in 1906, Miss Mary A. Rushton, of New York, opened in the
house formerly owned by Prof. Shaw on Redding Ridge, the Ridge Inn,
which proved so attractive to the best people that it is to be kept open as
a winter resort as well.
CHAPTER XXI.
The Literary Colony.
For several years past American authors have showed a predilection
for Redding, the movement culminating perhaps with Mr. Clemens'
choice of it as the home of his declining years ; so that it may with truth
1^^. HISTORY OF REDDING.
be said that Redding has a Hterary colony. Brief sketches of its mem-
bers can but be of interest to the pubhc.
Samuel L. Clemens was born in Florida, Mo., Nov. 30, 1835 ; appren-
ticed to the printer's trade; was a Mississippi pilot for a short time; be-
came city editor of the Virginia City (Mo.) Enterprise. Alternated be-
tween mining and newspaper work until becoming noted as a humorist
he began lecturing and writing books. His works are: The Jumping
Frog, 1867; The Innocents Abroad, 1869; Autobiography and First
Romance, 1871 ; The Gilded Age, 1873, (with the late C. D. Warner) ;
Roughing It, 1872; Sketches, New and Old, 1873; Adventures of Tom
Sawyer, 1876; Punch, Brothers, Punch, 1878; A Tramp Abroad, 1880;
The Prince and the Pauper, 1880; The Stolen White Elephant, 1882;
Life on the Mississippi, 1883; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,
1885; A Yankee at the Court of King James, 1889; The American
Claimant, 1892; Merry Tales, 1892; The £1,000,000 Bank Note, 1892;
Puddinhead Wilson, 1894; Tom Sawyer Abroad, 1894; Joan of Arc,
1896; Following the Equator, 1898; The Man that Corrupted Hadley-
burg, 1900; A Double-Barrelled Detective Story, 1902; Christian
Science, 1903.
Richard Watson Gilder, born in Bordentown, N. J., Feb. 8, 1844.
Educated at St. Thomas Hall, Flushing, a seminary established by his
father. Was a private in Landis' Philadelphia Battery in the Emergency
Campaign in Pennsylvania in 1863 ; then in the railroad service for two
years. Entered newspaper work as managing editor of the Newark
(N. J.) Advertiser, and later with Newton Crane founded the Newark
Register. Later edited Hours at Home, a New York Monthly, was
managing editor, Scribner's Magazine, 1870, and editor-in-chief since
1881, under its present name of the Century. Mr. Gilder's books
(poems) are, The New Day, 1875-6; Five Books of Song, 1894; In
Palestine, 1898; Poems and Inscriptions, 1901. Mr. Gilder spent a year
in Redding in his youthful days, his father, the Rev. William H. Gilder,
having been pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church here, and is still
a frequent visitor. "The most vivid memories I have of Redding," he
said in a chat with the writer recently, "are of going over to meet my
old French tutor who came from Danbury to give me a lesson every day,
of walking back with him, and of the chats by the way."
Jeanette Leonard Gilder, born at St. Thomas Hall, Flushing, N. Y.,
Oct. 3, 1844. When eighteen years of age became a writer on the New-
wark (N. J.) Morning Register, and Newark reporter for the New York
Tribune. Later she was associated with her brother, Richard Watson
Gilder, in the editorial department of Scribner's monthly (now the Cen-
tury Magazine). From 1875 to 1880 she was literary editor, and later
musical and dramatic editor of the New York Herald. In January, 1881,
Photo by C. B. Todd.
Old Davis-Sherwood Homestead, recently bought by Mark Twain. Mr.
Clemens' estate extends nearly half a mile south of this and at the extreme
southerly portion he will l)uilt a villa of the Italian order of architecture,
fitted for both summer ami winter residence.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 1 85
she, with her younger brother, Joseph B. Gilder, started the Critic Maga-
zine, which she still edits. Over the pen name "Brunswick" she was for
eighteen years New York correspondent of the Boston Saturday Even-
ing Gazette and Boston Evening Transcript. She is the author of Tak-
en by Siege, 1886-1896, and The Autobiography of A Tom-Boy, 1900,
(some of the scenes of the latter were taken from her experiences in
Redding), and editor of many other works. Miss Gilder owns a pretty
cottage on Redding Ridge, and most of her vacation hours are spent in
the old town where she lived as a child.
Joseph B. Gilder, born in Flushing, N. Y., June 29, 1858, entered the
United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., 1872; resigned in 1874.
Was a reporter in Newark, N. J., 1874-7, reporter and assistant city edi-
tor N. Y. Herald, 1870- 1880. In 1881, with his sister, started the Critic
Magazine, of which he was co-editor for twenty-one years. From 1893
to 1901 he was president of the Critic Company. Mr. Gilder has written
much in prose and verse for the magazines, and has edited many im-
portant works. As soon as a suitable site in Redding can be secured,
it is said Mr. Gilder will erect a cottage thereon.
Albert Bigelow Paine, assistant editor St. Nicholas magazine since
June, 1899, was born in New Bedford, Mass., July 10, 1861, began his
literary career by contributing to magazines. He is the author of
;"Rhymes by Two Friends" (with William Allen White), 1893; "The
Mystery of Eveline Delorme," 1894; "Gobolinks" (with Ruth McEnery
Stuart), 1896: "The Dumpies," 1897; "The Autobiography of a Mon-
key," 1897; "The Hollow Tree," 1898; "The Arkansaw Bear," 1898:
"The Deep Woods," 1899; "The Beacon Prize Medals," 1899; "The
Bread Line," 1900; "The Little Lady, The Book," 1901 ; "The Vrm
Dwellers," 1901 ; "The Great White Way," 190 1 ; and a biography of the
late Thomas Nast.
Ida M. Tarbell may be said to belong to the Redding Colony, al-
though the fine old farm house she recently purchased for a summer home
is in Easton, a few yards from the Redding line. She was born in Erie
County, Penn., Nov. 5, 1857, graduated from Titusville High School,
and Alleghany College at Meadville, Penn. ; was associate editor of the
Chautauquan, 1883-91. Studied in Paris at the Sorbonne and College
of France, 1891-4. From 1894 to 1906 editor on the staff of McClure's
Magazine. In 1906, with other editors, resigned from McClure's and
purchased the American Magazine. She is author of "A Short Life of
Napoleon Bonaparte," 1895; "Life of Madame Roland," 1896; "Early
Life of Abraham Lincoln," 1896 (with J. McCann Davis) ; "Life of
Abraham Lincoln," 1900; "A History of the Standard Oil Company,"
and of many magazine articles on history and current subjects.
1 86 HISTORY OF REDDING.
John Ward Stimson, artist, author and lecturer, has resided for two
years past in the old historic Dr. Gorham, house near the Center. Was
born in Paterson, N. J., Dec. i6, 1850; graduated at Yale, 1872, and at
the Ecole des Beaux Ars, Paris. Became lecturer and teacher of Art at
Princeton University ; later for four years was director of the Art Schools
of the Metropolitan Museum, New York. In 1888 he founded the
Artist-Artisan Institute of New York. Later was director of the Art
and Science Institution of Trenton, N. J. Has been for some time As-
sociate editor of the Arena, author of "The Law of Three Primaries,"
"Principles of Vital Art Education," "The Gate Beautiful," "Wander-
ing Chords," and of many poems and articles in leading magazines and
newspapers.
Prof. Frank F. Abbott, of Chicago University (see sketch in Chapter
XIX), has a summer residence in Redding, the old home of his father,
Deacon Thaddeus M. Abbott, at the Center.
Dora Read Goodale, widely known for her three books of poems
(with her sister Elaine, now Mrs. Eastman), "Apple Blossoms," 1878;
"In Berkshire with the Wild Flowers," 1879, and "All Round the Year,"
1880, resides with her mother in the former home of Walter Sanford in
the Center. Her mother, Mrs. Dora Read Goodale, is a frequent con-
tributor to the press.
Prof. Lucien M. LInderwood, Professor of Botany in Columbia Uni-
versity since 1896, was born in New Woodstock, N. Y., Oct. 26, 1863.
Graduated, Syracuse University, 1877. Is author of "Descriptive Cata-
logue of North American Hepaticae," 1844; "Moulds, Mildews and
Mushrooms," 1899; "Our Native Ferns and their Allies," 1900; "Our
Native Ferns and how to Study Them," 1901.
Mrs. Kate V. Saint Maur has occupied for several seasons the old
Grumman place on the West Side. Mrs. Saint Maur is the author of a
book, "A Self-Supporting Home," which has attracted much attention.
Miss Frances V. Warner, who has recently become a property owner
in Redding, is by birth a Philadelphiaii, of Quaker ancestry, the first
Philadelphia Warner having arrived there before William Penn him-
self,— before there was a named settlement there even. She has written
a great deal for the magazines, but as Associate Editor of Pearson's
Magazine is far too busy with other people's writing to attempt any books
of her own.
William E. Grumman, a native and resident of Redding, in his first
book, "Revolutionary Soldiers of Redding, Conn." has shown skill in
research and fine literary ability, and will, no doubt, in the future, be-
come well known in his chosen field.
TROF. DAXIEL SAXFORIV
HISTORY OF REDDING. 1 8/
CHAPTER XXll.
The Redding Institute, Re-organized 1 905 as the Sanford School.
One of the youngest and most important institutions of Redding is
the Sanford School, a re-incarnation on broader and more modern lines
of the old Redding Institute, which many of our citizens as well as scores
of gray-haired graduates in every state and clime will remember.
This school was founded in the Fall of 1847, by Daniel Sanford, M.
A., who, after securing a thorough education at Wesleyan University
and spending several years as a teacher in White Plains, N. Y., returned
to Redding, built a large and well appointed school house adjoining his
dwelling on Redding Ridge, and opened a boarding and day school for
boys. Mr. Sanford was a man of force and character, and because of
this and of his influential family connections, his school soon attained a
national reputation, his forms being filled with boys from the first fami-
lies of New York, Brooklyn, and the Southern states, with not a few
from foreign countries.
In 185 1 he secured the services of Edward P. Shaw, M. A., a gradu-
ate of Wesleyan University, who continued with him as teacher until
1867, when Mr. Sanford retired, and Mr. Shaw became principal and
conducted the school successfully until 1873, when a family bereavement
joined to advancing years, led him to discontinue it, although he con-
tinued a resident of Redding until his death in 1904.
A few years before his death the present writer called upon his old
preceptor and in the course of conversation remarked on the number
of notable men who had received their education in whole or in part at
his school.
"Yes," said he, "our boys have done pretty well. There is C. B.
Thomas, at one time Governor of Colorado, and the silver-tongued ora-
tor who put Bryan in nomination for the Presidency. The Rev. Charles
E. Briggs of 'Higher Criticism' fame, was another of our scholai^s. The
Rev. Arthur B. Sanford, prominent clergyman, and for some years as-
sistant editor of the Methodist Revieiv; Prof. Daniel Sanford, of the
BrookHne, Mass., High School, a leading educator; Prof. Myron R. San-
ford, of Middlebury College, Vermont, author and lecturer; Marshall
S. Driggs, President of the Williamsburgh Fire Insurance Company, and
connected with many other great corporations of the Metropolis ; Fred-
erick Benedict, of the well known jewelry firm of Benedict Brothers, on
lower Broadway; Alfred Cammeyer, the great shoe merchant of New
York ; Theodore Sherwood, who has been superintendent and general
manager of several of the great western trunk lines, with scores of sue-
J 88 HISTORY OF REDDING.
cessful clergymen, teachers, doctors, lawyers, journalists, and business
men, were among our graduates."
"What a pity that we couldn't have an *old home day' and get the
boys together again," we remarked.
"I would welcome it," replied the old instructor.
He is dead now and it occurred to the writer while this chapter was
yet in embryo that a symposium of the old boys in lieu of it would be
interesting; forthwith he broached the subject to several of the more
prominent.
The Rev. Charles E. Briggs replied, excusing himself because of
press of literary work in addition to his lectures, and adding: "I would
be glad to honor my old teacher, Mr. Shaw, but I cannot at present. I
have stowed away some copies of the magazine the Institute used to pub-
lish, with some of my articles, which would doubtless give a good basis
for a paper if I had time."
Ex-Governor Thomas' reply was in the foim of certain recollections
making in the concrete a literary gem :
"Though my parents were natives of Connecticut I was born and
reared in Georgia. I was there through the war and as a lad was obliged
to assume as well as I could the supervision of my mother's plantation,
as all the men were at the front. Hence I had little time for school
had it been available. So when the war ended my mother took me, at
the age of fifteen, to her old home in Bridgeport, and in August follow-
ing sent me to the Sanford School. I was a lank, freckled-faced country
boy, fresh from the distant South, and painfully conscious of my awkward
and uncouth appearance. The war had left us but little, so that my
schooling was a heavy burden to my mother and I was clad in a suit of
clothes constructed from a couple of second-hand rebel uniforms, rein-
forced by a Yankee hat and pair of shoes. The stage ride from Bridge-
port to Redding Ridge was one of the ordeals of my life. I was then a
rebel to the core and fully alive to the fact that I was 'in the enemy's
country.' I had bidden mother good bye and was going I knew not
whither. Homesickness is a mild term to apply to my condition. I
shrank from the end of the journey. I wanted to die, knowing well that
I would not. So I sat by the driver, steeling myself to approaching fate
and wishing I were far away in Dixie. I knew that boys were no hypo-
crites and that my presence at school would subject me to persecutions,
due as well to my appearance as to my origin.
"It was dark when the stage halted before the Sanford mansion. As '
I alighted, Mr. Sanford met me at the gate, took me to his wife and
asked her to make me comfortable. She tried her best, poor lady, to do
so, but I was past all comforting. She gave me supper at her own table,
then took me at once to my room, and thus postponed the fateful hour
HISTORY OF REDDING. I Sq
when I should encounter the boys. That ordeal came with the mornmg,
and it lasted for a fortnight with many variations. I was called 'Johnny'
because I was a rebel, and 'shorty' because I was tall, and 'dandy' be-
cause of my clothes. All the victories of Grant and Sherman were
thrown at me. At the same time I was held responsible for the horrors
of Andersonville. Treason and disloyalty were my conspicuous crimes.
It was broadly asserted that I was privy to the assassination of Lincoln,
and one particularly devilish youngster asserted a close resemblance be-
tween my own and the features of 'Jeff' Davis. So 'Jeff' was added to
my list of names.
"I endured what I could not avoid till patience was exhausted. I
couldn't run away, for I had no place to run to. I begged my mother to
take me away. Finally, I had a fight, and that helped a little. Then, a
boy named Ridemour gave me a little consideration and with a grateful
heart I strove to make myself companionable by relating some of my
war experiences. Unconsciously I thus furnished a welcome remedy for
my ills. He repeated some of my stories, so that curiosity usurped the
place of malice, and I was patronized that I might tell others. So on
Saturdays my room was filled with boys listening to anecdotes of the
war from a boy who spoke from personal experiences. Before I knew
it I was popular. My wickedness was discarded and my clothes were
historic. They warmed to me in regular boy fashion, and of course I
responded, and oh, the stories I told. From fact I rapidly descended to
fancy. My romances were as extravagant as an immature imagination
could make them; but, as long as they met the demand, I was happy.
Don't you think they will be overlooked, under the circumstances, by the
recording angel?
"Messrs. Sanford and Shaw were excellent teachers and thoroughly
understood boy nature. Teaching in those days was old-fashioned and
thorough. Messrs Shaw and Sanford vigorously insisted on the learn-
ing of lessons and the observance of rules. When a boy became derelict,
Mr. Sanford did the 'licking,' so he was the one the boys looked out for.
Mr. Shaw never struck a scholar. But Mr. Sanford's punishments,
though frequent, seemed mild to me. The first time I ever saw him
punish a scholar my amusement was audible for he struck him a solitary
blow. Where I came from the teacher would drag a delinquent from
his seat by the collar and trounce him with a hickor}' switch for three or
four minutes until he cried with pain and promised 'to be good.'
"My life has been an active one, and if I have been in a measure suc-
cessful, it is in large measure due to the good principles and strict dis-
cipline I had from the Sanford School."
A well known business man of New York City, whom the writer met
personally, gave some recollections worthy of being preserved.
IQO
HISTORY OF REDDING.
"My wife would not believe that I ever attended a select school, so I
told her the first day I could get away from business I would take her
up to Redding and show her the old school-house and the old teacher. It
chanced that Labor Day came on Saturday that year, so we started, go-
ing to Ridgefield, as we understood there was then no inn in Redding.
Next morning I went out to negotiate with the Ridgefield livery man i
for a horse and buggy to Redding.
"I began by asking how far it was to Redding. He was a David 1
Harum sort of man and spoke with a drawl. 'Wal, mister, its eight :
miles as the crow flies, but its twelve the way you've got to go, first tip
nigh to Heaven an then descendin' into the pit.' 'But I've got jest
the boss for ye,' he added, brightening ; 'he's a climber.'
"'What'? said I.
" 'A climber — built specially for climbin' hills — fore legs shorter than
hind ones — kinder fore-shortened as these painter fellers say. You see,
he was foaled and raised on a hill-side and grew that way.'
" 'But don't it interfere with his gait on level ground' ?
" 'Mister,' said he, 'ther ain't any level ground in these parts.'
"It was pretty hilly. You know all about it so I won't enlarge. Down
into one deep valley, up the opposing wall ; down into another still deep-
er and into a wild, remote, savage glen, with only room for road and
river between huge frowning cliffs.
"My wife began to get frightened and wanted to know where I was
taking her ; but we soon came out into meadows, then around by a grave-
yard, and began climbing the last hill into Redding Center. Here I be-
gan to recognize landmarks. 'Glory,' said I, 'there's the same old church
where the whole school used to go and sit in the gallery, with Mr. Shaw
at the head of the class to preserve order.' After sitting and looking at
it a while, we set out for Redding Ridge by the same old road I had
traveled a thousand times going to and from church, but when we came
up on Redding Ridge everything seemed changed. The old Sanford
house and store on the corner was gone, new villas and cottages had
risen as by magic. But the old Episcopal Church still stood, 'Thank
the Lord,' said I, 'there's something left.' The Heron place was gone,
but the Sanford house was there, only the old school house with dormi-
tory above where the boys slept, and where we got a good trouncing one
summer night from Mr. Sanford as we stole in. one by one, after raiding
a green corn patch, had been torn down.
"We pulled up at Mr. Shaw's and the old man came out.
" 'Well,' said I, 'It's the same old boy and the same old teacher.'
"He looked at me a while. 'Biess my soul,' said he at last, 'Why,
it's B .'
HISTORY OF REDDING. I9I
"It had been thirty-five years since I had seen him, and I was gray-
haired. Would you have thought he would have known me?
"Going up to see Cammeyer? Just ask him if he remembers how he
licked me out under the horse sheds one night after singing school" ?
A big, genial man sat in a small office in the rear of his immense store
on Broadway and received his interviewer with favor on his mentioning
the Sanford school.
"I_ was a pretty bad boy, I guess," he remarked, "and was always
getting into trouble of various sorts. The one I remember best occurred
at church on a hot July day. The boys always sat in the gallery with
Mr. Shaw at the head next the gallery stairs to keep them in proper
frame of mind; but that day Jove nodded and another boy and I stole
out and turned loose all the worshippers' horses that were hitched along
the fence opposite the green, then crept back without being missed.
"When church was out and the people went to get their horses, they
were missing, and there was great mystification. We were found out
though, — some of the neighbors saw us, — and got a good licking, as we
deserved.
"I remember still more vividly going home one winter for the Christ-
mas holidays. It was the Saturday before Christmas, and bitterly cold.
The only way was by stage to Norwalk and then by boat to New York.
A real old-fashioned blizzard was raging, but I was going home for
Christmas and nothing could have stopped me. Good Mrs. Shaw bun-
dled me up and gave me a hot brick for my feet. The driver was a great
Methodist and sang hymns all the way. Every little while he would look
back to see if I was alive, and I guess I would have frozen if I had not
been going home."
A copy of the school magazine to which Dr. Briggs refers, is in pos-
session of Samuel Shaw, Esq., of Bridgeport, and is interesting for its
historical essays and grave metaphysical disquisitions, showing the reach-
ing out for excellence of budding genius.
A copy of the school catalogue for 1859-60 is owned by Prof. Sanford
and is before us as we write. The pupils that year numbered thirty-six.
The instructors were: Daniel Sanford, A. M., Principal and teacher of
Mathematics ; Edward Shaw, A. M., teacher of Ancient Languages and
Literature ; Mrs. Helen E. Sanford, teacher of Instrumental Music. The
course of study embraced Orthography, Reading, English Grammar,
Rhetoric, Composition, Declamation, Geography, Penmanship, Astron-
omy, History, Bookkeeping, Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, Trigonome-
try, Surveying, Navigation, Moral and Intellectual Philosophy, the Na-
tural Sciences, Latin and Greek Language, French Language. Drawing,
Vocal and Instrumental Music.
192 HISTORY OF REDDING.
"It is our great aim/' says the catalogue, "to be thorough, and the
prevalent method of cramming too many studies at once is repudiated.
We aim likewise to inculcate moral and religious principles, and besides
developing the mind of the boy, endeavor to give it the impress of high
and manly character. While we claim no originality in our method of
government, we have been eminently successful in placing the restraint
of kindness and good will upon those committed to our charge, and have
striven to supply the kindly and sacred influences of home."
The expenses per term of five months, including board, tuition and
incidentals, were ninety dollars, with five dollars additional for French,
Latin, and Greek, and twenty for the use of the piano.
There is a page of "Rules," which are interesting as showing the
school discipline of that day :
"ist. Every member of the school is required to attend morning and
evening prayers.
"2d. All loud and unnecessary noise in and around the building is
at all times forbidden.
"3d. No boy will be permitted to leave the bounds without permission
from the principal, or go a swimming or skating unaccompanied by a
teacher.
"4th. The students are strictly forbidden to trespass on the grounds
of those residing in the vicinity, nor will they be permitted to meddle with
the fruit or injure the property in any way.
"5th. Profane and indecent language is strictly forbidden.
"6th. No fire-arms or deadly weapons of any kind will be allowed on
the premises.
"7th. No boy will be permitted to leave school without a line from
his parents or guardian.
"8th. The kitchen must not be entered by the scholars, except for
necessary business.
"9th. Students will be held responsible for all injury done to the
property of the principal, or of each other.
"loth. All lights in the rooms of the boys must be extinguished be-
fore 10 o'clock; and no loud noise or disorder of any kind will be allow-
ed in the sleeping rooms.
"nth. Every member of the school will be required to attend divine
service upon the Sabbath."
It is a matter for congratulation that this famous old school has been
revived, and by one so capable as the son of the original founder. Prof.
Daniel Sanford is an M. A. of Yale, and well known as one of the lead-
ing educators of the day. For seven years he was head master of the
High School at Stamford, Conn., and for fourteen years of the High
School of Brookline, Mass., the latter becoming, under him, one of the
HISTORY OF REDDING.
193
model high schools of the country. He will, no doubt, add to the
efficiency and reputation of the school founded by his father.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Parish Register of the Congregational Church, Redding/
I
3
5
7
9
II
13
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
24
25
26
From Greenfield.
Original Members.
Mr. John Read and Sarah his wife, from Ridgefield.
Mrs. Ellen Williams (Thomas).
George Hull and wife.
Daniel Lyon and wife.
Stephen Burr and Elizabeth his wife.
Theophilus Hull and wife.
Peter Burr and Abagail his wife. |
Daniel Bradley and wife. j
Ebenezer Hull and wife. J
Esther Hambleton (Benjamin). Danbury.
John Griffin,
Isaac Hull.
Nathaniel Sanford. Newtown.
Thomas Fairchild. Trumbull.
Benjamin Lyon and wife (Esther?). Wilton.
Lemuel Sanford.
Mary Lyon (Richard). Fairfield.
Green's Farms.
II.
Marriages by the Rev. Nathaniel Hunn.
(/ Tvas married to Mrs. Ruth Read, Sept. 14, 1737.)
Bate. Man's Name. Woman's Name.
Nov. 12, 1734. Georg3 Corns. Anna Hall.
Apr. 10. 1735. John Mallery. Elizabeth Adams.
Dec. 4, " James Bradley. Abigail Sanford.
May 7, 1736. Peter Burr. Rebecca Ward.
Aug. 25, " Samuel Smith. Lydia Hull.
♦Copied by C. B. T. Verified by L. S.
194
HISTORY OF REDDING.
2—28,
1737-
Peter Mallery.
Joanna Hall.
12 — 22,
"
Daniel Burr.
Abigail Sherwood.
7— 2,
1740.
Edward Slierman.
Rebecca Lee.
5— 9.
<>
Abraham Adams.
Elizabeth Williams.
Oct.
((
Benjamin Turney.
Eunice Lyon.
11—30,
1743-
Thomas Rowland.
Timzeen ( ?) Jaoock. M.
12 — 28,
i<
Matthew Rowler( Fowler?) Sarah Gray. |
2- 6,
1744-
Ebenezer Mallery.
Hannah Keyes (?).
7— 19»
«
Daniel Meeker,
Sarah Johnson.
10—29,
<<
Lemuel Wood.
Grissel Mallery.
10—31,
(<
David Meeker.
Hannah Hill.
8—20,
1745-
Benjamin Meeker.
Katherine Burr.
9— 4,
<<
John Heppin ( ?).
Mary Read.
12—24,
(<
Hezekiah Rowland.
Tamar Treadwell.
6—29,
1746.
William Truesdale.
Deliverance Jayoock. -"'^
9—19.
(<
Robert Meeker.
Rebecca Morehouse.
10—27,
<<
Seth Wheeler.
Ruth Knap.
12—18,
((
John Read, Jr.
Tabitha Haw'ley.
3— 5»
1747.
Nehemiah Sanford.
Elizabeth Morehouse.
3— 5.
((
Samuel Wood.
Mary Mallery.
9-i7>
<<
Samuel Coley.
Mary Gray.
10— 8,
<(
Nehemiah Smith,
Rebecca Meeker.
10—17,
<(
Jonas Piatt.
Elizabeth Sanford.
10— 9,
((
Gurdon Mardiant.
Eleanor Chauncey.
II— I,
1748.
Daniel Hull.
Mary Betts.
II— 15,
(<
Gershom Coley.
Abigail Hull.
11—30,
<.'
Daniel Mallery.
Sarah Lee.
I— 18,
1749.
Gershom Morehouse.
Anne Sanford.
^7.
<f
William Burret.
Elizabeth Burr.
By Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett.
{[was married to Eunice Russell, June ij, 17JJ.)
12— II, 1753.
3— 5. 1754-
4-16, "
5-28, "
5— 29» "
2—20, 1755.
6-29, "
lo- 2, "
11—22, 1755.
William Read.
Benjamin Hambleton.
Daniel Coley.
Nathaniel Hull.
Isaac Meeker,
Thomas Gold.
Daniel Dean.
Daniel Jackson.
John Burr, Jr.
Sarah Hawley.
Hannah Bulkley.
Sarah Sanford.
Abigail Piatt.
Eunice Coley.
Anne Smith.
Mary Lee.
Abigail Sanford.
Sarah Griffin.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
195
I— 7. 1756.
9—19. "
5—25, I757.
12 — 16,
I— 5.
4—18
5—21,
9- 3.
II— 5-
12—13,
I— II,
1—25,
2— II,
2—25,
4—25,
8-7,
8—15,
10 — II,
3— 27>
7— 7,
10 — 29,
Apr. 12,
May 19,
May 21,
Aug. 21,
Dec. 2,
2Z>
1758-
1759-
1760.
ij6i.
1762.
1763.
Samuel Cable.
David Lyon.
Paul Bartram.
Ebenezer Hull.
Jdhn Bartram.
Joseph Dikeman.
Ebenezer Burritt.
William Monroe.
John Morgan.
Daniel Sanford.
Benjamin Davis.
Stephen Gray.
Michael Benedict.
Hezekiah Booth.
Hezekiah Smith.
Theophilus Hull.
Samuel Clugston.
Elias Bates.
Seth Sanford.
John Gray.
Jonathan CouCh.
Alexander Bryant.
James Gray, Jr.
John Clugston.
Joseph Stilson.
Dea. Stephen Burr.
Reuben Squire.
Joseph Lyon.
Isaac Rumsey.
Stephen Crofoot.
Ric'hard Nichols.
John Griffin.
Anthony Angevine.
Timothy Sanford.
David Bartram.
Asahel Patdhen.
Joseph Sanford, Jr.
David Jackson.
. Joseph Rumsey.
John Hawley.
John Hull.
George Gage.
Mary Piatt.
Hannah Sanford.
Mary Hawley.
Ruth Betts.
Charity Buckley.
Eunice Darling.
Elizabeth Piatt.
Eunice Dean.
Joanna Banks.
Esther Hull.
Eunice Nash. -
Sarah Ferry.
Pette Dike^.an.
Abigail Betts.
Lydia Lee.
Martha Betts.
Deborah Mallery.
TaJbitha Read.
Rebecca Burr.
Ruhannaih Barlow.
Eunice Griffin.
Elizabeth Burr.
Asena Taylor.
Eunice Mallery.
Rebecca Wildman.
Abigail Hall.
Elizabeth Bryant.
Lois Sanford.
Abigail St. John,
/xdria Couch.
Abigail Gold.
Katherine Johnson.
Esther Burr.
Mary Sanford.
Phebe Morehouse.
Hannah Osborn.
Hepsibah Griffith.
Anna Sanford.
— Sarah Morehouse.
Abigail Sanford.
Molle Andrews.
Sarah Adams. « —
196
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Nov. 13, 1763.
16, "
23, "
Dec. 3, "
Dec. 21, "
Feb. 9, 1764.
June II, "
Aug. 16, "
Sept. 24, "
Oct. 25. "
Nov. 20, "
Jan. 15, 1765.
<( a
July II, "
Oct. 2, "
Feb. 19, 1766.
June 3, "
i( <(
June 26, "
Sept. 18, "
Nov. 7, "
Nov. 20, "
Jan. 8, 1767.
Feb. 5, "
Feb. 17, "
Mch. 12, "
31, "
Apr. 2, "
22, ''
23, "
June 24, "
July 23, "
« it
Nov. 5, "
Nov. 10, "
19, "
29, "
Dec. 6, "
Mch. 25, 1768.
27, "
Noah Hull.
John Byington.
Elnathan Lyon.
Elijah Burchard.
Samuel Olmstead.
James Grey, Jr.
Jesse Banks.
John June.
Hezekiah Batterson.
Ephraim De Forest.
John Clugston.
Zac'hariah Summers.
Samuel Rowley.
Eleazer Olmsitead.
Hezekia'h Whitlock.
Isaac Piatt.
James Russica.
William Hambleton.
Calvin Wheeler.
Thomas Rockwell.
Ephraim Jackson, Jr.
Joseph Griffin.
David Tierney.
Seth Banks.
Ezekiel Fairchild.
Nehemiah Hull.
Hubbell Bennett.
Joseph Meeker.
Jacob Lyon.
Elijah Burr.
Elnathan Sturges.
Ezekiel Sanford.
James Prindle.
Samuel Sanford, Jr.
Burgess Hall.
Abijah Fairchild.
Nathaniel Northrop.
Stephen Sanford.
Joseph Banks.
Levi Seeley,
Stephen Meeker.
Lt. Peter Fairchild.
Sarah Banks.
Sarah Gray.
Jane Knap.
Ruth Morehouse.
Sarah Bartram.
Mabel Phinney.
Mabel Wli^^leij.^ ^ j^v>^-^
Sarab Jeaiiks (JeiJalas,?).
Mary Sherwood.
Sarah Betts.
Charity Jennings.
Martha Burr.
Sarah Corns.
Grace Pickett.
Anne Piatt.
Mary Pickett.
Sarah Rumsey.
Martha Prince.
Mary Thorp.
Tabitha Sanford.
Martha Hull.
Esther Hall.
Sarah Gold.
Sarah Piatt.
Eunice Andrews.
Griswold Perry.
Rebecca Pickett.
Mary Darling.
Hannah Wheeler.
Rhoda Sanford.
Ruth Hawley.
Sarah Sturges.
Rhoda Mallery.
Sara'h Olmstead.
Whitehead.
Huldah Burr.
Esther Gold.
Abigail Ward.
Anne Morehouse.
Anna Meeker.
Anne Lee.
Mary Lock wood.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
197
Aug.
22,
1768.
Jdhn Parker.
Sarah Sherwood.
Sept.
20,
(<
Hezekiah Bulkley.
Sarah Rumsey.
Nov.
8,
ii
Abel Morehouse.
Betty Squire.
9.
(t
Solomon Northrop.
Sarah Knapp.
29,
((
John Darling Guyer.
Rebecca Hill.
Mch.
4.
1769,
William Sloan.
Mary Read.
Apr.
7,
<>'
Andrew Knapp.
Rebecca Monroe.
June
20,
"
Ephraim Robbins.
Sarah Couch.
July
2^,
1769.
Henry Hopkins,
Hannah Burr.
Aug.
17,
**
Nathan Jackson.
Elizabeth Osbom.
23.
<<
Silas Lee.
Witelee Meeker.
Sept.
26,
(<
Nehemiah Seeley.
Sarah Dibble.
Oct.
10,
<i
Daniel Bartrattn.
Ann Merchant.
Oct.
28,
(<
Samuel White.
Huldah Sanford.
Jan.
22,
1770.
James Morgan.
^^suorii.
23,
<<
Nathaniel Turrell.
Abagail Rumsey.
Mch.
27..
<(
Seth Meeker.
Ellen Bixby.
Nov.
I,
<<
Joseph Lyon.
Sarah Bulkley.
15,
<(
Nathan Coley.
Mabel Bixby.
<
(
<(
Ephraim Sanford.
Tabitha Morehouj
Dec.
20,
<<
Ezekiel Hawley.
Huldah Lyon.
25.
<<
Daniel Fairchild.
Sarah Lane.
Mch.
6,
1771.
Seth Price.
Mary Gold.
May
23»
<<
Justus Bates.
Hannah Coley.
Nov.
<
12,
«
Ebenezer Coley.
Wood.
Rachel Sturges.
Hill.
Dec.
8,
1772.
Jonathan Bradley.
Grace Jackson.
27>
<<
Aaron Barlow
Rebecca Sanford.
Jan.
24,
1773-
Lazarus Wheeler.
Hannah Gorham.
Feb.
22,
<<
William Bradley.
Mary Westcot?t.
Apr.
27.
<(
EHjah Burr.
Eunice Hawley.
28,
(>'
Elnathan Sturgis.
Martha Jackson.
May
19.
(>'
Chauncey Merchant.
Hannah Hambletc
Oct.
17.
<i
Samuel Piatt.
Abigail Hall.
Nov.
10,
((
Henry Whinkler.
Ruth Coley.
Nov.
21,
(.'
Ezekiel Sanford.
Abigail Starr.
Dec.
7,
(.'
Daniel Read.
Anne Hill.
Dec.
27,
((
Stephen Andrus.
Lois Osborn.
Jan.
II,
1774-
Joseph -Tuesdale.
Comfort Burr.-' — '
23,
((
David Jackson.
Esther Ward.
27,
4i
John Fairchild.
Sarah Hull.
Feb.
9-
ti
Levi Dikeman.
Rebecca Lines.
198
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Mch.
I,
1774-
Philip Burritt.
Rachel Read.
20,
"
John Pickett.
Mary Bates.
Aug.
18,
<<
Augustus Sanford.
Abigail Sturges.
22,
"
Jonathan Person.
Elizabeth Thomas
28,
<<
Isaac Hambleton.
Eunice Piatt.
Sept.
18,
"
Abijah Fairchild.
Riebe Smith.
Jan.
26,
1775-
Robert Stone.
Anna Darrow.
Mch.
14,
n
Seth Meeker.
Millicent Davis.
28,
a
Daniel Seeley.
Lydia Comstock.
May
14,
it
Hezekiah Read.
Anne Gorham.
22..
ii
Eli Nichols.
Hannah Hull.
June
^7,
a
Enoch Betts.
Mary Coley.
July
12,
It
Thaddeus Benedict.
Deborah Read.
Sept.
12,
1776.
Isaac Gregory.
Sarah St. John.
Ocft.
9'
tt
William Dunning.
Sarah Osborn.
Mch.
3,
1777.
Daniel Copley.
Theoda Couch.
Sept.
24,
■ (
Jonathan Couch.
Mabel Meeker.
Oct.
16,
((
Samuel Mallery.
Hannah Nichols.
Nov.
3»
tt
Sam'l Ramong (Ramond?) Philema Banks.
6,
tt
Benjamin Darling.
Mary Chapman.
12,
tt
Jeremiah Batterson.
Bette Clugston.
Dec.
18,
tt
Abel Gold.
Elizabeth Gold.
25»
tt
Jesse Benedict.
Molle Ward.
Jan.
7,
1778.
Daniel C. Bartlett.
Esther Read.
28,
tt
Daniel Osborn.
Jane Morehouse.
Feb.
12,
tt
Jabez Burr.
Mary Bartram.
Mdh.
5.
<<
tt
ti
Francis Andrews.
Bille Morehouse.
Sabra Parsons.
Ruth Guyer.
26,
tt
Thomas Rescue ( ?) .
Phebe Pickett.
Apr.
9,
tt
Samuel Gold.
Sarah Piatt.
22,
tt
Enos Lee.
Ruth Bates.
May
29,
t(
Austin Baxter.
Martha Darling.
F€b.
7.
1779-
James Gibbons (soldier).
Ann Sullivan.
Mch.
18,
tt
John Lines.*
Mary Hendrick.
30,
It
Daniel Evarts.*
Mary Rowland.
Apr.
15,
ti
Isaac Olm stead.*
Mary Persons.
28,
II
Jesse Belknap.*
Eunice Hall.
May
4,
II
William Little (steward to
Gen. Parsons).
Phebe Marchant.
May
23>
tt
Giles Gilbert.*
Deborah Hall.
Sept
30,
n
Joseph Jackson, Jr.
Mary Edmond.
Oct.
3.
II
Russell Chapel.*
Sarah O&borne.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
199
Mch. 9. 1780.
William Darrow.*
Ruth Bartram.
Mch. 20, "
John Dikeman.
Sara'h Meeker.
Record of Baptisms.
Date.
Child's Name.
Parent's Name.
Mch. 25, 1733.
Abel.
Nathaniel Sanford.
It (1
Abigail.
Ebenezer Perry.
Apr. 9, "
Esther.
Daniel Bradley.
May 28, "
Bethel
Benjamin Lyon.
(< <<
Esther.
Benjamin Hambleton.
July 8, "
Elizabeth,
Joshua Hall.
29, "
Seth.
George Hull.
<( (<
Samuel.
Samuel Chatfield.
<( <<
Rachel.
Ephraim Sanford.
(( <<
Robbin.
Servant of John Hull.
Feb. 10, 1734.
Timothy.
Joseph Sanford.
Mch. 31, "
Abigail.
John Hull.
Apr. 7, "
Jemima.
Baterson.
22, "
Daniel.
Samuel Sanford.
Nov. 10, "
Timothy.
Daniel Lyon.
24. "
Millison. ' '.
Joshua Hall.
29, "
Esther.
Peter Burr.
<( <<
Sarah.
Lemuel Sanford.
Dec. 15, "
Stephen.
Daniel Bradley.
Mch. 2, 1735.
Hezekiah.
John Read.
30, "
Martha.
Deacon Stephen Burr.
May 4, "
Isaac.
Joseph Meeker.
U (<
Seth.
Benjamin Hambleton.
Apr. 27, "
York. "
Servant to Joseph Sanford.
May 18, "
Abigail.
Ephraim Sanford.
May 25, "
Rebecca.
George Hull.
It n
Anna Aldridge.
George and Anna Coins.
Aug. 23, "
Seth.
Samuel Sanford.
31, "
Daniel.
Samuel Chatfield.
Nov. 23, "
Jane.
Zachariah Squire.
Jan. II, 1734.
Jdhn. i
' John Mallery.
25, "
Eunice.
Joseph Darling.
It It
Andrew.
Servant Samuel Sanford.
It ti
- Caesar.
Servant Ephraim Sanford.
Feb. 21, 1736.
Sarah.
Peter Burr.
* Soldiers in
Putnam's army, encamped in
Redding this winter. There is no
further record of marriages until 1809.
200
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Apr. 4,
1736
Parrow.
i8,
«
Abigail.
May 9,
.'(
Sarah.
Jun 13,
<(
Mabel.
20,
((
Sarah.
26,
<(
Joseph.
«
«
Thomas.
((
M
Andrew.
«
(«
Kate.
((
<(
Phillip.
July 25,
((
Esther.
Aug. 22,
it
John.
Nov. I,
a
Anna.
Jan. 2, I
717'
Ezra.
((
((
Deborah.
Feb. 20,
<<
Mary.
Mch. 13,
<<
Hannah.
Apr. 17,
<(
Samuel.
May 12,
<(
Ruth.
Aug. 14,
<<
Ezekiel.
Sept. 4,
<(
Nanny.
Feb. 5,
1738.
Rebecca.
Mch. 19,
<(
Mary.
Apr. 15,
<(
John.
((
((
Benjamin.
((
((
Joanna and Mary
23.
((
Amelia.
June 4,
<<
Lydia.
July 23,
«
Zalmon.
<(
«
Nathan.
<(
It
Sara'h.
Aug. 5,
((
Samuel.
((
a
Genne.
20,
((
Nathan.
Oct. 15,
<<
Eunice.
22,
((
Timothy.
<(
((
Bille.
«
<(
Eunice.
Dec. 17,
<(
Elizabeth.
31-
((
Daniel.
Jan. 13,
1739-
Rebecca.
Mch. 4,
<<
Eunice. '
Servant Deacon Burr.
Timothy Piatt.
John Griffin.
Joshua Hall.
Jonathan Morelhouse.
Joseph Sanford.
Servant John Read.
John Hull.
Benjamin Lyon.
Lemuel Sanford.
Peter Burr.
Benjamin Hambleton.
Obadiah Piatt.
Ephraim Sanford.
Samuel Ohatfield.
Nathaniel Sanford,
James Bradley.
Parrow.
Peter Mallery.
Samuel Sanford.
James Morgan.
Joseph Darling.
Jonathan Moiehouse.
Benjamin Hambleton.
Lemuel Sanford.
John Read.
David Crofoot.
John Darling.
Benjamin Lyon.
Parrow.
Joseph Sanford.
Daniel Dean.
Thomas Fairdiild.
John Griffin.
John Mallery.
Jonathan Meeker.
Peter Mallery.
James Bradley.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
201
Mch. 4. 1739-
25. "
Apr. 24, "
May 6, "
12, "
15. "
20, "
June 3,
July 15. "
29. "
Aug. 5. "
Nov. II, "
18, "
Dec. 2, "
16, "
[Feb. 24, 1740.
Mch. 9, "
Apr. 13, "
20, "
27. "
July 6, ''
Aug. 17, "
Sept. 14, "
Oct. 9, "
Jan. II, 1741.
10, "
Feb. 20, "
Apr. 12, "
May 10, "
24. "
31. "
Aug. I, "^^
Sept. 20,
Nov. 22, "
Jan. 31, 1742.
Fe<b. 7,
Abbe.
Ebenezei\
John.
Sara'h.
Seth.
Elizabeth.
Martha.
Hannah.
Hannah.
Daniel.
Solomon.
Rebecca.
Elizabeth.
Damans.
David.
Saraih.
Mary.
Phebe.
Obadiah.
Cato.
Lemuel.
John.
Anne.
David.
Jemima.
Solomon.
Martha.
Abijah.
James.
John Lee.
Hezekiah.
Sarah.
John.
James.
Jonathan.
Abigail.
Oliver.
Titus.
Noah.
Calvin.
Anne.
Mary.
James Morgan.
John Whitlock.
Ephraim Sanford.
Ebenezer Ferry.
Samuel Smith.
Obadiah Piatt.
Samuel Chatfield.
Jonathan Morehouse.
Joseph Lee.
Ebenezer Couch.
Gershom Burril.
Dea. Stephen Burr.
George and Anna Corns.
Andrew and Kate (slaves)
Samuel Sanford.
Adam Clark.
William Burritt.
Benjamin Lyon.
Nathaniel Gray.
My Negro Servant.
Lemuel Sanford.
George Wildman.
Samuel Smith.
Jacob Oysterbanks.
William Jacock.
Nathaniel Booth.
Joseph Darling.
William Burritt.
James Sanford.
Edmund Sherman.
John Whitlock.
Thomas Fairchild.
Ebenezer Ferry.
James Bradley.
Daniel Lyon.
Adam Clark.
Ephraim Sanford.
Andrew (Slave).
Gers'hom Burril.
Ephraim Wheeler.
James Morgan.
Joseph Hawley.
202
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Mch.
II,
1742.
Eli jail.
July
4.
((
Ezekiel.
i8,
<<
Sabrena.
Sept.
19.
((
Adra.
26,
It
Vincent.
Oct.
24,
II
Abigail.
II
n
R'hoda.
Nov.
7.
>(
Nathan.
Dec.
19.
(<
Benjamin.
Jan.
i3>
1743-
Abigail.
Apr.
"
Nehemiah.
May
8,
<i
Mary.
<
15.
II
Elijah.
James.
June
5.
"
Mary.
12,
II
Ebenezer.
July
17,
II
Stephen.
Aug.
21,
II
Nathan.
Sept.
19.
II
Lois.
Oct.
10,
II
Hannah.
17,
a
Nathaniel.
(
II
Joseph.
Jan.
8,
1744-
Daniel.
29>
II
James.
Feb.
12,
<(
Esther.
'
<(
Mabel.
19.
i<
Sibyl.
May
27.
"
Abijah.
<
(
II
Esther.
<
1
II
Phebe.
June
3,
II
Mary.
July
I,
II
Hannah.
8.
II
Mary.
Aug.
<
5.
It
11
Samuel.
David.
12,
II
Stephen.
Sept.
23,
II
Hannah.
Oct.
7,
II
Anna.
14,
((
Ruth.
Nov.
5.
II
Levi.
Mch.
10,
1745-
Abner.
May
5.
<<
Samuel.
Jonathan Morehouse.
Lemuel Sanford. [Burr
Maid servant to Deacon
Ebenezer Couch.
Edmund Sherman.
David Gold.
William Burrett.
Thomas Fairchild.
Solomon Burton.
Samuel Sanford.
Ebenezer Hull.
Joseph Lee, Jr.
Jabez Burr.
Daniel Gray.
Samuel Coley.
Ebenezer Ferry.
Joseph Sanford.
James Bradley.
Epbraim Sanford.
Jdhn Wbitlock.
Gershom Burril.
Joseph Darling.
William Lee.
Adam Clark.
Stephen Burr.
Ephraim Wheeler.
William Burrit.
Thomas Fairchild.
Nathaniel Sanford.
Jonathan Morehouse.
Frederick Dikeman,
John Grey.
Samuel Smith.
Joseph Hawley.
David Lord.
Daniel Gold.
John .
Lemuel Sanford.
Solomon Burton.
Edmund Sherman,
Nehemiah Booth.
Samuel Sanford.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
203
July
7.
1745-
Abigail.
James Bradley.
J J
21,
<<
Isaac.
Gershom Burril.
Sept.
"
Abijah.
William Lee.
Oct.
23.
<<
Mary.
(Six
Thomas Fairchild.
dates torn out.)
Nov.
5.-
1746.
Ruth.
Joseph Hawley.
23,
><
Jonathan,
John Griffin.
27,
<<
Anne.
Frederick Dikeman.
Dec.
7,
"
Ezekiel.
Abraham Fairchild.
Apr.
5.
1747-
Daniel.
Andrew and Kate.
10,
•(
Huldah.
Jabez Burr.
May
10,
a
Sara'h.
Samuel Sanford.
<
<(
Stephen.
Stephen Gray.
3I'
<<
Rhoda.
Thomas Fairchild.
June
7,
<<
Witeley.
Benjamin Meeker.
14,
<<
Ruth.
Jonathan Mordhouse
22,
<<
Ger shorn.
William Truesdale.^
July
26,
"
Justus.
Elias Bates.
Aug.
2.
<<
Elijah.
Elnafhan.
Ebenezer Couch.
Daniel Meeker.
Oct.
8,
(<
Daniel.
Joseph Rumsey.
Jan.
31.
1748.
Esther.
Hezekiah Rowland.
Mch.
20,
<<
John.
John Couch.
27.
<(
Elias.
Elias Bixby.
<
<
<i
Esther.
Daniel Gold.
May
I,
<<
Huldah.
Ephraim Sanford.
t
15.
«
Abigail.
Ruth.
William Lee.
Samuel Coley.
Aug.
28,
'<
Isaac.
David Bartram.
it
<(
Gershom.
Nehemiah Sanford.
Jan.
22,
1749.
Isaac Taylor. (Adult.)
29.
((
Jared.
Daniel Meeker.
Feb.
5,
((
Daniel.
Abraham Fairchild.
(
(
<<
Antie.
Gurdon Marchant.
Mch
5.
'<
Elizabeth.
David Lord.
Feb.
26,
<<
Rhoda.
Lemuel Sanford.
Apr.
9.
"
Peter.
Andrew (slave).
16,
fi
Esther.
Samuel Sanford.
May
7.
«
Mary.
Joseph Darling.
204
HISTORY OF REDDING.
By Rev. Mr. Judson, of Newtown.
Oct.
2S,
1750.
Eunice.
Josepih Hawley.
«
Enoch.
Matthew Scribner.
«
David.
John Truesdale. ^'
«
Elisha.
William Raymond.
((
Daniel.
Daniel Mallery.
Jan.
25»
1751-
Rebecca,
Daniel Meeker.
<<
Sarah.
Gurdon Marchant. *
((
Mary.
David Bradley.
Feb.
i9»
>(
Sarah.
Adam Clark.
K
Martha.
Daniel Hull.
«
Abigail.
John Rumsey.
M
Damaris.
Andrew and Kate.
Mtfh.
25.
<<
Isaac.
Abraham Fairchild.
Oct.
20,
((
Hanna'h.
Daniel Gold.
n
William.
William Truesdale.
tt
Hanford.
Nehemiah Smith.
Feb.
2,
^7S2'
J6hn.
John Read, Jr.
«
Jdhn.
Jonas Piatt.
((
Sarah.
Elias Bates.
Jan.
21,
1753-
Stephen.
Jdhn Couch.
it
Mary.
James Green.
Feb.
25,
it
Hezekiah.
John Read.
((
Rachel.
Samuel Sanford.
«
Ephraim.
Joseph Rumsey.
((
Chauncey.
Gurdon Marchant.
<(
Rachel.
Jdhn Rumsey.
«
Simon.
Andrew and Kate.
Mch.
28,
«
Lois.
Daniel Meeker.
Apr.
5.
((
Sarali.
William Truesdale.'
May
13,
«
William.
William Lee.
By Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett.
May 27,
Mary.
June 3,
Hezekiah.
24,
Stephen.
July 8,
David.
15.
Augustus.
<(
Joseph.
«
Josiah.
Daniel and Grace Gold.
Daniel and Mary Hull.
John and Rachel Truesdal
Abra'ham and Rachel Fairchild.
Ephraim and Elizabetlh Sanford.
John and Hannah Gray.
Jacob and Kate Lovett.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
205
Aug. 26,
1753-
Abel Eldridge.
<(
it
Joseph.
11
it
Ezra.
Feb. 10,
1754-
Simon.
<<
«
Lena.
it
<(
Jacob.
K
<(
Sarah.
Feb. 14,
«
Sarah.
Mch. 3,
((
Eunice.
10,
«
Millison.
Apr. 28,
"
Ezra.
29,
((
Hanford.
June 9,
(<
Russell.
Aug. I,,
((
Daniel.
25,
«
Nathan.
Sept. 22,
<(
Isaac.
29,
«
Ruth.
Oct. 27,
«
Stephen.
Nov. 13,
«
Rachel.
Jan. 2,
1755-
Eunice.
19.
((
Ezra.
26,
it
Theode.
Feb. 6,
it
Ned.
23»
if
Seth.
Mch. 23,
it
Seth.
it
K
Ezskiel.
Apr. 13,
it
Mary,
20,
it
Adria.
27,
it
Esther.
June I,
it
Justin.
<(
it
Mary.
8,
it
Molle.
July 12,
it
Samuel.
it
t(
Justus.
Aug. 13,
it
Esther and Eunice
3i»
ii
Abigail
<(
U
John.
Oct. 19,
it
Ann.
it
it
Abigail.
Dec. I,
tt
Hannah.
28,
(t
Esther.
Feb. 22,
1756.
Sarah.
(Adult.)
Abel Eldridge.
John and Esther Bates.
Jonathan and Deboralh Dudley.
tt tt
James and Sarah Gray.
Benjamin and Mary Dean.
Timothy and Anne Hull.
Gershom and Abigail Coley.
John and Sarah Davis.
Gershom and Anne Morehouse.
Nehemia'h and Rebecca Smith.
Nathanid and Eunice Bartlett.
Jonas and Elizabeth Piatt.
Daniel and Sarah Mallery.
Benjamin and Hannah Hambleton.
John and Sarah Read.
Daniel and Sarah Coley.
William and Sarah Read.
John and Hannah Gray.
Stephen and Rachel Mead.
Ebenezer and Anna Couch,
Servt. Samuel Smith.
Seth and Hannah Hull.
William and Sarali Lee.
Jabez and Elizabeth Burr.
John and Esther Bates.
John and Sarah Coudi.
Ephraim and Elizabeth Sanford.
William and Deliverance Truesdale
John and Esther Rumsey.
Samuel Coley, Jr.
Abraham and Rachel Fairchild.
Daniel and Mary Hull.
Benjamin and Katherine Meeker.
John Read.
Gurdon Merchant. *^
Nehemiah and Eliza'beth Sanford.
Daniel and Marv Dean.
Benjamin and Henmaih Hambleton.
Benjamin and Mary Dean.
John and Sarah Davis.
2 o6
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Apr. 4, 1756.
10, ''^
May 2,
<< (<
16, "
23- "
30, "
July 18. "
Aug. 8,
22, "
Jan. 2, 1757.
16, "
<( <<
23, "
Mch. 27, "
Apr. 24, "
(< <<
May 29, "
July 17, "
Aug. 28, "
Sept. 4, ''
5, "
<( ((
Oct. 16, "
« (I
Nov. 13, "
16, "
Jan. 8, 1758.
Mdh. 5, "
Mch. 7, "
8, "
Mch. II, "
26, "
Apr. 16, "
May 14, "
May 21, "
June 4, "
Mary.
Ezra.
Deborah.
Hezekiah.
Hannaih.
Samuel.
Peter.
Eunice.
Bille.
Nathan.
Ephraim.
Saralh.
Joel.
Daniel Collins.
Stephen.
Hezekiah.
Nathaniel and
Abigail.
Abigail.
Ta:bitha.
Aaron.
Josiah.
Elizabeth.
Eunice.
Ruth.
Hannah.
Rachel.
Solomon.
Mabel.
Huldah.
Burr.
Ellenor.
Andrew.
Isaac.
Mary.
Benjamin.
Stephen.
Tabitha.
Abigail.
Thomas Nash.
Aaron.
Sarah.
Jabez and Deborah Frost.
Timodiy and Anne Hull.
John and Sarah Read.
Joseph and Sarah Rumsey
Stephen and Rachel Mead.
Eleazer and Lucy Smith, Jr.
Samuel and Saraih Sanford.
J<.nas and Elizabeth Pla'tt.
Gershom and Anne Morehouse.
John and Esther Rumsey.
Jehu and Sarah Burr.
William and Sarah Read.
NehemiaJh and Rebecca Smith.
Nathaniel and Eunice Bartlett.
Jabez and Elizabeth Burr.
Daniel and Grace Gold.
Nathaniel and Abigail HuM.
Daniel and Sarah Mallery
Benjamin and Hannah Hambleton.
Hezekiah and Hannah Sanford.
Daniel and Sarah Meeker.
John and Sarah Couch.
Timothy and Anne Hull.
John and Esther Bates.
Daniel and Mary Dean.
Nathaniel Griffin.
John and Charity Bartram.
Ebenezer and Ruth Hull.
Ebenezer and Prudence Gilbert.
Gurdon and Elenor Marchant.
James and Thankful Baker.
David Whitlock.
Col. John and Saralh Read.
Seth and Phebe Raymond.
Abraham and Rachel Fairchild.
Benjamin and Hannah Hambleton.
Daniel and Mary Hull.
Simon and Rebecca Couch
Gershom and Anne Morehouse.
Hezekiah Piatt.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
207
y 2,
1758.
Aaron.
«
«
Abigail.
ig. 2^,
(<
Hannah.
30,
«
Samuel.
pt. 25,
"
Betty.
:t. 8.
(<
John.
;c. 20,
'•
Isaac.
n. 14,
1759-
Erastus.
28,
((
David.
3i»
«
Joseph.
b. 4.
((
John.
•b. 25,
"
Anne.
(<
(<
Jesse.
«
ti
Ezra.
)r. 15,
It
Jeremiah.
ay 6,
ft
Samuel.
13.
n
ti
Esther.
Zalmon.
ne 10,
'•
Joseph.
ly 8,
tt
Elizabeth.
«
n
John.
■ig. 26,
<(
Hezekiah.
«
((
Lucy-
<<
tt
Hannah.
pt. 9,
tt
Joel (daughter).
«
It
Huildah.
23.
it
Mabel.
<<
tt
David.
2C. 9.
"
Catherine.
n. 6,
1760.
Walker.
<<
<<
William.
17-
<(
Sarah.
^b. 3.
<<
Ezra.
ch. 16,
tt
Gurdon.
<(
tt
John.
23.
tt
Ezra.
pr. 19,
It
Eunice.
ine 8,
tt
Mary.
22,
<<
Jabez.
<i
tt
Abigail.
ug- 3.
It
Peter.
17,
II
Esther.
Elnathan Griffin.
John and SaraJh Burr.
Jabez and Mary Bulkley.
John and Elizabeth Couch.
William and Deliverance Truesdale
Joseph Rumsey.
James and Hannah Bartram.
Ndhemiah and Rebecca Smith.
John and Esther Rumsey.
Paul and Mary Bartram.
John and Sarah Davis.
Nathaniel and Eunice Bartleitt.
Samuel and Mary Ooley.
Daniel and Sarah Coley.
Daniel and Esther Sanford.
Eleazer and Lucy Smith, Jr.
Nathaniel and Abigail.
Theophilus and Martha Hull.
John and Charity Bartram.
Daniel and Grace Gold.
Timothy and Ann Hull. j
Joseph and Eunice Dikeman.
Elnathan and Deborah Sanford.
Hezekiah and Hannah Saiaford.
Jabez and Elizabeth Burr.
Daniel and Mary Dean.
John and Sarah Read.
Samuel and Deborah Clugston.
Nehemiah and Elizabeth Sanford.
Elias and Tabitha Bates.
William and Sarah Read.
Ebenezer and Ruth Hull, jr.
Hezekiah and Lydia Smith.
Gurdon and Ellenor Marchant.
Ebenezer and Prudence Gilbert.
John and Esther Bates.
John and Ruhamah Gray.
Paul and Mary Bartram.
Jabez and Mary Bartram.
Hezekiah and Sarah Piatt.
Daniel and Mary Hull.
Stephen and Rachel Mead.
208
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Sept. 28,
1760.
Seth Samuel
Oct. 19,
"
Elias.
Nov. 5,
"
Jane.
Dec. 14,
<<
Huldah.
17,
(<
David.
Jan. II,
1761.
Esther.
<(
<(
Seth.
Feb. 5»
<<
Ellen.
((
n
Hulda'h.
16,
"
Elias.
((
((
Rebecca.
Apr. 8,
«
Lucy.
12,
"
Abraham.
26,
<<
Eunice.
May 10,
((
Jeremiah.
24,
((
Abigail.
(<
((
Daniel.
(<
<(
Benjamin,
June 7,
((
Hannah.
14,
((
Mary.
21,
((
Rachel.
July 19,
<<
David.
Aug. 16,
((
Eli.
Sept. 6,
((
Isaac.
Oct. 25,
(<
Thaddeus.
Jan. 24,
1762.
Azariah.
(<
«
Isaac.
Feb. 28,
(<
Abigail.
Apr. 4,
<<
Hezekiah.
«
«
Justus.
May 9,
<<
Hannah.
June 6,
(1
Joel.
13,
((
Hiel.
27.
i<
Jdhn.
July 4,
"
Joseph.
25.
((
Henry.
((
<(
John.
Aug. 8,
(<
Deborah.
i5»
((
Stephen.
Oct. 3,
((
Sarah.
«
«
Sarah.
«
<<
Hannah.
Samuel and Lydia Smith.
Seth and Rebecca Sanford.
Gershom and Ann Morehouse.
Stephen and Sarah Gray,
Seth Hull,
John and Sara'h Read.
Benjamin and Hannah Hambleton.]
Joseph Rumsey.
Zalmon and Hulda'h Read.
Elias and Tabitha Bates,
Simon and Rebecca Couch.
Jonathan and Eunice Couch.
Timothy and Ann Hull.
Nathaniel and Eunice Bartlett.
David and Anne Jacocks.
Elnathan Griffin,
John Davis.
Joseph and Eunice Dikeman,
Jatez Frost,
John Rumsey.
Abraham and Rachel Fairchild.
Samuel Coley,
Daniel and Esther Sanford,
David Whitlock,
Stephen and Rachel Mead.
Hezekiah and Lydia Smith.
Isaac and Anne Gorbam.
Isaac and Abigail Rumsey,
Hezekiah and Hannah Sanford.
Hezekiah Piatt,
Ebenezer and Ruth Hull,
Gurdon and Ellenor Marchant.
William and Delia Truesdale. ■-
Ebenezer Couch, Jr,
William and Lydia Hawley,
William and Sarah Read.
John and Esther Bates,
Ephraim and Deborah Osborn.
Joseph Adams,
Paul and Mary Bartram.
John and Katherine Griffin.
Stephen and Sarah Gray.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
209
Dec. 5,
1762.
Nehemiah.
Josiah.
Jan. 16,
1763.
Elnathan.
23,
Eunice.
Feb. 2.^,
Huldah.
Mch. 6,
Ebenezer.
20,
Samuel.
Apr. ID,
David.
19.
Jane, Eunice,
Esther,
May 8,
1763.
Joseph.
Sarah.
15.
Ruhamah.
<(
Ruth.
June 19,
Ann.
<<
Jeremiah.
<<
Eunice.
<<
Elizabeth.
Sept. II,
Joel.
Oct. 16,
Levi.
23.
Ezekiel.
Nov. 6,
Esther.
20,
Hezekiah.
Jan. 15,
1764.
Hezekiah.
22,
Ellen.
29,
Martha.
Feb. 12,
Ephraim.
26,
Samuel.
Mch. 3,
John.
II,
Esther.
<(
Molle.
Apr. q.
Solomon Noble
May 13,
Esther.
May 20,
John.
<<
Phebe.
<(
Huldah.
27,
Daniek
June 17,
Anna.
<i
Sarah.
24,
Betsey.
Aug. 26,
Molle.
Nehemiah and Elizabeth Sanford.
James Rogers.
Elnathan and Deborah Sanford.
Nathaniel and Abigail Hull.
Samuel and Anne Jacocks.
Seth and Rebecca Sanford.
Zalmon and Huldah Read.
Timothy and Ann Hull.
Richard Wepoat (on border of
Greenfield).
Joseph and Eunice Dikeman.
Daniel and Sarah Mallery.
Enos and Hannah Wheeler.
James and Hannah Bartram.
Gershom and Anne Morehouse,
Isaac and Abigail Rumsey.
John Dean.
Onesimus and Eunice Coley.
John and Ruhamah Gray.
Lieut. Ebenezer Couch.
David and Anna Jackson.
Daniel and Mary Hull.
Zachar}^ and Naomi Batterson.
Hezekiah and Sarah Piatt.
John and Molle Hull.
John and Sarah Davis.
Ephraim and Deborah Osboni.
Elnathan Griffith.
Moses and Anna Ward.
Joseph and Hepsibah Sanford,
John and Esther Rumsey.
Abraham and Rachel Fairchild.
Gurdon and Ellenor Marchant.
John and Katherine Griffin,
Jolhn Drew.
Jonathan and Eunice Couch.
Stephen and Sarah Gray.
Jabez Frost.
William and Deliverance Truesdale
2IO
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Sept. 30,
1764.
Hezekialh.
Oct. 14,
<<
Jonathan.
((
(<
WilHam.
Nov. 4,
((
John.
Dec. 16,
"
Lydia.
Jan. 27,
1765.
Abigail.
31,
(<
Hint.
Mch. 17.
«
Ezekiel.
((
<<
Esther.
Apr. ID,
"
Ruth.
14,
((
Jerry.
28.
((
Anne.
May 5,
«
Hill.
((
<(
Sarah.
12,
<(
John.
16,
«
Luana and
•UOSMBJS
May 26,
((
Talcot.
«
<(
Eli.
((
((
John.
((
((
Mary.
June 2,
<c
Rene.
((
i(
Esther.
9,
((
Salle.
Sept. 29,
It
Molle.
Nov. 10,
a
Ellen.
<<
a
Molle.
Dec. 15,
<(
Zachariah.
((
<i
William.
Jan. 19,
1766.
Anne.
Feb. 2,
i(
David.
9.
It
William.
15.
It
Molle.
Mch. 9,
ti
Joel.
May 18,
it
WilHam.
tc
It
Preserved.
25.
<<
Daniel.
June 8,
((
nias.
Aug. 10,
<<
Samuel.
ti
It
Lucina.
31.
ti
Hannali.
«
•'
Stephen.
Josepih and Joanna Adams.
Nathaniel and Eunice Bartlett.
Hezekiah and Hannah Sanford.
John and Sarah Byington.
William and Lydia Hawley.
Simon and Rebecca Coudh.
Jesse and Mabel Banks.
Nathaniel and Abigail Hull.
Enos Wheeler.
Isaac Rumsey.
James and Mabel Gray.
Ebenezer and Elizabe^ Couch.
Gershom and Anne Morehouse.
John and Esther Bates.
John and Sarah Read.
Jesse and Sarah Piatt.
William and Sarah Read.
Zalmon and Huldah Read.
John Dean.
Zachariah and Naomi Batter&on.
Daniel and Mary Dean.
Samuel and Ann Jacocks.
Joseph and Joanna Adams.
Samuel and Sarah Rowley.
Joseph and Joanna Adams.
Abraham and Deborah Adams.
Joseph and Hepsibah Sanford.
William and Lydia Hawley.
John Drew.
David and Anna Jackson.
Ephraim and Deborah Osbom.
Jdin and Molle Hall.
Seth and Rebecca Sanford.
Hezekiah Piatt.
Preserved Taylor.
Daniel and Mary Hull
Gurdon and Ellenor Mardhant.
Timothy and Ann Hull.
John and Sarali Byington.
John and Saraih Couch.
John Davis.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
211
Aug. 31, 1766.
E ii
a
Nov.
II, "
Sept.
23. "
Dec.
28, "
Feb.
I, IT
15. "
Mdh.
29. "
Apr.
12, "
May
3- ;;
July
5, "
(
a
12, "
Aug.
22, "
Sept.
6, "
13. "
20, ^'
Oct.
25, "
Nov.
I, "
(
(I
Der
I, "
6, "
13, "
Jan
24, i7(
30, ''
Feb.
4, "
14, "
Mch.
6. "
i
(t
i
a
7, "
27. "
May
8, "
June
Mollie.
Isaac.
Eunice.
Cloe.
Jes&e.
Esther.
Simon.
Joseph.
Lydia.
Hannah.
Bille.
Calvin.
Eli.
Csesar.
Matilda.
Aaron.
Cloe.
Lucy.
Esther.
Esther.
Zalmon.
Aaron.
Lydia.
Aradel.
Aaron,
Griswold.
Sarah.
Ellen.
Stephen.
Venus.
Eben.
Uriah.
Eunice.
Abigail.
Ani.
Ezekiel.
Lucretia.
Enoch.
James.
Isaiah.
Noah.
Tabitha,
John and Katherine Griffin.
Gersiiom Coley.
Hezekiah Smith.
James Rogers.
Jesse and Mabel Banks.
Nathaniel Hull.
Isaac and Sarah Russica.
Daniel and Sarah Mallery.
John Dean.
Enos Wheeler.
William and Lvdia Hawley.
Calvin Wheeler.
Paul and Mary Bartram.
Servant Samuel Smith.
William and Sarah Read.
Zalmon and Huldaih Read.
Daniel and Esther Sanford.
Gershom and Anne Morelhouse.
John and Es'ther Bates.
James and Eunice Wood.
Hezekiah and Hannah Sanford.
Joseph and Eunice Dikeman.
Simon and Lydia Couch.
Samuel and Anne Jacocks.
Ephraim and Martha Jackson.
Hezekiah Piatt.
Ezekiel and Eunice Fairchild.
Abraham Fairchild.
Stephen and Rachd Mead.
Servant Simon Couch.
John Rumsey.
Samuel and Sarah Sanford.
Daniel and Anna Jackson.
Joseph Adams.
Abraham Adams.
Nehemiah and Griswold Hull.
Nathaniel and Eunice Bartlett.
Gurdon and EUenor Marchant
James and Ellenor Rogers.
Joseph and Hepsebah Sanford, Jr.
Isaac and Abigail Rumsey.
Nehemiah and Rebecca Smith.
212
HISTORY OF REDDING.
July 31,
1768.
Maiy.
((
<(
Isaac.
Aug. 28,
<(
Benjamin.
Sept. 18,
(<
Stephen.
11
<(
Joanna.
25,
.<
Peter.
<<
<<
John.
Oct. 2,
n
Ruth.
9.
(<
Elijah.
21,
"
Clarissa.
Odt. 23,
l(
Stephen.
<<
<<
Esther.
<(
(<
James.
Dec. II,
<<
Lemuel.
25.
((
Hezekiah.
Feb. 5,
1769.
Azariah.
Apr. 9,
<<
Seth.
19,
«
Sarah.
May 5,
<(
Joseph.
<<
<(
Peter.
<<
((
Ruhamali.
7,
((
Lydia.
June II,
It
Reuben.
17,
It
Ruth.
July 23,
II
Daniel.
((
It
Eunice.
((
It
Molle.
30,
11
Darius.
n
11
Sarah.
Aug. 6,
it
Betty.
13,
it
Joseph.
20,
It
David.
27,
It
Lemuel.
Dec. 17,
It
Thomas.
Jan. 28,
1770.
Sarah.
Mch. 24,
((
Abner.
25.
It
Nathan.
Apr. 3,
It
Peter.
((
It
Hannah.
29,
II
Abigail.
July I,
It
Esther.
<(
it
. Hannah.
Oliver and Rachel Sanford.
Joseph and Mary Meeker.
Ezekiel and Sarah Sanford.
Jabez Frost.
Jesse and Mabel Banks.
Stephen Hull.
John and Kafcherine Griffin.
Preserved Taylor.
Seth and Rebecca Sanford.
Dr. Asaael Fitch.
Stephen and Sarah Gray.
Stephen and Abigail Sanford.
James and Eunice Wood.
Elijah and Rhoda Burr.
Timothy Hull.
Benjamin and Katherine Meeker.
Nehemiah St. John.
Azur and Mary Hurlburt.
William and Sarah Read.
Enos Wheeler.
Calvin Wheeler.
Theophilus and Martha Hull.
John and Sarah Byington.
Paul and Mary Bartram.
Azur and Mary Hurlburt.
John Davis.
Ephraim and Martba Jackson.
Onesimus and Eunice Coley.
William and Mary Stone.
Gershom and Anne Morehouse.
Jonathan and Eunice Couch.
Oliver and Rache'l Sanford.
Lemuel and Mary Sanford, Jr.
Samuel and Sarah Sanford,
Ezekiel and Sarah Sanford.
.Ebenezer and Elizabeth Couch.
Jolin and Esther Bates.
Joseph and Eunice Dikeman.
Preserved Taylor.
Ezekiel and Eunice Fairdhild.
Daniel and Ann Bartram.
Dr. Asael Fitch.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
213
Aug.
26,
1770.
Esther.
Sept.
2,
"
Ezekiel.
23.
a
Molle.
30.
<
<
a
ti
a
Anna.
Aaron.
Sarah.
Oct.
14,
«
Cloe.
John.
Nov.
18,
a
Huldah.
Feb.
3.
I77I.
Rebecca.
^Mch.
2,
<(
Benjamin.
7,
<<
Samuel.
<<
Lemuel.
Apr.
14,
<(
Tabitha.
28,
(<
Joseph.
I
a
Joel.
t
((
Deborah.
May
5>
(t
John.
<
a
Elizabeth.
19.
n
Hezekiaili.
June
9>
«
Sarah.
Aug.
16,
a
Justus.
Sept.
I,
<<
Robert.
(
u
John.
8,
(.'
Peter.
i5>
<t
Ephraim.
Oct.
6,
"
Lemuel.
Nov.
3.
"
Daniel.
10,
<<
Elizabeth Rutih
Dec.
15.
<(
Abraham.
29,
"■
Molle.
Jan.
26,
1772.
Gurdon.
Mch.
I,
<<
Anne.
Apr.
II,
((
Jone.
12,
«
Abigail.
19.
<(
Esther.
May
2,
((
Mary.
3>
<(
Squire.
f(
<<
Stephen.
ID,
((
Rhoda.
t(
(<
Daniel.
June
7,
<(
Eunice.
John and Katherine Griffin.
Paul and Mary Bartram.
Joseph and Hepsibah Sanford.
David and Anna Jackson.
James and Ellenor Rogers.
Daniel Couch.
Silas and Witely Lee.
Stephen and Abigail Sanford.
Timothy and Mary Sanford.
Jared and Mabel Meeker.
Seth and Ellen Meeker.
Seth and Rebecca Sanford.
Gurdon and Ellenor Mardhant.
William and Mary Slone.
Joseph and Joanna Adams.
John and Saraih Byington.
Abraiham and Sarah Adams.
John and Ru'hamah Gray.
Elijah and Rhoda Burr.
William and Lydia Hawley.
Abijah and Huldah Fairchild.
Justus and Hannah Bates.
Hezekiah and Sarah Piatt.
Martha Darling.
Ephraim and Martha Jackson.
Oliver and Rachel Sanford.
William and Sarah Read.
Jabez Frost.
Gershom and Ann Morehouse.
Abraham and Sarah Adams.
David and Abiah Sanford.
Daniel and Ann Bartram.
Timothy Hull.
(Slave) Isaac Gorham.
Nathan and Mabel Coley.
John and Sarah Davis.
Daniel Couch.
Obadiah Wood.
Ephraim and Sarah Robbins.
Preserved Taylor.
Jared and Mabel Meeker.
Hezekiah and Hannah Sanford.
214
HISTC
June 14, 1772.
Anna,
a ><
Ezekiel.
July 5> "
Aaron.
Aug. 2, "
Aaron.
it a
Eli.
<< «
Walter.
(t n
Mary,
Aug. 16, "
Elijah.
Sept. 6, "
Joseph.
<< n
En OS.
20, "
Abraham.
24, "
Simon.
<' <(
Lemuel.
Oct. 4, "
Elias.
Nov. I, "
Sarah.
2Z, "
Molle.
Dec. 6, "
John.
13, "
Mary.
Jan. 10, 1773.
Israel.
it i{
Timothy.
15, "
Uriah.
Feb. 28, "
Anne.
Mch. 28, "
Jabez.
30, "
Mary.
Apr. 18, "
Phebe.
May 2, "
Mabel.
(< «
Rhoda.
6, "
Elias.
9. "
Ezra.
Aug. 15, "
Mary.
29, "
Seth.
Sept. 19, "
Hannah,
tc it
Eunice.
tl (t
Peg.
Oct. 3, "
James Gale
Nov. 7, "
John Read,
21, "
Ruth.
Jan. 2, 1774.
Elnathan.
17, "
David.
Feb. 20, "
David.
Mch. 13, "
Hezekiah.
Apr. 10, "
William.
19, "
Mabel.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
David and Anna Jackson.
Ebenezer and Rachel Coley.
John and Esther Bates.
Ebenezer Couch.
Jonathan Coudh.
William and Mary Stone.
David and Sarah Turney.
Isaac Gray.
Joseph and Grace Burr.
Enos Wheeler.
Michael Wood.
Reuben and Prudence Salmon.
Justus and Hannah Bates.
Joseph and Mary Darling.
Seth and Ellen Meeker.
Stephen and Abigail Sanford.
Ephraim and Sarah Robbins.
Abraham and Joanna Adams.
Daniel and Elizabeth Perry, Jr.
James and Ellenor Rogers.
Daniel and Anne Bartram.
Henry and Hannah Hopkins.
Michael Wood.
Jesse and Mabel Banks.
Lemuel and Mary Sanford.
Nathaniel and Abigail Terrelh
Paul and Mary Bartram.
William and Sarah Read.
Seth and Rebecca Sanford.
Timothy and Elizabeth Parsons.
Preserved Taylor.
(Slave) Samuel Smith.
Dr. Asaael Fitdi.
Ephraim and Abigail Wheeler, Jr.
Nathan Sanford.
Aaron and Rebecca Barlow.
David and Abiah Sanford.
Jared and Mabel Meeker.
Ephraim and Martha Jackson,
Elijah Couch.
Cornet and Sarah Hill.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
215
Apr. 22, 1774.
John.
May 15, "
Polle.
29. ';
Abigail.
June 19,
Molle.
July 31, "
Sarah.
Sept. 4; "
Eunice.
n a
Joseph.
it <<
William.
18, "
Lemuel.
Oct. 21, "
Mary.
Nov. 18, "
Isabel.
Dec. 4, "
Samuel.
i( a
Moses.
it ti
Ellenor.
18, "
Molle.
Jan. I, 1775-
William.
15. "
Sarah.
Feb. 3, "
Uriah.
5, "
Benjamin.
12, "
Ninizo.
« <<
Nanny.
« "
Tamar.
19, "
Betty.
Mch. 5, '\^
Daniel.
Apr. 9,
William.
n «
Esther.
It «
Zalmon.
May 14,
Lois.
June 25,
Samuel
<< <••
Sarah.
July 16, "
Aaron.
<t (I
Elnathan.
24, "
Huldah.
I. "
Eunice.
Aug. 16,
Ellen.
Sept. 8,, "
James.
K «
Jonah.
Sept. 10, "
Enoch.
(I "
Esther.
24, "
Eli.
t( If
Noah.
Oct. 15, "
Abigail .
29, "
Aaron.
John and Saraih Fairchild.
Gershom and Anne Morehouse,
Oliver and Radhel Sanford.
Joseph and Hepsibah Sanford.
Abraham and Sarah Adams. .
Jonathan and Eunice Couch.
Elijah and Eunice Burr.
William and Mary Slone.
William and Lydia Hawley.
Jesse and Mabel Banks.
Daniel and Anna Rumsey.
Levi and Rebecca Dikeman.
David and Esther Jackson.
David and Ann Bartram.
Ezekiel and Abigail Sanford.
Jonas and Elizabeth Piatt.
Stephen and Lois Andrus.
Michael Wood.
Chauncey and Hannah Marchant.
Slave Joseph Banks.
Samuel and Abigail Piatt.
Daniel and Mary Chapman.
Phillip and Rachel Burritt.
Jonathan and Elizabeth Person.
Nathan and Mabel Coley.
Augustus and Abigail Sanford.
John and Sarah Davis.
Daniel and Ann Rumsey.
Joseph Adams.
Aaron and Rebecca Barlow.
Henry and Hannah Hopkins.
Jared and Mabel Meeker.
Timothy Person.
James Green.
Nathan Sanford.
Stephen and Abigail Sanford.
Eli and Hannah Nichols, Danbury.
Silas and Witely Lee.
Ephraim and Abigail Wheeler.
John and Sarah Byington.
2l6
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Nov. 25,
1775-
Eunice.
Jan. 22,
1776.
Charks.
28,
«
Ann.
Mch. 10,
<<
Joseph.
Apr. 6,
1776.
John.
14,
<c
Daniel.
21,
<(
Abigail.
«
«
Samuel.
24,
«
Azariah.
28,
«
Enoch.
<(
<(
Eli.
May 5,
«
Sarah.
12,
a
Anne.
June 9,
«
Joseph Prindle.
16,
«
Eunice.
23,
(<
Esther.
July 6,
«
Elijah.
7,
<(
Mary.
Sept. 8,
«
Ellis Abigail.
((
«
Abigail Ellis.
((
«
Abigail.
((
«
Seth.
«
it
Joseph.
22,
it
Daniel.
Oct. 13,
(<
Rhoda.
20,
ft
Gurdon.
«
<t
Sarah.
«
it
Abraham.
^7,
ft
Timothy.
Feb. 23,
^777-
David.
Mch. 30,
ft
Clare.
Apr. 13,
a
Esther.
24,
a
Rebecca.
May 4,
a
Polle.
«
it
Bette.
((
ti
Samuel.
18,
tt
Huldah.
«
tt
Piatt.
Jun€ 8,
tt
Abigail.
<^
It
Johnne.
Aug. 24,
ti
Sarah.
Sept. 7,
tt
Bettv.
21,
tt
Sturges.
Joseph and Eunice Guyer.
Ephraim and Sarah Robbins.
Hezekiah and Anne Read.
Paul and Mary Bartram.
Seth and Millison Meeker.
David and Abiah Sanford.
Timothy Hull.
William and Mary Slone.
Onesimus and Eunice Coley.
Oliver and Rachel Sanford.
Daniel and Elizabeth Perry.
Thaddeus and Deborah Benedict.
Levi and Reibecca Dikeman.
James and Eunice Wood.
Joseph and Esther Griffin.
Stephen Jackson.
John Abbott.
Lemuel and Mary Sanford.
Dr. Asael Fitch.
(( it
James and Ellenor Rogers.
Neal McNeal.
Joseph and Hannah Meeker.
Stephen and Sarah Betts.
Elijah and Eunice Burr.
Daniel and Ann Bartram.
Samuel and Abigail Piatt.
Abraham and Sarah Adams.
Abijah and Phebe Fairchild.
Ephraim and Thankful Butler.
Russell and Rachel Boutell.
Michael Wood.
Ezekiel Sanford.
Gershom and Anne Morehouse.
Phillip and Rachel Burrit.
Aaron and Rebecca Barlow.
Hezekiah and Hannah Sanford.
Micajah Starr.
Robert and Anne Stow.
Chauncey and Hannah Marchant.
Ephraim and Sarah Robbins.
Daniel Rumsey.
Augustus and Abigail Sanford.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
217
Oct. 19, 1777.
Nov. 2Z, "
Dec. 14, "
Jan. 4, 1778.
23, "
25, "
Feb. I, "
Mch. 14, "
Apr. 12, "
20,
4,
24,
Nov. I, "
Dec. 6, "
Jan. 3, 1779.
tt tt
29, "
31, "
Sarah.
Sarah.
Levi.
Zalmon.
Betty.
Aaron.
Polle.
Martha.
Slauson.
Abraham.
Esther.
Beth.
Bille.
Hannah.
Molle.
John.
Henry.
Isaac Rumsey.
Nathan.
Sarah,
Sarah.
Hannah.
Isaac.
Samuel Ward.
Abigail.
Nathan.
Hezekiah,
Anne.
Jesiip.
Obadiah.
Elizabeth.
Bette.
Hannah.
Esther.
William.
Ezekiel.
Martha.
Mary.
Abigail.
Dinah.
Molle.
Nehemiah Collins.
Hezekiah and Anne Read.
Robert and Anna Stow.
Oliver and Rachel Sanford.
Levi and Rebecca Dikeman.
Hezekiah and Sarah Piatt.
John and Esther Bates.
tt tt
Richard and Rebecca Youngs.
Seth and Millison Meeker.
Batterson (Jeremiah).
Thaddeus and Deboraih Benedict
Nathan Sanford.
William and Mary Slone.
John and Sarah Fairchild.
William and Sarah Hoyt.
(Adult.)
Nathan and Mabd Coley.
David and Abiah Sanford.
John and Sarah Byington.
John and Esther Griffin.
Daniel and Elizabeth Perry, Jr.
Jesse and Molle Benedict.
Daniel and Esther Bartlett.
Joseph Adams.
William and Sarali Read.
Daniel and Ann Bartram.
Simon Couch, Jr.
Samuel and Abigail Piatt.
James and Ellen Rogers.
Nathanaiel and Jane Barlow.
Nathan and Phebe Burr.
Samuel and Hannah Mallery.
Ezekie'l and Abigail Sanford.
Stephen Jackson.
Benjamin and Mary Darling.
Nehemiah Hull.
Slave to Samuel Smith.
Jonathan and Mabel Coudh.
Joel and Sarah Smith.
2l8
HISl
Feb. lo, 1779. Mabd.
21, '
* Aaron.
<( (
' Moses.
(( I
Phebe.
28, '
' Eunice.
Mch. 21, '
' Abijah.
Apr. 4, '
' Sarah.
May 9, '
' HannaJh.
29, '
' Rene.
June 13, '
' Stephen.
20, '
' Abigail.
« <
Mary.
Aug. 8, '
Mary.
(( <
' Daniel.
15. '
' Grace.
22, '
Olive.
29, '
' Flora.
Sept. 5, '
' Eunice.
Oct. 10, '
' Martha.
tt t
' Daniel.
Jan. 30, i;
780. Eli.
Feb. 3, '
' Zalmon.
Feb. 27, '
' Mary.
Mch. 5, '
' Jonathan.
16, '
' Margaret.
(( (
' Daniel.
19. '
' Abigail.
<< (
' Sarah.
26, '
' Ellenor.
tt t
* Hiram.
It f
Ulilla.
28, '
' John.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Jesse and Mabel Banks.
Timothy and Elizabeth Parsons.
David and Esther Jackson.
John and Tabitha Marchant.
Silas and Witely Lee.
Phillip and Rachd Burrit.
Micajah Starr.
Chauncey and Hannah Marchant.
James and Hannah Bartram.
Aaron and Rebecca Barlow.
Lemuel and Mary Sanford.
Michael Wood.
John and Mary Clugston.
Robert and Anne Stow.
Daniel and Sarah Gold.
Bille and Ruth Morehouse.
Russell and Rachel Bartlett.
Daniel and Rachel Mallery.
Asael Fitch.
'vDanid Rumsey.
Abraham and Sara^h Adams.
Samuel and Huldah Smith.
Timothy Sanford.
Elijah and Eunice Coudh.
Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons.
John and Sarah Fairchild.
Ezekiel and Abigail Sanford.
Steplhen and Sarah Betts.
Daniel and Anne Bartram.
Thaddeus and Deboraih Benedict.
Hezekiah and Anne Read.
Ephraim and Rachel Robbins.
Deaths.
I^c. 7, 1734. Abigail, d. Ebenezer Ferr>', i 3-4 yrs.
Mch. 19, 1736. Abigail, w. Peter Burr.
Aug. 28, " Elizabeth, d. Asa Hull, 7 years.
Sept. 3, " Deborah, d. Joshua Hull, 5 yrs.
Mch. 22, 1737. , s. Samuel Smith, infant.
May 29, " Jesse, s. Timothy Piatt, 2-3.
Mch. 1738. Rebecca, d. Peter Mallery, 4 mos.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
219
I74I.
^ch. 2q, 1739.
^ay 17, "
an. 1740.
29, "
''■eb. 5, "
21, "
klch. 20, "
^pr. 15, "
2^, "
line "
)ct. 20, "
uly 4,
)€pt. 18,
>Ct. 21, "
an. 2, 1742.
Vlay 1744.
Sept. I, 1745.
^ch. 14, 1754.
ran. 28, 1755.
^ch. ^y, "
Vl-ay 16, "
rune 3, "
fune 22, "
Sept. 2, "
\pr. 26, 1757.
sept. 23, "
Mch. 8, 1758.
II, "
^PT. 28, "
Feb. 2, 1759.
May 5, "
17, "
Nov. 15, "
Dec. 2, "
Oct. 14, 1760.
28, "
Nov. 6, "
II, "
16, "
26, "
Hezekiah, s. John Read, 4 yrs.
Seth, s. Samuel Smith.
Richard Lyon, ae. 87 yrs.
Elizabeth, d. Gershom Burril, 2-3.
Anne Aldredge, d. Anne Corns, 4-5.
John, s. Joseph Lee, 14 yrs.
William Edwards, 22 yrs.
Sarah, w. Samuel Chatfield, 34 yrs.
Phillip, s. Deacon Burr, 13-14.
Thomas, Indian Servt. John Read.
Sarah, d. Adam Clark, 10 mos.
Isaac Hall.
Mary Hull, 17 yrs.
Mary, w. David Gray (?)
Nathaniel Gray.
Nathan, s. James Bradley.
, w. John Clugston.
Ezra, s. John Bates, 8 mos.
Mary Ann, d, William and Mary Raymond, 7 yrs.
Esther, d. Ephraim and Elizabeth Sanford, 10 hrs.
John Gray, about 47 yrs.
Abigail, d. William Lee, 7 yrs.
Elizabeth Morehouse.
Eunice, d. Widow Hannah Gray, 8 mos.
Tabitha, d. Benjamin & Hannah Hambleton i mo.
Ensign John Read.
Mary, d. Col. John Read, 4 days.
Phebe, w. Seth Raymond, 20 yrs.
John Clugston, 64 yrs.
Samuel s. Eleazar and Lucy Smith, 2 yrs.
Joseph, s. Paul and Mary Bartram, 4 days.
Dinah, w. Parrow (slave), 46 years.
Elizabeth, w. of John Clugston, 55 yrs.
Joseph Johnson, 24 yrs.
Daniel Barlow, 25 yrs.
Esther, d. Nathaniel Hull, i 1-2 yrs.
Ruth„ti.VStephen Betts, ^4 yrs.
Arsena, w. James Gray, Jr.
Elizabeth Hull, 64 yrs.
Elizabeth, w. Jabez Burr, 42 yrs.
Elizabeth, w. Stephen Burr, 62 yrs.
Joseph Rumsey, 40 yrs.
2 20
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Dec. 1 6, 1760.
17, "
Feb. 2, 1 761.
7- '■
Feb. 25, 1 76 1.
« (t
Apr. 30, "
May I, "
June 18, "
Dec. 5, 1762.
Mch. 10, 1763.
21, "
5. 1764-
19, "
June 28, "
July 16, -
Jan. 20, 1765.
Apr. 10, 1766.
July 24, "
Aug. 8, "
Sept. 14, "
Oct. 25, "
Mch. 26, 1767.
June 23,
July 9, "
Jan. 30, 1768.
Feb. 7, "
Mch. 7, "
Apr. 24, "
"4. 28, "
May 5, "
une II,
July 7. "
Nov. 6, "
Feb. 2, 1769.
9.
June 18, "
July 16, "
Sept. 4, "
26, "
Abigail Bixby.
Abigail Hull.
Capt. Ephraim Sanford, 53 yrs.
Daniel Rumsey, ^y yrs.
, Nathaniel and Abigail Hull.
Nanne, slave Benj. Darling, 15-16.
Ensign Elias Bates.
Phyllis, slave Benjamin Darling, 11 yrs.
Scth, s. Benjamin Hambleton, 6 mos.
Ruhamah, w. Calvin Wheeler, 19 yrs.
- — ^ Sarah, w. Joseph Rumsey, 20-21.
Stephen, s. Abner Taylor, 25 yrs.
John, s. Anne Ward (and Mos'es), 7 yrs.
, John and Sarah Read, at birtlh. j
Eunice, w. John Clugston, 23-24. |
Abraham, s. Abraham Fairdiild, 19 yrs.
Lois, d. Benjamin and Katherine Meeker, 12 yrs.,
William, s. William and Lydia Hawley, infant.
David Burr, 56 yrs.
Deborah, w. Abraham Adams.
Ruth, wid. Nathaniel Hunn, 67 yrs.
Elnathan, s. Elnathan and Deboraih Sanford, 4 yrS:
Abner, s. Gershom and Anna Morehouse, 17 yrs.
Esther, d. Nathaniel Hull, infant.
Abner Booth, 22 yrs. !
Joanna, w. Joseph Banks, 53 yrs.
Matilda, d. William and Sarah Read, 6 mos.
Venus, slave Simon Couch.
David Bartram, about 60 yrs.
Ezekiel, s. Nehemiah and Griswold Hull, infant.
Mehetable, w. Josiah, 53 yrs.
John Dikeman, 97 yrs.
Ephraim Jackson, 65-6.
'** Gershom Morehouse, 64 yrs.
Elephalet, s, James Gray, 19 yrs.
Capt. Samuel Sanford, 62 yrs.
, Timothy and Mary Sanford, infant.
George Hull, 83 yrs.
Ruth, d. Paul and Mary Bartram, 11 hrs.
Hannalh Hawley (Joseph), 59 yrs.
Esther, d. Stephen and Abigail Sanford.
, w. Thomas Williams, 84 yrs.
bee.
5,
1769
[eb.
21,
1770.
lar.
24,
n
Lpr.
29,
11
lay
15,
it
Jov.
6,
«
12,
i(
)ec.
8,
tl
/[ay
29,
I77I.
)ec.
12,
((
(
25>
lay
II,
1772.
lUg.
21,
((
an.
II,
1773-
lay
II,
It
.ug.
28,
li
.pr.
20,
1774-
[ay
19,
<(
Lily
22,
(<
31,
<<
ug-
6,
((
28,
((
ct.
5>
li
li
It
2.
ii
7.
It
ov.
27,
It
ec.
17,
11
tl
eb.
2,
1775-
4,
((
5,
((
HISTORY OF REDDING. 221
-, w. Timothy Piatt, 62 yrs.
Hill, s. of George and Anne Mordiouse, 5 yrs.
Abner, s. Ebenezer and Elizabeth Q)uch.
Jabez Burr.
Daniel, s. Abraham Fairchild, 22 yrs.
Gurdon Marchant, 46 yrs. :-■■
Rebecca, d. Daniel Meek-er, 20 yrs.
Eunice, d. Dea. Lemuel Sanford, 25 yrs.
Anna, d. David and Anna Jackson, 9 mos.
Juiseph Hawley, 66 yrs.
Parrow.
Francis, s. Henry and Hannah Hopkins, i mo.
Mary, d. Daniel Couch, 2 mos.
Jdhn, s. Stephen Sanford, 2 yrs.
Rhoda, w. Elijah Burr, 24 yrs.
Betsey Canada (Burr), 17 yrs.
Twins, Ghauncey and Hannah Marchant, birth. ^ —
Mabel, d. Cornet and Sarah Hill, birth.
Huldah, w. Abijah Fairchild, 27 yrs.
Sarah, w. Col. John Read, 48 yrs.
Widow Allen (supposed) 98 yrs.
Squire, s. Obadiah Wood, 2 1-2 yrs.
Ellen, w. Seth Wheeler, 23 yrs.
Elnatban, s. Aaron and Rebecca Barlow, 10 y. 11 m.
Ruth, d. Preserved Taylor, 7 yrs.
Hannah, d. Preserved Taylor, 5 yrs.
Eleazar Smith, 74 yrs.
Darius, s. Onesimus Coley, 6 yrs.
Mabel, d. Jesse and Mabel Banks, 2 yrs.
Lemuel, s. Reuben and Prudence Salmon, 3 yrs.
Nehemiali Smith.
Daniel, s. Daniel and Abiah Sanford, 16 mos.
Widow Sturges, 80 yrs.
Es'tiher, w. Nathan Burr, 21 yrs.
Records of marriages, baptisms and deaths of the Congregational
hurch close with 1780, and do not begin again until 1809, in the pastor-
;e of the Rev. Daniel Crocker. The early parish records of Christ
piscopal Church are missing. The town record of vital statistics be-
ins 1767, and ends in 1804. These records were kept in a fragmentary
lanner, the town clerk seemingly having invited the heads of families at
irious times to bring in for record a list of their children.
222 HISTORY OF REDDING.
From 1820 to 1832 ministers and Justices of the Peace reported mar-
riages to the town clerk, under a State law; in 1832 a law was enacted
compelling them to make such returns.
The probate records of Redding date from 1839, and are in the hands
of Judge John Nickerson, who is also town clerk, and has the custody of
the town records. The clerk of the Congregational Society having
charge of its records is John B. Sanford. From 181 2 to 1839 the Pro-
bate records were kept in Danbury, where they may be found for those
years. Prior to 181 2 they were in Fairfield.
CHAPTER XXIV.
The Early Families of Redding.*
ADAMS.
Joseph Adams removed, when a young man, from Boston to Fair-
field, and married soon after, Joanna Disbrow of Fairfield. About 1760
he removed to Redding and settled in Lonetown on the farm later owned
by his grandson, Stephen. He died May 18, 1826, age 86 years. His
children were: Stephen, bapt. Aug. 15, 1762; 2, Hezekiah, bapt. Sept.
30, 1764; 3, Ellen, bapt. Nov. 10, 1765; 4, Abigail, bapt. March 6, 1768;
5, Joseph, bapt. April 28, 1771 ; 6, Israel, bapt. Jan. 10, 1773 ; 7, Aaron,
bapt. July 16, 1775 ; 8, Nathan, bapt. Sept. 6, 1778.
Of these children Stephen enlisted in the Continental Army and never
returned. Hezekiah married Betty Parsons of Redding, and had Betsey,
who married John Gray and settled in Norwalk; Stephen, who lived in
the old homestead and died aged ninety-nine; Lemuel, who also lived in
Redding, and died aged ninety-eight; 'Aaron, who removed to the west,
and Elenor, who married Hawley Judd. Stephen married Polly Judd of
Bethel, Conn., and had two children, twins, Henry and Harriet. Henry
married Juliet Hawley of Monroe, and had three children, George Henry,
Eugene and John. George Henry married Miss Emma Olmstead of
Redding and had one child, who died in infancy. He died in 1878.
Eugene married Miss Josephine Clark of Bethel, Oct. 30, 1872, and has
one child. May Helen, who married Theodore Haight of Ridgefield,
♦These notes are not intended as complete histories of the families mentioned,
but rather as sketches of the early settlers of the town and as aids to the geneal-
ogist.
For complete histories the early records of Fairfield, Stratford, Norwalk, West-
port, Newtown and Danbury should also be consulted.
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HISTORY OF REDDING.
223
:onn., June 16, 1904, and has one child, Eugene Milton, born Apr. 16,
905. John married Miss Jennie Sherwood of Redding, and has one
m, Clayton Sherwood, born Jan. 4, 1888. Mr. John Adams is foreman
f the shipping department of the United States Armory at Springfield,
lass. Mr. Henry Adams died Aug. 5, 1906. His wife, JuUet, died
lov. 20, 1905.
Lemuel, 2d, son of Hezekiah Adams, married Miss Rebecca Hoyt of
(anbury, and had two children, Julia, who married Dr. Joseph E. Clark
f Redding and had two children, Henrietta and Joseph, and Theodore,
ho married Miss Sarah Gates of Newfane, Vt., and had two children,
ulia R. and Edgar C. Julia R. died in girlhood. Edgar C. has been
)r many years inspector in the United States Armory at Rock Island,
linois.
Mr. Theodore Adams, after holding a responsible position for thirty-
ve years with the large carriage manufacturing firm of William H.
mith, of Springfield, Mass., has recently come back to live in the old
omestead of his father in Redding.
Lemuel Adams held a captain's commission in the State Militia dur-
ig the War of 1812, and at one time was detailed to take his company
> the defense of New London, then menaced by a British fleet.
Israel, sixth child of Joseph Adams, married Abigail Stowe, March
3, 1796, and settled in Lonetown near his father. Their children were,
hilo, Linda, Lucinda, John, Huldah, Betsey, Amanda, Polly and Minot,
le latter now living, aged 88 years. Israel Adams died Sept. 27, 1838;
is wife, Abigail, died Oct. 27, 1824.
Joseph Adams, the original settler, died May 18, 1826, aged 86 years;
is wife, Joanna Disbrow, died Nov. 5, 1829, aged 90 years.
It is related of Hezekiah Adams, second son of Joseph the first, that
)o young to enlist as a soldier in the Revolutionary Army, he entered
le service as a teamster, and on one occasion drove a wagon, loaded with
panish milled dollars, to Baltimore.
Abraham Adams, brother of Joseph, was contemporary with him in
.edding, and lived where Joseph Hill now resides. His wife was Sarah
. Their children were: Ann, baptized March 6, 1768; Deborah,
aptized April 28, 1771 ; Sarah, baptized July 31, 1774, died in infancy;
arah, baptized October 20, 1776; Eli, baptized January 30, 1780. Fam-
y record mentions a son Abraham. This family probably removed to
le West.
BANKS.
Jesse Banks, son of Joseph Banks, of Fairfield, removed to Redding
t an early day; married, June 11, 1763, Mabel Wheeler (town record
lys Mehitable Wheeler). Their children were: Hyatt, born December
224
HISTORY OF REDDING.
9, 1764; Jesse, born October 29, 1766; Joanna, born July 27, 1768; Mabel,
born October 2, 1772, died in infancy; Mary, born June 2^, 1774; Mabel,
born November 17, 1776.
Jesse married, December 15, 1787, Martha Summers. Mabel mar-
ried Ebenezer Foot, August 29, 1797. Seth Banks also appears in Red-
ding contemporary with Jesse; married Sarah Pickett, November 20,
1766, and had children: Mehitable, born January 15, 1768, and Thomas;
and perhaps others.
BARLOW.
The Barlow family in Redding is descended from John Barlow, whc
appears in Fairfield as early as 1668, and died in 1674. Samuel Barlo\
son of Samuel Barlow, of Fairfield, grandson of John Barlow, he a soi
of the first settler of that name, removed to Redding about 1740, anc
settled in what is now Boston district, near the present residence of Brad-j
ley Hill. He married, first, Eunice^ daughter of Daniel Bradley, of
Fairfield, August 2, 1731. Their children were: Daniel, born Novem-
ber 24, 1734; Ruhamah, born January 22, 1737; James, born January 29J
1739; Jabez, born March 21, 1742. After the death of his first wifeJ
Samuel Barlow married Esther, daughter of Nathaniel Hull, of ReddingJ
August 7, 1774. She died August 28, 1775, aged fifty-four years. Theii
children were: Nathaniel, born May 13, 1745; Aaron, born February 11^
1750; Samuel, born April 3, 1752; Joel, the poet, born March 24, 1754;
Huldah, born . Mr. Samuel Barlow purchased his farm oi
James Bradley for £2500. It consisted of 170 acres, with "buildings
thereon," and was bounded on the north by the first cross Highway fror
the rear of the long lots — without doubt the road before mentioned lead-j
ing from Boston through the Centre to Redding Ridge. "This northei
boundary," says Mr. Hill, ""together with the familiar names of the olc
owners of property on the other side of the farm, and also the names oi
such familiar localities on the farm as 'the boggs,' and the 'flat ridgeJ
and the 'up and down road' leading to each from the main road, marfl
this farm purchased by Samuel Barlow as being unmistakably the presen^
property of Bradley Hill, and the heirs of Gershom Hill. There was 01
it at the time a good substantial dwelling-house of respectable size, erect-j
ed by a previous owner, and which stood about four hundred feet west
of the present residence of Bradley Hill, on the same side of the street
The house was demolished in 1823. Having purchased this propei
January 2, 1749, he undoubtedly located his family on it the following
spring, as in subsequent deeds he is recognized as a resident of the
'Parish of Reading.' It was here that Aaron, Samuel, Joel, and Huldah
were born. It was here he lived and died, and from here he was buried
HISTORY OF REDDING.
225
ti the old cemetery west of the Congregational Church in Redding Cen-
re."
Of the children of Samuel Barlow, Daniel and Ruhamah died early,
ames settled in Ridgefield, on a farm of 130 acres conveyed to him by
is father March 30, 1770. He had four children : Samuel, who re-
loved to the South ; Lewis, Abigail, and James, who settled in Vermont,
abez, the youngest son by the first wife, settled in Ohio.
Nathaniel Harlow married Jane Bradley, who was born May, 1744.
'heir children were: Gershom, born October 21, 1865; died of con-
[imption September 24, 1794. Esther, born September 30, 1767; a deaf
lute; died May 10, 1783. Sarah, born January 16, 1770; died April 11,
845. Jonathan, born April 14, 1772; died August 28, 1775. Betsey,
orn August 2, 1778; died September 9, 1864. Huldah, born April 3,
780, a deaf mute; died August 29, 1787. Mr. Nathaniel Barlow died
)ecember 26, 1782.
Aaron Barlow settled in Redding, in Umpawaug, on a farm purchas-
d by his father several years before. He was a man of ability, tall, and
ras of imposing bearing, and was an officer in the Revolution. He re-
loved to Norfolk, Va., and died there of yellow fever. His children
'eve: Elnathan, who died young; Elnathan, died in the war of 1812;
amuel, removed to Ohio; Stephen was a lawyer in Ohio; Daniel, lived
tid died in Redding; Aaron, died at sea; Esther, died at Norfolk, of
ellow fever ; Joel, died in Redding ; Rebecca, lived and died in Redding ;
nd Thomas, called after Thomas Paine by his uncle Joel.
Thomas was educated and adopted by his uncle, the poet, and accom-
anied him to France as his private secretary. He was also his com-
anion on the fatal journey to Wilna. After the death of his uncle,
'homas returned to America and established himself as a lawver in
ittsburg, Pa., and died there.
Of Joel Barlow, the poet, a full account is given elsewhere.
BARTLETT.
Fv.ev. Nathaniel Bartlett, second pastor of the Congregational Church
L Redding, became a resident in 1753, and so remained until his death
I 1810. He married, June 13, 1753, Mrs. Eunice Russell, of Bran-
)rd, Conn. Their children were: Russell, bapt. June 9, 1754; Daniel
., bapt. January 16, 1757; Anne, bapt. February 25, 1759; Eunice,
ipt. April 26, 1761 ; Jonathan, bapt. October 14, 1764; Lucretia, bapt.
[arch 27, 1768. Russell married, February 28, 1776, Rachel Taylor,
id had children: Clare, bapt. March 30, 1777, and Flora, bapt. August
), 1779. Daniel C. married Esther Read, January 7, 1778, and settled
Amenia, N. Y., where some of his descendants now reside. Rev.
mathan Bartlett married, first, Roda, daughter of Lemuel Sanford ;
2 26 HISTORY OF REDDING.
I
second, Betsey Marvin, of Wilton ; and, third, Abigail, daughter of Lem-
uel Sanford. He had no children.
Sketches of Rev. Jonathan Bartlett, and of his father, Rev. Nathaniel
Bartlett, are given in the history of the Congregational Church.
BARTRAM.
David Bartram removed from Fairfield to Redding as early as
1733, in which year he appears as surveyor of highways. He was a
farmer, and settled in Lonetown. He had five sons and three daughters
born in Fairfield, viz. : David, Paul, James ; Daniel, born October 23,
1745 ; John, Mabel, Hannah, and Betsey. All the sons settled in Red-
ding. David married, April 30, 1762, Phebe Morehouse, by whom he
had Joel, David, John, Jonathan, Hulda, Hepsy, and Phebe. (Family
record.) Paul married, September 19, 1756, Mary Hawley. Their
children were: Joseph, born January 28, 1758, died in infancy; Mary,
born May 12, 1760; Sarah, born August 6, 1762; Eunice, born January
3, 1765; Eli, born March 30, 1767; Ruth, born January 7, 1769; Ezekiel,
born July 9, 1770, (Town record); Ezra, bapt. May 9, 1773; Joseph,
bapt. March 10, 1776. (Family record mentions a daughter Olive.) Of
these children, Mary married Jabez Burr, and removed to Clarendon,
Vt. Sarah married Milo Palmer, and removed to the same place. Eu-
nice married Daniel Parsons, of Redding. Eli married Dolly Lyon, of
Redding; and about 1804 removed to Delaware Co., N. Y. His chil-
dren were William, Belinda, Phebe, and Lodema. Ezekiel married
Esther, daughter of Jonathan Parsons, of Redding. Their children 1
were: Mary, Jared, Milo, Clarissa, Elizabeth, Jehu, Sarah, Elias, Ezra,
Phebe, and Noah. One of his sons, Jehu, studied law and rose to emi-
nence in the profession ; was judge, representative, and senator. Ezekiel
removed to Ohio at an early day, and settled in Marion, where he resided
until his death, March 15, 1845. Ezra was a sailor; married Elinor,
daughter of Chauncey Merchant, of Redding, and quitting the sea, re-
moved to Delaware Co., N. Y., where he died shortly after, leaving chil-
dren— Joel M., Ezra, Uriah, and Lucy. Joseph removed first to Ver-
mont, and afterward to Tioga Co., N. Y. Olive married Justus Stillson,
of Redding, and removed to Groton, N. Y.
James Bartram, son of David, settled in Redding. Was a private in
the Revolution. Married Hannah Morehouse, who became the mother
of twenty-one children, ten only of whom survived. These were : Isaac,
born April 15, 1758; Noah, born 1760; James, born 1770; Aaron, born
February 21, 1784; Lucy, Hannah, Betsey, Irena, and Anna.
Of these children, Isaac settled in Redding ; married Molly Hamilton,
by whom he had seven children : Isaac H., Harry, David, Willis, Chasie,
Lucy, Polly, and Huldah.
ISAAC H. BARTRAM.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
227
Isaac H. Bartram, born May 22, 1785, married Lydia Piatt of Red-
ding, November 11, 1811. Their children were: Betsey, born Aug. 5,
1812, m. Charles B. Rich, of Richville, N. Y., Oct. 29, 1833; Mary Jane,
born Feb. 27, 1814, married John Harrington, of Newsted, N. Y., Dec.
22, 1861 ; Uriila, born 1816, died in 1822; Sally Hill, born Jan. 20, 1818,
married Aaron Squire, of Weston, Apr. 14, 1834; Lydia, died in in-
fancy; Lydia B., born Jan. 16, 1822, married Levi Drew of Bethel, Conn.,
Oct. 13, 1847; Abby, born Aug. 19, 1824, married Perry Fairchild, of
Stepney, June 13, 1852; Adaline, born Dec. 29, i826,married AsabelP.
Clapp, of Sharon, Oct., 1850; Lucy, born March 20, 1829, married Rev.
Charles W. Lockwood, of Monroe, Apr. 23, 1850; Huldah, born July 4,
1831, married Comfort Blake, of Napanoch, N. Y. ; Laura, born Sept. 9,
1833, married Joel Osborne, of Redding, Nov. 9, 1852; Isaac Newton,
born March 25, 1838, married Helen Delphine Winans, of New Haven,
March 27, 1861 ; Ezra Albert, born Oct. 22, 1843, married Lucy Maria
Stowe, of Redding, Oct. 22, 1862. Isaac H. Bartram died April 25,
1864; his wife Lydia died Oct. 6, 1873.
Aaron, son of Tames, also settled in Redding, married Eunice Jen-
kins, and raised a large family of children.
Daniel, fourth son of David, also settled in Redding, was a tanner
and currier by trade, and built the first works of the kind'in the town, on
the ground later occupied by Walter M. Edmonds for the same purpose.
He married, October 10, 1768, Ann Merchant, of Redding. Their chil-
dren were: Esther, born April 16, 1770; Gurdon, born October 25, 1771,
died in infancy; Anna, born January 23, 1773, died in infancy; Elinor,
born March i, 1774, died in infancy; Gurdon, born September 21, 1776;
Anna, born August 10, 1778, married Mead, settled in Ridgefield;
Elinor, born February 4, 1780, died in infancy; Uriah, born January 9,
1782; Elinor, born October 28, 1783, married Nash, settled in
Marion; Julilla, born November 12, 1785, married Bangs, settled
in Central N. Y. ; Levi, born November 26, 1787; Phebe, born Septem-
ber 19, 1790, married Curtin ; David, born June 5, 1795. At the
time of Tryon's invasion, with nearly every other man in the town capa-
ble of bearing arms, Daniel Bartram joined the militia and marched to
the defence of Danbury. Being absent several days, he sent word to
his wife that she must get some one to take the hides from the vats or
they would spoil. There was not a man to be found ; and so the brave
woman, leaving her four small children to amuse one another, caught
her horse, hitched him to the bark mill, ground the bark, took the hides
out, turned and repacked them and had just seated herself at the dinner-
table when her husband rode up, having gained leave of absence for the
purpose of attending to the matter. On the 3d of May, 1810, Daniel
Bartram left Redding, accompanied by his wife, his four children, Uriah,
2 28 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Levi, Phebe, and David, and several of his neighbors, for what was then
the wilderness of Ohio. They arrived in Madison, Lake Co., Ohio, on
the loth of June, where they settled, and where many of their descend-
ants now reside. Daniel Bartram died in Madison, May 17, 181 7. His
widow di^d August 3, 1835. Gurdon Bartram, the eldest son of Daniel,
remained in Redding. He married, January i, 1804, Lorraine, daughter
of Oliver Sanford, of Redding. Their children were: Aaron R., Lucy
A., Barney, Coley, Betsey, Oliver, Daniel S., Ephraim, Levi, Frederick,
Mary, and Julia. Gurdon Bartram died April 12, 1845, at the old home-
stead later occupied by his grandson David. Uriah, second son of
Daniel, settled in Madison, Ohio, where he died quite suddenly of heart-
disease, June 28, 1830, leaving a wife and six children. Levi, third son
of Daniel, settled in Madison, Ohio; married, June 17, 1813, Betsey Nott
Walker, who was born in Ashford, Conn., April 29, 1790. Mr. Bartram
died of heart-disease May 12, 1857, leaving a family of five children.
His widow died June 13, 1863. David, fourth son of Daniel, also settled
in Madison, and subsequently removed to Trumbull, Ashtabula Co.,
Ohio. He married, March 12, 1818, Elizabeth Gregory, formerly of
Harpersfield, N. Y. They had six children. Mr. Bartram died of heart
disease September 2, 1875.
John Bartram, son of David the first, married, September 19, 1756,
Charity Bulkley. Family record mentions two children, Sally and Sam-
uel.
BATES.
Elias Bates was received to church membership in Redding, Janu-
ary 19, 1745. His wife, Sarah, March 4, 1748. There is no hint of his
previous residence, and he probably came here direct from England.
His children recorded in Redding were: Justus, baptized July 26, 1747;
and Sarah, baptized February 2, 1752 ; by a second wife, Tabitha ,
Walker, baptized January 6, 1760; Elias, baptized February 16, 1761,
died in infancy.
John Bates, probably son of Elias, married Esther . Their
children were: Ezra, baptized March 2;^, 1760, died in infancy; John,
baptized July 25, 1762; Sarah, baptized May 5, 1764; Esther, baptized
August 23, 1767; Nathan, baptized March 25, 1770; Aaron, July i, 1772;
Martha and Slawson, January 26, 1778.
Justus Bates, son of Elias, married Hannah Coley, May 23, 1770.
They had one child, Elias, baptized October 4, 1772, who married, No-
vember 9, 1793, Lydia Andrews, of Redding, and was the father of three
children — Walker, born June 4, 1796; Amaziah, born May 17, 1801 ; and
Harriet, born May 21, 1804.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 2 29
BEACH.
John Beach, missionary of the Church of England in Redding, was
born in Stratford, Conn., October 6, 1700. His father was Isaac Beach,
son of John Beach who came from England in 1643. He graduated
from Yale College in 1721. He married, first Sarah , who died in
1756; and, second, Abigail Holbrook, who after his death returned to
Derby. He had in all nine children. Those who had families were:
Joseph, born September 26, 1727; Phebe, born 1729, married Daniel Hill
of Redding, died 1751, leaving a son Abel; John, born 1734, married
Phebe Curtis, died in 1791 ; Lazarus, born 1736, had two children, viz.,
Lazarus, born 1760, and Isaac, born 1773.
Lazarus inherited his father's land in Redding, at Hopewell, near
which he built his house. Lazarus Beach, Jr., was of a literary turn, and
edited a paper at Bridgeport, and afterward at Washington, D. C. On
his journey to the latter place he lost his trunk or valise, containing the
Beach manuscripts, and all his materials gathered for the purpose of
writing a memoir of his distinguished grandfather. He built the house
now standing near Mr. Godfrey's. Isaac Beach built the house later
occupied by Hull B. Bradley, now Mr. Noble Hoggson's. The Rev.
John Beach lived about thirty or forty rods south of the church, proba-
bly on the site of the old Captain Munger house, which has long since
disappeared. Lucy, daughter of the Rev. John Beach, married Rev. Mr.
Townsend, and was lost at sea on her passage to Nova Scotia, probably
at the time of the great exodus of Loyalists after the Revolution. The
mother of James Sanford, Sen., was the daughter of Lazarus and grand-
daughter of Rev. John Beach.
BENEDICT.
The Benedicts were a Norwalk family and settled quite largely in
Ridgefield. The first of the name whom I find in Redding was Thad-
deus Benedict, who was a lawyer and town clerk for a term of years.
His house stood in the lot adjoining the Congregational parsonage, near
the site of the present residence of James Gregory. His law office was
under the great elm in front of his house. He married Deborah Read,
July 12, 1775, daughter of Colonel John Read, who bore him several
children.
BETTS.
Lieutenant Stephen Betts, a prominent character in the Revolu-
tion, lived on Redding Ridge, in a house that stood on the corner, nearly
opposite the former residence of Francis A. Sanford. He was an active
Whig, and was taken prisoner by the British on their march to Danbury
in 1777. He had a son Daniel, and two or three daughters, of whom I
230
HISTORY OF REDDING.
have no record. His son Daniel was a merchant for a while on Redding
Ridge and then removed to New Haven, where some of his children are
now living.
BURR.
Among the earliest settlers of Redding were Jehu, Stephen and Peter
Burr, sons of Daniel Burr, of Fairfield, and brothers of the Rev. Aaron
Burr, President of Princeton College. They all appear at about the
same time, viz., 1730. In October of that year Stephen Burr was
elected a member of the first Society Committee of the parish. He mar-
ried Elizabeth Hull, June 8th, 172 1. Children: Grace, born December
I2th, 1724; Elizabeth, born January 17, 1728; Hezekiah, born September
ist, 1730; Sarah, born November 9th, 1732; Martha, born March 24th,
1735; Esther, born February 5th, 1743; Rebecca. He married, second,
Abigail Hall, of New Jersey. He lived in a house that stood where Miss
Burgess now lives. His only son, Hezekiah, died December, 1785, un-
married. Of the daughters, Grace married Daniel Gold, Elizabeth mar-
ried Reuben Squire, Sarah married Joseph Jackson, Martha married
Zacariah Summers, Esther married Antony Angevine, and Rebecca,
Seth Sanford. Deacon Stephen Burr died in 1779. Of him Colonel
Aaron Burr wrote in his journal in Paris : "My uncle Stephen lived on
milk punch, and at the age of eighty-six mounted by the stirrup a very
gay horse, and galloped off with me twelve miles without stopping, and
was I thought less fatigued than I."
Peter Burr first appears in Redding as clerk of a society meeting held
October nth, 1730. His children were Ellen, baptized September
19, 1734; Sarah, baptized February 21st, 1736; Ezra, baptized January
2d, 1737; Edmund, baptized September 28th, 1761. Peter Burr died in
August, 1779. His children shortly after removed to Virginia.
Jehu Burr and wife were admitted to church-membership in Redding
September 24th, 1738. None of his children were recorded in Redding,
and none, so far as known, settled there. He owned property in Fair-
field, and probably spent the last years of his life there.
Jabez Burr, son of Joseph Burr, of Fairfield, and his wife Elizabeth,
appear in Redding as early as 1743. Their children were Elijah, bap-
tized May 15th, 1743; Nathan, born January ist, 1745; Jabez,
Ezekiel, born March 23d, 1755; Stephen, born January i6th, 1757; Joel,
born September 9th, 1759; Eunice, Huldah, and Hannah. Jabez Burr
died in 1770. He is said to have settled in the Saugatuck Valley, near
the present residence of Stephen Burr, and to have built there the first
grist-mill in the town. Of his children, Elijah married Roda Sanford,
April 2d, 1767, and had children — Lemuel and Elizabeth; and by a sec-
ond wife — Eunice Hawley, married April 27th, 1773 — Joseph, Roda,
HISTORY OF REDDING.
231
John (who died of yellow-fever in the West Indies), and Lucy, who mar-
ried Jonathan Knapp, of Redding. Nathan, the second son, removed
to Pawlings, Dutchess Co., N. Y., in 1792, and there founded a numer-
ous and wealthy family. Jabez, the third son, married Mary, daughter
of Paul Bartram, and removed to Clarendon, Vt., in 1786. He had one
son, Aaron. Ezekiel, married Huldah Merchant, of Redding, who bore
him three children : Aaron, who lived and died in the house nov/ owned
by John Nickerson; William, who removed to Kentucky in 1816; and
Huldah, who married Daniel Mallory in 1806, and removed to the West.
A son of William Burr became President of the St. Louis National
Bank. Another son, George, a teller in the same institution, was the
companion of Prof. Wise in his late fatal balloon expedition, and shared
the fate of the aeronaut. Stephen Burr married Mary Griffin, of Red-
ding. His children were: Clara, Mary, Stephen, and Ezekiel. Joel
Burr married Elizabeth Gold and settled in Ballston Springs, N. Y.
BURRITT.
William Burritt and wife were admitted members of the church De-
cember 9th, 1739. No hint of their previous residence is given. Their
children recorded at Redding were: Mary, baptized December i6th,
1739; Abijah, January i8th, 1741 ; Roda, October 24, 1742; Sybil, Febru-
ary 19, 1744. Gershom Burritt appears at the same time. His son Solo-
mon was baptized August 5th, 1739; Noah. January 31st, 1742; Na-
thaniel, October 17th, 1743; Isaac, July 21st, 1745.
BURTON.
Benjamin, son of Solomon Burton, baptized December 19th, 1742.
Ruth, daughter, baptized October 7th, 1744. Solomon Burton and wife,
church members July 5th, 1741.
CHATFIELD.
Samuel Chatfield and wife were admitted church members July 29th,
1733. Their children recorded were: Samuel, baptized July 29th, 1733;
Daniel, baptized August 31st, 1735; Sarah, April 17th, 1737; Martha,
baptized May 20th, 1739.
COUCH.
Captain Samuel Couch, of Fairfield, was one of the largest landhold-
ers in Redding at one time, and was largely instrumental in its settlement.
He was, however, never resident here. Ebenezer Couch appears here as
early as 1739. His children recorded were: Daniel, baptized July 29th,
1739; Adea, baptized September 19th, 1742; Elijah, baptized July 26th,
1747; Thesde, January 26th, 1755.
232
HISTORY OF REDDING.
The following children of John Couch and his wife Elizabeth are
recorded: John, baptized March 20th, 1748; Stephen, January 21st,
1753 ; Adria, baptized April 20th, 1755 ; Elizabeth, baptized July 17th,
1757; Samuel, baptized August 30th, 1758.
At an early day, nearly the entire district of Couch's Hill was pur-
chased by Mr. Simon Couch, of Fairfield, who gave his name to the dis-
trict purchased. His wife was Abigail Hall, a member of a notable
Fairfield family. His will, dated March 2d, 1712-13, is still in the pos-
session of the heirs of Mr. Nash Couch, of Couc^h's Hill, w'ho was a lineal
descendant. In this will 'he gives his ''Negro man Jack" and "negro
maid Jinne" to his wife, in addition to other bequests. His children men-
tioned in the will were: Simon, Jr., Thomas, Abigail, Hannah, Sarah,
Isabel, and Deborah. Thomas was lost at sea while on a voyage to Eng-
land. Simon settled on his father's estate in Redding; married, Janu-
ary 27th, 1753, Rebecca, daughter of Captain Thomas Nash, of Fair
field. Their children, as given in the genealogy of the Nash family
were: Abigail, baptized February loth, 1754, died young; Simon, bor
May i8th, 1755, settled at Green's Farms; Thomas Nash, born April
18th, 1758, settled in Redding; Rebecca, born January 31st, 1761 ; Abi-
gail, baptized January 27th, 1765 ; Lydia, born October 20th, 1767.
Deacon Simon Couch died April 25th, 1809.
Thomas Couch, of Fairfield, removed to Redding prior to the Revo-
lution, and settled on Umpawaug Hill. He married, April 2d, 1772,
Sarah, daughter of Jonathan Nash, of Fairfield. Their children were:
Sarah, born August 9th, 1773, died young; Thomas, born September
23d, 1774; Jonathan, born February 13th, 1777, who was the father of
Major-General Couch, distinguished in the War of the Rebellion; Sarah,
born September i8th, 1779; Nathan, born September 25th, 1781 ; Esther,
born December 14th, 1783; Moses, born October 2d, 1786; Edward, born
March 7th, 1789; Hezekiah, born March 14th, 1791 ; Mary, born April
2ist, 1793 ; John, born July 28th, 1795. Mr. Thomas Couch died in Red-
ding in 1817.
At the outbreak of the Revolution Thomas Couch enlisted in the pa-
triot army, and was one of the band of heroes who were present with
Montgomery at the siege of Quebec. He left his wife with their young
children in Fairfield. When Tryon moved on that town, Mrs. Couch
had what furniture and grain she could gather put into an ox cart drawn
by two yoke of oxen, and started for Redding, where she owned land in
iher own right. She followed on horseback, carrying her two dhildren
in her arms. At the close of the war, Thomas joined his wife in Red-
ding, where they continued to reside until death.
Simon Couch, brother of Thomas, settled in Redding, on Umpawaug
Hill, about the same time. He married, January 7th, 1776, Eleanor,
I-
J
HISTORY OF REDDING. 233
daughter of Jonathan Nas(h, of Fairfield. Their children were: Eliza-
beth, born October 9th, 1776; Jessup, born August 3d, 1778; Seth, bom
August 31st, 1780; Eleanor, born August 26th, 1782. Simon, born De-
cember ist, 1784; Nash, born April 23d, 1787; Priscilla, born June 27th,
1790; Edward, born July 14th, 1792; Simon A., born December 6th,
1794; Caroline, born June 23d, 1801. Simon Couch died April i6th,
1829. Of the children, Simon and Jessup graduated at Yale College.
Jessup gralduated in 1802, and in 1804 removed to Ohillicothe, Ohio,
where he practised law until his appointment as Judge of the Superior
Court of Ohio in 181 5. This office he continued to hold until his death
in 1 82 1. In the War of 1812 he was also aide-de-camp to Governor
Meigs, of Ohio, and bearer of dispatches to General Hull.
Simon Couch, his brother, settled at Marion, Ohio, where he practised
medicine until his death in 1826.
CROFUT.
This family name has been variously spelled — Crofut, Crofutt, Crow-
fut, &c. In Great Britain it is generally spelled Crofutt. An additional
"f" was inserted in the name by David K., son of Eri, about 1850, for
business reasons. It does not appear that the name was ever identical
with the name Crawford.
Matthew Crofut, born in Danbury in 171 1, is the first found of the
name in the local records of Connecticut. Nothing further is known of
him except that he had a son Benjamin, who married Abigail Wood.
Matthew Crofut married Sarah Buck, in 1765, in Danbury. He was
probably a son of the preceding. Children: Sarah and Samuel, 1767;
Seely, 1768; Samuel, 1770; Ohloe, 1773; Eunice, 1775; Eri, 1778.
Eri married Betsey Davarin, in 1798. They had children: Lois,
1799; Paulina, 1801 ; Benedict, 1802; Minerva, 18 — ; Lucy Ann, 18 — ;
David Knapp, 18 — ; Fidelia, 18 — .
Benedict, born September, 1802, married Harriet Newell Hull, and
had children: Paulina, Frederick, William Augustus (Jan. 29, 1835),
Fidelia, Elizabeth, Emma, Charles.
David Knapp (Croffut) married (1840) Harriet Treat. Chil-
dren: William Augustus (Crofifut) married (1862) Margaret Marshall,
of Danbury. Children: William Marsihall, Margaret, Zoe. Married
(1892), (2nd) Bessie Ballard Nicholls, of Washington.
DARLING.
Eunice, daugihter of Joseph Darling, baptized January 25tih, 1736;
Benjamin, baptized April 13th, 1738; Martha, January nth, 1741 ;
Joseph, baptized November, 1743.
2 34 HISTORY OF REDDING.
FAIRCHILD.
Thomas Fairchild removed to Redding from Norwalk in 1733; was
one of the original members of the church. His wife Mary was ad-
mitted January 29th, 1738. Their children recorded were: Timothy
and William, baptized October 22d, 1738; Sarah, April 12th, 1741 ; Abi-
jah, May 27th, 1744; Mary, October 27th, 1745.
Eli, eldest son of David and Charlotte (Guyer) Fairchild, married
, and in 1842 removed to Fairfield, Vt., where other Red-
ding families had gone. His children living are: David S. (now Dean
of the Medical College, Drake Univ., Des Moines, Iowa. See sketch,
Chapter XIX); Mrs. Alton Johnson, of Sioux City, la.; Mrs. Horatio
N, Burr, of Fairfield, Vt., and William H., a lawyer in Fairfield, Vt.
The latter has two sons, Harold L., now in his junior year at the Uni-
versity of Vermont, and Donald S., a student at Montpelier Seminary.
Abram Fairchild, probably brother of above, came from Norwalk
in 1746, and built the first fulling-mill in the town, near the site later oc-
cupied by Deacon Foster's woolen-mill. His wife was Sarah Scribner,
of Norwalk. Their children were: Abraham, born January ist, 1745,
died aged 17 years; Ezekiel, born October 26th, 1746; Daniel, born De-
cember 26th, 1748; Isaac, born March 4th, 175 1 ; David, born June 5th,
1753; Samuel, born July 9th, 1755; Stephen, born March 7th, 1758;
Rachel, born February 2d, 1761 ; John, born March 15th, 1764; Ellen,
born October i6th, 1767. Six of these brothers were in the Revolution-
ary army at one time. David was captured by the British, and confined
in Trinity Church, New York. The small-pox was oommunicated to the
prisoners — it is said with design, and he with many others died of the
disease. Stephen was wounded at Ridgefield, bu; recovered; married
Lizzie Fitch, of Wilton. Their children were: Daniel, Kier, Isaac,
Ellen, and Stephen. Ezekiel married Eunice Andrews; had four chil-
dren; Abraham, Sarah, Abigail, and Burr. Daniel married Betsey
Mead, and removed to the West. Isaac married Rachel Banks, and re-
moved to Liberty, N. Y. Samuel married Nabbie Piatt, of Redding,
and had two children : Aaron and Betsey. John married Abigail Wake-
man, of Weston. Their children were: Eli, David, Rachel, Moses,
Henry, and Eliza. David married Charlotte Guyer, of Weston. Their
children were: Eli, William, David, Mary, and John. Rachel married
Seth Andrews, of Redding. Ellen married Minott Thomas, a Baptist
clergyman.
Stephen, Samuel, and John built a grist mill at an early day on the
site of the one later known as Treadwell's mill. It was carried off by the
great freshet of 1807, and the large stock of grain it contained was scat-
tered over the meadows below. They also owned a saw-mill just be-
low, and sawed plank for the soldiers' huts in the Revolution.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
235
FOSTER.
Reginald Foster, the founder of the family in America, came to this
untry in 1638 with his five sons, Abraham, Reginald, William, Isaac,
id Jacob, and settled at Ipswich, Essex Co., Mass. Jacob Foster was
e ancestor of the Redding family. Jonah Foster settled in Redding
out 1775; married Hannah Benedict, of Ridgefield, and shortly after
moved to that town, and there resided until his death in 181 5. His
n, Joel Foster, was born in Redding November 8th, 1780, and lived in
idg'efield witih his parents until 'his marriage with Eseher Seymour in
02. In 1803 he removed to Redding, and bought of Moses Fox a
lall place, on which was a fulling-mill and other • conveniences for
eapening cloths. This mill stood a little below the present bridge over
Dbb's Creek brook, and the ruins of its dam are still to be seen. In
04, Mr. Foster built an addition to his fulling-mill building, which
IS leased to Zalmon Toucey, of Newtown, and in which Toucey erected
zarding machine, paying a yearly rent of twenty dollars.
How long Mr. Toucey's lease continued is not known, but he proba-
/ soon reliquished it to Joel Foster, as the latter continued the business
:til about the time of the opening of the War of 181 2, when a company
IS formed, styled Comstock, Foster & Co., who built a woolen factory
few rods below the old fulling-mill, and continued the manufacture of
)olen goods during the entire period of the war, being very successful.
le company, a few years after the war, was bought out by Joel Foster,
10 continued the business until the burning of his factory in 1843 or
44, when he retired. Mr. Foster died in 1854, aged seventy-four
ars. He had four children, all born in Redding : Daniel, Betsey, Eliza,
d Charles F.
GOLD.
Daniel, Samuel, and Stephen Gold (now written Gould) brothers,
imbers of a Fairfield family that had been prominent in church and
ite for several generations, were among the early settlers of the town,
Dugh none of their descendants are now found among us. Daniel ap-
ars first; he married Grace, daughter of Deacon Stephen Burr, and
ed where James Lord later lived. His children, as named in the will
Deacon Burr, were: Abigail, who married Richard Nichols; Esther,
10 married Nathaniel Northrop; Sarah, who married David Turney;
ary. who married Seth Price ; and Elizabeth.
Samuel Gold settled in Lonetown, and built the house later owned
Seth Todd. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and was wounded at
2 skirmish in Ridgefield. Some of the officers of Putnam's command
d their quarters at Mr. Gold's during their encampment in Redding.
e married Sarah Piatt, of Redding. Their children were: Hezekiah,
2^6 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Daniel, Burr, Aaron, Sarah, Polly, and Grace. Stephen Gold settled on
the farm later owned by Timothy Piatt in Lonetown. 'He is called Cap-
tain in the records. He did not long remain a resident of Redding, bul
returned, it is said, to Greenfield.
GORHAM.
Isaac Gorham and his wife Ann first appear on the parish record;
January 25th, 1762, when their son Isaac was baptized. There is no him
of their former residence, but they were probably from Fairfield. I fine
no further record of children.
GRAY.
Daniel Gray and wife were admitted church-members December 5thi
1742. John Gray and wife February 9th, 1744, on the recommendatioi
of Rev. Mr. Dickinson, of Norwalk.
The only child of Daniel Gray recorded was James, baptized May 8tbt
1743. The children of John Gray were: Hannah, baptized July ist;
1744; Joseph, July 15th, 1753; Eunice, January 2d, 1755, and (by a sec
end wife, Ruamah), Eunice, baptized April 13th, 1760; and Joel, Sep
tember nth, 1763.
Stephen, son of Stephen and Sarah Gray, was baptized May lotl;
1747. Also Huldah, a daughter, December 14th, 1760. Hannah, Oc*to
ber 3d, 1762 ; and Sarah, June 17th, 1764. James Gray, only son 0
Daniel, married Mabel Phinney February 9th, 1764. Their childre
were: Jesse, baptized April 14th, 1765; perhaps others.
GRIFFIN.
John Griffin appears in Redding as early as 1736. His children were
Sarah, baptized May 9th, 1736; Annie, baptized October 22d, 1738; an
Jonathan, baptized November 23d, 1746. He settled in West Reddingi
near the Danbury line.
HALL.
The Halls were among the earliest settlers in Redding, the name aj
pearing on the earliest petitions from the parish. In 1730, at the dii
tribution of the estate of Samuel Hall, he is said to be of Chestnut Ridg
in Reading. His children, as given, were: Ebenezer, Johanna, Jemimc
and Rebecca. Isaac Hall, whose farm lay contiguous to Samuel's, wa
one of the orginal church-members, and was recommended by Rev. M
Chapman. He died in 1741. Asa Hall and Rachel his wife were ac
mitted March 23d, 1736, on the same recommendation. I find no mer
ticn of children.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
HAWLEY.
237
Joseph Hawley and wife were admitted church-members in Decem-
3er, 1740, on recommendation of Rev. Mr. Gold, of Stratford. Their
:h'iklren recorded were : Mary, baptized February /itlh, 1742 ; Rutih,
^Jovember 5th,, 1746; Eunice, October 25th, 1750. Joseph Hawley died
December 12th, 1771, aged sixty-six years. William Hawley, who ap-
pears in Redding as early as 1762, was probably his son. He lived where
idward Miller now lives ; married Lydia, daughter of Captain Thomas
Slash, of Fairfield, July 12th, 1758. Their children were: Lydia, died
n infancy; Joseph, born June 23d, 1762; settled in Redding; Lydia, born
;)ecember 13th, 1763, married Aaron Sanford, of Redding; William, died
n infancy; Bille, born February 9th, 1767, removed to the West; Heze-
[iah, died in infancy; Hezekiah, born March loth, 1772; Lemuel, died
^oung, of small-pox; William Hawley, died February i6th 1797. Mrs.
-,ydia Hawley died April 26th, 181 2.
HILL.
The founder in America of this family was William Hill, who on
lis arrival here about 1632, settled first at Dorchester, Mass., and short-
f after removed to Windsor, on the Connecticut River, where he bought
a/nd and set out an orchard. At an early day he removed to Fairfield,
nd was among the early settlers of that town. He died in 1650. His
hildren were: Sarah, William, Joseph, Ignatius, James, and Elizabeth.
Villiam, the second child, married Elizabeth . Their children
^ere: Sarah, William, Joseph, John, Eliphalet, Ignatius, and James.
Villiam, the third, married , and had children, Sarah, William,
oseph, and David. William Hill, the fourth, married Sarah .
'heir children were : Joseph, William, and David. Deacon Joseph Hill,
orn April i, 1699; married Abigail Dimon, March 30th, 1731. The
hildren of this marriage were: Abigail, born March 21st, 1732; Sarah,
orn August 21st, 1733; David, born April 22d, 1737; Ebenezer, born
ebruary 26th, 1742 ; Jabez, born June 17th, 1744, and Moses, born Janu-
ry nth, 1748. Of the sons, only Ebenezer, Jabez, and Moses married.
'benezer married Mabel Sherwood, January 17th, 1765. Their children
'ere: David, Ebenezer, Seth, Dimon, Joseph, Mabel, Eleanor, Jabez,
pA Esther. Ebenezer, hiis second son, married S^arah, daugtiter oi Na-
laniel Barlow, brother of the poet, in May, 1791. He removed to Red-
ing early in life, and settled in Boston district. His children were:
label, Nathaniel B., Gershom, Ebenezer, Moses, and Jabez. Jabez Hill,
m of Deacon Joseph Hill, settled in Weston; was a major in the army
f the Revolution ; married Sarah, daughter of Colonel John Read, of
.edding. The children of this marriage were: Sara'h. John Read, and
238
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Moses. Sarah married Timothy Piatt, of Redding. John Read settled
in Redding at an early day, and became one of its wealthiest and best
known residents. He began his business career by engaging in the
manufacture of lime as before narrated, and on his retirement in 1823
purchased the "manor" of his grandfather, Colonel John Read, where he
continued to reside until his death in 1851. He married, March 23d,
1799, Betsy, daug'hter of Aaron Sanford, of Redding. Thdr children
were : Aaron Sanford, Moses, William Hawley, Betsy, John Lee, Morris,
Lydia, and Joseph.
John Lee Hill, fifth child of John R. Hill, born June 15, 1810, mar-
ried Harriet N. Duncombe, eldest daug-hter of David Duncombe and Ruth
Sanford, May 4, 1840. Their children were: William H., born May 1st,
1845, ^"cl Josephine E., bom May 22, 1848. William H. Hill married,
first, Mary A. Hotchkiss, daughter of Frederick A. Hotchkiss and Mary
Parsons, of Redding, Oct. 5, 1869. She died October i, 1886; and Mr,
Hill married, second, Miss Lauretta C. Ballard, Oct. 10, 1888. His chil-
dren, all by the first wife, were: John Read Hill, born Dec. 27, 1870;
Carrie L. Hill, born Nov. 5, 1872, died June 20, 1876; Frederick H. Hill,
born July 18, 1874, and Ernest William Hill, born Jan. i, 1876.
Of these children, John Read Hill married, June 24, 1896, Miss Min-
nie E. McCollum, born Aug. 7, 1870, in Croton Falls, N, Y., and has
one son, Berkley Hotchkiss, born Nov. 28, 1901. Mr. Hill, in Septem-
ber, 1890, took a position with D. E. Rogers, of Danbury, in a house-
furnishing and furniture store, which position he resigned in 1896 to be-
come a member of the Danbury Hardware Company, of which corpora-
tion he is now Secretary and Treasurer. He is also Secretary and Treas-
urer of the Sanitary Plumbing and Heating Company of Danbury. Mr.
Hill is a member of the First Congregational Church of Danbury, and
of Union Lodge, No. 40, Free and Accepted Masons ; of Eureka Chapter,
Royal Arch Masons; of Crusader Commandery, No. 10, Knights Tem-
plar of Danbury ; of Pyramid Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and of
Lafayette Consistory of the Scottish Rite of Bridgeport, Conn. He is
also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He has repre-
sented the First Ward in tfhe Common Council of Danbury four years,
Frederick H. Hill married Maboth Wolfenden, April 17, 1901 ; has
one son, Ernest Wolfenden, born March 30, 1906. Mr. Hill is in the
jewelry manufacturing business at Attleboro, Mass.
Ernest William Hill, graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University,
1900; married, Octo. 14, 1903, Gertrude Irvin, of Tuseola, 111. He is in
the New York banking house of N. W. Harris & Co.
Moses Hill, son of Deacon Joseph Hill, married Esther, daughter of
Ebenezer Burr, of Fairfield, June 17th, 1773. The children by this mar-
riage were : William, Abigail, and Es'liher. William married Betsey,
HISTORY OF REDDING. 239
LUghter of Nathaniel Barlow, brother of the poet, and had children,
radley, Abigail, Horace, Burr, and William.
HERON.*
In Revolutionary days and before, Squire Heron lived in a house on
edding Ridge, just south of the Episcopal Church. After the war be
icame a prominent character in the town, and although somewhat bigot-
i, and imbued with the Old World notions of caste and social distinc-
ons, is said to have exercised a great deal of influence in public affairs,
jpecially at town meetings. "We must keep down the underbrush" was
favorite remark of his in speaking of the common people. The follow-
ig story, illustrating in a marked manner the customs of the day, is ra-
ted of him :
At one of the annual' town meetings a somewhat illiterate man was
ominated for grand juror. Squire Heron, in laced waistcoat, ruffles,
nd velvet breeches, and aiding himself with his gold-headed cane, arose
) oppose the motion. "Mr. Moderator," said he, "who is this ?
Vhy, a man brought up in Hopewell woods : he fears neither God, man,
or the devil. If elected, who will be responsible for his acts? Will
'ou, Mr. Moderator — 'or I ? Why, sir, he can arrest anybody ; he can
rrest your Honor, or even myself"; and with like cogent reasons suc-
eeded in defeating the obnoxious candidate.
Squire Heron died January 8th, 1819, aged seventy-seven years, and
3 buried in the old Episcopal churchyard on Redding Ridge. His chil-
Iren were: William, Maurice, Elizabeth, Lucy, Elosia, Margaret, and
jusan. William never married. He lived on the old homested in Red-
ling all his days, and was a man much respected in the community. His
)rother Maurice graduated at Yale College, and shortly after was killed
n a steamboat explosion on the Connecticut River, near Essex.
HULL.
v-^ By Clinton T. Hull, San Francisco, California.
George Hull, born in England, about 1590, married at Crew Kerne,
Somerset, England, August 27, 1614, Thamzen Michell, of Stockland,
Engl. With his wife and children, he sailed from Plymouth, Devon,
England, March 30, 1629, in the ship Mary and John, Captain Squeb;
settled at Dorchester, Mass. ; was made freeman Mar. 4, 1632, represent-
ative for the town to the first Great and General Court held in the colony.
May 14, 1634. He was a member of the first board of selectmen of Dor-
chester, and "appointed to fix the rate, 1633-1634." He moved to Wind-
sor, Conn., 1636; surveyed Windsor, and Wethersfield; moved to Fair-
*See Chapter vi, for a sketch of Squire Heron.
240
HISTORY OF REDDING.
field about 1646. His wife died previous to the removal to Fairfield.
After 1654 he married, second, Sarah, widow of David Phippen, of Bos-
ton. He was a member of the General Court of Connnecticut for many
terms. He was Associate Magistrate, and with ex-Governor Ludlow,
held a monopoly of the beaver trade on the Connecticut River. He died
at Fairfield, Conn., 1659. His will, admitted to probate October 20,
1659, names his children: i, Mary, bap. at Crew Kerne, Eng., July 27,
1618; married Humphrey Pinney, of Dorchester, Mass. 2, Josiah, bap.
in Crew Kerne, Nov. 5, 1620; married Elizabeth Loomis, at Windsor,
Conn. 3, Elizabeth, bap. at Crew Kerne, Oct. 16, 1625 ; married Samuel
Gaylord. 4, (2), Cornelius, married at Fairfield, Conn., Rebecca Jones,
daughter of Rev. John Jones, pastor of the first church established in
Fairfield. 5, Martha. 6, Naomi.
Cornelius Hull, 2, (George i), born in England about 1626, came
with his parents to Dorchester, and to Connecticut. He was a surveyor
like his father, and a large land holder, there being thirty-one entries in
the land records at Fairfield in which his name occurs. He was a deputy
to the General Court eight terms; Lieut, for Fairfield County, May,
1661 ; Lieut, of the Hon. Major Treat's Life Guard, February 25, 1675.
(This was the crack corps of the Conn, levies at the time of King Philip's
War.) October 26, 1675, he was ordered by the Governor and Council
"to take two men, and make such discoveries of the enemy as you may,
and post to us with all speed what intelligence you can of the enemies
motions." For his services he received a grant of land. (Colonial
Records, iv, 83, 84.)
"The first house in Hull's Farms stood on the long lot which runs
northward from Mr. John H. Hull's house. The grant of this long lot
is recorded in the first volume of land records of the town of Fairfield:
'Granted to Cornelius Hull by ye town of Fayerfieild a parsell of Land
lying in ye woods Called his Long Lott, and bounded on ye Northeast
with ye land of Steven Hedges deceased, on ye Southwest with ye land
of John Burr, on ye Northwest with ye wildarness at ye farther end of
ye town bounds, and on ye Southeast with ye half mill (mile?) Common.
Recorded this 23 of Feb. 1686-7, ^"d is in bredth twenty-eight rods, re-
sarvin to ye towne necessary highways.'" (From the Story of Hull's
Farm, by Cyrus Sherwood Bradley.)
"Oct. 13, 1692, Lieut. Cornelius Hull was appointed to lay out grants
of land to John and Jehu Burr." (Colonial records, iv., 83, 84.) His
will, dated September 16, proved Oct. 7, 1695, names his children: i,
Samuel, married Deborah Beers, married second, widow, Jane (Hubbell)
Frost, dau. of Richard Hubbell; 2, (3) Cornelius, Jr., married Sarah San-
ford; 3, Captain Theophilus, married Mary Sanford; 4, Rebecca; 5,
HISTORY OF REDDING.
241
rah, married Robert Silliman, ancestor of Prof. Robert Silliman; 6,
irtha, married Cornelius Seator.
Cornelius Hull, Jr., 3, (Cornelius 2, George i) born at Fairfield about
53, 1655, married Sarah Sanford, 5. (Ezekiel 4, Thomas 3, Anthony
Ranulf Sanford i.) "Cornelius Hull, Jr., and wife, Sarah, were ad-
;ted to full communion April 20, 1701." (Fairfield Church records.)
eenfield Hill was made a parish 1725, with Cornelius Hull's name at
; head of the list of its members. "He died May 7, 1740, when the
age he had founded was bright with the beauty of spring time. He
s buried in Greenfield Hill, where lie all the generations that have suc-
ded him, and the handsome stone that marks his resting-place is still
Droken. He was the first who had a farm there, so it was called Hull's
rms." (From the Story of Hull's Farms.) His will, dated 1734-5,
nes his children: i, George (4), born 1686, married Martha Gregory;
Sarah, bap. August 26, 1694, married Sanford ; 3, Rebecca, bap.
g. 26, 1694, married Meeker; 4, Nathaniel (4), bap. Apr. 7, 1695,
rried Elizabeth Burr (See Todd's Burr Family) ; 5, Ebeneser (4),
). Jan. 20, 1697, married Martha ?; 6, Elizabeth, bap. Oct. 15,
)9, married June 8, 1721, Deacon Stephen Burr (for descendants see
rr Family Genealogy) ; 7, Martha, bap. July 13, 1701, married Daniel
2rwood, ancester of Cyrus Sherwood Bradley (author of "The Story
Hull's Farms") ; 8, John (4), born about 1703, married Abigail ?
Eleanor, bap. Sept. 15, 1706, married Plrerry; 10, Cornelius, Jr.
I, born May 14, 1710, married Aug. 24, 1731, Abigail Rumsey.
George Hull 4 (Cornelius, Jr. 3, Cornelius 2, George i), born at
eenfield Hill, 1686; married Martha Gregory, daughter of Samuel
egory of Stratfield, now called North Bridgeport. In the parish
ords of Greenfield Hill : "There were admitted to membership George
ill, and wife Martha, May 18, 1726, from Fairfield." It is probable
.t they retained their membership in the church at Greenfield Hill un-
the church was organized at Redding, as he seems to have moved to
dding about 1724, from the fact that his name appears on a petition
the General Court to be held in Hartford, May 25, 1725, in reference
granting certain lands for a "Common."
In May, 1729, permission was granted to establish a church in Red-
ig. The following August a meeting was held for organization, of
icb George Hull was chosen Moderator, and afterwards elected Dea-
1. At a meeting of the church held May 8, 1732, Deacon George Hull
s instructed to attend the Association meeting held at Stamford, to
I advice as to extending a call to Mr. Mix to become their pastor, but
Dears to have failed. At a meeting of the society, held January 31,
32-3, George Hull was chosen Moderator, and a call was extended to
ithaniel Hunn. By a deed, dated Danbury, May 19, 1729, a tract of
242
HISTORY OF REDDING.
land on Chestnut Ridge, between Danbury and Fairfield, was conveyed
to George Hull, and his heirs, by Jonathan Squires. George Hull died
Feb. 9, 1769.
"We place his name with the name of his father, Cornelius Hull,
Jr., the founder of Hull's Farms, with the name of his grandfather,
Cornelius Hull, who was a Lieutenant in King Philip's War, and a repre-
sentative to the general court for many years, with the name of his great- .
grandfather, George Hull, the friend and assistant of Gov. Roger Lud- ;
low. From them was inherited the ability which has distinguished the 1
Hull Family for nearly two hundred years. Always restless, always
pressing forward ; coming from England to help found Dorchester ; go-
ing from Dorchester to help found Windsor ; going from Windsor to (
help found Fairfield ; going from Fairfield to found Hull's Farms ; go- ^
ing from Hull's Farms to help found Redding ; going from Redding
westward with the march of civilization, they have left a name behind
them of which their descendants may well be proud." (From the Story)
of Hull's Farms.)
His estate was distributed March 6, 1770, to his children: i, Abigail, I
bap. at Fairfield, 1712, died young; 2, Mary, bap. , married Jona-
than Squires; 3, Joseph, bap. at Fairfield, Oct. 9, 1715; 4, Abigail, the
second, bapt. in Fairfield, June 7, 1721, died Dec. 17, 1760; 5, Thaddeus,
bap. at Fairfield, April 14, 1723, died about 1761, unmarried; 6, George,
Jr., bap. in Greenfield Hill, Sept. 24, 1727 ; 7, Martha, bap. in Greenfield
Hill, Sept. 22, 1731, married Bixby; 8, Seth Hull (5), bap. in Red-
ding, July 29, 1733, married Elizabeth Mallory; 9, Rebecca, bap. in Red-
ding, May 25, 1735.
Seth Hull, 5, bap. in Redding, July 19, 1733, married Elizabeth Mal-
lory; she was born Dec. 22, 1738, and died Feb. 22, 1795. Seth Hull
died April 15, 1795. Children: i, Abigail, born Jan. 28, 1762, married
Hezekiah Read, two of their descendants were Elaine and Dora Read
Goodale, the poets; 2, Jonathan (6), born Oct. 25, 1763, married Eunice
Beach; 3, Eliphalet, born Dec, 1765, married Prudence Smith, of Brook-
field; 4, Walter, born Nov. 21, 1767, drowned at sea off Capt Hatteras,
N. C, Mar. 6, 1804; 5, Lazarus, born January 16, 1770, married, Nov.
2, 1794, Anna Read; they moved to Sharon, Mich., where he died Sept.
12, 1838; 6, Hezekiah, born Mar. 24, 1772, died at Redding, Sept. 23,
1810; 7, Martha, born Apr. 28, 1774, married David Belden, an Episcopal
minister, had one son, John A. Belden, whose daughter married Levi
Warren, M. D. ; 8, Eleanor, born Nov. 20, 1775, died at Redding, 1778;
9, Elizabeth, born June 12, 1779, married Henry A. Townsend; 10, Sarah,
born Dec. 20, 1784, died May 27, 1828.
Jonathan Hull, 6, (Seth 5), born Oct. 25, 1763, married Eunice
Beach daughter of Lazarus and Lydia (Sanford) Beach; she was born
HISTORY OF REDDING.
243
Nov. 23, 1769, died Sept. 19, 1822. Jonathan Hull owned vessels trad-
,| ing to the West Indies, having a very excellent and prosperous business,
but the interruptions caused by the Napoleonic wars, compelled him to
retire with a loss of nearly all 'his capital. With his son Seth he deter-
f mined to try his fortune in the new lands Which were then being opened
' in the West. They went to the head- waters of the Allegheny River,
where they built a flat boat, in which they floated down that river to the
' Ohio, and down the Ohio to Shawneetown, Illinois, where they com-
' menced to make a settlement, but soon afterwards, that is, on Dec. i,
1820, Jonathan was accidentally killed. Children: i, Lemuel Beach Hull,
\ (7), born April 10, 1792, married, Oct. 18, 1824, Polly Waterbury; 2,
Eleanor, born May 20, 1794, died Sept. 21, 1814; 3, Seth, born July 31,
1796; May 22, 1823, married Nabby Eveleth. He went wifch his fafher
i to the head-waters of Allegheny River, where they budlt a flat boat in
which they floated down the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers to Shawnee-
town. Illinois. His father, Jonathan, was killed in a mill, in which he
was working, at Newhaven, Gallatin Co., 111., Dec. i, 1820. Seth moved
to the village of Newhaven, where he joined the Owen Community, and
died April, 1835.
Lemuel Beach Hull (7), (Jonathan 6), born April 10, 1792, was ap-
prenticed to a tanner, and served his full time, but his mind turned to
theological subjects, which being noticed by one of his wealthy relatives,
he was enabled to take a regular course at a theological institute, after
which he was ordained rector of Christ Episcopal Church of Redding,
1824, and served until 1836. Oct. 18, 1824, he married Polly Waterbury;
she was born Apr. 19, 1800, died Aug. i, 1881. Children: i, Eleanor
Susan, born July 13, 1825, died January 27, 1875 ; 2, HLannah White, born
Mar. 27, 1827, died Sept. 6, 1843; 3> •^''^"* Beach Hull (8), born Sept. 17,
1828, married ? died March 17, 1891 ; children: i, Walter B. Hull;
2, Clara Hull, now living at Milwaukee, Wis.
Nathaniel Hull 4, (CorneUus, Jr. 3), bap. Apr. 7, 1695; married,
Nov. 29, 1 716, Elizabeth Burr, daughter of Daniel Burr. He died 1749.
His estate was appraised at £6639 15 shillings, a very large estate for
those days. Their children were: Sarah, Elizabeth, Esther, Stephen,
Nathaniel, Jr., Peter, Sarah, the second, Ezekiel, David, Aaron, Silas,
and Hannah. Esther, daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Burr) Hull,
was the second wife of Samuel Barlow; one of their children was Joel
Barlow, the poet, and Minister to France. Stephen, son of Nathaniel
and Elizabeth (Burr) Hull, married Hannah E. Wakeman. Their chil-
dren were: Sarah, Rouhamah, David, William, Wakeman, Peter, and
Walter.
Nathaniel Hull, Jr. 5, son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth, married Abi-
gail Piatt, daughter of Timothy and Margery (Smith) Piatt. They
244
HISTORY OF REDDING.
moved to New York State, settling not far from Poughkeepsie. Their
children were: Samuel, Nathaniel, Jr., Abigail, Esther, Daniel, Eunice,
Ezekiel, and Esther. Of these children, Samuel, 6, married a French
lad}', Bathena Norton, moved to Southwest Virginia about 1789, and set-
tled where Marion now stands in Smyth County. One of his descend-
ants, David D. Hull, and his daughter, Jennie Bane Hull, reside at
Marion, Va. Mrs. W. S. Staley, a sister of David D. Hull, took great
interest in the Hull family history, and had collected a large and valuable
amount of records of her branch of the family, which is now in the pos-
session of her niece, Jennie Bane Hull, of Marion, Va. Other descend-
ants of Samuel 6 (Nathaniel, Jr. 5), are, Mrs. Smith, and her daughter,
Mrs. Churchill, Kinderhook, 111. ; Mrs. Lusk, Ouincy, 111. ; Mrs. Reed,
Camppoint, III. ; Mrs. Jennings, Oregon City, Oregon, and Mrs. Ostran-
der, Goldendale, Wash.
Ezekiel Hull 6 (Nathaniel, Jr. 5) married, moved to Virginia with
his brother Samuel, but soon after moved to Ohio; he raised a large
family, some of whom moved to Indiana, and to Pike County, Illinois,
where a post office was established, named Hull for one of them, and E.
S. Hull, one of the descendants is the present postmaster. Another
descendant is Rev. Moses Hull, President of the Spiritualist College,
White Water, Wisconsin.
Nathaniel Hull, Jr. 6 (Nathaniel, Jr. 5), brother of Samuel and
Ezekiel, went West in an early day, engaged in fighting Indians in Ken-
tucky, and then moved to Illinois. He was Commandant of Fort Kas-
kaskia for a number of years. About the year 1800 he returned to his
old home in the East, and was accompanied by his brother Daniel. One
of his descendants, M. J. Hull, resides in Washington, D. C, another,
Mrs. Cox, in San Francisco, California.
Silas PIull 5 (Nathaniel 4) married Huldah Goodsell; second, Ellen
Bradley ; third Smith ; fourth, Elizabeth Hoyt. Children : Hannah,
married Phillip Keeler; Huldah, married Jeremiah Keeler; Bradley, mar-
ried Mary Chapman Hull, daughter of Lieut. Jedediah Hull 5 (Cornelius,
Jr. 4). The other children of Silas were, David, and Sarah, who died
young.
Bradley Hull 6 (Silas 5) and Mary Chapman (Hull), had. Burr,
Pamelia (who married Elias Burchard; one daughter, Miss Mary Burch-
ard, resides in Mill Plain, Conn.), Cherry (married George Crofut),
Silas, Aaron B. (married Electa Love), Charles R. and Mary.
Aaron B. 7 (Bradley 6) and Electa (Love) Hull, had Henry A., whO'
rendered distinguished service in the Civil War, 1861-65, and is now a
prominent dentist at New Brunswick, N. J. ; Graham, a soldier in the
Civil War, whose daughter, Laura B., married Anthony Rurtdle, Danbury,
HISTORY OF REDDING.
245
Conn. ; Bradley, a dentist in Cleveland, Ohio, and Rev. Albert, an Episco-
pal minister in New York.
Bradley Hull 6 (Silas 5), married, second, Susan Hubbell, and had:
Bradley Hubbell, Moses Chapman, LeGrand, and Susan Cornelie.
Bradley Hubbell Hull 7 (Bradley 6), married Mary Peabody Hull 8
(George 7, Chapman 6, Lieut. Jedediah 5). Children: George, Mau-
rice, Henry, DeWitt, and Caroline. George 8 married Anna Bouton, re-
sides in Bridgeport, Conn. ; Maurice 8, married Julia Henderson, Brook-
lyn, N. Y. ; Dewitt 8. married Delia Burr, South Wilton, Conn. ; Henry 8
and Caroline 8 died young.
Ebenezer Hull 4 (Cornelius, Jr. 3), bap. January 20, 1697; married
Martha ? "Among those admitted to full communion were Ebe-
nezer Hull and wife Martha." (From Fairfield Church records.) In
Greenfield Hill Parish records we find : "Among those admitted to mem-
bership, Ebenezer Hull, of Fairfield, May 18, 1726." It is possible that
they did not move to Greenfield Hill, but transferred their membership
to that place till a church should be organized in Redding, where he
moved about 1724, as his name appears on a "Petition to the General
Court, to be held in Hartford, the second Thursday in May, 1725." The
General Court of 17 12 had ordered that all the lands lying between Dan-
bury and Fairfield, not taken up by actual settlers, should be sold at pub-
lic auction in Fairfield. The land was not sold till Aug., 1722, and no
notice of sale having been given to the settlers, it was bid off by Captain
Samuel Couch, for himself, and Nathan Gold, Esq. When the news of
the sale reached the settlers, they addressed a petition to the Gen. Court,
asking that body to annul the sale, but failed, and a second petition was
sent to the Gen. Court of 1725, which is signed by Ebenezer Hull. The
first church was organized in Redding 1729. On June 5th of that year
the first society meeting was held, at which one of the three places for
posting notices of meetings, was "In the lane by Ebenezer Hull's house."
The place where this house stood can not now be located. The records of
the First Church of Christ in Redding read : "Among the original mem-
bers were Ebenezer Hull and wife from Greenfield Hill." He was ap-
pointed on the Grand Jury, 1745. Children: Daniel, Ebenezer, Abigail
and Nehemiah.
Daniel Hull 5 (Ebenezer 4), 13001 1722; married, 1748, Mary Betts,
daughter of Stephen Betts of Redding. Daniel Hull was Lieut, in the
Redding Company, May, 1754, and captain of the same company, Octo-
ber, 1759 (Colonial records of Conn., Vols. 10 and 11). Redding was
incorporated at the May session of 1767, and ^t the first town meeting,
held June, 1767, Daniel Hull was chosen Constable. With his wife and
■children he moved to New York State in 1770, and settled where South
Berlin nov/ stands in Rensselaer County. He was a Lieut, in the Sixth
246
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Albany Regiment in the Revolutionary War, and a Magistrate for the
county which was then called Albany. He died 1811. Children born in
Redding: i, Martha, married Ephraim Jackson, moved to Addison,
Vermont ; 2, Hezekiah, was a Lieut, in the Sixth Albany Regiment, mar-
ried Lucy Randall ; 3, Justus, was a sergeant in the Revolutionary War,
under Col. Van Rensselaer, and took a prominent part in the attack on
Fort Edward ; he entered the ministry of the Baptist Church, and devot-
ed fifty-six years of his life to that work ; was at one time pastor of the
church at Danbury; 4, Abigail, married Samuel Hamlin; 5, Peter, was
a soldier in Capt, Shaw's Co. of the Sixth Regiment, married Amy Day;
6, Esther, died young ; 7, Daniel, Jr., married Phebe Green ; he inherited
the home farm, and it remained in the possession of his descendants one
hundred and twenty-five years ; 8, Stephen Betts Hull, born in Redding,
Conn., 1769; moved with his parents to N. Y. ; married Betsey Reynolds;
married, second. Electa Morgan ; 9, Harry, born in N. Y. ; 10, Ebenezer,
born in N. Y.
Of the descendants of these children of Daniel 5 (Ebenezer 4), now
living, there are : Halbert D. Hull, Troy, N. Y. ; his daughter, Mrs.
Pratt G. Smith, Utica, N. Y. ; Mrs. Maria E. Tifft, Buffalo, N. Y. ; Har-
vey Hull, West Burlington, N. Y. ; Frank S. Hull, Newburg<h, N. Y. ; Mrs.
Phebe A. Vary, Newark, N. Y. ; Morton D. Hull, Chicago, 111.; Mrs.
Mabel (Hull) Bear, Chicago, III; Miss Julia E. Hull, Stillman Valley,
111.; Mrs. Helen M. Vars, Edelstein, 111.; Mrs. J. H. Towne, Woon-
socket, R. I.; Arthur D. Hull, Newark, N. Y. ; Hull McClaughray, As-
sistant Postmaster of San Francisco ; Clinton T. Hull, San Francisco,
and the descendants of Rev. Cyrus Betts Hull, who died at Willow, Glenn
County, California, Oct. 27, 1905, aged 89 years, i m., 27 days, leaving
10 children, 54 grand-children, and 46 great-grand-children, all residing
in California.
Ebenezer Hull, Jr., 5 (Ebenezer 4) married Ruth Betts, daughter
of Stephen Betts, and a sister of Mary Betts, who married Daniel Hull
(5). Ebenezer vv^as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and as a result
of the hardships and exposure in camp lost his sight, being totally blind.
He passed his last years with his son Ezra, at Mohawk, N. Y., where he
died Mar. 23, 1797, and was buried on the banks of the Mohawk River, at
Westmoreland, now called Mohawk, in Herkimer County, N. Y. His
children were: Huldah, Sarah, Hannah, and Ezra.
Ensign John Hull 4 (Cornelius 3), married Abigail ? He went
with the Provincial troops to Cuba, 1741, and died of yellow fever. He
sent his musket home to his eldest son, with a request that it should
descend to the eldest son of each succeeding generation, and it is now
in the possession of Myron A. Hull, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Children : Tim-
othy, James, John, Jr., Anna, Abigail and Esther.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
247
Timothy Hull 5 (Ensign John 4) married Anna Gray, daughter of
John Gray. Children : Hannah, married Samuel Mallory ; Sarah, mar-
ried John Fairchild; Ezra; Eunice, married George Perry; John or
Jonatlian, Abraham, David, Samuel, Hezekiah ; Anna, married Lemuel
Burr; and Abigail, who married Timothy Perry.
Ezra Hull 6 (Timothy 5) married Elizabeth Coley, and second, widow
Mary (Banks) Bradley, daughter of Gershom Banks. Children: Eu-
nice, married Hiram Jackson ; Laura, married John Eckert ; Polly, Ezra,
Jr., Charles, and Aaron B.
Aaron B. Hull 7 (Ezra 6), born August 27, 1817, married, June 23,
1850, Anna Maria Darling, of Easton. She died leaving two sons: My-
ron A., and Arthur B., and he married second, Sarah S. Godfrey. He
was the freight agent of the Danbury and Norwalk R. R. at Danbury,
and employed all his leisure time collecting material for a history of the
Hull family. He was a frequent contributor to the Danbury papers on
historical subjects, and contributed the Hull history in Hurd's history of
Fairfield, also Schenck's, and the Hull genealogy in Todd's History of
Redding, edition of 1880. He died March 8, 1884; all his records ap-
pear to have been lost. Inquiry has been made among his associates in
the office at Danbury, but no trace of them has been found. It is earn-
estly hoped that the search for these valuable historical papers will be
continued,
Myron A. Hull 8 (Aaron B. 7) married Mary C. West. He is Sec-
retary of Wm. E. Uptegrove & Co., lumber dealers, New York City. Chil-
dren: Arthur, Robert, Royal C. and Madeline. Resides in Brooklyn,
N. Y..
John Hull 6 (Timothy 5) married Sarah Fairchild. Children: Aaron.
Polly, Ezekiel, Hezekiah, and Abraham.
David Hull 6 (Timothy 5) married Chloe Lee. Children: Daniel,
Harry and Lucy.
Samuel 6 (Timothy 5) married Anna Wakeman. One daughter,
Eliza, married Horace Staples, president of the Westport National Bank.
Hezekiah 6 (Timothy 5) married Hannah Goodsell.
Anna 6, married Lemuel Burr.
Abigail 6, married Timothy Perry.
John Hull, Jr. 5 (Ensign Jo'hn 4) married Mary Andrews. Children:
Eleanor and Mollie.
CorneHus Hull, Jr. 4 (Cornehus, Jr. 3), born May 14, 1710; married
Aug. 24, 1731, Abigail Rumsey, daughter of Robert Rimisey. Children:
Jedediah ; Eunice, married Seth Bradley ; Grace, married William Hill :
Eliphalet, Abigail ; Sarah, who married David Allen, Jr., and Rouhamah.
Jedediah 5 (Cornelius, Jr. 4) married Mary Chapman, daughter of
Rev. Daniel Chapman, of Green's Farms. She died 1774, leaving five
248
HISTORY OF REDDING.
children : Denne}'- ; Eunice, who married Seth Lee, and second, EHpha-
let Brush; Chapman; Mary C, who married Bradley Hull 6 (Silas 5),
and Cornelius, Jr. Jedediah married, second, Mary Osborne. One
child, Jedediah, Jr.
Jedediah Hull 5, was appointed Lieut, of the 9th Co. 4th Regiment
at Fort George, Oct., 1756, and Lieut, of the 7th Co. Second Conn. Regi-
ment, March, 1758. He was at Ticonderoga, and Crown Point, and
stood beside Montgomery when he fell at Quebec, 1775.
Denny LIull 6 (Lieut. Jedediah 5) married Mary Piatt, daughter of
Obadiah and Thankful (Scudder) Piatt. Children: Mary C, married
Sturges Selleck; Denny, Jr., Isaac P., and Eunice.
Danny, Jr. 7 (Denny 6) married Ann Selleck. Children: Jarvis P.,
Edward S., Isaac P., Clarissa Ann (married James L. Burr), Nathaniel
S., Mary J., Denny, Jr., and Josephine, who married Benjamin F. Ryder.
Jarvis P. Hull 8 (Denny, Jr. 7) married Eliza Stevens, and second,
Rachel Stevens, sister of first wife. Children: Henrietta G., married
Reuben Pierce, of Danbury ; Ann A., Ella V. and Sarah E., all residents
of Danbury, Conn. Edward S. 8 (Denny, Jr. 7) married Chloe K. Am-
bler. Two children: Ann EUzabeth, who married Henry C. Ryder, of
the Danbury Savings Bank, and James Henry. Isaac P. 8 (Denny, Jq
7), married Henrietta Gibbs, and second, Judith Fleetwood. Children;
? son, died in infancy ; Edwin P., Anna D., Esther E., and Mary LJ
Nathaniel S. Hull 8 (Denny, Jr., 7) married Ang^Hne Barber. Chi'I-^
dren : Azor B., William F., and Denny.
Denny, Jr., 8 (Denny, Jr., 7) married Annie M. Raynor. Children;
Adeline R. and John D.
Chapman Hull 6 (Lieut. Jedediah 5), baptized May 26, 1765 ; marrie
Esther Bulkeley. Children: Morris, Henry C, and George.
Morris 7 (Chapman 6) married Betsey Sally Hull, a twin daughtef
of Nehemiah Hull, of Redding, born Dec. 7, 1792. Children: Harrie^
N., Frederick, Charles, George, and Morris, Jr.
Harriet N. Hull 8 (Morris 7) married Benedict Crofut. Children:
Pauline A., William A., Frederick H., Fidelia B., Elizabeth M., Emma
M., and Charles B.
William A. Crofut 9 (Harriet N. Hull-Crofut 8), born in Redding,.
Conn., 1836; Ph. D. of Union College. Served in the famous first Minne-
sota Regiment in the Civil War. Married Margaret Marshal, and sec-
ond Bessie Nichols. Traveilled extensively abroad, as oorresponden/t for
many leading papers ; served on the stafif of the N. Y. Tribune ; editor of
the Minneapolis Tribune, Rochester Democrat, New Haven Palladium,
and Washington Post. Author of "History of Connecticut during the
Rebellion," "Helping Hand for American Homes," "Bourbon Balilads,"
"Deseret, or A Saint's Affliction," "A Midsummer Lark," "The Vander-
HISTORY OF REDDING.
249
hilts and the Story of their Fortune," '"The Prophecy, and other Poems, '
"The Lord's Day or iVIan's?" Residence, Washington, D. C.
Charles Hull 8 (Morris 7) married Hannah E. Ambler. Children:
Harriet, died in infancy; Harriet, the second, married Alexander McNie,
Winona, Minnesota; Mary E., married Granville W. Hoyt, of Danbuiy,
Conn.; Frederick A.; Thomas A., married Agnes Scott; and Sarah M.
Frederick A. Hull 9 (Charles 8) married Mary Clark, Danbury,
Conn. Children: Winona M., married Dr. H. R. Armstrong, N. Y.
City; Charles, Clark, and Milton.
George Hull 7 (Chapman 6) married Clara Nichols, daughter of
Gould Nichols. Children: Mary P., married Bradley Hubbell Hull 7
(Bradley 6) ; Sarah E., Andrew, Caroline A., and Georgiana.
Andrew Hull 8 (George 7) married Kate Schoonmaker. Children:
Clara N., married James W. Porter, and Flora S., married William H.
Leonard.
Georgiana 8 (George 7) married Milo H. Parsons. Children: Flor-
ence H. Parsons ; Fred H. Parsons, married Lulu H. DeBell, Stamford,
Conn. ; George M. ; Harold A. Parsons, married Mary E. Paxson, Stam-
ford, Conn. ; Marion B. ; Waldo H. Parsons, who was a soldier in the
Spanish-Am. War, Co. I, 3rd Conn. Regt.
Cornelius Hull 6 (Lieut. Jedediah 5) married Mary Piatt. Children:
Mary C, Isaac P. and Maria.
Mary C. Hull 7 (Cornelius 6) married Eliphalet Banks, and second
Willis Nichols. Children by first 'husband : Sarali Banks, married Stephen
Morehouse ; Mary C. Banks, married Daniel A. Meeker. Child by sec-
ond husband, Harriet L. B. Nichols, who married J. Sherwood Wakeman.
She is the owner, and resides in the colonial house built by ber great
grandfather, Lieut. Jedediah Hull, at Southport.
Jedediab, Jr. 6 (Lieut. Jedediab 5 and second wife, Mary Osborne)
married Eleanor Price. Children : Jedediah Bradley, David, Mary C,
Hiram, Bradley, Eunice and Catherine.
Jedediah Bradley Hull 7 (Jedediah, Jr., 6) married Mary E. Mallory.
Children: William H., Jameson C, Martha A., Mary A., Carrie S., and
Susan E.
Jameson C. Hull 8 (Jedediah Bradley 7) married Maria L. C. Harris,
daughter of George W. and Mary M. (Griffiths) Harris, Brooklyn, N. Y.
He was appointed Assistant Engineer U. S. Navy ; resigned 1858. At
the fall of Fort Sumter, 1861, he offered his services to the Secretary of
the Navy, was reinstated with bis former rank, and took such a promi-
nent part under Admiral Farragut on the Mississippi below New Orleans,
that he was promoted to First Assistant Engineer. He was transferred
to the Onondag-a and was in active service on the James River 1863 to
1865 ; resigned 1866.
250
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Martha A. 8 (Jedediah 7) married Thomas B. Johnson.
Carrie S. 8 (Jedediah 7) married Albert H. Dakin. 'Children:
Al'bert H. Dakin, Jr., Civil Engineer, New York City ; Adelaide Dakin,
Carrie, Edwin and Belle.
Dr. Elipbalet Hull 5 (Cornelius, Jr., 4), born 1738, graduiaJted from
Yale 1758; married Charity Burr. He was a Surgeon in the Revolu-
tionary War ; died 1799. Children : Dr. William Burr Hull, Charity
who married Samuel B. Sherwood, Abigail, Sarah who married Abraham
Andrews, Deborah who married Jesse Brush and after the death of her
sister Charity married second Samuel B. Sherwood, and Mary Burr Hull,
wtho married Orrin Day, of Catskill, N. Y.
Dr. William Burr Hull 6 (Dr. Eliphalet 5) married ? Chil-
dren: Alson H. and Eliphale>t Burr Hull.
Alson H. Hull 7 (Dr. William Burr 6) married Mary Banks. Chil-
dren : Mary B., Albert B., Andrew L., and Julia, who married Joel Banks.
Albert B. 8 (Alson H. 7) married ? Children: Albert B., Jr.
and Amelia C, who married G. H. Knapp.
William H. 9 (Albert B. 8) married ? Children: Sophia,
Harold, and Allison.
Eliphalet Burr Hull 7 (Dr. William Burr 6) married HannaJh E.
Holmes. Children : V\/'ilHam Burr, John H., and Henry E.
William Burr Hull 8 (Eliph'ale't Burr 7) married Charlotte H. Fam-
ham. Children : Edgar and Arthur Burr Hull.
John H. Hull 8 (Eliphalet Burr 7) married Charlotte A. Taylor.
They own and reside in the colonial house mentioned in the "Story of
Hull's Farms." Children: Inez H., Charlotte M., Edward T., Harriet
E., and Henry M.
Theophilus Hull 3 (Cornelius 2, George i) married Mary Sanford,
sister of Sarah, wife of his brother Cornelius, Jr., 3. In May, 1705,
Theophilus Hull was appointed Ensign of the company at the west end
of Fairfield. He was appointed Deputy for Fairfield, May, 1708; Lieu-
tenant of West Co. of Fairfield, June, 1709, and Captain the same year.
At the same General Court he was appointed on a committee for Fair-
field County, with Deputy Governor Gold, Joseph Curtis, Major Peter
Burr and Captain Joseph Wakeman. He is named in the will of his
father as receiving a slhare ''of his meadow land in ye fields," also another
portion of the estate, and was named as one of the executors of the will.
The will of Theophilus Hull, proved August 2, 1710, names his wife
Mary, daughters Mary and Ann, and four sons, Theophilus, Jr., Eliphalet,
John, and Jabesh.
Ann Hull 4 (Theophilus 3), baptized Aug. 26, 1694; married Zach-
ariah Sanford.
Theophilus, Jr., 4 (Theophilus 3), baptized May 22,, i6gy; married
HISTORY OF REDDING.
251
sarah ? 'Theophilus Hull and wife Sarali renewed their cove-
lant, Feb. 21, 1720." (Fairfield Church Records.) "There were ad-
litted to members'hip from Green's Farms Theophilus Hull and wife
>arah, May 18, 1726." (Greenfield Hill Parish Records.)' They moved
^■0 Redding prior to 1729, as he and his wife were among 'the original
lembers of the First Ghuroh of Christ in Redding, and he was elected
)eacon, 1733. His will dated June 7, 1748, proved October 31, 1748,
lames : wife Sarah, son Theophilus, and daughter Lydaa, wife of Samuel
ISmitfi. His widow Sarah, son Theophilus, and brotlier-in-law Samuel
fSherwiood, were joint executors.
Theophilus, Jr., 5 (Theophilus, Jr., 4), born February 21, 1725; mar-
Iried, January 25, 1759, Widow Martha Betts, at Redding. His will,
dated December i, proved 19, 1785, names son Zalmon and daughters
Sarah and Lydia Hull. In the oldest cemetery in Redding, Conn., on a
stone a few yards southwest of the Congregational Church, -the following
inscriptions are placed :
"In memory of Mr. Theophilus Hull,
who departed this life, Dec. 5, 1785,
In the 60th year of his age."
"In memory of Mrs. Martha Hull,
who departed this life, Apr. 10, 1785,
In the 52nd year of her age."
Zalmon Hull 6 (Theopihilus, Jr., 5), baptized May 13, 1759; married,
March 4, 1784, Eunice Belden. Children: Sarah, Theophilus B., Heze-
kialh, Lydia, and Henry.
Theophilus B. Hull 7 (Zalmon 6), born 1785; married, October 16,
1810, Sally Betsey Hull, twin daughter of Nehemiah and SaraTi (Jack-
son) Hull, of Redding, Conn. A stone in the cemetery before referred
to bears the following inscriptions:
"In memiory of Mr. Theophilus B. Hull, who died
April 17, 1830, aged 44 yrs. 5 m. 12 days.
The Son of Man comieth in an hour when ye fhink not."
"In memory of Sally, wife of Theophilus B. Hull, who died
Feb. 22, 1834, aged 41 years, 2 m. 16 days. Beloved are the
dead, w'ho die in the Lord."
Elip'halet Hull 4 (Theophilus 3) married Sarah Barlow, daughter of
John Barlow. His will, dated March 9, and proved March 22, 1736-7,
names wife, Sarah, daughters Miriam, Sarah, Ruth, and Mary, to each
of whom he gave iioo, to his eldest son Seth, his gun and £20, the rest
of his estate to his sons Seth, John, and Daniel equally. His wife Sarah,
John Barlow and Joseph Wakeman were named Executors, with power
252
HISTORY OF REDDING.
to sell his lands in New Fairfield. 'Aliriam 5 (Eliphale't 4) married Jabez
Gorham. Sarah 5 (Eliphalet 4) maried Ebenezer Bradley. Seth Hull 5
(Eliphalet 4), born 1728-9, married Hannah Rumsey. They moved to
New York State and settled near Saratoga. Some of the famous springs
were on his farm. Two of his sons, Eliphalet and Seth, Jr., took an im-
portant part in the Revolutionary War, after which they moved to Yates
County, N. Y. Some of their descendants are Mrs. Emma (Buel) Lee,
and her sister. Miss Buel, of Benton Center, N. Y. ; Will Buel Hull,
Buffalo, N. Y. ; Cyrus E. Hull, of the Railway Mail Service, Cincinnati,
Ohio; Mrs. Erastus Hull, Avon, Michigan, and Theodore B. Hull, of t
Tudor, Sutter County, CaUfornia, who owns a large ranch near Marys-
ville, California, on which he raises large quantities of fruit. Another
descendant is Cyrus Sherwood Bradley, of Southport, author of the ;
"Story of Hull's Farms."
John Hull 5 (Eliphalet 4), born April 2, 1704, married Elizabeth
Adams. He was a lawyer and settled at Newton. Children : Ebenezer,
Elijah, John Jr., Eliphalet, Mary, and perhaps others. Ebenezer 5, born
Oct. 5, 1729, married ? Children: Abel, Elijah, John, Eliphalet,
Mary, who married Simeon Shepard. There may have been other chil-
dren.
Elijah 6 (John 5) married Rebecca Summers. Children: Ebenezer,
Elijah, Jr., John; Betty, married Taylor; Lucy; Sarah, married
Abijah Sherman ; Huldah, married Sanford ; Polly, married
Tomlinson ; Rhuama, married — — Hays ; Anna, married Sherman ;
Agnes, married Piatt ; and Rebecca, married Barnum.
John, Jr. 6 (John 5) married Sarah Hepburn. One daughter, Phebe,
married George Shepard, son of Lieut. Timothy Shepard.
Eliphalet 6 (John 5), born Jan. i, 1737-8. Oct. 30, 1765, married
Rebecca Baldwin, daughter of James and Lydia Baldwin, of Newton.
Children: Anna, who married Allan Shepard. One of her grandsons
is W. Farrand Felch {"Noel Little"), who was the editor of the Genea-
logical Department of the Hartford Tunes for a number of years, and is
now located at Petal uma, California. The other children of Eliphalet 6,
were ; Abiah, married Samuel A. Judson ; Lydia, married Alanson North-
rup, and second, Captain Botsford ; Esther ; Betty, married David Booth ;
and Rebecca, married Shepard,
Daniel Hull 5 (Eliphalet 4) married Betty Beardsley. Children:
Daniel, Jr., Hezekiah, Banks, and seven daughters, Molly, Sarah, Han-
nah, Betsey, Abigail, Rachel, and Deborah.
JACKSON.
Ephraim Jackson and his wife Martha removed to Redding from
Green's Farm, Fairfield, in 1748, and were admilifed church-miembers the
HISTORY OF REDDING.
253
ame year. He died April 2Sth, 1765, aged sixty-five years. The chil-
rcn of his son, Ephraim Jackson, were as follows: Aaron, baptized No-
ciiiber I2tli, 1767; Mollie, baptized July 23d, 1769; Peter, September
;th, 1771 ; Hezekiah, February 27th, 1774. David Jackson appears in
vedding as early as 1763 ; was probably son of Ephraim ; married No-
/ember i8th, 1762, Anna Sanford. Their children were: Ezekiel, bap-
ized October 23d, 1763; David, February 2d, 1766; Anna, September
?,oth, 1770, died in infancy; Anna, September 14'th, 1772; and by a sec-
ond wife, Esther, Moses, baptized December nth, 1774; perhaps others,
fizekiel, son of David, married Hannah Grey, April 30th, 1786 (Town
[Record.) Their children were : Anna, born December 21st, 1786 ; Hiram,
born April 22d, 1788; Samuel, born December 29th, 1789; Clarissa, born
.December 25th, 1792; Laura, bom February 28th, 1794; Harriet, born
December i8th, 1795. Harriet married Gideon H. Hoillister, of Wood-
bury, and became the mother of Judge Gideoii H. Hollister, the historian
of Connecticut.
LEE.
William Lee and wife were admi'tted church members May 23d, 1742.
Their children recorded were: Daniel, baptized January 8th, 1744; Abi-
jah, baptized September 21st, 1745; Abigail, baptized May 5th, 1748;
William, baptized April 5th, 1753 ; Seth, baptized March 23d, 1755.
Joseph Lee and wife admitted May 8tlh, 1737. Their daughter Mary
was baptized May 8th, 1743.
LYON.
Among 'the original members of the church at its organization in 1733
appear the name of Daniel Lion and v/ife, of Benjamin Lion and wife —
recommended by Rev. Mr. Gay — ^and Richard Lion and wife. All settled
in the southeastern part of the town, near what is now the Easton line.
The record of their families is as follows : Children of Daniel were :
Jonathan, baptized April 12th, 1741. Children of Benjamin were: Bethd,
baptized May 29th, 1733; Joihn, baptized August 22d, 1736; Samuel, bap-
tized August 20th, 1738 ; Phebe, baptized February 24th, 1740. Ridiard
Lion died in January, 1740, aged eighty-seven years.
Captain Eli Lyon, a descendant of Richard Lion above named, lived
in the old Lyon homestead on Redding Ridge on the site of the present
home of Jesse Sanford. He married Betty Hill, daug*hter of Abel Hill,
Esq., a prominent rrian of the town, and died July 11, 1811, aged 78
years. His wife died February 19, 1808, aged 73 years. They had four
children : Camilla, b. Jan. 23, 1803, m. Samuel B. Read, rem. to Ypsilanti,
Mich., and died there in 1854; Hannah, b. Jan. 5, 1807, m. Daniel Lyon,
and died at Ypsilanti, June 9, 1871 ; Elizabeth, b. Mc*h. 31, 1809, and
after the death of her sister Camilla, married Samuel B. Read, and died
254
HISTORY OF REDDING.
in Ypsilanti in 1901, aged 92 years ; Eli, b. June 9, 181 1, in the old homefl
stead at Redding, and lived there until 1856, when he rem'Oved to Ypsiij
lanti, Mich., where many Redding people went at that time. He raanl
ried Mary Hamlin, of Newtown, Conn., who died after two years, leavii^l
a son, Frederick H., who died in 187 1 of consumption, aJt Ypsilantiil
Captain Eli Lyon married second, November 17, 1834, Louis'a Augustal
Winton, daughter of Col. James Winton, of Bridgeport, Conn., w^ho bowl
him eleven diildren, eight in Redding and three after their removal tcf
Michigan. She died in Decatur, Mich., in 1888, and he died Dece
9, 1890, at the home of his son, R. H. Lyon, in South Bend, Ind. Thdl
children were: (i) Mary Frances, (2) Uri Sedey, (3) Elizabeth Hait^
naih, (4) Richard Hill, (5) Alice Louisa, (6) William Smith, (7) George
Winton, (8) Annie Estelle, (9) Thomas Brownell, (10) Bessie Porter^
and one son died in infancy.
Richard Hill (4) went witih his parents to Ypsilanti and grew up,
with the country ; was educated at the public schools and *tihe seminary
at Ypsilanti and High Sdhool at Decatur; learned the printer's tradce
Of musical talent, he entered the piano trade and followed i't a few years^
then entered the office of the South Bend Tribune, a leading newspaper:
of Indiana, and rose to be editor. He married, Aug. 15, 1876, Francesi
Odell Kurtz, and they have since resided in South Bend, Ind.*
LORD.
David Lord was admitted church-member in 1744, recommended byji
Rev. Mr. Parsons, of Lyme. Hi^ children were: David, baptized Julyy
8th, 1744; Elizabeth, baptized March 5th, 1749; perhaps others.
MALLORY.
Jonathan Mallory and wife were admitted church-members December:
22d, 1735, on recommendation of Rev. Mr. Chapman. She w^as Eliza-
beth Adams. They were married April loth, 1735. Their children 1
were: Jonathan, baptized January nth, 1736; Eliza, baptized December
17th, 1738; perhaps others. Peter Mallory married Joanna Hall Febru-
ary 28th, 1737. Children: Rebecca, baptized February 5th, 1738, died
in infancy; Rebecca, baptized January 13th, 1739; Ebenezer Mallory and
Hannah Keys were married February 6th, 1744. No children found.
Daniel Mallory and Sarah Lee were married November 30th, 1748.
Their children were: Daniel, baptized October 25th, 1750; Nathan, Au-
gust 25th, 1754; Abigail, April 24th, 1757; Sarah, May 15th, 1763; Jo-
seph, baptized February 12th, 1767; Eunice, daughter of Daniel Mallory,
Jr., and his wife Rachel, was baptized September 5th, 1779. Samuel and
Charles Mallory were born April 6th, 1780. The names of the parents
*For a sketch of Mr. Lyon, see Chapter xix.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
255
are not given. Charles Mallory was the father of Stephen Mallory,
United States Senator from Florida, and later Secretary of the Con-
federate Navy.
MEADE.
Stephen Meade, the first of the name in Redding, appears as early
as 1755- He married Rachel Sanford, daughter of Ephraim Sanford.
Their children were : Jeremiah, born March 22d, 1752 ; Ezra, baptized
January 19th, 1755; Hannah, baptized May 9th, 1756; Esther, baptized
August 17th, 1760; Thaddeus, baptized October 25th, 1761 ; Stephen,
baptized January 24fch, 1768. Stephen Meade is called lieutenant and
captain in the records. He was a man quite prominent in town affairs ;
was elected the first clerk of the town at its organization in 1767, and
held other important offices. He lived in the Centre, on the si'te of the
present residence of Squire Brotheston.
MEEKER.
Benjamin Meeker and wife were admitted church-members June 4th,
1747. She was Catherine Burr. They were married July 20th, 1745.
Their children were: Witely, baptized June 7th, 1747; Esther and Eu-
nice, baptized August 13th, 1755; Azariah, baptized February 5th, 1769;
Daniel Meeker married Sarah Johnson, July loth, 1744. Their children
were: Elnathan, baptized July 26th, 1747; Jared, baptized January 29th,
1749; Rebecca, baptized January 20th, 1751; Lois, baptized March 28th,
1753 ; Josiah, baptized July 17th, 1757.
About the same time appear David Meeker and Robert Meeker. The
former married Hannah Hill, October 31st, 1744. The latter Rebecca
Morehouse, September 19th, 1746. I find no record of children. Joseph
Meeker appears as early as May 4th, 1735, when his son Isaac was bap-
tized.
MERCHANT.
Gurdon Merchant married Elinor Ohauncey (probably of Fairfield)
December 9th, 1747. Their children were: Amelia, baptized February
5th, 1749; Chauncey, February 25th, 1753; John, baptized August 31st,
1755; Elinor, January 8th, 1758; Gurdon, March i6th, 1760; Joel, June
6th, 1762; Phebe, May 20th, 1764; Silas, May 8th, 1766. Gurdon Mer-
chant was the first town treasurer, and held other offices of trust. The
family figures quite prominently in the later history of the town.
256
HISTORY OF REDDING.
MOREHOUSE.*
Thomas More'house, the immi^ant ancestor, was in Wethersfield^
Conn., as early as 1640. In 1641 he removed to Stamford and was one
of the original twenty-nine white settlers of that town who purchased it
of the New Haven Colony, who had previously bought it of the Indians
for 100 bushels of corn. (New Haven Colonial Record.)
In 1653, he removed to Fairfield and died there in 1658, leaving a
widow, Isabel (probably a second wife) -and children: i, Hannah; 2,
Samuel ; 3, Thomas ; 4, Mary ; 5, Jonathan, and 6, Jdhn. He and his son
Samuel were made freemen by the General Court, October, 1664.
Samuel (2), born as early as 1637, died 1687, in Fairfield, and was
buried in the old cemetery there. He married Rebecca, daughter of Wil-
liam and Rebecca Odell. He was a surveyor, Lieut, of the military com-
pany, and the first marshal or sheriff of Fairfield County. His children
were: i, Samuel; 2, Thomas; 3, John; 4, Daniel, 5, James; 6, Rebecca;
7, EHzabeth; 8, Hannah; 9, Mary, and 10, Ann.
John (3), son of Samuel (2), married Ruth, dlaughiter of John Bar-
low, Jr., and Abigail (LockwOod) Barlow, and died in Fairfield, 1727.
Children: James (4), Ruth (4), Stephen (4), Gurshom (4), Elizabeth
(4), died in infancy; Elizabeth (4), James (4), Abijah (4), John, Jr.
(4), Ephraim (4), Ann (4), and James (4).
By will of John Morehouse, proved March 28, 1727, it appears that
Stephen Morehouse above had then settled in Chestnut Ridge (now Red-
ding). Later, his brother, "Gershom Morehouse and wife," were ad-
mitted to the church in Redding (May 8, 1737) on recommendation of
Rev. Mr. Hobart, of Fairfield.
Stephen (4), mentioned above, settled in Redding, probably on
Couch's Hill, and is said to have been the founder of the Episcopal parish
in that town. He died May 2, 1767, "in ye 66bh year of his age," and
was bnried in the Episcopal churchyard on Redding Ridge,, where his
tombstone may still be seen. He married, March 21, 1722, Abigail,
daughter of John and Abigail (Minor) Tredwell, who died Sept. 6,
1759. aged 56 years. Their children were: Joseph (5), Daniel (5),
Elizabeth (5), Abigail (5), Stephen, Jr. (5), Ann (5), John (5), Abel
(5). All of these children settled out of Redding, in New Milford, New
Preston, and Washington, Conn., and in Amenia, N. Y. There have
been three other Episcopal parishes founded in Litchfield County by the
descendants of Stephen (4).
*The name was originally spelled Moorhouse.
In Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History, occurs this entry: Nicholas
Blundell, in the reign of Edward HI. in the 6th year (1333) granted to Henry
de Moorhouse and Margery his wife, a parcel of land in Little Crosby, lying near
the Moorhouse's called "Crosby Meadow." The spelling of the name Moorhouse as
above is quite common even now.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
257
Gershom (4) Morehouse, mentioned above, married Sarah, daughter
John Hill, Apr. 22, 1725. Children: Gershom, Jr. (5), born Nov.
, 1727; Elizabeth (5), born Jan. 3, 1730; Ruth (5), born Dec. 23,
T^-j^. Gershom, Jr. (5), married Anna Sanford, January 18, 1748. He
'as a captain in the Revolutionary army and commanded a company at
le battle of White Plains. His son-in-law was a captain in the British
Lrmy, and after the battle they met under a flag of truce to confer on
amily matters. His children were: Ezra (6), Billy (6), Aaron (6),
ane (6), Anna (6), Hill (6), Lucy (6), Betty (6), Elizabeth (6), Ruth
6), Polly (6), and Tabit'ha (6). Gershom, Jr., died in Redding, Jan.
I 2, 1805, aged yy years.
Aaron (6), son of Gershom, Jr. (5), entered the Revolutionary army r7<r~^
.8 a fifer at the age of sixteen. Was in the battles of Flatbush, Red ^
;3ook, and others, and aided in covering the retreat of the patriots from
Slew York after the battle of Long Island. After the war he settled in
L^edding Centre and cultivated a large farm there, and for thirty years
A^as a Deputy Sheriff of Fairfield County. He died in Redding, Dec. 3,
1833, and is buried in the Episcopal cemetery on Redding Ridge. He
married Urana, daughter of John Starr, and had children: Starr Hill
[(7), Flora (7), Betsey (7), Anna (7), William (7), Almira (7), Charles
(7), Amelia (7), and George (7).
i Charles (7), born Dec. 13, 1802, married Fidelia Starr, daug*hter of
iEdward Starr, and second, Anna, daughter of Daniel Morehouse, and
settled in New Haven, Conn. His children by his first wife were :
Julia (8), died in infancy; Cornelius Starr (8), and Fidelia Starr (8).
i Cornelius Starr (8), has been, since 1859, a member of the well known
book printing house of Tuttle, More'house & Taylor, of New Haven. He
married, Dec. i, 1852, Eliza Kimberley, daughter of William Kimberley
and Ruth Ann Nichols, grand-daughter of Eli and Sarah (Lyon) Nich-
ols, of Redding. Eliza Kimberley died Jan. 8th, 1899. Their only child,
Mary Louise (9), Vv'as born July 19, 1856, and was married. May 4, 1880,
to the Rev. Edwin Stevens Lines, for twenty-five years Rector of St.
Paul's Episcopal Church, New Haven, Conn., and now Bishop of the
Diocese of Newark, N. J. Their children were: Edwin Morehouse
(10), Henry Starr (10), Margaret Kimberley (10), who died in in-
fancy, and Harold Stevens (10).*
It is probable that the Jonathan Morehouse who was admitted to the
church in Redding from Fairfield, July 5, 1741, was identical with the
Jonathan, Jr., son of Jonathan, Sr., the son of Thomas, Jr., the son of
♦From Ancestry and Descendants of Gershom Morehouse, Jr., by Nelson D.
Adams, 732 7th St. N. E., Washington, D. C, and others. Members of the family
are invited to communicate with Mr. Adams, who is compiling a genealogy of the
Morehouse family.
25^
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Thomas (i). His children were: Joanna and Mary, bapt. Apr. 13, 1738;
Hannah, bapt. June 3d, 1739; EHjah, bapt. Mch. 11, 1742; Phebe, bapt.
May 27th, 1744; Ruth, bapt. June 14, 1747.
PERRY.
Ebenezer Perry removed to Redding, probably from Stratford, in
1735, in which year he was admitted church-member. His children were:
John, baptized May loth, 1741 ; Ebenezer, June 12th, 1743 ; probably
others.
Daniel Perry, son of Joseph Perry and Deborah Burr, of Fairfield,:
removed to Redding about 1770, and settled in the south-western part of)
the town. He married, first, Mary, daughter of Peter Sturgis, of Fair-r
field, and second, Sarah Wilson. His children, all by the second wife,(
were: Grissei, born February loth, 1745-6; Daniel, born April 15th,'
1747; Jdhn, born December 30th, 1748; Deborah, born October 8th,!
1750; George, born November 26th, 1752; Isaac, born November 3d,]
1754; Thomas, born February 21st, 1757. Of the sons, two at least,!
Daniel and John, settled in Redding. Daniel married, February 19th.
1772, Elizabeth Gorham, of Greenfield. His children were: Timothy,
baptized January loth, 1773; Isaac, baptized August 23d, 1778; perhaps
others.
PLATT.
Richard Piatt, first of the name in America, supposed to be the one
l)apt. Sept. 28, 1603, in Parish of Boringdon, near Hertford, England,
came to America, 1638, and settled in New Haven. The next year, 1639,
he, with sixty-five others, founded the town of Milford, Conn., where he
was deacon and a prominent citizen. His wife, Mary, died in Milford,
January, 1676. His children were: Mary, John, Isaac, and Sarah (all
probably born in England and bapt. in Milford), Epinetus, Hannah,
Josiah, and Joseph. Richard Piatt died 1684, and left an estate of about
£600.
His third child, Isaac, settled in Huntington, L. I., and married there,
Elizabdth Wood. He was ancestor of Senator Thomas C. Piatt of New^
York. This Isaac had a son Jonas, who had a son Obadiah, who married
Mary Smith, Aug. 10, 1722,* and had eight children, one of whom, Jonas
Piatt, born Oct. 9, 1727, settled in Redding, Conn., having, with his wife,'
been admitted to church -membership there, Feb. 5, 1749. He married;
Oct. 17, 1747, Elizabeth, daughter of Ephraim Sanford, of Redding.
Their children were (as recorded in Redding) : John, bapt. Feb. 5th,
*Perhaps identical with the Obadia:h Piatt who appears in Redding as early)
as 1737, and had two children baptized there, viz. Mary, bapt. Feb. 20, 1737, andc
Elizabeth, bapt. May isth, 1739.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 2^9
752; Daniel, bapt. Aug. nth, 1754, and Eunice, bapt. May 30, 1756.
bnas Piatt, in middle life, removed to New York State. His son John
eturned to Connecticut and settled in the town of Washington ; married
ilizabeth Parmalee, July 7, 1775, and had, among others, Daniel Gould
|?laitt, born July 25, 1797. He married Almyra Hitchcock, Jan. 3, 1817,
Ind had, among others, Orville Hitchock, born July 19, 1827, a Senator
pf the United States. Senator Piatt married Ann Bull, of Towanda,
jpa., May 15, 1850, and had children: James Perry, now Judge of the
United States District Court of the District of Connecticut, and Daniel
jG^ould, who died in boyhood.* (Condensed from the Piatt genealogy.)
I Timothy Piatt was admitted a church-member May loth, 1741, on
recommendation of Rev. Mr. Chapman. But one child is found — Abi-
f^ail, baptized April 8th, 1736; married Nathaniel Hill, May 28th, 1754.
[He was probably father of the Timothy Piatt who married the sister of
John R. Hill, and settled in Lonetown, on the farm now owned by Henry
iAdams. Timothy Piatt died December 5th, 1769, aged sixty-two years.
rrhe children of Obadiah Piatt were: Mary, baptized February 20th,
1737; Elizabeth, May 15th, 1739.
Hezekiah Piatt appears in Redding as early as April 4th, 1762, when
his son Justus was baptized. His other children recorded were: Heze-
kiah, January i6th, 1764; William, May, i8th, 1766; Griswold, December
1st, 1767; Robert, September ist, 1771.
READ.
Mr. John Read, perhaps the earliest settler of Redding, was one of
the most eminent men of his day. He was born in Connecticut in 1680,
graduated from Harvard College in 1697, studied for the ministry, and
preached for some time at Waterbury, Hartford, and Stratford. He af-
terward studied law, and was admitted an attorney at the bar in 1708, and
in 1712 was appointed Queen's attorney for the colony. In 1714 he
bought of the Indians a large tract of land in Lonetown and settled there.
He continued to reside in Redding until 1722, when be removed to Bos-
ton, and soon became known as the most eminent lawyer in the colonies.
He was Attorney-General of Massachusetts for several years, and also
a member of the Governor and Council. He died in February, 1749,
leaving a large estate. His wife was Ruth Talcott, daughter of Lieut'jn-
ant-Colonel John Talcott, of Hartford, and sister of Governor Jo»eph
Talcott. They had six children: Ruth, born (probably) in Hartfcrd in
1700; died in Redding, August 8th, 1766. She was the wife of Rev.
Nathaniel Hunn, first pastor of the church in Redding. They were mar-
ried September 14th, 1737. John, born in Hartford in 1701 ; lived in
*For a sketch of Senator Piatt, see Chapter xix.
26o HISTORY OF REDDING.
Redding at the "Lonetown Manor," and was a leading man in his day
in the colony ; was much in public life, both civil and military, and was
noted for his public spirit, patriotism, and piety. He marriel twice.
His first wife was Mary , a Milford lady. His second wife was
Sarah Bradley, of Greenfield Hill. His children were: William, who
married Sarah Hawley, of Redding ; Zalmon, who married Hulda Brad-
ley, of Greenfield; Hesekiah, who married Anna Gorham; John, who
married Zoa Hillard ; Mary, wife of John Harpin ; Sarah, wife of Jabez
Hill, and afterward of Theodore Monson ; Ruth, wife of Jeremiah Mead ;
Deborah, wife of Thomas Benedict, a lawyer; Mabel, wife of Levi Starr;
and Esther, wife of Daniel C. Bartlett, son of Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett;.
One of his children, a lad of four years, fell into a burning coal-pit in
1739, and was so badly burned that he survived but a few hours. His
father wrote a letter to his father in Boston, informing him of the mel-
ancholy event, and his father sent back a letter in reply. Both of the
letters are yet preserved, after a period of one hundred and sixty years,
and are both remarkable for the piety and Christian resignation mani-
fested in them. William, born in Connecticut about 17 10, was a lawyer
in Boston, and afterward a judge in several of the courts there. He lived
a bachelor, and died in 1780, aged seventy years. Mary, born (probably)
in Reading, Conn., April 14th, 1716; married Captain Charles Morris,
of Boston, afterv/ard of Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he was for many
years chief-justice of the courts. They had nine sons and two daughters.
Abigail married Joseph Miller, of Boston. Deborah married a Mr. Will- '
stead, and afterward Henry Paget, of Smifhfield, Rhode Island.
To the above sketch by Mr. George Read, of Boston, I will add that
Colonel John Read, son of the Mr. John Read mentioned, appears as one
of the original mem.bers of the first society in 1729, coming from Ridge-
field, and was the Colonel John Read so often referred to in the town
records. His "manour" comprised nearly all of what is now Lonetown,
and his manor-house stood on the exact site of Henry A. Dimon's present ;
residence. He had a fenced park, in which he kept deer, nearly opposite '
the present residence of Mr. John Read.
The late Mr. George Read, of Redding Centre, had a very interesting
collection of old papers belonging to the colonel, such as wills, deeds,
account-books, etc. In one of them directions are given his men about
feeding the deer, letting the cattle into the long meadow, etc. Another
is Mr. Read's commission as colonel, and is of sufficient interest to war--
rant its insertion here. It is as follows :
Thomas Fitch, Esq., Governor and Commander in chief of his Majes-
ty's Colony of Connecticut in New England,
To John Read Esq., Greeting.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 26 1
Whereas you are appointed by the General Assembly of said Colony
to be Colonel of the Fourth Regiment of Horse in said Colony. Repos-
ing special trust and confidence in your Loyalty, courage, and good con-
duct, I do by these presents constitute and appoint you to be Colonel of
said Regiment. You are therefore to take the said Regiment into your
Care and charge as their Colonel, and carefully and diligently to dis-
charge that Care and Trust in Ordering and Exercising of them, both
Officers and Soldiers in Arms according to the Rules and Discipline of
War, keeping them in good Order and Government, and commanding
them to obey you as their Colonel for his Majesty's service, and they are
commanded to obey you accordingly, and you are to conduct and lead
forth the said Regiment, or such part of them as you shall from time to
time receive orders for from me, or from the Governor of this Colony
for the time being, to Encounter, Repel, Pursue, and destroy by force
of Arms, and by all fitting ways and means, all his Majesty's Enemies
who shall at any time hereafter in a Hostile manner attempt or enter-
prise the Invasion, Detriment, or Annoyance of this Colony. And you
are to observe and obey such Orders and Instructions as from time to
time you from Me, or other your Superior Oflticers, pursuant to the trust
hereby Reposed in you and the laws of this Colony. Given under my
hand and the seal of this Colony, in New Haven, the 3d Day of Novem-
ber, in the 31st year of the Reign of our Soverign Lord George the Sec-
ond, King of Great Britain &c. Annoque Dom's, 1757.
Thos. Fitch.
By His Honor's Command,
George Wyllys, Secty.
Of the children of John Read, 2d, given above, we will trace to
present tim.es the descendants of but one, Zalmon, the second son, who
settled in Redding, and was one of the leading spirits of the Revolution
there. According to the church records he was bapt. July 23, 1738, and
was therefore, on the opening of the historic struggle, about thirty-seven
years of age. He married in 1754 (family record), Huldah Bradley,
of Greenfield Hill, Conn. Their children were, according to the family
bible: i, Zalmon, bom Apr. 28th, 1759; 2, Huldah, born in 1761, mar-
ried Laban Smith, had children, and died in Redding aged 25 years;
3, Samuel, born in 1763; 4, EH, born in April, 1765; 5, Aaron, born
June 8, T767. Zalmon Read was a captain in the Revolution. (See chap-
ter Vn.) Ke died and is buried in the Read burying ground, Redding.
Of the children named above, Zalmon, the eldest son, married, first,
Huldah Gray of Redding, and second, Hannah Bassett of Birmingham,
Conn. His children by the first wife were : Aaron, born Apr. 23, 1781 ;
Harry, born Nov. ii, 1787; Betsey, born Feb. 24, 1792; Clarissa, born
252 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Apr. 8, 1795; Samuel, born June 9, 1797; Caroline, born Oat. 12, 1802,
and by the second wife: Frederick, Mary, and Benjamin. (Family Rec-
ord.) He lived and died in Redding in the old homestead later occupied
by his daugliter Clarissa and his son Benjamin. He died Oct. 3d, 1846,
aged 88 years. His wife Huldah died June 27, 1810, aged 49 years, 7
months.
Huldah, second child of Zalmon the ist, married Laban Smith, and
died aged twenty-three years, leaving children.
Samuel, third child of Zalmon ist, married Rebecca Lockwood, and
settled In Rahway, N. J., where he died at the age of 63 years, leaving
children.
Eli, fourth child, married Mabel Lyon; lived in Redding, where he
died aged 78 years.
Aaron, the fifth child, settled in Bedford, N. Y., where he became
a prominent man, serving for years as magistrate. He married, Dec. 21,
1790, Sally Fleming, of Bedford. Their children were: i, Frederick F.,
born Feb. 2^, 1792, died Oct. 7th, 1794; 2, a son born Aug. 2y, 1795, died
in infancy; 3, Aaron F., born Sept. 5, 1804, and settled in Cincinnati, O.,
where he died October, 1847, leaving children ; 4, Frederick G., born
Aug. 15, 1810.
Sally Fleming died Aug. 21, 1829, and on March 3d, 1836, Judge
Read married, second, IMiss Mary Mead, of Bedford, N. Y. He died
. Mrs. Mary Read is still living in Bedford, aged 85
years.
Of the children of Zalmon Read, 2d, named above, Aaron married
Mairia Hawley of Redding, and in 1818 removed to Sharoni, Conn. ;
thence, after some years, to Troy, N. Y., where he was prominent in the
business, social and religious life of the town. His son, the Rev. Charles
Read, D. D., was for nearly fifty years pastor of one of the largest and
wealthiest churches of Richmond, Va., — the Grace Street Presbyterian —
and was a learned, pious and eloquent divine. Dr. Read was one of the
principal speakers at the 150th anniversary of the First Church of Christ
of Redding in 1883.
Harry, 2d, married Sally Jackson of Norwalk, and lived and died in
Lonetown near his father, in the house now owned by William Louns-
bury. He had one child, Huldah, who never married.
Samuel Read lived in the house now occupied by Captain Day, below
the Congregational Church. He was a deacon in tfliat church for many
years, and a man of prominence in town affairs. He maried Laura ,
and had two daughters, Clarissa and Betsey.
Clarissa, daughter of Zalmon, lived, unmarried, in the old homestead
of her father in the rear of the residence of the late Mrs. Catherine Read.
Frederick Read married, Nov. 20, 1839, Eleanor, daughter of Joel
HISTORY OF REDDING,
263
Gray, of Redding, a prominent man in the town and state.* Their
children were: i, Charles F., born June 5, 1843; married, July 29, 1869,
Rowena S. Wood of Redding, and has children : Daniel, Nellie, and
Maude, deceased, 2, Delia Gray, born Oct. 8, 1846; married, first, Nov. 8,
1890, Jesse B. Sherwood, and second, John Burr Goodsell; no children.
3, George, born November 30, 1848; married April 24, 1873, Miss Hattie
Bassett, of Birmingham, Conn. ; has one son, Frank. 4, Aaron, born
Sept. 15th, 1855 ; married, Sept. 10, 1879, Miss Ella A. Wright, of Dan-
bury, Conn.; no children. 5, Zalmon, born Oct. 8, 1859; married Miss
Jennie F. Olmstead, of Redding, Dec. 16, 1886, and has children, Harold
Frederick, Ernest Olmstead, and Eleanor Gray. Frederick Read, the
father, died in Redding, Sept. 6, 1891, aged 74 years. His wife Eleanor,
died April i, 1899, aged 80 years.
Benjamin Read, youngest son of Zalmon 2d, married Miss Catherine
Sellick of Danbury, Jan. ist, 1851. Their children were: John C, born
Oct. 13, 1853; WilHam S., born Oct. 12, 1855; Mary C, born in 1861,
died in infancy; Carrie C, born Dec. 13, 1862. Of these children, John
married Miss Jennie Lyon, of Redding, Apr. 7, 1880, and has children,
Herbert, who graduated at Cornell University 1905, and is now an elec-
trical engineer in Pittsburg, Pa. ; Elizabeth Skidmore, who graduated
from the St. Louis, Mo., High School in 1900, and later from the St.
Louis Normal School, and is now a teacher in the public schools of St.
Louis ; and 3d, Ferris Lyon.
William S. Read is a prominent business man in Tucson, Ariz., with
large mining interests in Mexico. He married Miss Gertrude Strauss,
of Tucson, June 25, 1889, and has two children, Olive and Lacy.
*His grand-daughter, Mrs. John Burr Gcwdsell, of Redding, has his com-
mission as Cornet in the State militia, signed by Gov. Oliver Wolcott. It reads
as follows :
Oliver Wolcott, Esquire, Captain General and Commander in Chief in and over
the State of Connecticut in the United States of America,
To Toe) Gray, 2d, Gent.
Greeting: — You being by the General Assembly of this State accepted to be
Cornet of the Third Company of the Third Regiment of Horse Artillery, in the
Militia of this State, to take rank from the 26th day of June, a. d. t8i8, reposing
special trust and confidence in your fidelity, courage and good conduct, I do by
virtue of the laws of this State me thereunto enabling appoint and empower you
to take the said Company into your care and charge as their Cornet, carefully and
diligently to discharge that office and trust, exercising your inferior officers and
soldiers in the use of their arms according to the rules and discipline of war or-
dained and established by the laws of this State, keeping them in good order and
government and commanding them to obey you as their Cornet, and you are to
observe all such orders and directions as from time to time you shall receive either
from me or from other your superior officers pursuant to the trust hereby reposed
in you.
Given under my hand and the Public Seal of this State at New Haven, the
20th day of October, A. D. 1818.
By his Excellency's command, Oliver Wolcott.
Thomas Day^ Secretary,
264
HISTORY OF REDDING.
Carry C. married Harry Olmstead, June 16, 1886, and has two chil-
dren : Edith and Edmund. They reside in Chicago, 111.
Hezekiah Read, son of Col. John Read, born Feb. 25, 1753, married,
May 12, 1774, Anna Gorham, and had a son, Hezekiah, Jr., born March
23, 1783, who married, for his first wife, Anna Banks, of Greenfield Hill,
Conn., and had a daugliter, Amelia U., now living in Ypsilanti, Mich.
Anna Gorham, first wife of Hezekiah Read, Sr., died Feb. 2}^, 1785, and
he married second, Abigail Hull, Feb. 22, 1789, and had a daughter, De-
borah, who married John Read Hill, a well known citizen of Redding,
Who lived many years at the "manor" of his ancestor, Col. John Read,
now owned by Mr. Henry A. Dimon. Also a son, Samuel B., born April
I, 1802, who married Camille Lyon, and settled first at Sharon, Conn.,
where a son, John, was born to them. When the latter was twelve years
old they removed to Ypsilanti, Mic'h., where the father, Samuel, died in
1884, aged 83 years. His son John, married, in 1900, his cousin, Amelia
U., and died June 30, 1902, aged ']6 years.
Hezekiah Read, Sr., was the ancestor of Mrs. Dora Read Goodale,
and of Elaine and Dora Goodale, the poets.
ROGERS.
Janies Rogers was a prominent man in his day and filled many re-
sponsible offices in the town. He appears as early as 1762. His children
were: Joseph, born Oct. 31st, 1762; Chloe, born Oct. 24th, 1766; James,
born April 28, 1768; ^^ron, born Aug. 22, 1770. (Town record.)
RUMSEY.
Joseph Rumsey appears in Redding as early as 1747. His will, dated
December 27th, 1754, mentions his wife Sarah, and children Isaac, Sarah,
Joseph, Daniel, William and Ephraim. The will of Daniel Rumsey, of
Reading, probated March loth, 1761, mentions his father, Robert, broth-
ers John Rumsey and Seth Hull. John Rumsey settled in Reading ; his
children by his wife Esther, were: Abigail, bapt. Feb. 19th, 1751 ;
Rachel, bapt. Feb. 25th, 1753; Mary, bapt, June 5th, 1755; Nathan, bapt.
Aug. 8th, 1756; David, bapt. Jan. 28th, 1759; Mary, bapt. June 15, 1761 ;
Esther, bapt. May 13th, 1764; and Eben, bapt. Feb. 4th, 1768.
Isaac Rumsey married Abigail St. John, May 23d, 1761. Children:
Abigail, born Dec. 25th, 1761 ; Jeremiah, born May 23, 1762; Ruth, born
Dec. 29, 1763 ; Noah, born Mch. 28, 1768.
SANFORD.*
Thomas Sanford, bom in England probably from 1600 to 1610, son
as we believe of Anthony Sanford (and Joan, daughter of John Strat-
*Condensed from Miss Rebecca D. Beach's Beach- Sanford Genealogy, and from
the records of Edward J. Sauford, of Knoxville. Tenn.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
265
ford), the son of Raulf Sanford, of Stowe, County Gloucester, England.
This Thomas married Dorothy, daughter of Henry Meadows, of Stowe,
and they came soon after with the John Winthrop colony to Boston, Mass.
First appears of record in Dorchester, Mass., where he received land,
1634 and 1635. Made freeman in the colony March 9th, 1637. In 1639
'he came with a colony from Dorchester and Watertown and settled in
Milford, Conn., where his name appears in the earliest records. His
wife Dorothy probably died in Dorchester. He had two children by her,
Ezekiel, and Sarah wiho married Richard Shute, of East Chester, Conn.,
Aug. 14, 1656. Thomas Sanford married second Sarah . His
children by her were Mary, born in Milford, Jan. 16, 1741 ; Samuel, born
Apr. 20, 1643; Thomas, Jr., bom December, 1644; Ephraim, born May
17th, 1646; Elizabeth, born Aug. 27th, 1648, married, Oct. 21, 1669,
Obadiah Allyn, of Middletown, Conn. Thomas Sanford died in Milford,
October, 1681. His will is dated Sept. 23, 1681. Estate appraised by
John Beard and Samudl Clark, Oct. 21, 1681. Amount, £450, i8s. 3d.
He was one of three appointed by Governor Treat, May, 1661, "in the
Marshall's absence," to seach for the regicides, Whalley and Goffe.
Ezekiel, eldest child of Thomas above, settled in Fairfield, and mar-
ried, April 25th, 1665, Rebecca Wickla (Sdhenck's History of Fairfield
says Rebecca, daug'hter of John and Rebecca Whelpley, of Fairfield.)
He died in Fairfield, 1683, where he was a large land holder. His widow
Rebecca was administrator of his estate. She died before it was settled ;
final settlement in 1697. Their children were: Sarah, born Mar. 5th, 1666,
married Cornelius Hull, Jr. ; Ezekiel, Jr., born March 6th, 1668 ; Mary,
bom April 3d, 1670, married Theophilus Hull ; Rebecca, born Dec. 13th,
1672, married John Seeley ; Thomas, born May 2d, 1675 ; Martha, born
June 29th, 1677; Elizabeth, bom Sept. 6, 1679.
Of the above children we are concerned with Ezekiel, Jr., who mar-
ried, in 1696, Rebeccah Gregory. Their children were: Joseph, born
March 27, 1697, in Fairfield, where he lived and died ; Lemuel, born Dec.
i6th, 1699, settled in Redding; Zachariah, born Nov. 24th, 1701 ; Ezekiel
3d, born July 27, 1704; Samuel, born Feb. 20th, 1707-8, settled in Red-
ding; Ephraim, born Feb. 12th, 1708-9, settled in Redding; Rebeccah,
born Nov. 21, 1710, married, about 1730, William Hill; Abigail, born
Aug. 29th, 1714, married, Dec. 4th, 1735, James Bradley; Elnathan, born
Sept. ist, 17 17, probably died young.
Of the above children three, Lemuel, Samuel and Ephraim, settled in
Redding, Lemuel being one of the original members of the Congrega-
tional Church here, and Samuel and Ephraim joining it in the first year
of its existence, viz. 1734. There was another of the name — Nathaniel —
vv'ho was an original member; no doubt the son of that Ephraim given
above, the son of Thomas, who married, Nov. i8th, 1669, Mary, daughter
266 HISTORY OF REDDING.
of Thomas Powell, of New Haven, Ct., and, according to Savage, bad
children Mary, Samuel, Ephraim, Thomas, Natihianiel, and Zadiariah.
This Nathaniel settled in Umpawaug. His children recorded were:
Abel H., baptized March 2Sth, 1733; Ruth, baptized May 12th, 1737;
Esther, baptized May 27th, 1744.
I have no further record of t'his family.
Lemuel San ford settled in the Centre. He was one of the first com-
mittee-men of the society, and prominent in public affairs. He married.
May 12, 1730, Rebecca Squires, of Fairfield. Their children were:
Hesekiah, probably born in Fairfield; Sarah, bapt. Sept. 19th, 1734;
Anne, bapt. Nov. ist, 1736; Lydia, bapt. June 4th, 1738; Lemuel, bapt.
April 20th, 1740; Esekiel, bapt. July 4th, 1742; Anne, bapt. Oct. 7th.
1744; Roda, bapt. Feb. 26th, 1749.
Hezekiah married Hanna'h , and settled in the Centre, on the
farm now owned by Mr. Hinckel. His children were: Aaron, bapt. May
29th, 1757; Hannah, bapt. August 26th, 1759; William, bapt. Oct. 14th,
1764; Eunice, bapt. June 7th, 1772; Huldab, bapt. May i8th, 1777.
Aaron, his eldest son, settled in the Centre, and lived in the house later
owned by Mrs, Connors.* He married Lydia H'awley, daugtiter of
William Hawley, November 2d, 1780. Their dhildren were : Betsey,
born Oct. 5th, 1781 ; Hannah, born May 31'st, 1784; Aaron, born July 8th,
1786; Hazvley, horn July i6th, 1789; Jesse Lee, born July 27th, 1791 ;
Eunice, born August loth, 1793; Walter, born Feb. i8th, 1796; Char-
lotte, born Jan. 8th, 1800; Lydia, born Sept. 23d, 1803; William A., born
Jan. 15th, 1807.
Aaron Sanford, Jr., settled on Redding Ridge, in the eastern part of
the town. He married, December 19th, 1813, Fanny Hill, daughter of
Andrew L. Hill. Their children were eleven in number : Andrew H.,
Daniel, Mary, Clara, Henry, Aaron, Fanny, Jesse Lee Mary Elizabeth,
John, and Julia H.
Of the above children of Aaron Sanford, Jr., Andrew H. married
Louisa Taylor, of Elasfcon, and had one son, Andrew H. who died while a
soldier in the Civil War. Daniel, the second son, married first Anna
Maria Ames, by whom he bad one child, Mary. After the death of his
first wife he married second Helen E. Sammis, of Norwalk, by whom
he had three children, Helen, Belle and Daniel S. Mr. Sanford was
founder and for many years principal of the Sanford School on Redding
Ridge, now conducted by his son Daniel. (See Chap, xxii.)
Henry, the third son, entered the employ of the Adams Express Com-
pany, and rose by application and ability to be President of that great
corporation. He married first Nancy Lockwood, of Bridgeport, by whom
'be 'had one son, Samuel Simons, now Professor of Music in Yale Uni-
*For sketch of Aaron Sanford, see Chapter XIX.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
267
versity. After the d'eath of his first wife, Mr. Sanford married second
Mrs. Olive Burchard, of New York City.
Aaron, the fourth son, married Flora Jane Bradley, of Newtown, and
settled in that town. His children were, Mary and William H., the lat-
ter now connected with the Oentury Magazine. Mr. Sanford was for a
•term of years High Sheriff of Fairfield County, and held other offices of
trust.
Fanny, the third daughter, married Edward P. Shaw, for many years
Principal of the Sanford School. (See Chap, xxii.) Their children were
Emma, H'enr}% Edward, and Samuel.
Mary Elizabeth, the fourth daughter, married Marshall; S. Driggs,
of New York, and had one child, who died in infancy.
Jesse, the 5th son, married Fanny M. Osborn, of Redding. Their
children are Marshall D., Jesse O., Samuel H., Sarah E., Olivia, George,
and Aaron.
John, 'the 6th son, m.arried Jennie Miller, of Redkling. Their children
are Elbert M. and Jo'hn C.
Hawley, fbe second son of Aaron Sanford, Sr., married Betsey How,
November 2d, 1814, by whom he had three children, Jesse Lee, John
Russell, and Be'tsey. On the death of his wife he married second Sarah
Ketchum, November 20th, 1823. The children of this marriage were
Francis A., Hiawley, Aaron K., David B., Lydia, Morris H., and Mary
A. S.
Of the last named children, Kaw'ley, the second son, married Eliza-
beth Johnson, of Easton, Conn., and 'had children Mary L., now Mrs.
John Burrill ; Alcimore M., now a prominent member of the Wisconsin
Conference ; Wilbur Y., Harriet, John, Nellie, Jennie, Frank, and Charles.
Aaron K. married Frances L. Burnham, and had one child, Clarence
R. He has received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Syracuse
University. He is a well known member of the New York Conference
of the M. E. Church, having been Presiding Elder for two terms, and
Missionary Superintendent of the New York City Church Extension and
Missionary Society, as well as having held other prominent official posi-
tions. He was a delegate to the General Conference of tihe Methodist
Episcopal Church in 1880. and also a member of the Ecumenical INIeth-
odist Conference at City Road Chapel, London, Eng., in 1901.
David B. Sanfoird married Cornelia A. Lacy, of Bethel. They had
one child, Cornelia. On the death of his wife Mr. Sanford married sec-
ond Julia A. Janes, w'ho bore him three children, Harriet, Lydia, and
Edward. On her death *hie married third Charlotte Wi'lley. 'David B.
Sanford removed w'hile still a young man to Independence, la., where
several of his children are now living. He died in 1904.
Morris H. Sanford entered the Civil War as Second Lieutenant of
268 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Company C in the Nineteenth Infantry, afterward the Second Heavy
Artillery, Conn. Volunteers, and was promoted for merit to be First
Lieutenant and later Captain; was severely wounded at the battle of
Cedar Creek, Va. On November 23, 1859, he married Elizabeth A.
White, of Easton, and shortly after his honorable discharge from the
service he removed to Iowa, where he died, September 30, 1875-. He was
a man of large ability and of much influence in his community. His
death, as the result of an army disease, in his early prime brought grief
to a wide circle of friends. His children were: Wilbur, Minnie, Fred-
eric, Fanny, and Morris D., of whom Frederic and Morris D. are now
living in Iowa. ]\Irs. Sanford, now Mrs. Plane, resides in Cedar Rapids,
la.
Of tile daughters, Lydia married the Rev. Henry B. Mead, a Meth-
odist clergym.an, who died April 15th, 1906. Her oldest son, George B.,
is a Met'hodist clergyman, a member of the New York Conference.
Emorv L., the second son, is ihead masiter of the Utica N. Y. Free Acad-
emy. Havvdey S., the third son, is in the life insurance business in Toledo,
O. A daughter, Mary, died July 13, 1898.
Mary A. S. married the Rev. Alexander McAllister, of the New York
East Conference, who died July 28, 1906.
Francis A. Sanfofd, the eldest of the above niam'ed dhrldren, rermained
in Redding and was for for'ty 3':ears one of the central figures in the life
of the town. He married Lucy Hawley Knapp. Their children were :
Caroline Krtapp, Arthur Benton, Myron Reed, Emma Caroline, and Frank
Herbert. The following sketch of his career will be apprediated by those
v.iho knew him in life:
Francis Asbury Sanford, eldest son of Hawley and Sarah Ketdhum
Sanford, was born on August 13, 1824. Though his boyhood was spent
on the far-extended farm of his ancestors in the valley of the Saugatuck,
and thougii river, meadow, and mountain always attracted him, his
stronger inclination early led 'h'im to a commercial life. After the usual
time at school, completed by a brief Gourse in more advanced studies at
Amenia Seminary, and a short experience in teaching, he became clerk
for Edward Starr who owned the general store on Redding Ridge, where,
through various oircumstiances, in a few years he passed from employe
to owner.
In other days the country store stood to the needs of the community
in a far different relation from that now held by its small and unim-
portant successor. All of the wants df the neig'hbor'hood were there sup-
plied, the luxuries as v>rell as the necessities of the daily life. Silks,
satinis. arid broadcloth were as much a part of the stock as l^he calicoes
and the jeans; drugs and lotions were to be found there, as well as the
staples that maintained the community. If the carpenter did not find the
FRANCIS A. SANFORD,
HISTORY OF REDDING.
269
odd hinge or lock necessary to ^the new house, the order for it was left
at the "store." Here the housewife could furnish from garret to cellar her
wew ihonie, if it were not too pretentious ; no department was forgotten
in the multifarious supply that streamed forth from the unfailing source.
An amusing incident related of two men in a neighboring town will show
how complete was the asaortment carried, even thoug^h the story cantiot
iiow be verified. One hiad wagered the otiher that he could not ask for
anything which the merchant could not supply. Devising w'hat seemed
to him an impossible request, the other of the two went to the store and
innocently asked if he might see a "second-hand pulpit." The clerk led
him to a loft in an adjoining storeroom arid showed 'him the article in
question, which had been boug'ht some timve before at the dism'antling of
an laband'oned church.
Perhaps nowhere in New England was a stock more varied tlian at
the Ridge store. Under Mr. Sanford's management the circle of trade
grew until, in some directions, its radius was six and seven miles. To
(illustrate by a detail or two, in the height of its activity, the grocery
'department needed a hogshead of m.olasses each month to supply its
customers ; flour was, one year, bought by the carload ; tons of butter were
yearly sent to the Bridgeport market and even to New Haven ; eggs by
the thousands of dozen were barreled and sent out in continuous flow;
earthen ware oame each year by the wagon-load from the pottery at
Norwalk ; the contents of crates of the better ware, straight from the
packers in England, were awaited by the dames who loved a tastily fur-
nisihed table.
Where all the 'hides, hickory nuts, and huckleberries came from was
as great a wonder as where the cases of calico and loads of com and
"feed" disappeared to. W'hy has not some one written up the relation
of the country store to the economics of the early republic ? What dick-
erings and bargainings there were in the thirty years of the development
of trade at the Ridge ! What pleasantries, what arguments in religion,
politics, the social order over the bartering — discussions out of which
came cluanged views of life and duty. To illustrate the pleasantry of
those sturdy men, one incident will be sufficient. Late, one zero night,
a prominent member of the Ridge comnumity stood buttoning bis coat
and drawing on his gloves. "Boys, I'd give a dollar if I had that stove
to go home by." "You sihall have it," shouted some one, and, bars be-
ing found, and the stovepipe detached, four men carried the red-hot
stove out into the arctic temperature and over tihe hill to the west, while
the rash proposer tried to extract a dollar's worth of warmth out of the
venture.
The Ridge is no longer a center of trade. The farmers, the drovers,
the clergymen of that evening circle are gone. One name only remains
270
HISTORY OF REDDING.
unstarred — that of the genial village tailor, with his English pleasantries,
who measured critically, if he did not weigh in a balance, his fellow
townsmen. Honor and reverence be to him while he still lingers in green
old age, most worthy representative of departed colleagues strong and
true.
But though he built up and mianaged the business in all its details,
Mr. Sanford's real forte from the first was to be seen in other than the
daily barter. The conduct of this, so far as possible, he left to others.
He loved a larger line of work. In 1852, two years after he acquired
the business, a petition was circulated by the people of the Ridge which
brought him die post-mastersliip ; the same year saw him notary public
and Justice of the Peace, offices which he held practically continuously
until he left Redding in 1879. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, he
was a Selectman, and united with his two associates in the call for a
special town meeting "to consider the expediency of appropriating funds
to defray the expenses of the families of those v/ho enlist in the service
of the United States army." Throughout the strife he Avas a staunch
and enthusiastic supporter of the national administration. In 1865, while
the clouds of war yet hung over the land, he was elected Senator for the
nth District, and filled an important place in the counsels of that Legis-
lature, originating useful measures still in force. Again, in 1868, he was
a member of the Legislature, as a Representative. Long he was a Com-
missioner of the Superior Court. In the passing years there also came
to him constant opportunities for advice in the more unnoticed, but hard-
ly less important, offices of administrator of estates, executor of wills,
treasurer of his church, chairman of school boards, and banker of the
community — and these, with other trusts, occupied all the spare hours
of a busy life. His safe was always full of papers, not only of those of
the immediate neighborhood, but of those of adjoining localities.
What varied scenes the store beheld in the changing years ! Here
came complainants to "Squire Frank" concerning those who were dis-
turbing the public peace or welfare ; here men were more than once sent
behind prison walls ; here droves of cattle were exchanged for endorsed
notes ; here was heard the 'T give, devise, and bequeath" of the last will
and testament ; the annual tax was on certain days to be paid here ; here
the hard-working farmer came to leave his small gains to be put into
somie saving institution, or some widow to apply to the Governiment for
pension ; committees of all kinds and complexions m^ett here and arrived
at decisions that affected the interests and welfare of a wide-spread com-
munity. The center of this life, Mr. Sanford gave the best of his years
to these and similar activities. When remonsitrated with that some par-
ticular act was unrewarded he would answer, "Oh, well, ihe cannot afiford
to pay a lawyer's fees." It was in the same spirit that he sent a substitute
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O ^
oi
HISTORY OF REDDING.
271
to the war, though exempt by official position. Who sihall say that he
did not reap full reward in the joy of service to 'his fellow men ?
The burning of his residence, store, and other buildings on May 12,
1879, marked the end of his activities in Redding. Afterwards he lived
in New York, later in Fairfield and in Bridgeport.
From his early years he was a most conscientious and valuable mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church — of which his grandfather, Aaron
Sanford, had been the first male member and the first steward, class lead-
er, and local preacher in New England. Throughout his long life, he
illustrated in his daily walks the many virtues of Christian discipleship.
In serenity and a good man's hope of the life immortal, he died at Bridge-
port, Conn., September 13, 1899.
Lucy Knapp Sanford, his wife, the faithful, untiring companion of
all his enterprises — herself a resident of Redding, and a descendant of
sturdy and historic families, both on the paternal and maternal sides —
died a few months later, May 23, 1900.
Of the children of Francis A. and Lucy H. Sanfofd :
Arthur Benton Sanford was educated in preparatory schools and at
Wesleyan University, becoming a member of the (f> B. K. Society at grad-
uation, and afterwards taking the M. A. degree in course. Having joined
the New York East Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he
served as pastor in Connecticut, New York City, and Brooklyn — one
pastorate being at John Street, New York City, the mother churdh of
American Methodism. In 1890, he became Assistant Editor of the
Methodist Review, filling that position till 1901, and for a short period
Avas acting editor of the publication. He was, besides, at the General Con-
ferences of 1888 and 1892, one of tlie editors of the Daily Advocate;
in 1891, editor of the Proceedings of the Second Ecumenical Methodist
Conference, at Wasihington, D. C. ; in 1891-1901, editor of llhe Methodist
Year Book and the General Minutes of the Church.
After long service as an Assistant Secretary of his Conference, he
became Secretary of that body in 1897, and yet fills this important office,
being also editor of the annual Minutes of the Conference. In 1900, he
was a delegate to the Ecumenical Missionary Conference of all Denom-
inations, in New York City; in 1901, he was a member of the Third
Ecumenical Methodist Conference, held in Jdhn Wesley'-s "Cathedral
Church," the City Road Chapel. London, England ; in 1904, he went as a
delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
at Los Angeles, California. In 1904-5, he served as President of the
New York Preachers' Meeting, of the Methodist Episcopal Qiurch.
In 1886, he married Miss Nellie M. Hunt, daughter of the late Sand-
ford Hunt, D. D., Agent of the Methodist Book Concern in New York
city. Their children are Arthur Hunt Sanford, now a Sop^homore at
272 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Princeton University, and Laurence Hunt Sanford. In 1893, tlie subject
of our sketch received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the Syra-
cuse University. Among other prominent positions 'he has filled, Dr.
Sanford is now a member of the Methodist Historical Society in the
city of New York, and one of its Vice-Presidents ; a member of the Board
of the Deaconess Home, Brooklyn, N. Y, ; a Trustee of the John Street
M. E. Church Trust Fund Society ; a Manager of the American Sabbath
Union; a Manager of the Tract Society of the Methodist Episcopal
Church ; and a Trustee of Syracuse University. He has been a some-
time lecturer on early Methodism and on European and American travel.
At present, he is a pastor in the New York East Conference.
For a sketch of Prof. Myron R. Sanford, see Chap. xix.
Walter, the third son of Aaron Sanford, Sr., married, December 6,
182 1, Harriet M. Booth. She bore him one son, Charles, w'ho died
October 29, 1901. After her death Mr. Sanford married second Emily
Gorham.
William, fourth son of Aaron Sanford, Sr., married, May 2d, 1832,
Harriet Tuttle. They had one daughter, Martha Tuttle, who died April
30, 1852, aged eig5iteen years.
Of the daughters of Aaron Sanford, Sr., Betsey married Jolhn Read
Hill, of Redding. Hannah married the Rev. Aaron Hunt, a Methodist
clergyman, celebrated in his day as being the first to successfully contest
the o'ld colonial law -wthich forbade all ministers except those of the
"Standing Order" to perform the marriage ceremony. Mr. Hunt was
at one tim'e located and resided for several years in Redding. Charlotte
married Thomas B. Fanton. Lydia married Aaron Sanford Hyatt.
Lemuel Sanford, second son of Lemuel Sanford, settled in the Centre,
near 'his father. He married, September 20th, 1768, Mary Russell, of
North Branford, Conn. The circumstances attending his marriage are
thus narrated : He left Redding on horseback, early on the morning of
his wedding-'day, but was delayed on the road and did not reac^h Branford
until midnight. By that time the wedding guests had dispersed and the
family had retired ; but he roused them up, collected the guests, and the
ceremony was performed. The next day bride and groom returned to
Redding, travelling on horseback. The children of Lemuel and Mary
Sanford were: Lemuel, born July i8th, 1769 ; Roda, born Mar. 4th, 1773 ;
Mary, born May iSbh, 1776, married Dr. Thomas Peck ; Abigail, bom
1779, died in infancy; Jonathan R., born February nth, 1782; Abigail,
born April i8th, 1784; Lucretia, born May 4th, 1786.
Mr. Lemuel Sanford died March 12th, 1803, at Danbury, in the per-
formance of his duties as Judge of the County Court, leaving a most
honorable record. He had filled all the positions of honor and trust in
his native town, and during the Revolution had been a member of the
HISTORY OF REDDING.
'^IZ
Committee of Supply, the duties of which kept him absent in Danbury
and Fairfield nearly the whole period of the war. He several times
represented the town in the General Assembly, and also held the office
of Associate Judge of the County Court.
Lemuel Sanford, eldest son of Judge Sanford, after being educated
at President Dwight's famous academy on Greenfield Hill, returned to
Redding, married Mary Heron, daughter of Squire Heron, and settled
in the Centre, on the farm now owned by Albert Gorham. He was a
man of much ability, and quite prominent in town affairs. He had but
two children, Mary and Julia.
Jonathan Russell Sanford, second son of Lemuel and Mary Russell
Sanford, married Maria, daughter of Dr. Thomas F, and Hannali Chrissy
Davies, October 17, 1808. Their children were: Amanda, Maria, Lem-
uel, Jonathan R., and Thomas. It has been the lot of very few men to
be so closely identified with the affairs of their native town. In 1808, the
year of his marriage, he was elected Town Clerk and Treasurer, and
held these offices by consecutive appointment the remainder of his life,
a period of nearly half a century. After his election as Judge of Pro-
bate he continued in that office till he reached the age of seventy. In
183 1, he succeeded his brother Lemuel as Clerk and Treasurer of the
Congregational Society and continueid to serve the church in that capacity
till two years before his death. At different periods he represented the
town in the State Legislature, and it is said of him in Crosby's Obituary
Records that he discharged 'the duties of all the various trusts both of
a public and private nature with a sternness of integrity and a purity of
purpose seldom equaled, and through a long life 'lie enjoyed in an emi-
nent degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. He died
August 21, 1858.
Judge Lemuel Sanford, eldest son of Jonathan Russell and Maria
(Davies) Sanford, was born in Redding, September 18, 1816. Following
closely in the footsteps of his father and grandfather he became in his
early manihood deeply interested in the affairs of his native town. Under
the personal instruction of his uncle. Rev. Jonathan Bartlett, he acquired
a fine classical education, and early in life developed a taste and talent for
legal studies which continued all through 'his life. His 'habits of close
investigation into any case that came to his notice gave him the enviable
record of never having a decision given by him reversed, when cases
decided by him were carried into the higher courts.
During the time his father was Probate Judge, he filled the office of
Probate Clerk, and at the retirement of his father, he was elected to suc-
ceed him, and with the exception of one year cotLtinued to hold the office
till he also reached the age of retirement. At the Town Meeting im-
mediately succeeding his father's death, 'he was unanimously elected to
2 74
HISTORY OF REDDING.
fill the offices of Town Clerk and Treasurer, left vacant. In con-
tinuous faithful service of nearly fifty years, although for much of
the time his party wais in tlhe minority, he continued to hold these offices,
with an interim of but one year, till the time of his dealth, in 1890.
In 1847 he represented the Eleventh Senatorial District in the State
Senate to the entire satisfaction of his constituents, being at that time
the youngest member of the Senate. His whole life was spent
in 'Ms native town, taking the deepest interest in whatever pertained to
its welfare, and that he 'had the esteem and confidenoe of his fellow
townismen was evidenceid by the numerous positions of trust and respon-
sibility ftliat were given to his care irrespective of party. He was also
an honorary member of the Fairfield Historical Society.
For many years he was a member of the Congregational Church,
and succeeded his father as Clierk and Treasurer of the Society, con-
tinuing in office till his death. He married Abby Maria, daughter of
Braid!ley and Be'tsey Hill, and built, in 1847, the house adjoining that of
his uncle, Rev. Jonathan Bartlett. He died June 9th, 1890. His only
son, Jonathan Bartlett Sanford, married Edith Dayton, of Riiladelphia,
Pa., and occupies the old homestead. There were six daughters: Mary
Russell, who married Henry S. Osborn, of Redding, died Dec. 9th, 1895;
Sarah Elizabeth; Abbie Bartlett, married Rev. Wm. Bailey Hague, of
Galesburg, 111 ; Martha Hill, married Henry S. Osiborn ; Alice Amanda,
married Wm. Bartow Hill, of Gr&enfield, Conn. ; Gertrude Lucre'tia, mar-
ried LeRoy Woolsey Randle, of Wilton, Conn.
Jonathan R., the second son, represented his town in the Connecticut
General Assembly, 1854, 1870, 1874, and was Senator from Vhe Elev-
enitih District in 1878-9. He also held many 'town offices, was high in his
party councils, and was often appointed to appraise and administer estates.
He married. May 16, 1847, Clarissa, daughter of the late Deacon Samuel
Read. They had but one child, Hannah Maria, who died suddenly at
the age of twertty-five. He died February 28, 1897,
Thomas Sanford, the youngest son, was for many years one of *he
best known and most influential jmen in his oounty. In 1850 he was
appointed Deputy Sheriff, which office he held for six years. In i860
he was elected Sheriff of the Counlty, which office he filled for three
years to the satisfaction of his constituents, but dedined a re-nomination.
He served in the State Legislature in 1856, and again in 1877, and at
various times served on imporitant State 'Oommissions appoimteld by the
Governor. He was also largely employed in the settlement of 'estates.
He married Charlotte A. Hewitt. They had a son, Thomas F., now a
Professor in the University of California, and a daughter, Mary A.
Ezekiel, third son of Lemuel Sanford the first, married Abigail Starr,
November 21st, 1773, and settled in Boston district, in the western part
HISTORY OF REDDING.
275
of the town. His children were: MolHe, baptized December i8th, 1774.
Rebecca, baptized April 24th, 1777. Ezekiel, baptized November ist,
1778. Abigail, baptized Mardi ipt^h, 1780; perhaps others. He is called
captain in the old records. Some of his descendants are now living in
Amenia, N. Y.
Samuel Sanford the first, settled in Umpawaug. He is called captain
in the records. His children were: Daniel, baptized April 22d, 1734;
Seth, baptized August 23d, 1735; Mary, March 19th, 1738; David, De-
cember 2d, 1739; Abigail, Januar)- 30th, 1743; Samuel, May 5'th, .1745;
Sarah, May lotjh, 1747; Esther, Apnil i6th, 1749; Ezra, March 25th,
175 1 ; Rache'l, February 25th, 1753 ; Peter, May 23d, 1756. Captain Sam-
uel Sanford died November 6t^h, 1768, aged sixty-two years.
Daniel married Esther Hull, April i8t)h, 1758. lOhildren: Eli, bap-
tized August 16, 1761 ; Chloe, July sth, 1767; and others. Sefh married
Rebecca, daughter of Deacon Stephen Burr, April 25th, 1759. Her chil-
dren, named in Deacon Burr's will, 1776, were: Elias, Ebenezer, Jodl,
Elijah, Samuel, and Scth. Mary married Timothy Sanford, sion of
Joseplh. Abigail married John Hawley, December 21st, 1762. Samuel,
Jr., married Sarah Olmsted, July 23d, 1767. (Town record.) His dhil-
dren recorded were: Uriah, baptized February 14th, 1768; Thomas, De-
cember 17th, 1769. Peter married Abigail Keder, June ist, 1780.
Ephraim Saniford, son of Ezekiel, Jr., settled in Sanfordtown, and
was a large land owner there, as is S'hown by severaid deeds now in the
posses'sion of his descendants, some of which date back as far as 1733.
His children by his wife Elizabeth Mix, according to the parisfh record,
were : Radhel, baptized July 29th, 1733 ; Abigail, baptized May i8th,
1735; John, April 2g\^i, 1739; Oliver, September 20th, 1741 ; Lois, Sep-
tember 17th, 1743; Huldah, May 5'fh, 1748; Augustus, Ju'l'y I5t/h, 1753;
Esther, April 27th, 1755. His will, dated January 30th, 1761, mentions
ako Ephraim, Elizabeth, and Tabith'a. Ephraim Sanfoird, according to
the family tradition, was tbe first man having a store of goodls in Red-
ding. His goods were brought from Bositon. Of his dliirdreti, Abigail
married Daniel Jackson, Octdber 2d, 1755. John married Anna Wheeler,
and settled in the Foundry district, in Redding. His dhildren were:
Jameis, Steplien, Ephraim, John, (Eli, Huldah, Dods, BaJster, Elizabeth,
and Annie. James, the eldest son, settled in the Foundry district, near
his fadhier. He was a (teamster in the Revolutionary a,rmy, and was
present at the execution of Jones and Smith on Gallows Hill. He mar-
ried Sarah, daugliter of John Bdach, and grand-daughter of Rev. Jo/hn
Beach, the faithful missionary of the Ghurdh of England.
He is called "Squire James" inrtftie records and was a man of force and
prominence in the community. He lived in the old homestead on Rock
House Hill, still tenanted by one of his descendants. He married Sarah
2^6 HISTORY OF REDDING.
Beach, daughter of Lazarus Beach and Lydia Sanford, in 1780, and died
April 14th, 1842, aged 84 years. His children were: Lemuel, born Nov.
20, 1781 ; Lydia Ann, born Aug. i, 1782; Isaac, born Apr. 23, 1786; Alan-
son, born Jan. 20, 1789; Sally, born Feb. 14, 1794; John Beach, born Oct.
10, 1796; James, Jr., born Jan. 10, 1799; Charles, born Jan. 7, 1801 ; a
child, born Oct. i, 1804; Harriet, born , died April 29, 1840; Maria,
born April, 1811, died March 28, 1824.
James Sanford, Jr. above, married, Jan. 27, 1822, Miss Eliza French,
and had children : John Turney, who died in infancy ; Turney, born Jan.
22,, 1825; Senah, born Feb. 24, 1828; James, 3d, born Oct. 19, 1830;
Sarah, born June 7th, 1833; Stephen, born March 28, 1835; Betsey, bom
Sept. 13, 1838; Perkins, born Feb. 24, 1841 ; Abby, born July 21, 1843;
Henry, born Jan. 29, 1846; Charles, born Feb. 5th, 1849.
Of the above children, Turney married Mary Roe, of Southport,
Conn., and had one child, George Turney, who married Florence Hill, of
New Orleans, La., and died in Mississippi, Dec. 31, 1894, leaving a
daughter, Beulah.
James Sanford, 3d, married Sarah Meeker, of Redding, and has one
son, William Clinton, who married Miss Edith Cole, of Weston, and one
son, James Harold.
Sarah married William E. Duncomb, of Redding, and had one daugh-
ter, Emma Eliza, who married George Benjamin Beers, of Easton.
Stephen married ]\lary Sophia Banks, of Redding, and has children:
Emory Perkins and Stephen Ernest. Emory married Olivia Sanford, of
Redding, and has two children.
Betsey married George B. Sherwood, of Easton, and had one child,
James Arthur Sherwood.
Charles married Hannah Sherwood, and has two daughters, Elsie and
Lucy.
Died, JMay 26, 1883, Squire James Sanford, the father.
John Sanford, Jr., son of John and Anna (Wheeler) Sanford, married
first, 1788, Lydia Wheeler, of Weston, and second, Elizabeth Parsons.
His children, all by the first wife, were: Elizabeth, born Aug. 15, 1790;
Ruth, born April 22, 1792; Margaret, born Oct. 20, 1794; Sarah, born
Jan. 25, 1797; John W., born May 21, 1799; Eli, born Aug. 4, 1801 ;
Lydia A., born March 17, 1804.
Of these children, Elizabeth married Aaron Lyon and had three chil-
dren, Lemuel, Mary Eliza, and Lydia Louisa. Ruth married David Dun-
combe, and had children: Henry B., David S., Asabel S., Charles, Harriet
N., Lydia A., Aaron H., and William E.
Margaret married Henry Dean ; no children. Sarah married Garry
Dayton, and had children : Betsey, Caroline, Betsey, Lydia Ann, San-
ford, and Charles W. John W. married Altha Fanton, of Weston, and
HISTORY OF REDDING.
277
had chiiaren: Mary Ann, unmarried; George Wheeler, died Dec. 6, 1842,
aged 18 years; Harriet Stevens, died Feb. 4, 1853, aged 27 years; Flora
Maria, died April 30, 1894, aged 66 years ; Edward J. and Georgiana.
Edward J. removed to Knoxville, Tenn., in early life, where be be-
came a prominent man, being at one time the RepubUcan nominee for
Governor of Tennessee. He married, Aug. 21, i860, Miss Emma Chav-
annes, daughter of the Rev. Adrian Chavannes, of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Their children were: Edward T., now a prominent lawyer of Knoxville,
Tenn., and who married Lutie Mallory Woodruff, of Knoxville, and has
two children: Dorothy and Anna Magee; and Emma, who married Ed-
ward Jackson Sanford, elder son of the Hon. William Eli Sanford, M.
P., of Hamilton, Can., and has one child, Constance Phyllis.
Georgiana, fourth daughter of John W. Sanford, married the Rev.
Charles W. Kelley, July 11, 1876.
Eli Sanford, the youngest son of John Sanford, Jr., married Feb. 26,
1826, in New York City, Miss Eveline Argall, and had children: Eliza,
Lydia Ann, Hannah J. (died May 5th, 1849, aged 18 years), and William
E.
Of these children, Eliza married, ist, Elijah P. Farmer, and second,
Dr. James T. Alley, of Buffalo, N. Y. She had one child by the first
husband : Hannah Eliza, who died in infancy ; and one by the second,
William Sanford. Mrs. Alley died Aug. 11, 1886.
Lydia Ann married Andrew Meeker, of Redding, and had one child,
who died in infancy.
William E. Sanford, youngest child of Eli, born Aug. 21, 1834, in
New York, married, first, Emmeline Sanford Jackson, and on her death
in 1858, Sophia Vaux, of Ottawa, Can. His children, ail by the second
marriage, are Edward J., Henry Vaux (died in infancy), Edna and
Muriel.
Hon. William E. Sanford settled in Hamilton, Canada, and engaged
in commercial pursuits. He is president of a large manufacturing con-
cern, and is intimately connected with many monied and educational insti-
tutions of Canada. In the year 1887, he was appointed by Her Majesty
a member for life of the Canadian Senate, and has also been a member of
various Government Commissions. He resides in Hamilton, Canada.
Stephen Sanford, son of John and Ann (Wheeler) Sanford, married
Sarah Curtis, of Huntington, Conn., and had children: Nehemiah C,
Charlotte, Phoebe, John, Charles, Stephen, Jr., and Nelson, all of whom
settled out of Redding, largely in Newtown and Roxbury, Conn. Nehe-
miah C. married Nancy Bateman Shelton, of Huntington, and had an
only child, Henry Shelton Sanford, who attained prominence in many
lands and was of signal service to his country in her hour of need. Mr.
Sanford began his diplomatic career as attach^ at St. Petersburg in 1847,
2 78
HISTORY OF REDDING.
under Hon. Ralph I. Ingersoll. The next year, 1848, 'he was acting
Secretary of Legation under Hon, Andrew J. Donelson at Frankfort. In
1849 he was appointed by President Taylor, Secretary of Legation at
Paris, under Hon. William C. Revis, and on the departure of the latter
in 1853, Charge de Affaires for nearly a year, arranging for our first pos-
tal convention with France. He resigned and returned to this country
in 1859, ^"^ soon after was sent by President Buchanan to New Gre-
nada to negotiate for the extension of the Panama Railroad charter. His
house in Washington during the winter of 1860-61, the year of the Peace
Congress, was a centre of decisive discussion. Mr. Lincoln, immediately
after his inauguration, appointed him Minister to Belgium, and within
three days he was on his way to Paris under confidential instructions.
His mission to Belgium was made to cover much diplomatic ground.
Governor Seward said of him : "Mr. Sanford during the first year of
the war was the Minister of the United States in Europe." During the
eight and a half years that Mr. Sanford remained in Belgium he nego-
tiated and signed the treaties of the Scheldt, of Commerce and Naviga-
tion, of Trade Marks, and the Consular Convention, the first ever made
by Belgium. The extradition treaty he had discussed failed by reason
of one point, since yielded by our government.
On Mr. Sanford's retirement from the diplomatic service and return
to his native country, he became much interested in the industrial devel-
opment of the South, particularly of Florida. In the latter he founded
the town of Sanford, at the head of navigation on the St. Johns. There
he created an extensive orange grove and tropical garden a mile out of
the village. In this grove Mr. Sanford had gathered every species of
orange known to horticuituriats from all over the world, and pretty much
every important tropical fruit and plant. The writer was invited to visit
it one day, as the guest of the diplomat, who gave his visitor a most in-
teresting account, not only of the trees and plants, but of his efforts in
securing them. This grove, a vast service in introducing improved
species of the citrus family into Florida, was ruined by the great freeze
of 1895. In 1884, Mr. Sanford again entered the diplomatic service as
Plenipotentiary of the International Congo Association. In 1884-5 he
was Plenipotentiary of the United States at the Berlin Conference, and
signed, Feb. 26th, 1885, with his colleague, Minister Kasson, the Act
G^n^rale, opening up the Congo region to our commerce and mission-
aries. A year later he dispatched to the Congo from Brussels the "San-
ford Exploring Expedition" for scientific and commercial discovery and
information. This became, in 1888, in Brussels, a large stock company,
with seven steamers and ten stations. It was one of the disappointments
of Mr. Sanford's life that he could not interest American capital in this
enterprise. In February, 1891, he sailed for America to look after his
HISTORY OF REDDING. 2 70
business interests there, being 'then in 111 health, and died at the White
Sulphur Springs, Va., May 21, 1891.
Mr. Sanford married, Sept. 21, 1864, in Paris, France, Miss Gertrude
Ellen du Puy, of Philadelphia, Pa. Their children were: Henry Shelton,
Gertrude Ellen du Puy, Frida Dolores, Ethel, Helen Carola Nancy, Leo-
pold Curtis, and Ebvyn Emeline Willimine Gladys McKinnon.
Oliver Sanford, son of Ephraim, married, in April, 1767, Rachel,
daughter of Deacon David Coley, of Weston. Their children were:
Mary, baptized July 31st, 1768; David, August 20th, 1769; Ephraim,
September rsth, 1771 ; Abigail, May 29th, 1774; Enoch A., April 28th,
1776; Levi, December 14th, 1777; Oliver C., Abigail, Mary, Betsey, and
Lorraine.
SMITH.
Anna, daughter of Samuel Smith, of Redding, was baptized July 6th,
1740 ; and Seth Samuel, son of Samuel and Lydia Smith, September 28th,
1760. The latter was the first lawyer who located in Redding. He had
an office in the Centre, -where also 'he kept a select sdhool. He was town
clerk for a term of years, and wrote a most elegant hand, as will be re-
membered by those familiar with the records of his times. He also filled
many other important positions in the town. He married Hulda^h .
Their children were: Zalmon, baptized February 3d, 1780; and probably
others.
STOWE.
Robert Stow, the first of the name in Redding, settled in Lonetown,
on the farm now owned by Albert Bartram. He married Anne
Darrow, January 26th, 1775. Their children were: Daniel, born July
4th, 1779; Abigail, born April nth. 1776, married Israel Adams; Sarah,
born October 4th, 1777; Sarah, born August nth, 1781 ; Sumner, bom
September 17th, 1783; Huldah. born February 6th, 1787; married An-
drew Andrus, of Danbury ; Abraham, born March 4th, 1792 ; Polly, bom
September 20th, 1794, married Moses Parsons of Newtown. Robert
Stow died November 5th, 1795. Daniel Stow married Lucy Hoyt, of
Bethel, and settled in Redding, near his father. His children were : Rob-
ert, Almira, Sarah, Harriet, Lucy, Sumner, Mary, and Polly. Abraham
settled in Bethel. Sumner died when a young man.
STRONG.
For the following notes of the descendants of the Rev. William L.
Strong, I am indebted to his grandchild. Miss May D. Strong, of Pitts-
ton, Pa.
My gnandfather had eleven children, who grew to years of maturity,
and ail married. The eldest. Judge William Strong, born 1808, gradu-
2 So HISTORY OF REDDING.
ated at Yale 1828; afterwards a lawyer in Reading, Pa., a member of
Congress, a judge of the Supreme Court of Penn., and, in 1870, made
Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, He had seven chil-
dren, only three of whom survive him ; one married and two single daugh-
ters ; he has one grandson, however, who bears his own name, of WilHam
Strong.
The second son, Newton Deming Strong, graduated at Yale in 1831;
became a lawyer in St. Louis, married there, and died there in 1866, leav-
ing no children.
The third son, Edward, born 1813, graduated at Yale 1838; became
a Congregational minister, was settled in New Haven, Pittsfield, and Bos-
ton; died in 1898, leaving two sons and one daughter.
The fourth child, Harriet, married Frederic Pratt, of Fayetteville, N.
Y, She died without children in 1864, aged fifty-three.
Fifth child, Mary, born 1815, married Rev. Robert Wilson, a Presby-
terian minister ; she still Hves, a widow, at the age of ninety, and all her
three children survive.
The sixth child, Elizabeth, married Henry H. Cooley, a merchant of
Auburn, N. Y. She died at the age of seventy-five. One son alone of
three children survive her.
Seventh child, Theodore, born 1820, educated for Yale, like his
brothers, but prevented from ma'triculaJting by failing sight ; entered a
business life, and served as President of the First National Bank of
Pittston, for forty-one years, having but recently resigned. He still lives
at the age of eighty-six ; also five of his eight children survive.
The eighth child, Samuel, graduated at Yale in 1843 5 became a Con-
gregational minister ; was settled during a short pastorate in Springfield,
Mass. He left that profession because of failing health, and studied law,
but died in 1856, aged thirty-four.
Ninth child, Abigail, married Nelson H. Gaston, of New Haven, w^ho
died after six years. She still lives, aged eighty-two; also one of her
three children.
Tenth child, Julia, married Rev. Henry Darling, a Presbyterian min-
ister; afterwards President of Hamilton College; died, aged twenty-five,
without children.
Eleventh child, Helen, married John Loveland, a merchant of Pitts-
ton, Penn. She died in 1886, aged fifty-six years, survived by but one of
her four sons.
Other settlers in the town at an early date, but who do not appear to
have been permanent residents, were : Daniel Bradley, Thomas Williams,
Thomas and William Squire (of Fairfield), Ebenezer Ferry, George Cow-
den, Nathaniel Booth, Edmund Sherman, Jonathan Squire, John Whit-
HISTORY OF REDDING. 28 1
lock, John Truesdale, Frederick Dikeman, and John Nott. The families
of Byington, Chapman, Hamilton, Knapp, Osborne, Dennison, Bennett,
St. John, Gilbert, Johnson, Abbott, Duncomb, Edwards, Olmstead, Rider,
Treadwell, and Todd figure in the later records of the town.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
APPENDIX I.
283
Representatives to the Legislature.
October, 1767. Col. John Read.
May, 1768. None.
October, 1768. Capt. Stephen Mead.
May, 1769. Col. John Read, Capt. Henry Lyon.
October, 1769. Capt. Henry Lyon.
May, 1770. Capt. Stephen Mead, Mr. Lemuel Sanford.
October, 1770. Col. John Read, Mr. Lemuel Sanford.
May, 1771. Col. John Read, Mr. Lemuel Sanford.
October, 1771. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford.
May, 1772, Col. John Read, Mr. Hezekiah Sanford.
October, 1772. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford.
May, 1773. Col. John Read, Mr. Hezekiah Sanford.
October, 1773. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. James Rogers.
May, 1774. Mr. William Hawley, Mr. Peter Fairdhild.
October, 1774. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. William Hawley.
May, 1775. Mr. William Hawley.
October, 1775. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. William Hawler
May, 1776. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. Seth Sanford.
October, 1776. Mr. Samuel Sanford, Jr., Mr. Stephen Betts, Jr.,
May, 1777. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. Daniel Sanford.
October, 1777. None attended.
January, 1778. Mr. Seth Sanford.
February, 1778. Mr. Lemuel Sanford.
May, 1778. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. William Heron.
October, 1778. Mr. Lemuel Sanford.
May, 1779. Mr. Seth Sanford.
Octobei, 1779. Mr. William Hawley, Mr. William Heron.
May, 1780. Mr. William Hawley, Mr. William Heron.
October, 1780. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. Seth Sanford.
Ma>, 1781. Unrecorded.
October, 1781. Capt. William Hawley.
Mdv, 1782. Mr. Stephen Betts.
October, 1782. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. Stephen Betts.
May, 1783. Mr. Stephen Betts, Mr. Thaddeus Benedict.
October, 1783. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. Stephen Betts.
.284
HISTORY OF REDDING.
May, 1784. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. Thaddeus Benedict.
October, 1784. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. William Heron.
Zvlay, 1785.. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. William Heron.
October, 1785. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. William Heron.
May, 1786. Mr. William Hawley.
October, 1786. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. William Heron.
May, 1787. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. William Heron.
C ctober, 1787. Mr. William Heron.
May, 1788. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. William Heron.
October, 1788. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. William Heron.
May, 1789. Mr. William Heron.
October, 1789. Mr. Lemuel Sanford, Mr. William Heron.
May, 1790. Mr. Thaddeus Benedict, Mr. William Heron.
October, 1790. Mr. Thaddeus Benedict, Mr. Andrew L. Hill.
May, 1791. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. Andrew L. Hill.
October, 1791. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. Andrew L. Hill.
May, 1792. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. Andrew L. Hill.
October, 1792. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. Aaron Barlow.
Alay, 1793. ^^r. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. Andrew L. Hill.
October, 1793. Mr. Hezekiah Sanford, Mr. Simeon Munger.
May, 1794. Mr. Thaddeus Benedict, Mr. Aaron Barlow.
October, 1794. Mr. Thaddeus Benedict, Mr. Aaron Barlow.
May, 1795. Mr. Thaddeus Benedict, Mr. Aaron Barlow.
October, 1795. Mr. William Heron, Mr. Andrew L. Hill.
May, 1796. Mr. William Heron, Mr. James Rogers.
October, 1796. Mr. William Heron, Mr. James Rogers.
May, 1797. Mr. Simeon Munger, Mr. Seth Samuel Smith.
October, 1797. Mr. Simeon Munger, Mr. Seth Samuel Smith.
May, 1798. Mr. Simeon Munger, Mr. Seth Samuel Smith.
May, 1799. Mr. Simeon Munger, Mr. Stephen Jackson.
October, 1799. Mr. Simeon Munger, Mr. Stephen Jackson.
May, 1800. Mr. Simeon Munger, Mr. Seth Samuel Smith.
October, 1800. Mr. Andrew L. Hill, Mr. Stephen Jackson.
May, 1801. Mr. Andrew L. Hill, Mr. Stephen Jackson.
October, 1801. Mr. Simeon Munger, Mr. Peter Sanford.
May, 1802. Mr. S. Samuel Smith, Mr. Andrew L. Hill.
October, 1802. Mr. Aaron Sanford, Mr. Joshua King.
May, 1803. Mr. Seth S. Smith, Mr. Andrew L. Hill.
October, 1803. Mr. Seth S. Smith, Mr. Andrew L. Hill.
May, 1804. Mr. Seth S. Smith.
October, 1804. Mr. Simeon Munger, Mr. Peter Sanford.
May, 1805. Seth Samuel Smith, Andrew L. Hill.
October, 1805. Simeon Munger, Peter Sanford.
HISTORY OF REDDING.
May, 1806. Andrew L. Hill, Simeon Hunger.
October, 1806. Andrew L. Hill, Simeon IMunger,
May, 1807. Andrew L. Hill, Simeon Munger,
October, 1807. Seth Samuel Smith, Lemuel Sanford.
May, 1808. Andrew L. Hill, Lemuel Sanford.
October, 1808. Lemuel Sanford, Simeon ]\lunger.
May, 1809. Andrew L. Hill, Lemuel Sanford.
October, 1809. Andrew L. Hill, Lemuel Sanford.
May, 1 8 10. Andrev/ L. Hill, Lemuel Sanford.
October, 1810. Andrew L. Hill, Lemuel Sanford.
May, 181 1. Samuel Whiting, Peter Sanford.
October, 181 1. Andrew L. Hill, Samuel Whiting.
May, 1812. Andrew L. Hill, Lemuel Sanford.
October, 1812. Andrew L. Hill, Lemuel Sanford.
May, 1813. Lemuel Sanford, Samuel Whiting.
October, 1813. Lemuel Sanford, Samuel Whiting.
May, 1814. Lemuel Sanford, Samuel Whiting.
October, 18 14. John Meeker, Lemuel Sanford.
May, 181 5. Jonathan R. Sanford, Samuel Whiting.
October, 1815. Simeon Munger, Hezekiah Read, Jr.
May, 1816. Isaac Beach, Hezekiah Read, Jr.
October, 1816. Samuel Whiting, Hezekiah Read, Jr.
May, 1817. Isaac Beach, Benjamin Meeker.
October, 1817. Jonathan Meeker, John R. Hill.
May, 1818. Billy Comstock, Aaron Sanford, Jr.
October, 1818. William Sanford, John Meeker.
May, 1819. Billy Comstock, Hezekiah Read, Jr.
1820. Isaac Coley, Jonathan R. Sanford.
1 82 1. Daniel Barlow, Seth Wheeler.
1822. Billy Comstock, John R. Hill.
1823. John R. Hill, Aaron Sanford, Jr.
1824. Ephraim Sanford, Rowland Fanton.
1825. Benjamin Meeker, William Sanford.
1826. Joel Merchant, Michael, Jennings.
1827. Thomas B. Fanton, Gershom Sherwood.
1828. John M. Heron, William Sanford.
1829. Aaron Sanford, Daniel Barlow.
1830. Gershom Sherwood, Gurdon Bartram.
1831. Jonathan R. Sanford, Jared Olmstead.
1832. Ralph Sanford, Walker Bates.
1833. Jacob Wanzer, Thaddeus B. Read.
1834. Thomas B. Fanton, Bradley Hill.
1835. Thomas B. Fanton, Walker Bates.
285
286 History of redding.
1836. Ralph Sanford, Burr Meeker.
1837. Timothy Parsons, Jesse Banks.
1838. Thomas B. Fanton, Aaron Perry.
1839. Thomas B. Fanton, Benjamm Meeker.
1840. Walker Bates, David S. Duncomb.
1841. Thaddeus M. Abbott, Morris Hill.
1842. Hezekiah Davis, John W. Sanford.
1843. Edward Starr, Jr., Barney Bartram.
1844. Charles Beadh, Oharks D. Smith.
1845. Peter S. Coley, Aaron R. Bartram.
1846. James Sanford, Harry Meeker.
1847. Bradley Hill, Samuel S. Osborn.
1848. Burr Bennett, Floyd Tucker.
1849. Daniel C. Rider, Henry Couch.
1850. Matthew Greg'ory, Rufus Mead.
185 1. Milo Lee, Frederick D. Dimon.
1852. Aaron Burr, Aaron B. Hull.
1853. Ebenezer Wilsion, Turney Sanford.
1854. Jonathan R. Sanford, Walker Bates.
1855. Cortez Merc-hant, Gurdon B. Lee.
1856. Thomas Sanford, Milo Lee.
1857. John O. St. John, David B. Sanford.
1858. James Sanford, Benjamin S. Boug'hton'.
1859. 'John Edmond, Matthew Greg^ory.
i860. Jacob Shaw, Daniel S. Sanford.
1861. Edmund T. Dudley, Matthew Gregory.
1862. Walker Bate's, George Osborn.
1863. John Edmond, David H. Mead.
1864. Walker Bates, Aaron Treadwell.
1865. Tihomas B. Fanton, William Hill.
1866. Charles Osborne, Edward P. Shaw.
1867. David S. Johnson, William B. Hill.
1868. Francis A. Sanford, B. S. Boug'hton.
1869. Aaron H. Davis, William H. Hill.
1870. Jdhn S. Sanford, J. R. Sanford.
1871. E. F. Foster, Luzon JelHfif.
1872. Henry S. Osborn, Arthur B. Hill.
1873. Stebbins Baxter, Moses Hill.
1874. J. R. Sanford, Edward P. Shaw.
1875. Turney Sanford, Henry Burr Piatt.
1876. James Sanford, Orrin Piatt.
1877. Thomas Sanford, George F. Banks.
1878. Azariah E. Meeker, Daniel Sanford.
1879. Harvey B. Rumsey, George Coley.
HISTORY OF REDDING. 28?
1880. David S. Bartram, Azariah Meeker.
1881. David H. Miller, William F. Mandeville.
1882. Thomas Sanford, Ebenezer F. Foster.
1883. James E. Miller, Charles Porter.
1884. Jesse L. Sanford, Eli Osborn.
1885. John N. Nickerson, Uriaih S. Griffin.
1886. 'Michael Connery, William C. Sanford.
1887. Samuel B. Gorham, David E. Smith.
1889. Seth Sanford, James E. Miller.
189 1. Edwin Gilbert, William H. Hill.
1893. William F. Mandeville, Henry S. Osborn.
1897. Henry S. Osborn, Nathan Perry.
1899. Albert A. Gorfiam, John Todd.
1901. William H. Hill, Aaron H. Davis.
1903. John Todd, Aaron H. Davis.
1905. William E. Hazen, William H. Hill.
Redding was made a Probate District in 1839, The successive
Judges of Probate have been: Thomas B. Fanton, Jonathan R. Sanford,
Thaddeus M. Abbott, Lemuel Sanford, Edward P. Shaw, and John Nick-
erson, the present incumbent.
INDEX.
PAGE
Abbott, Elijah 216
Frank F 84, 171, 186
Thaddeus M 29, 92, 125, 171
Adams, Aaron 215
Abigail 211
Abraham 64, 194, 213, 216
Ani 211
Deborah 213, 220
Eli 218
Elizabeth 193
Ellen 210
Henry 49
Hezeiciah 64, 210
Israel 214
James T], 106
Joseph 213
Molle 210
Nathan 14, 217
Salle 210
Sarah 195, 215
Stephen 64, 208
Rev. Wm. H 116
Agnew, Gen 29, 31
Albin, Charles 144, 145
Sylvester 146
Thomas 80
Allen, Widow 221
Ambler, Rev. John L 122
Samuel S 49
S. S 117
Amery, Rev. A. J 1 16
Ammerman, Rev. O. V 113
Andrews, Eunice 196
Francis 64. 198
Jonathan 64
Molle 195
Seth 64, 109
Ebenezer 22
Sarah 215
Stephen 197
Angevine, Anthony 195
Applegate, Benj 12
Isaac 12
John 12
Robert 12
Armstrong, Rev. Wm. P ti6
Arnold, Gen. B 30, 32
Asbury, Bishop 109
Aston, Rev. Henry 114
Atwill, Rev. William 106
Bailey, Thomas 14
Baker, Thankful 206
Baldwin, Abraham 55
Rev. Burr 91
PAGE
Ruth 149
Banks, Edward 144
George W 143
Jesse 108, no, 126, 196, 211
Hint 210
Joanna 195, 212, 220
Joseph 88, 92, 96
Mabel 218, 221
Mary 215
Philena 198
Sarah 196
Seth ^^, 196
Wesley 143
Bangs, Nathan Rev 116
Barber, Bartholomew 64
Barlow, Aaron Col.. .55, 64, 125, 149, 197
Bette 217
Daniel 219
Elnathan 214, 215, 221
Ephraim 34
Gershom 33
Joel 55, 64, 89, 146, 158
Nathaniel 25, ^^
Ruhamah 195
Samuel 64, 216
Stephen 218
Thomas 147
Barnes, Rev. S 116
Barnett, A. G 183
Barr, James T 143
Bartlett, Abigail 217
Anne 207
Rev. Charles 115
Daniel C 65, 198, 206
David 150
Eunice 208
Flora 218
Rev. Jonathan. ..yj, 90, 107, 124, 210
Lucretia 211
Rev. Nathaniel. .9, 37, 42, 45, 54, 88,
90, 134, 146, 194.
Russell 25, 65, 205
Bartram. Aaron 126
Anne 214, 217
Charity 207
Daniel 65. 108, 197
David 195, 220
David S 143. I45
Eli 211
Rllenor 215, 218
Esther 212
Ezekiel 108, 213
Gurdon 216
Hon. T. N 45, 46. 47. 48. 40
290
INDEX.
PAGE
Isaac 65, 181, 203, 207
Isaac H 176
Jabez 207
John 195
Joseph 207, 216, 219
Mabel 206
Mary 198, 207
Paul 21, TJ, 108, 195, 214
Rene 218
Ruth 45, 199, 209, 212, 220
Sarah 196, 208
Bates, Aaron 214
Charles H 144
Elias 208, 214, 220
Esther 211
Ezra 65, 20s, 207, 219
Henry W 144
John 208
Justus 65, 197, 203, 213
Martha 217
Mary ic^, 205
Nathan 212
Ruth 198, 206
Sarah 204, 210
Seth P 145
Slauson 217
Smith 144
Walker 128, 139, 207
Waterman 137, 143
^Batterson, Beth 217
Hezekiah 196, 209
Jemima 199
Jeremiah 65, 198
Mary 210
"Baxter, Austin 198
Samuel B 142
Beach, Charles 78, 104
David, Rev ii, 112
Ebenezer 166
Isaac 135
Rev. John 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 31, 78-9,
94, 105, "3
Lazarus "j"], 80
Rebecca D 166
Rob., Rev 116
Rev. S 113
Rev. T. C 114
Beardsley, Ebenezer 166
Bearslee, Jim 'J^
Beers, Seth P 137
Belden, Rev. David 105
Belding, Moses 65
Belknap, Jesse 45, 198
Bedient, Lewis 142
Benedict, Billie 217
Fred 187
Hiram 218
Jesse 198
Lem'l B 144
Michael 19S
Samuel W 217
Sarah 216
Thaddeus. .23, 24, 28, 79, 82, 125, 108
Thos 87
PAGE
Bennett, Daniel 65
E. G 121
Hubbell 196
John H 141
Shubael -j-j
Sturges 120, 121, 128, 1^9, 168
Thaddeus M 139
Betts, Abigail 195
Daniel 216
Enoch 198
Jonathan 145
Martha 195
Mary 194
Ruth 195, 219
Sarah 196, 218
Stephen. .19, 25-6, 29, 31, 61, 66, ^^,
92, 125, 194
Stephen, Jr 23-24
Bigelow, Thos 142
Birdsall, Peter W 144
Bissell, Daniel 61
Bixby, Abigail 220
Ellen 197
Elias 24, 66, 205
Mabel 197
Blackman, J. L 149
Blanchard, O. H 49
Bloodgood, Rev. John 108-12
Bontecue, Rev. J. C 113
Booth Abner 202, 220
D- B 35
Hezekiah 195
Solomon 201
Bosely, Rev. Wm. N 122
Bostwick, Rev. Wm. L 106
Boutell, Clare 216
Bowen, Rev. Josiah 113
Rev. Wm 117
Boyd, Rev. John 113
Bradley, Abigail 203
Burton 124
Daniel 85, 193
Elisha 125
Esther 199
Eunice 200
Ezekiel 200
James 193, 201
Jonathan 197
Joseph 18
Mary 204
Nathan 202, 219
Peter 131
Stephen 199
Mrs. Thankful 33
William 197
Brambler, Rev. J. W 1 16
Bray, Rev. E. L 114
Stephen S 117
Brewer, Rev. Aaron 122
Briggs, Rev. Chas 187-8
Brinsmade, Daniel E 166
Helen J 166
Bronson, Rev. W. W 105, 106
Brothweli, Benj 66
INDEX.
291
PAGE
Wm. E 146
Brown, Daniel 93
Rev. David 112
Rev. Paul K 113
Wm. F 144
Bryant, Alex I95
Elizabeth I95
Buckley, Charity 195
Bulkley, Hannah 194, 207
Hezekiah I97
Sarah I97
Burr, Aaron 29, 131, I44
Abel n, 80, 125
Abigail 207, 218
Andrew 12
Betsey C 221
Bradley 114
Comfort 197
Daniel 194
David 220
Elijah 24, 25, 196, 197, 202
Elizabeth ir, 194, I95. 213, 219
Ephraim 206
Esther 195, 199, 202, 217, 221
Ezekiel 18, 66, 205
Ezra 200
Hannah I97, 217
Henry F I44, 146
Huldah 196, 203
Jabez 18, 19, 66, 198, 221
Jehu 19, 87
Joel 207
Maj. John 2
John, Jr 194
Joseph IT, 81-2, 214-15
Katherine I94
Lemuel 212
Martha 196, I99
Martin V. B I44
Nathan 66
Peter 5-7. 85, I93
Phillip 219
Rebecca I9S. 201
Rhoda 216-22
Sarah 25-199
Stephen. .17, 18, 19, 66, 84, 87, 88, 92,
122, 125, 193, 195, 206
Thaddeus 12
Buehner, Mrs. Edw. J 167
Bunnell, Isaac 11
Burchard, Elijah 196
Burhams, Rev. Dr 94
Burril, Elizabeth 219
Isaac 203
Nathaniel 202
Noah 201
Solomon 201
Burritt, Abijah 201, 218
Bette 216
Ebenezer I95
Mary 201
Phillip 66, 198
Rhoda 202
William 19, I94, 215
Sybil 202
Burton, Benjamin 202
Ruth 202
Bushnell, Samuel, Rev 113
Butler, David 10=;, 216
Joseph F 145
Mrs. Marcus M 167
Byington, Aaron 215, 142
Joel 125, 213
John 66, 196, 210
Lucina 210
Oscar 141
Reuben 212
Sarah 217
Cable, Rufus D 166
Samuel I95
Cadwallader, John 50
Cammeyer, Alfred 187
Campbell, Rev. Jas 112
Camp, Rebecca 164
Candee, Rev. Isaac 112
Caner, Rev. Henry 94, lOS
Canfield, Chas. H 137, 146
Wm. H. 145
Carter, Ammi I44
Chamberlain, Rev. Chas 91
H. R ..142
Chapel. Russell . 198
Chapman, Daniel 215
Fred D I44, I45
Mary 198
Chase, Seth I55
Chatfield, Daniel I99
Martha 201
Samuel I99. 200
Sarah 219
Chauncey, Eleanor I94
Robert U
Chickens i, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 19, 20
Cobleigh, Hiram I45
Coburn, Edward 66
Cochrane, Rev. Samuel II3
Cogswell, Rev. Wm 116
Coleman, Rev. Jas 112, 115
Obadiah R I44, 146
Coley, Abigail 213
Azariah 216
Daniel I94
Darius 212, 221
David 208
Ebenezer I97
Elizabeth 209
Eunice I94, 205
Ezekiel 214
Ezra 207
Gershom 66, 194
Hannah I97
Isaac 211
James 66
Jesse 207
Tohn M 145
Mary 198. 202
292
INDEX.
PAGE
Mollie 205
Nathan 24, 66, 197, 217
Ruth 197, 203
Samuel 194
Stephen 205
William 144, 146
Zalmon 215
Collins, Wm. F. Rev 114
Colver, Rev. Nathaniel 118, 137
Clark, Abigail 201
Adam 18
Henry 141
James 202
Rev. Laban 113
Nehemiah, Dr 81
Rev. R. S 103, 105
Sarah 201, 204, 219
Rev. T 113
Rev. Wm. C 122
Clapp, G. E 183
Clemens, Samuel L 182, 184
Cliff, Rev. Wm 122
Clinton, Sir Henry 51, 58
Clugston, Beth 198
David 207
Elizabeth 219
Eunice 220
John 195, 196, 219
Mary 218
Samuel 195
Clymer, L. John, Rev 116
Comstock, Billy 27, 126
Rev. David C 91
Lydia 198
Moses 145
Copley, Daniel 198
Corcoran, James 145
Corns, Anna A 199
Annie E 219
Elizabeth 201
George 193
Sarah 196
Cornwall, Jesse B 182
Nathan 142
Costello, Martin 143
Cook, Rev. Phineas 113
Couch, Aaron 214
Abigail 210
Abner 212, 221
Abram 114
Adra 202
Adria 195, 205
. vndrew D 143
.\nna 209
Annie 210
^ Daniel 67, 20T ■
, Daniel, Jr 67 -
Gen. D. N 150
Ebenezer 19, 22, 24, 78, 88
Eli_ ; 214
Elijah (i'j, 20.^
Elizabeth 206
Eunice 215
Hannah 200
PAGE
Jesup 217
John 203, 117, 208
Jonathan 21, 24, 195, 198, 218
Joseph 212
Levi 2og
Lucy 208
Lydia 211
Mary 213, 221
Mollie 217
Rebecca 208
Samuel, Capt 5, 7. 8, 19, 20
Sarah 207, 197, 213
Simon, Capt 16, 18, 92
Stephen 204
Theoda 198, 205
Thomas N 206
William 214
Crawford, Rev. John 112, 113
Wm 131
Creevy, Geo. C. Rev 114
Crocker, Rev. Daniel 91
Rev. George 119
Crofoot , Daniel ..| 11, 94.
David ^^
Nathan 200
Stephen 195
Crofut, David 14
Rev. Jas. H 116
Croffut, Wm. A 163
Crowel, Seth 113
Curtis, Chandler 117
Cutler, Timothy 93
Dann, George L 145
Darkin, Edw. J. Rev 105
Darling, Benjamin 198, 200
Eunice 195, 199
Gyer ^7
John 213
Joseph 202
Martha 201
Mary 196, 203, 217
Sarah 200, 214
Darrow, Anna 198
William 45, 199
Dart, John 164
Ruth 164
Dater. Henrv M 182
Davies, Rev. John 113
Dr. Thomas 178
Rev. Thomas F ZT, 90, 125, 162
179, 180
Davj«. Aaron H 137, 145
Benjamin 195
Daniel 208
Esther - 213
Eunice 212
John 67, 207
Martha 209
Millicent 198
Millison 205
.Samuel 215
Sarah 205
Stephen 210
INDEX.
'■93
PAGE
Deacon, Edward 183
Dean, Abigail 205
Daniel ig, 194
Esther 205
Eunice 195, 200, 209
Hannah 206
Huldah 207
John 210
Lydia 211
Rachel 206
Rene 210
Sarah 205
DeForest, Ephraim yy, 82, 196
John W 143
DeFour, Francis 141
DeLancey, Oliver 58, 59, 60
Dennis, Rev. Daniel 112
Dewey, Rev. Timothy 112
Dibble, Sarah 197
I Dickinson, John 96, 114, 113
Lockwood 67
Dickson, Alonzo 145
Dikeman, Aaron 211
Anna 216
Anne 203
Benjamin 208
Betts 195
Fred 202
Hezekiah 207
John 199, 220
Joseph 195, 209
Levi 197
Peter 212
Samuel 215
Zalmon 225
Dillon, Michael 142
Dimon, Henry 13
Moses II
Diossy, Rev. Richard K 122
Dixon, James 67
Doty, Erastus 117
Downs, Charles H 146
Drew, Annie 210
Daniel 209
Isaac 82
John 77
Driggs, Fred 181
Marshall S 187
Dudley, Lena 205
Simon 205
Dufoy, Jerome 142
Duncomb, Chas 126
David Ill
Dunlap, Rev. M. B 106
Dunell, Frank i8r
Dunning, Wm 198
Durand. Emil 142
Dymond, Rachel i6zi
Fames, Rev. Henry 113
Eastford, Cyrus B 144
Edmonds, John 114. 139, 140
Mary 198
Edwards, William 219
Emory, Nathan, Rev. . 112
Evans Rev Edw. R '.W^s, 92
^. ^hos^^ A ^ ; ^9
Evarts, Daniel 41; 108
Elder Elijah ■:::::'':.]^
Eldndge, Abel ao";
^ Joseph ' " -'DC
Fly David, Rev //'^
Ely Rev. John QO
Emmitt, Dr. Thos. A " 58
Erskine. Wm. Sir 20 v
Ewing. Frank F '.'.'.'. . '183
Fairchild, Abigail 212
-^b'iah 202', 196," 198
Abram 126, 172, 220
^'■t^w 8, 22, 1 25
g'lle , 206
'Janiel 197, 203, 218 221
S^^!^ ^ ■■■67, 204
P.f'J s 172
Ellen 211
Ezekiel 67, 196, 203
. John 67
Fairchild, John. ...125, 197, 209, 215, 217
Huldah 221
Tsaac 67, 204
Mary 203
Nathan 202
Peter 21, 23, 196
Rachel 208
Rhoda 203
^^mnd 67,94/205
-'arah 201. 211, 213
Stephen 67, 12^;. 206
Thomas 21, 86, 193
Timothy 200, 216
Fanton, Curtis 127
Henry 127
Thos. B 28, in, 181
Wm 144
Farmer, Rev. S. F. 91
Fayerweather. Benj 14
Ferry, Abigail 199. 218
Ebenezer 18, 202
John 201
Sarah 195. 201
Field, Chas. A 144
Finch, Dimon 27
Fitch, Abigail E 216
Asahel 21, 25, 67, 178
Clarina 212
Ellis A 216
Hannah 212
Jas. G 2T4
Martha 218
Felch. Rev. Nathan 112
Fleming. Mrs. Sarah 131
Foster, Rev. Floyd W it6
Joel 92, 126
John 141
Rev. Sylvester 112
Timothy 67
Fowler, Rev. Andrew 103
294
INDEX.
PAGE
Franklin, Benj "
Frost, Betsey ^og
Daniel ^^3
Rev. Daniel D 9^
Hannah 20«
Mary ^^
Stephen 212
Gage, Geo ^95
George, T. M. W 125
Gibbins, Jas 45- iQo
Gibson, Ebenezer • Id"
Gilbert, Benj 120, 128, 129 168
Burr 206
Edwin 128, 129, 145, 168
Eli 124
Elias, Rev "5
Giles 45> iqS
John 207
Wm. D 145
Wm. J 129, 168
Gilder, Jeanette 182, 184
Rev. John L 114, no
Jos. B i8S
Richard W 170, 184
Rev. Wm. H 114, 170
Glasgow, Rev. Abram 122
Glidden, Rev. K. B 91
Glover, John 94
Godard, Rev. Louis A 92
Godfrey, Edward 143
Geo. M 145
John L 146
Gold, Abel 198
Abigail 195;, 202
Elizabeth 198, 207
Esther 196, 20.^
Grace 2l8
Hannah 204
Hezekiah 206
John 12
Mary 197, 204
Nathan 4, 5. 7, 12
Samuel 34, 67, 198
Sarah 196
Stephen 24. 202
Thomas I94
Goodale, Dora R 186
Mrs. Dora R 186
Gould, Daniel 126, 136
Geo. W 141, 144, 145
Gore, Jona 41
Gorham. Anne 198
Chas 114
Dr. Chas 179
Hannah 197
Isaac 208
Tabez 108
Neheminh 152
Samuel B 46, 48
Grav. Arsena 21Q
Hannnh .^ 202, 208
Huldah 208
PAGE
Elijah 214
Eliphalet 220
Eunice 205, 207, 219
Jacob 205
Jas 18, 25, 77, 195. IQO, 202
Jerry 210
Joel 125, 209
John 24, 26, 68, 79, 195, 213, 219
Joseph 204
Mary 194, 219
Nathaniel 219
Obadiah 201
Samuel S I44
Sarah 194, 196, 209
Stephen 125, 195, 203, 212
Gregory, Chas. A I44, 146
Dudley S 178
Jabez 68
Isaac 198
Griswold, Rev. E. W 122
Grumman. Francis H I42
Wm. E 63, 186
Griffin, Aaron 207
Abigail 208
Esther 213
Eunice 195, 200, 216
Hannah 217
Huldah 209
John 86, 193, 195, 212
Jonathan 203
Joseph 68, 196
Mollie 211
Morris 68
Sarah 194, 200, 208
Solomon 206
Uriah 33, "5
Griffith, Hepsibah I95
Samuel 209
Green, Geo 143
Jos 215
Jonah 215
Mary 204
Guyer, Eunice 216
John D 197
Ruth 198
Gyer, John 77
Joseph 77
Nathaniel 77
Hall, Abigail 19, 57
Anna 193
Asa II, 14
Benajah ll
Burgess 14, 196
Deuorah 45, 198
Elizabeth 99
Esther 196
Eunice 45, ig8
Francis 14
Isaac 14, 219
Joanna 194
John 14
John H 145
Joshua 77, 94
INDEX.
295
PAGE
Mabel 200
Millison 190
Samuel 14
Hambletpn, Amelia 200
Benj 11^ jg4^ 200
Esther, Mrs 193, igg
Hannah 107, 205
Isaac ig8, 205
Seth igg^ 208, 220
Tabitha 206, 21Q
William igg
Hamilton, Rev. A 106
Benj 21
Esther 86
Isaac, Capt 39
William 142
Harney, Martha 4
Harris, Henry D 142
Rev. Reuben 112
Haupfh, Rev. J. S 1 14
Eunice 197, 204
Ezekie] 197
Hezekiah 213
John 195
Hawley, Hannah 220
Joseph 18, 19, 1.14, 208. 221
Lemuel 215, 92
Mary 195, 201
Mollie 210
Ruth 203, 196
Samuel TJ, 202
Sarah 194
Tabitha 194
Wm 23, 24, 26, 68, 79, 210, 220
Mrs. Wm 107
Hawse, Prince 77
Hazen, Moses, Col 49
Henderson, Rev. Samuel 122
Hendrick. Josiah 68
Mary 45, 198
Hendrix. Obed 68, TJ
Heppin, John 194
Heron, John M 104
Wm 23, 2^, 28, 31, 51, 58, 59, 60,
61, 62. (i% 79, 125, 131, 137
Herrick, Rev. W. D 91
Hibbard, Billv, Rev 112
Rev. E. S 114
Hickok, Clarence T 49
Hide, John ll
Hill, Aaron S 112, 127, 180
Albert B I75
Andrew L 27, 135
Ann 197
Arthur B 125
Daniel 21, 123
Ebenezer 02
Ebenezer J 161
Eben 120, 138
Ezekiel 25, "jy
John L 127
John R 28, -09, no, III, 127
Hannah 194
Rev. Jos 180
Mabel 214, 221
Margery 164
Rev. Morris 113, 180
Moses 127, 180
Peter 142
Bille 211
Rebecca 197
Thomas 6, 11
Wm. II, 12, 14, 127, 49', 94
Wm. S 183
Rev. Wm. T m, 112, 114, 180
Hillard, Isaac 68, 132
Thurston ' 68
Wm '.■;;;; g^
Hilton, Daniel 3
Hoch, Robert \\ 142
Hoffman, W. John ".!!.'!! 106
Hoggson, Noble .\^i
Hollis, Rev. George 114
Holiister, Gideon H ...!i6i
Holman, Henrv ' 145
Honeyman, John 62
Rev. Joshua 98
Hopkins, Francis 221
Henry ...69, 197
Huldah 2x5
Jabez *!'.!;!!!2i4
,, Mary 214
Home, Rev. J. W 114
Hovt. Henry 217
Rev. Phillip Y ...!.!.!'.!!!ii3
Thomas %
Wm ::::;::::: 69
Hubbard, Rev. Reuben loc
Hubbell, Richard !'.".!".!.' 3
Hudson, Dr. Erasmus 137
Rev. Joshua 122
Hull. Abigail. .194, 199, 206, 216, 2i7,'220
Abraham 208
Rev. Ambrose 105
Ann 217,
Cornelius xx
Daniel 21, 194, 21a
David 208, 200
Deborah 218
Ebenezer n, 16, 86, 19V, 195
Elizabeth 218, 219
Ellen 209
Esther. ..195, 200, 209, 211, 219, 220
Eunice 206, 209
Ezekiel 210. 211, 220
Ezra 69, 206
George. ..II, 16, 83, 85, 14^ ig^ 220
Hannah 198, 208
Hezekiah 204, 212
Huldah 206
Isaac 86, 193
Isaiah 14
James 69, 136
John 16, 17, 69, T22, 195, 207
Joshua .\ . 14
Rev. Justus 180. 205
296
INDEX.
PAGE
Rev. Lemuel B 104, 106, 180
Lydia i93, 212
Mary 219
Martha 196, 204
Nathaniel I94, 206
Nehemiah 24, 25, 69, 196, 202
Noah 196
Peter 212, 207
Rebecca ^99
Samuel 210
Sarah i97. -205. 207
Seth 11, 205, 199
Theophilus 84, 85, 92, i93, I95
Zalmon 69, 207
Humphrey. David 41. 49. 55
Humphreys, Rev. H 1 1 1
Hunn, Rev. Nathaniel 16, 85, 86, 193
Ruth 220
Hunt, Aaron 108. 1 12
Rev. Jesse Ii3
Huntington, Rev. E. B 9^
Rev. Enoch S 9^
Jeddiah, Gen 41, 44, 49, 50
Hurlburt, Daniel 212
Edmond 129
Sarah 212
Jackson Aaron 211
Anna 213, 214 221
Daniel I94
David 21, 23, 24, 25, 195. 197 210
Ephraim 21. 22, 87, 88. 196, 220
Esther 216
Eunice 211
Ezekiel 125, 209
Grace 197
Hezekiah 214
Joseph, Jr 198
Martha I97, 217
Mollie 212
Moses 215, 218
Nathan I97
Peter 213
Janes, Bishop m
Jarvis, Samuel 27
Jacocks, Aradal 211
Esther 210
Deliverance 194
Jemima 201
Huldah 209
Jeremiah 208
Timzeen I94
Jeanks, Sarah 196
Jelliff ,Jas. F 144. I45
Luzon 137
Jenkins, Calvin 69
Jennings, Charity 196
Chas. A 137, 145
John H 49
O. B 48, 49
Morris 143
Rev. Wm 91
Jepson, Rev. Wm. H 106
Jocelyn, Rev. A 112
PAGE
Johnson, Cato I4S
David S I40
Catherine 195
Joseph 219
Samuel 93, 94
Sarah I94
Wm. H. Rev 122
Jones, Edward 35, 3^
Elizabeth Miss 158
Lorenzo 146
Wm. P 131
Jordan, Rev. Frank F 116
■jiidd. Horace Q., Rev II4
Phillip 14
Judson. Agur 166
Charlotte A 167
Medora H 166
Rebecca 166
Wm. A 166
Juno, John 196
Kanhey, Rev. Zeber T 12
Kelley. Chas., Rev 106
Kent, Rev. Elisha 84
Keyes, Hannah I94
Knaop. Andrew 11, I97
Benj 108
David 18, 25, 11
Jane 196
Jonathan 11
Moses II, 14, 16, 94
Ruth 194
Sarah 197
Kniffin, Rev. Wm. C 91
Lacy, Stephen Vl
Lane, Sarah I97
Lascombe, Thos 117
Lauzun, Duke de 45
Law, Rev. Sidney G 85, 91
Law, David 202
Elizabeth 203
Layne, John 11
Lee, Abigail 203, 219
Abijah 203
Allen 19
Ann 196
Cloe 213
Daniel 202
Enos 25, 11, 80, 198
Eunice 218
Hannah 201
Henry H 144
John 11, 117, 219
John H 92
Jesse 106, 108
Sergt. Joseph 86, 122
Lydia 195
Mary 194, 202
Milo 126
Nathan 80
Noah 13, 215
Rebecca 194
Sarah 194
INDEX.
297
Seth 205
Silas 197
William ^^, 204
Lees, Joseph 17
Leeds, Rev. Robert 112
Lent, Rev. Merwin 122
Lion, Benjamin 86
Daniel 17, 122
Mary 86
Matthew 17
Nathan 122
Lines, John 45, 69, 198
Rebecca I97
Little, William 45, 198
David 69
Lobdell, James I45
Lockwood, Burr I43
Chas 144
John 143
Joseph R 145
Lambert 3'
Mary 196
Louderback, Alfred, Rev 106
Lovejoy. Rev. John Ii3
Lover, George 143
Lovett. Josiah 204
Luis, Edward 83, 84
Luther, Rev. Clare L 93
Lyon. Abigail 2?
Alanson 126
Beniamin ^93
Bethel I99
Daniel 1 1, 25, -JT, 84, 85, 193
David 21, 23. 195
Eli n, 125, 174
Elnathan 196
Eunice ^94
Rev. Gilbert "3
Henry, Capt 22
Hnldah 197
Jabez n
Jacob 196
John 11, 82, 200
Jonathan 112, 201
Joseph 82, 195, 197
Mary I93
Nathan ", 94
Peter 11, 82
Phebe 2or
Richard 94, 219
Richard H I74
Samuel 200
Stephen 125
Timothv I99
Rev. Zalmon 112
Mace, Rev. John W "6
Main. Kzekiel 70
John M 14.=;
Samuel A I4=;
M I2T
S. S 12
Mallery, Abigail 206
Daniel 23, 24, 92, 194, 204
PAGE
Daniel, Jr 70
Deborah 195
Ebenezer I94
Elizabeth 200
Eunice 218
vjrissel 194
John 19, 70, 193, 199
Jonathan 22
Jonathan, Jr 77
Joseph 211
Nathan 205
Peter 194
Rebecca 200, 2x8
Rhoda 196
Samuel 198
Sarah 209
Stephen R i59
William 217
Manrow, David n
Thaddeus "71
Manton. Rev. Daniel E 9^
Marsh. Rev. Truma.n T03, 105
Marshall. Rev. Jos. D 114
McCutchen, Rev. Wm 122
McDougal A. Gen 41, 44, 49, 50
ATcYe.nl. Seth 216
McNeil. Charles 77
Mead. Esther 207
Ezra 205
Hannah 206
John W 145
Ralnh S 144
Rufus 92
Rufus. Jr 141
Rev. Solomon 87
Stephen . . 21, 22, 123, 211
Thaddeus 208
Urrai 108, 114
Meeker. Anna; 196
Azariah E 144, 146, 212
Benjamin 22, 26, 131, 194, 213
Burr 34, 139
Chas. S 146
Chester T08
Daniel 18, 194, 200, 213
David 194. 214
Elnathan 203
Ephraim T7
Esther 205. 217
Eunice 205, 2T.<;
Isaac 194. 199, 2X2
Jared 203
John 104, 216
Tonathan 11
Joseph II. 196, 2x6
Josiah 206
Lois 204. 220
Mabel xo8
Mollie 214
Rebecca X94. 204. 213. 22T
Robert 104
Sarah I99
Seth 70. X08
Seth X25. X07
298
INDEX.
PAGE
Stephen 24, 70, 196
Witeley 197, 203
Merchant, Ann 197
Annie 203
Benjamin 215
Chauncey .••125, 197, 204
Cortez 181
Eleanor 206 '
Enoch r'iZS, 131, 211
Gurdon. .21, 22, 70, 194, 207, 220, 221
Hannah 218
Joel 70, 208
John 70, 205
Johnnie 216
Lemuel 213
Phebe 38, 45, 209
Sarah 204
Silas 108, 131, 210 '
Merritt, Ebenezer 70
Rev. Samuel 112
Merwin, Almon S 144
Miller, Rev. Albert 180
David H 129, 137, 144, 145
Jas. E 48, 49
Rev. Jeremiah 91
Jeremiah R 145
John 142
Mills, Rev. Nathaniel 108, 112
Minor. Thomas 2
Mix. Rev. Timothy 84. 85
Monroe, Daniel 70
Rebecca 197
William 195
Moody, Rev. F. M 114
Morehouse, Aaron 70, 134. 206
Abel 197
Abigail 25
Abner 220
Anne 196
Ann 209
Billy 71, 198, 206, 212
Daniel 12, 77
Elizabeth 194
Elizabeth R 213, 219
Elijah 71, 202
Ezra 155, 205
Gershom 14, 22, 23, 25, 71, 194
Hannah 201
Hill 201, 221
Jane 198, 208
Joanna 200
John II
Lucy 211
Mary 200
Olive 218
Phebe 195, 202
Polly 215, 216
Rebecca 194
Ruth 196, 203
Sarah 195, 200
Stephen il, 14, 17, 94, 122
Tabitha 190
Zaccheus 77
Morgan, Abbe 201
PAGE
Anne 201
Chas. 0 142
Daniel N 164, 165
Edward K 167
Elizabeth S 166
Ezra 164
Florence N 166
Charles 108
Hezekiah 164, 167
Isaac 164
James 18, 25, 77, 197
Joseph 164
John 164, 195, 200
Joseph 71
Mary H 166
William 164
William J 166
Moriarty, Rev. Peter 1 12
Mulford, David 64
Munger, Simeon 27, 77, 124
Munson, J. O. Rev 114
Rev. Joseph 116
Thomas 77'
Murphy, John 141
Naseco 1-4
Nash, Daniel 167
Rev. David 114
Eunice 195
Hannah 164
John 164
Regan D 164
Thomas 6, 7
Nelson, Theodore 145
Nichols, Rev. Abel 106
Andrew B 14
Cyprian 2, 3
David 120, 128
Eli 198, 21.'?
Hannah 198
Richard 195
William 141
William H 142
Nickerson, John 13
Nixon, Gen. John 44, 49, 50
Northrop, Rev. C. A 121
Lewis 137, 145
Nathaniel 196
Solomon 197
Norton, Asa 77
Noyes, John, Rev 119
Odle, Aaron 108
Ogden. Abel, Rev 106
Olmstead, Eleazer 77, 196
Olmsted, Charles 14S
Charles 0 137
James 38
Isaac 45, 198
Samuel 87, 196
Sarah 196
Osborne, Aaron 12, 120
Osborn, Daniel 198
David 71, IIS
INDEX.
299
PAGE
Deborah 208
Elihu 144
Elizabeth 197
Ephraim 204
George 140
Hannah 19S
Henry S 92
H. R 137
Hezekiah B 145
Isaac 120
John 124, 144
Lois 197
Sarah 198
William 220
Osmun, Rev. Geo. W 116
Ovsterbanks, David 201
Paine, Albert B 182. 185
Franklin 142
Painter, Rev. John H 122
Parker, Geo. A 49
Parsons, Aaron 218
Abijah 125
Abraham 71
Daniel 71
Hannah 214
Henry 144
John 197
Henry 145
Rev. John 50
Margaret 218
Mary 45, 198
Sabra 198
Gen. Samuel. ..43, 44, 49, 50, 58, 59,
60, 61
Timothy 33, 71
Patchen, Andrew 71, ']^
Asael ^^
Asahel 195
Ebenezer 72
Jacob 72
Martin 72
Patrick, Minot S 14?
Pattison, Rev. Jos. W 116
Pease, Rev. David 119
Rev. Gersihnm t T.i
Rev. Hart F T14
Henry B 145
Peck, Aaron 143
Charles S 49
George W 14
Lester 0 182
Thomas 125
Penn, William 23
Perry, Andrew 34
Daniel 23, 27, 125
David 103
Rev. David lO';
EH 2t6
George 25, 26, 72
Griswold T96
Isaac 72. 217
Rev. L. P 114
Timothy 214
PAGE
Person, Ellen 215
Esther 215
Jonathan 198
Peterson, Rev. Geo. W 116
Phinney, Mabel 196
Sarah 25
Pickett, Grace 196
John -71, 198
John, Jr 77
Mary 196
Nathan 14
Phebe 198
Rebecca 196
Pigot, Rev. George 94
Piisbury, Rev. B. C 114
Piatt, Aaron 217
Abigail 194, 200, 207
Ann 196
Betty 215, 217
Chas. M 142
Daniel 205
Elizabeth I95. 201
Eunice 198, 206
Griswold 211
Henrv I44
Hezekiah 25, ^7, 2Qf^
Isaac 72, 7T, 108, 196
Jesse 218
John 204
Jonas 12. 108, 104
Justus 208
Luana 210
Marv 195, 200
Obadiah 217
Orville H., Sen 161
Polle 217
Robert 213
Samuel 12, 197
Sanford J I44
Sarah 196, 198, 206, 216
Slawson 210
Timothy 11
William 210, 215
Zebulon 72, 11
Plummer. David 72
Plumb. Elijah J.. Rev loq
Policy, Rev. G. W 116
Poor, Enoch, Gen 49. 5^
Porter, Rev. N. L 114. "6
Price, Seth 197
Prince, Martha 196
Prindle, Tames 196
Putnam, Gen. Israel... 33, 34. 35- 36, VJ,
42, 49, 53
Ramong. Samuel 198
Raymond, Benj 206
" EHsha 204
Tohn n
Mary A 219
Phebe 219
Read. Aaron 92, 131. 211
Abigail 205
Ann 216
300
INDEX.
Dr. Annie M i8o
Daniel 82, 197
Deborah 198, 206
Esther 198, 208
Eli 210
George 4
Hezekiah. .24, 25, 198, 199, 204, 217,
219
Henry 208
Huldah 208, 211
John, 1st.. 3, 4, 5, 8, II, 13. 14, 16,
17, 18
John, Col 21, 22, 24, 39, 40
Col. John, 3rd.. 55, 82, 85. 86, 122,
127, 193, 204, 210, 219
John, Jr 131, 194
Mrs. John I93
Joseph 212
Lemuel 213
Mabel 207
Marv 206, 194, 197, 214, 219
Matilda 211, 220
Samuel 92, 209
Sarah 206, 217, 221
Rachel 198, 205
Ruth 86, 193, 205
Tabitha 19S
Talcot 210
Ulilla 218
William 194, 207
Zalmon. .21, 23, 24, 33, 40, 41, 72, 73,
200
Reed, Rev. Wm. S n6
Remington. Rev. Stephen 122
Remong. Samuel 24, ^2)
Rescue, Thomas 198
Rexford, Rev. Elisha 90
Reynolds, John, Rev 112
Richards, Samuel 35
Richardson, Rev. M 113
Rider, Daniel 140
Rivington, James 76
Robbins, Chas 216
Rphraim 21 25, 73, I97
John 218
Mary 214
Sarah 216
Stephen 213
Robinson, Ebenezer 131
M. F 119
Robson, Mrs. Geo. A 167
Rochambean. Count de 45
Rockwell, Joseph 150
Thomas 196
Rogers, Aaron 213
Abigail 216
Cloe 211
Elizabeth 217
James. 23, 24, 26, 28, 31, 124, 125, 211
Josiah 209
Joseph TS
Uriah 214
Rolliston, Rev. James 122
"Ross, Rev. Robert 90
Rowland, Esther 203
Hezekiah 194
Joseph 12
Mary 45. 198
Thomas I94
Rowler, Matthew 194
Rowling, MoUie 210
Samuel 196
Reeds. Rev. M. E 122
Rulf, Henry 183
Rumsey, Abagail 197, 204, 208
Benjamin 12
Betty 216
Daniel 203, 218, 220
David 207
Eben 211
Ellen 208
Ephraim 204
Esther 209
Isaac 12, 19s, 217
Isabel 215
Hezekiah 206
Jere IZ, 209
John 73, 207
Joseph 195, 219
Mary 205, 208
Nathan TZ, 206
Noah 211
Rachel 204
Robert 12
Ruth 210
Sarah 196, 197, 215, 220
Rushton, Mary A 183
Russell. Eunice 194
Rev. John 112
Russica. James 196
Ryan. Jeremiah 24, TZ
Ryder. Jas. J I44
Simon 211
Saint Maur. Katherine V 186
Salmon. Col. Asahel Zl^ 73- 125
Gershom 74
Lemuel 214, 221
Simon 214
Sanford, Aaron... 27, 74. 107, 108, 109,
T14, 134, 158. 181, 206
Rev. Aaron K 180
A. S. Rev 124
Abel 199
Abigail.. .193, 194. 195, 202. 215, 218
Andrew H 141
Ann 205
Anna 195, 200, 202
Rev. A. B 180, 187
Anne I94
Augustus 108, 204
Benjamin 125, 212
Bradley 126
Catherine 207
Cloe 2X1
Daniel... 31, 123, 124, 126, 13T, 182,
187, 191, 192, 195, 199, 216, 221 •
David 74, 126, 201, 212, 2T4
INDFX.
301
Ebenezer 74 209
Eli 17, 208
Elias 208
Elijah ••••212
Elizabeth -2-2, 164, I94
Elnathan ••209, 220
Enoch 126, 215, 216
Ephraim 126, i97. i99, 213, 220
Esther. . .202, 203, 205, 212, 215, 219,
220
.Eunice 213, 221
Ezekiel....i2, 25, 74, 125, IQO, I97.
202, 216, 217
Ezra 74
Francis A 125, I39, 181
Gershom 203
Q ^ 120
Hannah ." .' .' .'.'.".'.... I95, 200, 207, 217
Hawley "4, 180
Mrs. Helen ig^
Henry • • ^^^
Hezekiah. .24, 25, 26, 79, 108 134, 208
Huldah 197, 203, 213, 215
James 74, 127, I39. 181, 201
James, Jr ^04
Mrs. James 79
Jeremiah 31, 207
Joel 210
John 11, 164, 201, 213, 214, 221
Jonathan B 92
Jonathan R 109, 181
Joseph... 17, 18,87,88, 122, 195, 200
Tulia H o----Q"Q^/f
Lemuel. .16, 18, 23, 27, 28, 79, 82, 86,
92, 124, 131, 134, T37, 139, i«^'
193, 201, 212
Lemuel, Jr 21, 92
Levi 2^7
Lois 195, 202. 215
Lucv 207
Lydia ; 200
Marv 195, 200, 212, 216, 218
Mollie 213, 215
Morris H ^4i
Rev. I^Iorris ^°o
Mvron R.. Prof ....172, 187
Nathaniel 86, 193, 200
Nehemiah ■••209
Oliver 125, 126, 201
Peter ^24, 206
Rachel 199, 204
Rebecca • ^97
Rhoda T96, 203, 214
Ruth 200, 214
Samuel i7, I9, 202, 213, 220
Samuel. Jr ^96
Sarah I94. 199, 203, 212, 217
Seth 24. 26, 74, 79, I95, I99, 214
Solomon N •••209
Stephen ^25, 196, 202
Sturgis 210
Tabitha k-o-i?3
Thomas ", 167, 181, 212
Timothv 195, 199
PAGE
Uriah .' 211
Walter "4
William 109, 112, 134, 210
Zalmon 211
Zachariah 210
Sawyer, Rev. F. H 116
Scott, Rev. Jabez ii4
Scribner, Aaron O I45
Charles 120
Enoch 204
Seeley, Daniel 198
Levi 196
Nehemiah 11, I97
Nehemiah, Jr 11
Robert 136
Seymour, John 11
Siger. Rev. Fred ii3
Sellick, Polly 124
Silliman, Hezekiah 166
Robert 12
Sharp, Clement A 48
Shaw, Edward P 187, 191
Rev. Jacob 1 14
Sherman, Edward 194
Francis F 182
George ^42
Capt. John 2
John L 201
John M 143
John 108
Levi 202
Vincent 202
Sherwood, Abigail I94
Banks ^20
Gershom 28. m
Isaac 108
Jehiel 74
John IT-
Mary I90
Nehemiah 24, 74
Sarah ^97
Theodore ^87
Thomas 74
Short. Rev. David H 106
Sloan. Wm ^97
Molle 217
Samuel 216
Tabitha 213
William 215
Springer, John 75
Whala 75
Smith Ann 20T
Ann 194
Rev. Arthur J 180
Azariah 200
Charles D 92
Rev. Daniel ^13
David E 121, I37, US
Eleazar 221
Eleazer, Jr 21
Elisha 42
Erastus 74. 207
Dr. Ernest H ^79, 180
Eunice -
302
INDEX.
PAGE
Ezra 207
Rev. Friend W 114
George E I44
Hanford 204, 205
riezekiah IQS
Rev. James M 112, 113
Joel 206
John 12, 36
Rev. Joseph 114
Rev. Joseph J 122
Mary 202
Nehemiah 194. 217, 221
Rev. O. H 105, 106
Phebe 198
Samuel 23, 115, 193, 206, 207, 219
Seth Samuel... 24, 28, 108, 124, 125,
131, 208, 89, 201, 219
Tabitha 211
William B 14S
Zalmon 218
Snethen, Rev. Nicholas ir2
St. John, Abigail I95
Hiram 121, 145
Jacob B 144
John 0 120, 121, 138
Sarah 198
Rev. Samuel 121
Seth 212
Squires, Benjamin F 141
Betty 107
Jane 1Q9
Samuel 12
Reuben 19,'^
Staples, John 166
Starr, Abigail 107
Edward 125
Capt. Josiah 87
Micayah 24, 117
Piatt 216
Rory 114
Sarah 218
Stead, Henry, Rev 113
Stebbins, Rev. Samuel 90, 116
Stetson, John 182
Stillman, Rev. George 115
Stillwell, Rev. Wm 120, 122
Stilson, Joseph 195
Stimson, John W 47, 186
Stommell, Anton 144, I45
•Stone, Robert 198
Sarah 212
Stow. Abigail 216
Daniel 218
Rev. Leroy 180
Sarah 217
Walter 214
Strong, Rev. C. B 121
Rev. Wm. L 91
Wm., Judge 163
Sturges, Abigail 198
Albert D 145
Benjamin 14, T7
David 75
Ebenezer ^^
PAGE
Elnathan 196, 197
Henry 136
Hezekiah 141
John II
John R 121
Jonathan 6, 11
Rachel 197
Sarah 196
Sullivan, Ann 45, 198
Summerbell, Rev. Jas 122
Summers, Zachariah 196
Swan, Rev. Wm. A 106
Sykes, Rev. Oliver 112
j
Talmage, Goyn A 182
Tammage, Rev. Mr 87
Tappen, Rev. Chas. DeWitt 91
'larbell, George - 144
Ida M i8s
Taylor, Anna 195
Daniel 3
Rev. David 114
Eunice 214
Hannah 212, 221
Isaac 203
Rev. Joseph P 104, 106
Rev. Joshua 112
Preserved 210
Rhoda 213
Ruth 212, 221
Stephen 220
Thomas 18, 19
Teets, J. W 181
Terrell, Elias 214
'1 hatcher. Rev. Wm 112
Thomas, C. B 187, 188
Elizabeth 198
John H 142
Rev. Noble II2
Thompson, Rev. Albert H 121
E. , 137
Edward I45
Mrs. Janet 0 183
James 75
Thorp, Arthur M 141
Lyman 75
Mary 196
Todd, Ambrose S. Rev 105
Arthur 127
Chas. B 46, 47, 48
Chas. J. Rev 106
John 125, 127
Sherlock 33, ill, 114
Tompkins. Rev. Mr 112
Tierney, David 196
Timberman, Rev. Jacob 122
Treadwell, Aaron 33, 45, 47, 48, 125
Aaron L., Prof 172
Eben 114
Edmund I43
Rev. Piatt 180
Stephen, Rev 122
Tamar 194
True, C. K., Rev lii
fi D 1 0, 8
INDEX.
303
Truesdale, Betty 207
Gershom 203
Hiel 208
John 204
Joseph 197
Justice 205
Molle 209
Sarah 204
Stephen 204
William 194, 204
^-Tlnimbull, Gov. J 54, 61
Tryon, Gov. Wm 29, 30, 31, 32
Turney, Benj 194
David Tj
Mary 214
Robert, Jr 12
Turrell, Nathaniel 197
Underwood, Prof. L. M \?>%
Vallori, Antoine 142
Van Dalsen, Rev. H. A 116
Vaughn, Daniel . . | 41
Viets, Rev. G. A 114
Voorhies, Edward I4"5
Wakeman, Jabez 117
Dr. Moses 179
Samuel 12
Timothy I17
William 138
Ward, Abigail 196
Esther 197, 209
John 209, 220
Molle 198, 209
Rebecca 193
William 49
Warren, Francis V 182, 186
Warrup, Tom 20, 38, 61
Washburn, Rev. Eben 113
Washington, Gen. G 43, 50, 53, 61, 62
Waterbury. Rev. John H 1 19
Watson, William 142
Webster. W. K. Rev 114
Weeks, Micajah 75
Rev. Smith 112
Welton, Rev. Alanson 93
Rev. X. A 106, 125
Wepoat, Esther 209
Eunice 209
Jane 209
Westcott, Mary 197
Wetmore, Rev. Izariah 87, 90
James 93
Whalen, George 143
Wheeler, Abigail 215
Anna 164
Calvin 196, 201, 211
Ellen 221
Enos TJ, 125, 214
Sphraim 75, 125
Esther 216
Hannah 196, 211
Rev. Henry 116
Tohn II
PAGE
John R 214
Joseph II
Lazarus '^'j^ 197
Mabel 196, 202
Peter 212
Ruhamah 209, 212, 220
Seth 125, 135, 194
i homas 94
Wheelock, Henry 144
Whinkler, Henry 197
White, Charles 75
Israel 150
Samuel 197
Nicholas, Rev 113
Whitehead, Lyman 144
Whiting, Samuel M 104
Whitlock, Ephraim -j-j
David 208
Ebenezer 201
Hannah 202
Hezekiah 196, 201
Isaac 206
Whitmore, Elizabeth 164
Whitlow, Justus 125
Wildman, John 201
Nathan 117
Rebecca 195
Wilkins, Rev. G. M 106
Williams, Bishop 105
Ebenezer 22, ^^
Elizabeth 194
Mrs. Ellen 193
Esther 86
Jabez 75
Lafayette S 145
Thomas 11, 14, 17, 84
Wilson, Aaron B 124
Rev. Charles A 116
Eben 126
Isaac 75
Joseph II
William 142
Witsel, Rev. Thos. K 122
Wood, Abraham 214
Esther 211, 216
James 212
Joseph P 216
Lemuel 194
Mary 218
Michael 117
Phebe 214
Philo 127
Samuel 194
Squire 213, 221
Uriah 215
Woodruff, Albert 142
Woodward, J. G 60
Woolsey, Rev. Elijah 112
Wooster, Gen 30, 32
Yoder, Carl D 116
Youngs, Abraham 217
Christopher 75
James, Rev 113
Zell, Rev. Henrv 106
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