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NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY 


AND 


HISTORIAN- 
EZRA  Levan  Johnson 


Widi  AdSoomaL  Mi: 


TANE  ELIZA  T0HN50N 


NFwrro^*^",  coNNEcncirr,  i?i: 


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82    years   of   age 


FOREWORD 


It  was  the  fond  desire  and  studied  purpose  of  the  late  Ezra 
Levan  Johnson,  to  publish  and  preserve  the  early  history  of  his 
native  town  and  in  this  labor  of  unrequited  love  he  gave  unstint- 
edly of  time,  travel  and  research. 

The  Newtown  Bee  furnished  him  opportunity  to  reach  the  public 
and  this  memorial  volume  to  Mr.  Johnson's  memory  aimed  to 
gather  and  perpetuate  some  of  his  published  articles.  It  by  no 
means  includes  the  wealth  of  material  at  his  disposal  for  additional 
articles,  which  would  have  been  published  had  his  life,  strength  and 
faculties  been  prolonged.  It  is  but  the  plain  truth  that  no  man  was  so 
well  equipped  for  the  task  which  Mr.  Johnson  set  for  himself  with 
such  unflagging  zeal,  both  in  his  own  knowledge  of  Newtown's 
past  and  in  his  painstaking  search  into  local  records,  as  well  as 
those  of  the  Colony,  State  and  Nation. 

Connecticut  Colony,  formed  by  the  union  of  Hartford  and  New 
Haven  in  1665,  appointed  a  committee  at  the  May  session  at 
Hartford  in  1711,  to  lay  out  such  divisions  of  land  within  the  said 
Newtown  as  shall  be  agreed  upon  by  the  proprietors  thereof.  At 
the  October  Session  at  New  Haven  in  October  of  1711,  this  commit- 
tee reported  to  the  General  Assembly  that,  "having  lately  had  a 
general  meeting  of  the  said  proprietors  and  their  agreement  or  order 
for  laying  out  a  certain  division,  or  sundry  lots  of  lands  within  the 
said  town  of  Newtown,  the  said  committe  have  thereupon  preceded 
and  laid  out  the  same."  William  Junos,  Justice  Bush  and  Samuel 
Hawley  had  bought  this  Newtown  land,  a  tract  six  by  eight  miles 
of  the  Indians,  July  25,  1705.  Junos  sold  half  of  a  third  interest  in 
this  land  to  John  Glover,  making  him  a  large  landholder  in  the 
early  settlement,  which  he  served  as  town  clerk. 

Glover's  purchase  from  Junos  took  place  Dec.  6,  1708  and  the 
deed  of  sale  was  copied  by  Glover  from  the  records  of  Stratford,  to 
which  town  Newtown  then  belonged.  Dec.  19,  1710,  two  years 
after  Glover's  purchase,  Samuel  Hawley,  who  had  a  third  interest 
in  this  six-by-eight-mile  Newtown  tract,  united  with  his  father, 
Joseph  Curtis,  Rev.  Charles  Chauncey  (the  Stratford  minister)  and 
38  others,  with  "Richard  Bryan's  heires,"  to  buy  Junos'  remaining 
sixth  interest  and  Bush's  third  for  £22,10s,  "currant  silver  money 
of  the  Colony  of  Connecticut."  This  deed  was  copied  into  Newtown 
records  from  those  of  Stratford  by  Joseph  Curtis,  one  of  those  buy- 
ing out  Junos  and  Bush. 

There  were  48  rights  in  this  land  so  bought,  Richard  Hubbell  Sr. 
having  three  rights,  John  Glover,  John  Reed,   Benjamin  Fayer- 


4  FOREWORD 

weather  two  each  and  the  rest  one  apiece.  This  land  was  not  all 
parcelled  out  at  once,  nor  all  held  at  the  same  value.  The  swamps, 
open  glades  made  by  annual  Mohawk  fires  that  swept  all  this 
country  in  the  Housatonic  valley,  in  which  meadows  the  early 
settlers  cut  coarse  native  grass  for  winter  fodder,  were  most  valued 
and  were  cut  into  four-acre  strips.  In  1717  the  Great  Bogs,  as 
swamp  land  near  the  Horatio  Northrop  place  was  called,  and  the 
Little  Bogs  a  half  mile  below  on  the  stream  running  out  of  Great 
Bogs  were  parceled  out.  The  hills  were  mainly  timbered  and  were 
cut  into  larger  pieces ;  20,  30  and  40-acre  divisions  are  frequently 
spoken  of.  An  allotment  of  30  acres  to  each  of  48  rights  was  voted 
in  1721 ;  in  1717,  the  record  speaks  of  a  100-acre  division  and  the 
common  or  undivided  land  continued  to  be  parceled  out  until  the 
Revolution.  Land  was  rated  then,  as  lists  show,  as  pasture  land,  or 
plow-land  or  meadow  land,  and  different  kinds  of  lands  were 
returned  distinct  and  separately.  The  custom  was  to  divide  the 
land  into  the  given  number  of  acres  and  then  draw  lots  for  each 
man's  "pitch"  as  they  called  it.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  see 
that  each  one  got  his  rights,  but  some  were  so  slow  in  drawing  lots 
that  the  proprietors  passed  votes  to  spur  the  delinquents  up  to  the 
mark. 

This  volume  further  illuminates  the  history  of  this  Newtown 
land,  so  honestly  gotten  from  the  red  man,  as  well  as  of  the  men 
who  bought  and  settled  here,  mostly  from  Stratford. 

The  preparation  of  this  volume  has  been  a  labor  of  love,  as  was 
the  material  from  which  it  was  prepared,  and  thanks  are  due  all 
who  have  encouraged  and  aided  the  enterprise  whether  by  sugges- 
tion, advice  or  purchase  of  this  tribute  to  the  effort  of  an  unselfish, 
high-minded,  patriotic  American. 

Additional  material  seeks  to  make  it  a  more  complete  Newtown 
history,  to  which  have  been  added  names  of  descendants  of 
Newtown's  early  settlers,  an  account  of  Mr.  Johnson's  death  and 
burial,  with  some  of  the  many  tributes  paid  his  memory. 

Reuben  Hazen  Smith. 

MR.  JOHNSON'S  OWN  FOREWORD. 

How  time  does  fly!  Here  we  are  well  agone  in  March  and  the 
third  month  of  the  new  year  will  soon  be  gone.  Before  we  realize 
it,  turtles  will  be  peeping,  frogs  will  be  croaking,  woodchucks  will 
be  waking  from  their  long  winter  nap  and  crawling  from  their 
holes  will,  with  blinking  eyes,  be  on  the  lookout  for  some  sneaking, 
hungry  dog.  Soon  bluebirds  and  robins  will  be  looking  for  nesting 
places  and  the  phoebe  bird  will  build  its  nest  of  moss  and  mud  and 
hair,  perhaps  over  your  front  door  and  mine,  where  it  was  built 
last  year  and  when  she  has  lined  it  carefully  with  feathers,  depos- 
ited her  eggs,  will  sit  the  allotted  time  for  the  young  life  to  appear, 
all  unconcerned  of  danger,  for  she  will  remember  the  warm  wel- 
come that  was  hers  from  us  all  through  her  brooding  season  of  one 
year  ago.  With  the  coming  of  the  birds  will  also  come  the  earliest 
of  our  wild  flowers,  the  arbutus,  the  anemone,  the  trillium,  the 
hepatica,  the  wind  flower,  the  adder  tongue,  dutchman's  breeches, 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  5 

columbine,  cowslip,  spring  beauty  and  a  wealth  of  others.  Only  a 
few  short,  swiftly  going  weeks  and  the  nooks  and  crannies, 
now  so  silent  under  their  winter  garb,  will  echo  and  re-echo  with 
the  sound  of  voices  of  our  younger  people,  who  are  the  van- 
guard, soon  to  fill  the  breach  made  by  the  passing  on  of  their  elders. 
Well,  so  goes  the  time  and  old  fellows  like  myself  may  as  well  real- 
ize that  Time's  clock  for  us  is  almost  run  down,  and  the  striking  of 
the  last  hour  must  be  very  near  at  hand.  But  there  is  no  use  sitting 
down  to  wait  for  its  coming,  better  far  to  keep  busy  and  though  we 
cannot  care  for  so  large  a  piece  of  fallow  ground  as  once  we  could, 
it  will  be  far  better  to  keep  on  sowing,  even  though  some  other  one 
shall  do  the  reaping. 

In  these  days  of  restlessness,  how  small  the  percentage  in  our 
rural  communities  of  those  who  are  the  descendants  of  first  settlers 
of  their  native  town,  and  Newtown  is  no  exception.  True  it  is,  that 
there  are  a  few  exceptions  where  can  be  found  those  of  the  fifth, 
sixth  and  seventh  generation  of  those  who  had  a  hand  in  the  first 
purchase  of  the  land  from  the  Indians  and  there  are  a  few  instances 
of  those  still  living  in  the  house  built  and  on  the  farm  purchased  by 
their  ancestors  over  one  hundred  years  ago.  And  when  those  be- 
longing to  the  class  above  mentioned,  who  have  lived  all  their  life 
in  one  community,  get  to  talking  about  the  early  days  as  they  re- 
member them  and  as  they  have  heard  about  them  from  their  elders, 
there  is  bound  to  be  something  said  that  makes  us  sorry  ofttimes 
that  we  did  not  take  note  more  carefully  of  the  stories  handed 
down  to  us,  for  the  sake  of  future  generations.  What  a  large  per- 
centage of  the  traditions  of  any  community  remain  unwritten, 
ignored  or  carelesly  forgotten ;  they  now  lie  buried  on  the  page  of 
unwritten  history.  Not  criminally  careless,  though  culpably  negli- 
gent. The  new  people  care  but  little  about  the  old  days,  though  it 
will  not  be  long  before  those  who  are  now  in  middle  life  will  care, 
and  there  will  be  no  one  to  tell  them.  Put  forty  years  upon  the  lives 
of  men  and  women  in  middle  life,  and  those  of  them  still  living  will 
be  past  their  four-score  years.  To  whom  can  they  go  outside  of 
their  circle  to  get  their  memories  refreshed  as  to  happenings  at  the 
time  of  early  childhood  ?  Put  sixty  years  additional  upon  the  ages  of 
boys  and  girls  of  to-day,  who  are  in  the  Newtown  High  School,  and 
who  can  they  consult  as  to  the  ancestry,  work  and  helpfulness,  in- 
dividually and  collectively,  of  those  who  are  to-day  a  part  of  the  web 
and  woof  in  the  making  of  our  town  history.  Too  apt  are  we  to 
think  as  we  look  about  us,  if  we  don't  speak  it,  "It  is  by  my  might 
and  by  my  power  have  I  gotten  to  myself  this  great  wealth," 
instead  of  calling  to  mind  that  "others  have  labored  and  we  have 
entered  into  their  labors." 

These  papers  lay  no  claim  to  literary  merit,  but  are  plain  state- 
ments of  incidents  and  happenings,  by  a  plain  man  in  a  plain  way,  in 
the  hope  that  our  youg  people,  with  those  of  maturer  years,  may 
find  at  least  momentary  pleasure  in  the  retrospect. 

Friends  prophesied  for  the  writer  that  in  his  announcement  he 
"had  bitten  off  more  than  he  could  chew,"  and  the  writer  has  had 
occasion  many  times  to  recall  a  little  experience  he  had  the  first 
winter  he  taught  school  and  boarded  'round  60  years  ago.    Compar- 


6  MR.  JOHNSON'S   OWN   FOREWORD 

ing  notes  one  evening  with  a  brother  teacher,  of  our  experiences 
in  boarding  'round,- he  said  he  was  at  the  supper  table,  one  night 
and  was  waited  upon  to  a  plate  of  meat,  as  he  supposed,  but  the 
more  he  chewed  upon  it,  the  bigger  it  grew,  and  he  mustered  cour- 
age to  ask  the  hostess  what  kind  of  meat  it  was.  The  answer  came, 
"We  butchered  our  old  cow,  yesterday,  and  so  we  cooked  the  udder 
for  to-night's  supper."  And  so  with  my  historical  work  attempted, 
the  more  I  chewed  upon  it,  the  bigger  it  has  seemed  to  grow, 
until  instead  of  reaching  a  finish,  it  really  seems  but  just  begun. 

On  the  farm  where  I  was  born  and  where  is  still  my  home,  there 
is  a  spring  whose  waters  flow  out  from  underneath  a  granite  rock. 
In  my  early  boyhood,  it  was  made  my  duty  in  harvest  time  to  go 
there  with  the  water  jug  for  cool,  fresh  water  for  the  harvesters 
at  luncheon  hour.  Ever  and  anon  some  fisherman,  huntsman,  farmer 
boy  or  nut  gatherer  would  stop  there  to  get  a  drink,  the  squirrel 
to  wet  its  tongue  and  the  little  bird  panting  under  the  burning 
summer  sun  stop  for  a  bath  before  soaring  skyward  to  pour  forth 
its  sweetest  notes,  but  to  the  great  outside  world  it  was  all 
unknown.  In  Summer  heat  and  Winter  cold,  its  flow  is  uniform 
and  perpetual.  It  is  a  little  spring.  A  six-quart  bowl  inverted 
would  cover  it  from  sight,  and  yet,  in  the  great  economy  of  Nature, 
it  has  its  part  to  perform  and  performs  it  well.  But  a  short  distance 
from  its  source  its  waters  lose  their  identity  as  they  mingle  with 
the  water  of  the  northwest  branch  of  Pootatuck  brook.  On  they 
flow,  into  Housatonic  River  and  from  thence  into  Long  Island 
Sound,  and  so  on  into  the  broad  ocean  on  whose  bosom  float  the 
navies  of  the  world. 

I  go  there  in  these  later  years  and  as  I  sit  on  the  moss-covered 
rock  from  underneath  which  the  waters  flow,  and  in  the  shadow  of 
the  old  birch  tree  that  has  marked  off  more  than  a  century  of 
growth,  I  muse  over  the  bygone  days.  And  musing  there  it  some- 
times comes  to  me  that  that  spring  is  in  a  way  typical  of  one  phase 
of  Newtown's  life.  Typical  in  this,  that  from  our  town,  for  more 
than  100  years,  a  steady,  never  ceasing  flow  of  young  life  has  been 
going  out  from  us  into  the  great  ocean  of  human  endeavor  and  still 
the  stream  flows  on  until  there  is  hardly  a  country  on  the  globe  in 
which  there  is  not  some  one  Newtown  born,  or  a  descendant,  help- 
ing to  Christianize  communities  and  mould  public  opinion  along 
lines  of  virtue  and  good  living.  And  who  dare  question  the  truth 
of  the  statement  that  the  New  England  stock  of  this  country  is  the 
backbone  of  the  nation? 

On  land  and  sea,  wherever  our  flag  floats,  nine-tenths  of  them, 
including  the  gentler  sex  as  well,  have  made,  and  are  still  making, 
good  their  ancestral  training  in  the  old  New  England  homes. 

We  are  glad  when  our  young  people  marry  and  settle  in  the  an- 
cestral homes,  or  take  the  homes  of  those  whose  family  name  has 
died  out,  and,  with  the  co-operation  of  mother,  wives  or  sisters  and 
in  the  home  life,  help  to  build  and  strengthen  the  nation,  for  in  the 
homes  of  its  people  rests  the  prosperity  and  perpetuity  of  the 
nation. 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND   HISTORIAN  7 

REUBEN  HAZEN  SMITH'S  TRIBUTE. 

Who  for  their  fellows  live  and  die, 
They  the  immortals  are.    O,  sigh 

Not  for  their  loss,  but,  rather,  praise 
The  God  who  gave  them  to  our  days. 

Richard  Watson  Gilder. 

In  the  going  home  of  Mr.  Johnson,  Newtown  loses,  not  only  its 
most  widely  known  citizen,  but  its  best  beloved  and  most  esteemed. 
I  feel  sure  that  no  citizen  of  his  generation  will  be  laid  at  rest  in 
Newtown  more  widely  and  sincerely  mourned. 

"Hebrews  of  the  Hebrews,"  Mr.  Johnson  was,  in  ancestry,  linked 
by  blood  to  many  of  Newtown's  early  families,  and  it  was  a  happy 
Providence  that  turned  his  patient  industry,  his  unrequited  toil, 
his  faithful  research  to  the  early,  musty  records  of  his  native  town. 
Who  is  left  that  carries  in  memory  so  much  of  Newtown's  history, 
and  who  knows  the  intimate  family  details  of  Newtowners  scatter- 
ed far  and  near  in  our  modern  widening  world?  Who  has  the 
ardent  zeal  to  carry  on  his  valuable  labors  with  a  zest  and  persever- 
ance that  invested  even  his  columns  of  names,  and  quotations  from 
documents  painfully  and  carefully  searched  out,  with  an  aroma  and 
halo  all  their  own?  He  was  Newtown's  first  and  most  devoted 
historian,  and  a  prophet  too  little  honored  by  those  for  whom  he 
toiled  so  unselfishly. 

No  pent-up  Utica  shut  in  Mr.  Johnson's  searching  gaze  and  so  he 
knew  not  only  his  native  town,  but  his  native  State,  and  native 
land  as  well.  He  was  Newtown's  most  informing  traveler  and  what 
he  saw,  the  columns  of  The  Bee  circulated  to  eager  and  admiring 
readers  far  and  near.  Many  of  The  Bee's  readers  learned  geo- 
graphy anew  and  with  an  unwonted  interest,  when  Mr.  Johnson 
traveled  and  wrote.  Even  a  broken  hip,  with  a  stiff  leg  and  a  cane, 
could  not  check  his  excursions  or  his  overflow.  How  many  a  New- 
town man  or  women  in  distant  spot  had  memory  thrilled  and  infor- 
mation furnished,  as  Mr.  Johnson  and  his  loyal  wife  stopped  in 
with  words  of  cheer  and  good  will !  Mr.  Johnson  never  forgot  that 
he  was  from  Newtown,  and  that  earliest  affections  and  impressions 
are  gladly  recalled  and  give  fresh  life  and  motive  power.  Mr. 
Johnson  seemed  to  have  drunk  from  the  fountain  of  perennial  youth, 
so  active  his  mind,  so  general  his  interest  in  to-day  and  the  fresh 
innocence  of  childhood.  His  fellow  citizens  recognized  this  unfail- 
ing bouyancy  of  mind  and  honored  themselves  by  keeping  him  on 
the  School  Board,  in  spite  of  four-score  years,  and  the  Church  of 
his  adoption  was  glad  to  honor  him  in  an  official  way.  Large  and 
commanding  in  person,  his  qualities  of  mind  and  heart  matched  his 
frame.  This  made  him  a  most  excellent  correspondent,  for  there 
was  that  upward  look,  that  warmth  of  friendship,  that  half-con- 
cealed wit  that  made  his  letters  so  welcome.  "I'm  on  'tother  side 
of  80,"  he  wrote  in  May,  "and  on  a  steep  down-hill  grade.  I  do  not 
forget  that  life,  in  its  length,  has  been  most  lavishly  dealt  out  to 
me,  and  the  five  senses  are  still  in  running  order,  although  the 
axletrees  are  becoming  worn  and  wobbly  and  all  the  while  demand- 


8  REUBEN  HAZEN  SMITH'S  TRIBUTE 

ing  more  and  more  axle  grease.  I  cannot  be  thankful  enough  that 
I  still  have  my  eyesight  and  reason,  and  wife  and  children  still 
spared  to  me."  In  another  cherished  letter  his  unrequited  spirit 
expressed  itself:  "How  Time  does  fly!  Eighty  years  have  gone  with 
me,  and  still  there  is  a  silver  lining  to  each  cloud,  should  one  happen 
to  be  covering  the  sun  when  the  evening  shades  are  gathering." 
It  often  occurs  to  me  that  the  world  lost  a  brilliant  writer  when 
Newtown  gained  an  indifferent  farmer. 

But  Mr.  Johnson's  hold  upon  us  was  not  so  much  of  the  brain  as 
of  the  heart.  Faithful  he  was.  It  was  "Once  a  friend,  always  a 
friend"  with  him.  Others  might  misunderstand  and  cast  you  off, 
but  he — never.  To  meet  him  was  to  come  into  the  sunshine. 
Others  might  repel  and  distress  you.  He  understood  and  com- 
forted you  with  that  rare  psychology  more  divine  than  human, 
because  patient,  unselfish,  inspiring.  I  recall,  riding  with  him  as 
a  big  boy  and  meeting  a  man  who  had  been  under  Mr  Johnson's 
instruction,  in  the  days  when  Cupid  was  playing  pranks  with  him 
and  his  assistant,  Miss  Camp.  How  the  man  beamed  as  Mr.  John- 
son recalled  those  school  days.  Mr.  Johnson,  and  his  good  w^ife  as 
well,  has  been  an  uplift,  a  compelling  force,  in  more  lives  than  the 
world  knows  of.  I  may  quote  his  own  words  of  another,  as  appli- 
cable in  his  own  case :  "I  am  sure  that  he  has  the  blessing  of  God 
upon  his  work,  for  he  is  so  warmly  welcomed  in  everybody's  home, 
regardless  of  nationality,  sect  or  social  standing.  He  may,  and 
does,  make  mistakes,  but  they  are  those  of  the  head,  not  of  the 
heart."  Is  it  any  wonder  that  such  a  man  gave  such  a  successful 
selectman  to  his  town  and  a  bishop  to  his  Church? 

The  mind  is  cold,  critical,  the  heart  warm,  bounding,  and  so  Mr. 
Johnson's  generosity  overflowed  to  so  many  and  in  so  many  ways 
that  he  was  like  a  fountain  in  the  desert,  a  well-spring  in  the  wild- 
erness. Heaven  alone  will  reveal  what  he  and  his  have  been  to 
me  and  mine.  I  am  not  competent  to  speak  here,  but  I  know  that 
I  am  not  alone  in  sharing  his  royal  bounty.  How  kindly  and  unos- 
tentatiously, how  unselfishly  he  gave,  whether  it  was  a  glad  word 
and  a  welcome  smile  to  a  child  that  he  had  met,  perhaps,  in  visiting 
the  Newtown  schools,  or  some  relief  in  distress,  gem  set  in  memory 
like  a  diamond  in  its  kingly  crown!  I  remember  once  saying  how 
poorly  I  felt  myself  able  to  repay  some  helpful  act  and  his  reply, 
"Pass  it  on  to  someone  else."  If  earth  is  richer,  sweeter,  for  such 
spirits  in  this  harsh,  relentless  world,  surely  his  Master  must  be 
glad  to  say,  "Well  done,"  to  these  cups  of  cold  water  in  His  name. 
The  generous  nature  is  tolerant  and  so  was  he.  Holding  his  own 
opinion  with  firm  reliance  in  his  own  integrity  of  purpose,  he 
granted  a  like  honesty  of  intent  in  others.  He  was  easily  New- 
town's most  loving  servant,  ready  for  his  own  part  in  the  home,  in 
the  schools,  in  The  Bee,  in  whatever  helped  to  advance  the  town  at 
present  and  to  preserve  the  best  in  its  past.  Hence  we  not  only 
esteem  this  memory  but  love  it,  and  join  in  the  general  acclamation 
to  the  wealth  and  uprightness  of  his  character. 

THE  BRIDGEPORT  FARMER 

Ezra  Levan  Johnson,  who  died  at  82,  is  best  known  to  the  younger 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  9 

generation  as  the  bard,  historian  and  educator  of  Newtown,  where 
he  served  upon  the  School  Board  for  many  years.  But  his  contri- 
butions to  the  commonwealth  were  unusual,  and  to  the  older  men 
he  is  known  as  one  of  the  fathers  of  free  education  in  this  State, 
as  a  pioneer  in  the  movement  to  secure  instruction  by  trained 
teachers,  as  one  of  the  foremost  laymen  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 
He  was  a  rugged,  honest,  intellectual  man  of  the  Lincoln  type, 
advanced  in  his  views,  fearless  in  expression  of  his  opinions  and 
determined  in  any  public  effort  that  he  undertook.  His  loss  is  to 
the  town  in  which  he  lived  and  labored.  He  passed  on  in  the  peace 
of  a  certain  and  comfortable  faith. 

THE  NEWTOWN  BEE'S  TRIBUTE. 

Ezra  Levan  Johnson,  Newtown's  historian,  and  its  most  widely 
known  and  best  beloved  citizen,  entered  into  rest,  Sunday,  Dec.  27, 
1914,  about  1.30  p.  m.  For  some  days  previous,  it  was  seen  that  the 
end  was  not  far  distant,  but  he  passed  peacefully  away,  as  one  lying 
down  to  sleep. 

Throughout  the  early  Fall,  he  had  been  active  as  usual  and,  in 
September,  made  his  customary  visits  on  the  Dodgingtown, 
Hopewell,  Pootatuck  and  Half  Way  River  schools  and  the  primary 
department  of  the  Sandy  Hook  school,  over  which  Mr.  Johnson  had 
immediate  supervision.  He  was  also  able  to  attend  church  and 
enjoyed  meeting  friends.  He  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  Bi-Cen- 
tennial  services  of  the  Congregational  church,  and  was  present  at 
almost  every  session.  In  November,  he  began  to  fail  and  his  decline 
from  that  time  was  rapid. 

Ezra  Levan  Johnson  was  born  Nov.  11,  1832,  son  of  Charles  and 
Julia  Merritt  Johnson.  Mr.  Johnson's  ancestors,  so  far  as 
Newtown  records  show,  were  as  follows :  Ichabod  Johnson,  great- 
great  grandfather;  John  Johnson,  great-grandfather;  Ezra  H. 
Johnson,  grandfather;  Charles  Johnson,  father. 

Ezra  H.  Johnson  died  in  1857  and  Charles  Johnson  in  May,  1871. 
Ezra  Levan  Johnson  received  his  early  education  in  Newtown 
schools.  He  took  a  course  at  the  State  Normal  school  in  New 
Britain  and  at  Medina  Academy,  Medina,  N.  Y.  He  began  teaching 
in  Stony  Hill  district  in  Bethel  at  the  age  of  17.  He  also  taught  for 
a  year  at  Clinton,  Middlesex  county.  With  these  exceptions,  Mr, 
Johnson  gave  his  services  to  Newtown,  teaching  in  South  Center 
and  Sandy  Hook  districts.  So  thoroughly  were  his  services  appre- 
ciated that  older  boys  and  girls  from  other  districts  in  town  came 
to  have  the  benefit  of  his  instruction.  In  1856,  he  was  elected  to 
the  Board  of  School  Visitors  and  served  continuously  from  that 
date  to  his  death,  a  period  of  58  years,  a  record  unparalleled  in  this 
State  of  Connecticut.  Up  to  the  last  his  interest  and  sympathy  in 
the  work  of  the  public  schools  continued  unabated.  His  attitude 
toward  all  the  teachers  was  helpful,  rather  than  critical.  And 
from  his  own  experience,  he  was  able  to  point  the  way  out  of  diffi- 
culties and  to  give  the  word  of  encouragement,  when  needed  and 
deserved. 

In  his  young  manhood,  Mr.  Johnson  was  an  active  member  of  the 


10  THE   NEWTOWN    BEE'S   TRIBUTE 

Congregational  Church,  and  superintendent  of  its  Sunday  school. 
He  was  also  superintendent  of  a  district  Sunday  school  maintained 
for  years  in  Huntingtown  district.  Later  in  life,  he  became  a  com- 
municant of  Trinity  Church  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  its 
honored  senior  warden. 

Mr.  Johnson's  work  as  a  local  historian  stands  forth  pre-emi- 
nently. At  the  Bi-Centennial  of  the  town  in  1905,  Mr.  Johnson  was 
chairman  of  the  executive  committee  having  the  celebration  in 
charge,  and  was  historian  of  the  day.  The  citizens  of  the  town  are 
indebted  to  Mr.  Johnson  for  painstaking  work  in  local  historical 
writing,  which  appeared  from  time  to  time  in  the  columns  of  The 
Bee.  To  the  editor  and  business  manager  of  The  Bee,  he  has  al- 
ways been  a  sympathetic  and  helpful  friend,  and  it  is  with  sorrow 
we  are  compelled  to  note  the  "passing  on"  of  Mr.  Johnson.  To  a 
large  degree,  it  may  be  truthfully  said,  his  outlook  on  life  was  un- 
selfish, and  in  this  lies  the  great  secret  of  his  success.  Shortly  after 
its  organization,  Mr.  Johnson  became  a  member  of  the  Men's  Club 
and  served  a  term  as  president. 

October  10,  1858,  Mr.  Johnson  married  Jane  Eliza,  daughter  of 
Beach  and  Catherine  Foote  Camp,  who  survives  him,  with  four 
sons :  William  Camp  Johnson  and  Charles  Beach  Johnson  of 
Newtown,  Levan  Merritt  Johnson  of  Painesville,  O.,  and  Bishop 
Frederick  Foote  Johnson  of  St.  Louis,  Mo.  To  an  unusual  degree 
Mr  Johnson  has  been  blessed  in  his  family  relations  and  this  first 
great  break  in  the  domestic  chain  must  cause  the  deepest  grief. 

The  funeral  took  place  on  Wednesday  Dec.  30,  at  2  p.  m.,  from. 
Trinity  Church,  and  was  one  of  the  most  largely  attended  in  recent 
years.  Rev.  James  Hardin  George,  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  offic- 
iated. With  the  rector  in  the  chancel  were  Rev.  George  Thomas 
Linsley,  rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  Hartford,  who 
read  the  lesson;  Rev.  George  H.  Buck  of  Derby,  who  read  the 
creed  and  prayer,  and  Rev.  Charles  J.  Sniffen  of  South  Lee,  Mass. 
The  two  hymns  sung  were :  "Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul,"  and,  "O 
God,  our  help  in  ages  past."  For  a  recessional,  this  hymn  was  used : 
"Abide  with  me,  fast  falls  the  eventide." 

Members  of  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  and  of  the  Board  of 
School  Visitors,  occupied  seats  together  in  the  center  of  the  church. 
The  pallbearers  were  the  four  sons.  At  the  service  at  the  grave, 
the  rector  was  assisted  by  Rev.  Mr.  Sniffen.  At  the  service  at  the 
house,  before  the  start  for  the  Church,  Mr.  George  was  assisted  in 
the  prayers  by  the  Rev.  F.  W.  Barnett. 

There  was  a  profusion  of  beautiful  floral  tributes  from  loving 
friends,  including  wreath  from  the  vestry  of  Trinity  Church,  wreath 
from  the  Board  of  School  Vistors,  wreath  from  the  Men's  Club, 
floral  piece  from  the  teacher  and  pupils  of  Pootatuck  school, 
flowers  from  the  girls  of  Walnut  Tree  Hill,  floral  piece  from 
Messrs  Smith  of  the  Bee  and  many  others. 

Among  those  present  at  the  funeral  from  out  of  town  were : 
Percy  L.  Johnson  of  Bridgeport,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  C.  Keeler  of 
Seymour,  Mrs.  George  Welch  of  Meriden,  Miss  Jennie  Clark  of 
Bethel,  Frederick  Maguire  of  Litchfield,  A.  C.  Innis  of  New  Milford, 


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NEWtOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  11 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Russell,  of  Southbury,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred  H. 
Beers  of  Brookfield. 

Resolutions  Adopted  by  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  on 
the  Death  of  Ezra  Levan  Johnson. 

The  Vestry  of  Trinity  church,  speaking  in  behalf  of  all,  old  and  young, 
in  the  parish,  feels  that  in  the  death  of  Ezra  Levan  Johnson,  our  Senior 
Warden,  we  have  sustained  a  great  loss. 

By  birth  and  training  not  a  member  of  our  communion,  Mr.  Johnson 
came  into  it  in  the  ripeness  of  his  middle  life,  and  was  confirmed  under 
the  rectorship  of  Dr.  Marble,  by  Bishop  Williams,  August  11,  1871.  He  at 
once  took  an  active  part  in  the  parish  work,  and  business  and  was  chosen 
a  Vestryman,  April  14  1873.  The  record  shows  him  constant  at  the  meet- 
ings and  faithful  in  the  duties  laid  upon  him.  For  more  than  40  years  he 
served  the  parish  in  this  capacity.  He  was  chosen  Junior  Warden  at 
Easter,  1904,  and  Senior  Warden  at  the  annual  parish  meeting  in  1913. 

Because  of  his  knowledge  of  town  history,  he  was  chosen  the  historian 
of  the  parish  at  the  celebration  in  Sept.,  1907,  of  the  175th  anniversary  of 
the  beginning  of  Rev  John  Beach's  ministry.  It  was  his  knowledge  of 
tradition  which  located  the  spot  where  Mr.  Beach's  first  service  was 
held,  the  place  now  marked  by  the  memorial  boulder. 

Mr.  Johnson  had  a  deep  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Church  at  large, 
and  for  many  years  represented  the  parish  in  the  diocesan  convention, 
and  became  well  known  to  leading  churchmen  throughout  the  State. 

In  church  worship  he  had  an  unfailing  joy.  He  was  constant  in  his 
attendance,  and  the  prayers  and  praises  of  divine  service  became  a  part 
of  his  life  as  their  words  were  ever  fresh  in  his  memory.  His  presence  at 
the  Church's  services  and  his  regular  family  devotions,  brought  him  a 
growing  love  of  the  Prayer  Book  and  the  Church's  ways. 

Loyal  in  his  devotion  to  the  Church,  he  yet  had  a  broad  sympathy  for 
all  Christians  and  an  especially  kind  and  loving  feeling  towards  the  com- 
munion in  which  he  was  born  and  reared;  and  he  had  the  respect  and 
good  will  of  its  members. 

By  his  upright  life  before  the  world  and  his  faithfulness  to  his  religious 
duties  he  commemded  to  all  men  the  Church  which  he  loved. 

We  shall  greatly  miss  his  familiar  form  at  the  Church's  services,  and 
his  wise  council  in  our  business  deliberations.  His  example  of  a  sober, 
righteous  and  godly  life  will  have  its  lasting  influence  upon  the  parish 
and  community,  and  his   memory  is  blessed. 

To  his  bereaved  family  we  extend  our  sincere  sympathy,  and  commend 
them  to  the  God  of  all  comfort  and  consolation. 


12  HIS    EPITAPH. 


HIS   EPITAPH. 

"The  children  loved  him!"    That  was  what  they  said 
When  a  kind  man  lay  dead ! 

Ah,  j^es !  and  when  he  slept  serene  and  still, 
From  every  glade  and  hill 

The  children  brought  bright  flowers,  pink  and  white, 
For  his  last  day  and  night. 

They  loved  him  through  their  young  untroubled  years. 
They  loved  his  smiles;  his  tears. 

His  sorrows  and  his  loss  they  knew  not  of — 
They  onlj^  knew  his  love, 

For  he  was  kind  and  he  was  gentle;  best 
And    surely    happiest 

When  little  children  left  their  games  and  play 
To  follow  his  glad  way. 

"The  children  loved  him!"  for  he  made  them  laugh. 
O  !    splendid  epitaph  ! 

Selected  by 

Julia  and  Cynthia  Merritt. 


COPY  OF  DEED 

Newtown's    Purchase   from    the    Indians. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  yt  we  Mauquash,  Massumpas,  Nunna- 
wauk  all  belonging  to  Pootatuck  in  ye  Colony  of  Connecticut  for  and  in 
consideration  of  four  guns,  four  broad  cloth  coats,  four  blankets,  four  rufifelly 
coats,  four  collars,  ten  shirts,  ten  pair  of  stockings,  forty  pounds  of  lead, 
ten  of —  ten  pounds  of  powder  and  forty  knives,  to  us  promised  to  be  paid 
as  by  these  bills  underhand  and  one  may  more  fully  approve,  we  say  we 
have  Given,  Granted,  Bargained  and  sold,  alienated.  Conveyed  and  Con- 
firmed and  b}^  these  presents  do  freely,  fully  and  absolutely  Give,  Grant, 
Bargain,  sell  alienate,  convey  and  confirm  unto  William  .lunos,  Justus  Bush 
and  Samuel  Hawley  all  now  resident  in  Stratford  in  ye  Colony  aforesaid,  a 
Certain  Tract  of  land  situate,  lying  and  being  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut 
Butted  and  Bounded  as  followeth,  viz.  Bounded  South  upon  pine  swamp 
and  land  of  Mr.  Sherman  and  Mr.  Rositer,  South  West  upon  Fairfield 
bounds.  North  West  upon  the  bounds  of  Danbury,  North  East  by  land  pur- 
chased by  Milford  men  at  or  near  ovanhonock  and  South  East  on  land  of 
Numaway  an  Indian,  the  line  running  two  miles  from  the  river  right 
against  pootatuck  the  sd  tract  of  land  Containing  in  length  eight  miles  and 
in  breadth  five  miles  but  more  or  less  with  all  appurtenances,  privileges 
and  conditions  thereunto  belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertaining  to  them, 
the  said  William  Junos,  Justus  Bush  and  Samuel  Hawley  their  heirs  and 
assigns  to  have  and  to  hold  forever  to  their  own  proper  use,  benefit  and 
behoof  forever,  and,  we  the  said  Mauquash,  Massumpas  and  Nunnawauk 
for  us  our  heirs  and  administrators  do  covenant  promise  and  grant  to 
and  with  the  said  William  Junos,  Justus  Bush  and  Samuel  Hawley  their 
heirs  and  assigns  yt  before  ye  ensealing  thereof,  we  are  the  true,  sole 
and  lawful  owners  of  the  above  bargained  premises  and  possessed  of  ye 
same  in  our  own  Right  as  a  good,  perfect  and  absolute  estate  of  inheri- 
tance in  fee  simple,  and  have  in  ourselves  good  Right,  full  power,  and 
authority  to  grant,  bargain,  sell,  convey,  alien  and  confirm  the  same  and 
all  the  priviledges  and  particulars  before  mentioned  in  manner  as  above 
said,  yt  ye  said  Wm.  Junos,  Justus  Bush  and  Samuel  Hawley  their  heirs  and 
assigns  shall  and  may  from  time  to  time  and  at  all  times  hereafter  by 
virtue  of  these  presents  lawfully,  peaceably  and  quietly.  Have,  hold  up,  oc- 
cupy, possess  and  enjoy  the  said  bargained  premises  with  ye  appurten- 
ances free  and  alone  and  freely  and  dlearly  acquitted,  exonerated  and 
discharged  of,  and  from  all  and  all  manner  of  former  and  other  Gifts, 
Grant,  Sales,  losses.  Mortgages,  Wills,  Intails,  Joyntures,  Dowries,  Judg- 
ments, Enventory,  Incumbrances,  or  other  incumbrances  whatsoever. 
Furthermore,  we  ye  sd  Mauquash,  Massumpas  and  Nunnawauk,  for  our- 
selves, heirs,  executors  and  administrators  do  covenant  and  engage  the 
above  described  premises  to  them,  the  said  William  Junos,  Justus  Bush 
and  Samuel  Hawley,  their  heirs  and  assigns  against  the  lawful  claims  or 
demands  of  any  person  or  persons  whatsoever  forever  hereafter,  to  war- 
rant and  defend.  Moreover,  we,  Washunawanian,  Wasuabye,  Moctowek, 
Awashkoeum,  Annuminobe,  Mallocksqua,  Jennohumpisho,  Wompocowash] 
Munnaposh,  Punuanta,  Wannonio,  Mosunksio,  Tacoosh,  Morammoo] 
Slickanungus,  Susoouso,  we  and  every  one  of  us  doth  for  ourselves  and 
each  of  us  by  ourselves,  do  freely  give  grant  and  of  our  own  voluntary 
mind  resign  to  the  said  William  Junos,  Justus  Bush  and  Samuel  Hawley, 
all  our  right  title  and  interest  by  possession,  heirship  or  by  any  other 
way  or  means  whatsoever.  Witness  our  hands  and  seals  July  ye  25  in 
the  fourth  year  of  her  Majesties  Reign,  Anno  Domino,  1705.    Signed  Sealed 


14  NEWTOWN'S  PURCHASE  FROM  THE  INDIANS 

and  delivered  in  presence  of  Jacob  Walker,  Daniel  Denton,  Edward 
Hinman,    Indian    witnesses    Obimosk,    Nunako,    Maquash    and    Musumeas. 

Personally  appeared  at  Potutuck  and  acknowledged  ye  above  written 
instrument  to  be  thare  free  and  voluntary  act  and  deed  before  me  this 
12th  September  1705.    Jon   Minor  Justice.    Witness,  Ebenezer  Johnson. 

The  above  written  is  a  true  copy  of  the  original  on  file. 

Test,  Eleazor  Kimberly,  exactly  entered  and  compared  Jan.  22,  1710  per 
me.    Joseph  Curtis,  one  of  the  committee  for  Newtown. 

QUIOMPH'S  PURCHASE— 1723 

Several  years  passed  after  the  Indians  had  sold  the  English, 
land  eight  miles  in  length  and  five  miles  or  more  in  breadth,  which  in 
due  time  was  to  become  the  township  of  Newtown,  "bounded  east- 
erly on  Stratford  and  part  of  Fairfield,  westerly  upon  Danbury  and 
a  line  running  from  the  southeast  corner  of  Danbury  parallel  to  the 
east  line  of  said  town  to  Fairfield  bounds,  northerly  upon  New 
Milford  purchase,  and  the  Great  River,  shall  be  one  entire  town 
known  by  the  name  of  Newtown."  In  March,  1710,  22  proprietors 
took  their  pitch  in  the  first  allotment  of  land  and  other  allotments 
were  made  from  time  to  time  as  the  years  went  by,  with  nothing 
appearing  to  disturb  the  even  tenor  of  the  settlers'  way  until  about 
1720,  when  there  appeared  upon  the  scene  an  Indian,  Quiomph  by 
name,  who  made  claim  to  being  sole  owner  of  all  land  not  sold  to 
the  English,  claimed  to  be  a  strip  of  mountain  land  lying  along  the 
line  of  the  Pootatuck  brook  at  the  base  of  Pisgah.  The  town  rec- 
ords show  the  adjustment  made  between  the  land  proprietors  and 
Quiomph,  as  regards  the  land  to  which  he  laid  claim.  Interesting 
it  should  be,  showing  the  friendly  feeling  between  the  whites  who 
were  getting  possession  by  honest  purchase.  At  a  lawful  town 
meeting  of  the  inhabitants  and  landed  proprietors  of  Newtown, 
Sept  1723,  to  consider  what  method  to  take  for  purchasing  land 
lying  southerly  and  westerly  of  Pootatuck  river  offered  upon  sale 
by  Quiomph,  Indian : 

First,  voted  at  above  said  meeting  that  all  the  land  lying  southerly  and 
westerly  of  the  Great  or  Pootatuck  River,  to  be  purchased  of  Quiomph 
shall  be  equally  divided  by  heads  of  families,  to  each  their  equal  propor- 
tion of  purchase  money,  namely,  each  proprietor  as  above  said. 

Secondly,  voted  at  said  meeting  that  Mr.  Thomas  Bennitt  and  Johathan 
Booth  shall  be  a  committee  in  behalf  of  the  proprietors  aforesaid  to  pur- 
chase the  said  tract  of  land  of  Quiomph. 

Thirdly,  voted  that  the  purchasers  shall  pay  by  next  Wednesday,  the  7th 
day  of  this  instant,  one  shilling  apiece;  upon  the  neglect  of  payment  of  one 
shilling  they  are  to  lose  their  right  of  purchase. 

Fourthly,  voted  that  the  whole  purchase  money  that  the  above  said  com- 
mittee shall  agree  upon  shall  be  paid  by  the  first  week  ensuing,  which  will 
be  the  fourteenth  day  of  October,  1723.  Upon  the  neglect  of  such  payment 
to  be  made  they  shall  lose  their  right  in  said  tract. 

Fifthly,  no  former  grant  or  division  shall  be  taken  up  within  the  bound- 
ary of  the  above  said  tract  of  land,  purchased  of  said  Quiomph. 

Recorded  bv  Joseph  Peck,  town  clerk.  The  deed  in  folio  form  reads: 
"The  proprietors  of  Newtown  deed  from  Quiomph,  Recorded  January  ye 
21st,  1726,  in  ye  3d  Book  of  Newtown  Records,  folio  74." 

Per  Joseph   Peck,  town   clerk. 

The  leaves  that  contained  the  record  are  lost  from  the  record 
book;  the  original  deed  is  carefully  preserved  in  the  town  clerk's 
office : 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  15 

"Know  all  men  by  this  instrument,  bearing  date  this  seventh  day  of 
August,  in  ye  tenth  year  of  his  Majesties'  reign,  Anno  Domine  One  thous- 
and seven  hundred  and  twenty-three,  that  I,  Quiomph,  an  Indian  of 
Pootatuck,  do  declare  myself  ye  sole  heir  of  all  land  that  is  not  purchased 
by  ye  English  before  this  date  in  ye  boundaries  of  Newtown,  in  ye  County 
of  Fairfield  within  his  Majesties  colony  of  Connecticut,  in  New  England. 
Now,  in  ye  performance  of  ye  convenant  of  ye  one  part,  bargain  and  quit 
claim  made  between  me  ye  sd  Quiomph  of  ye  one  part  and  John  Glover 
and  Abraham  Kimberly,  purchasers  for  ye  proprietors  of  Newtown,  being 
their  committee,  and  Thomas  Bennitt  being  assisting  with  them  of  ye  other 
part,witnesseth,  that  I  Quiomph  aforesaid,  for,  and  in  consideration  of 
sixteen  pounds  in  hand  paid  or  promised  to  be  paid  where  in  I  do 
acknowledge  myself  fully  satisfied,  have  given,  granted  bargained, 
sold,  allienated,  made  over  and  forever  quit  claim  and  confirmed 
and  by  these  presents,  do  give,  grant,  bargain,  sell,  make  over  and 
forever  quit  claim  unto  John  Glover  and  Abraham  Kimberley,  ye  above 
said  purchasers  for  the  proprietors  of  Newtown  in  ye  county  of  Fairfield 
and  colony  of  Connecticut,  all  lands  in  ye  boundaries  of  Newtown 
not  purchased  by  ye  English  before  ye  date  of  these  presents,  except  a 
corner  of  intervale  land  lying  by  ye  river  where  Cock  shures  fence  is 
bounded  easterly  by  ye  river  and  ye  other  side  by  a  brook  called  Hucko  by 
ye  Indians,  from  ye  river  until  ye  brook  comes  down  between  ye  hills,  and 
from  ye  said  brook  where  it  comes  down  between  ye  hills  a  straight  line 
direct  to  ye  River,  and  ye  reversion  and  reversions,  ye  remainder  and  re- 
mainders and  rights,  titles,  interests,  claims  and  demands  whatsoever  of 
me,  ye  sd  Quomph,  of,  in,  and  to  ye  same  to  have  and  to  hold  all  ye  said 
grant,  all  which  land  claimed  said  Indian  in  ye  boundaries  of  Newtown 
aforesaid  except  yt  intervale  land  above  expressed  and  all  and  singular  ye 
premises  with  their  and  every  of  their  appurtnances  before  to  be  mention- 
ed to  be  granted  to  ye  said  John  Glover  and  Abraham  Kimberly,  committee 
for  ye  proprietors  of  Newtown  according  to  ye  grant  of  ye  General  court 
to  them  as  on  record  and  to  their  heirs  to  ye  use  of  said  proprietors  their 
heirs  and  assigns  forever.  And  I,  ye  said  Quiomph,  of  Pootatuck  in  Con- 
necticut, have  granted  for  me  and  my  heirs  that  we  will  grant,  warrant  and 
defend  unto  ye  sd  John  Glover  and  Abraham  Kimberly,  committee  for  ye 
proprietors  of  Newtown  above  sd  their  heirs  executors,  adminstrators, 
assigns,  the  above  said  land  except  ye  intervale  land  and  promises 
with  and  for  their  attorney  against  all  people  laying  any  lawful  claim  to  ye 
same  forevermore,  by  these  presents.  In  witness  of  ye  sd  promises  ye 
aforesaid  Quiomph  hath  hereunto  sett  his  hand  and  put  to  his  seal,  the 
day  and  year  above  written. 

Quiomph  his  (x)  mark. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of  Robert  Seeley,  Euniss  Bennitt, 

Indian  witnesses :    Mauchoro,  Wahuncop,   Machocomp,  Mausumpus. 

Quiomph,  the  above  subscriber  to  this  instrument  personally  appeared  in 
Newtown  the  day  and  date  above  said  and  acknowledged  the  same  to  be 
his  own  free  act  and  deed.  Before  me,Thomas  Bennitt,  Justice  of  the 
Peace." 

Although  the  land  was  purchased,  the  deed  made  out  and  the 
money  paid  in  1732,  before  any  measurements  were  taken  or 
the  land  laid  out,  it  evidently  was  shared  in  by  the  then  proprietors 
of  the  town,  who  at  that  time  numbered  51  and  so  there  were  51 
equal  proprietors  in  what  became  known  as  the  Quiomph  purchase. 
After  the  purchase,  this  wild  mountain  land  lay  undivided  and  un- 
measured until  1742.  In  the  meantime,  Peter  Hubbell,  a  land  pro- 
prietor, had  bought  at  different  times  49  rights  of  the  fifty-one, 
and  a  proprietors'  committee  was  appointed  to  lay  out  the  Quiomph 
purchase,  January  25,  1748. 

"Then  laid  out  to  Peter  Hubbell,  Esq.,  his  heirs  and  assigns,  or  to  his  or 
their  assigns  according  to  ye  several  parcels  of  land  which  they  hold  by 
deeds  from  him,  or  his  heirs  or  assigns  according  to  ye  several  propor- 
tions expressed  by  sd  deeds  of  ye  lands  known  by  ye  name  of  Quiomph's 


16  QUIOMPH'S  PURCHASE— 1723 

last  purchase  ye  sd  Hubbell  having  formerly  bought  at  several  different 
times  ye  rights  of  49  out  of  51  equal  proprietors  in  sd  Quiomph  purchase 
and  ye  same  as  not  being  laid  out  or  divided  according  to  ye  vote  of  ye 
proprietors  of  Newtown,  therefore  we  ye  subscribers  at  ye  desire  of  ye  sd 
Peter  Hubbell  have  laid  out  ye  greater  part  of  ye  49  rights  in  ye  following 
manner :  Beginning  at  a  black  oak  tree  marked  and  stones  put  to  it,  which 
is  commonly  known  to  be  ye  bounds  for  ye  southwest  corner  of  ye  afore- 
said Quiomph  purchase,  and  then  running  north  5  degrees  west  in  ye  west 
line  of  sd  purchase  426  rods  to  a  heap  of  stones  laid  to  a  small  spier  then 
east  five  degrees  north  75  rods  to  a  heap  of  stones,  then  north  5  degrees 
west  11  rods  to  a  heap  of  stones  laid  betwist  a  bunch  of  largealderbushes.then 
east  to  5  degrees  north  one  hundred  rods  to  black  oak  spier  marked  and 
stoned,  then  north  five  degrees  west  sixty  rods  to  a  large  black  oak  tree 
standing  on  ye  bank  of  ye  Great  Pootatuck  River,  then  easterly  and  south- 
easterly and  southerly  by  sd  Great  River  in  all  295  rods  to  a  white  oak 
spier  marked  and  in  or  near  ye  dividing  line  of  ye  Indians  land,  and  ye 
land  of  Mr.  Read  of  Boston,  71  rods  at  ye  brook  near  to  ye  sd  Hubbell's 
dwelling  house  and  then  due  west  33  rods  to  ye  southeast  corner  of  Samuel 
Towner's  land,  then  westerly  by  sd  Towner's  land  60  rods  to  a  black  oak 
spier  marked,  then  south  6  degrees  east  30  rods  to  a  pine  at  ye  top  of  ledge 
of  rocks  known  by  ye  name  of  second  Pisgah  towards  the  easterly  part 
thereof,  then  went  15  degrees  south  72  rods  to  ye  southeast  corner  of 
Mallery  land,  then  southwesterly  by  ye  top  of  sd  Pisgah  to  Sanford's 
mill  land  and  then  westerly  by  said  mill  land  to  ye  northwest  corner 
thereof,  and  from  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  ye  black  oak  began  at  with- 
in which  limits  and  boundaries  is  contained  one  hundred  and  ninety-one 
acres  and  a  half,  twenty  acres  of  which  is  allowed  for  ye  highways  that 
is  already  laid  out  through  j'e  said  tract,  above  said,  land  which  we  look 
upon  as  necessary  yet  to  be  laid  out  in  ye  same.  Completed  ye  daj'  and 
date  above   said  by  us. 

John  Glover,  Junr. 

Joseph  Botsford, 

Peter  Hubbell, 

Proprietors  Committee. 
And  to  ratify  and  confirm  ye  doings  as  above  set  forth  we,  John  Glover  and 
Daniel  Foot  who  were  chosen  a  committee  to  lay  out  ye  above  sd  purchase, 
have  hereunto  set  our  hands. 

Daniel  Foot, 

John  Glover. 
Recorded  ye  day  and  date  above  by  me  Job  Sherman,  Proprietors'  clerk. 
January  26,  1748. 

The  original  deed  was  placed  on  file  with  the  Town  Clerk  and  was  by 
him  recorded  as  "The  Proprietors  of  Newtown  deed  from  Quiomph. 
Recorded  January  ye  21st,  1726,  in  ye  third  Book  of  Newtown  Records, 
folio  74. 

Per  Joseph  Peck  Town  Clerk. 

The  first  three  record  books  of  those  early  days,  dating-  back  of 
1730,  became  coverless  many,  many  years  ago,  although  the  first 
volume  remained  well  intact,  but  the  greater  part  of  the  leaves  of 
the  second  and  third  volumes  were  lost,  and  among  the  leaves  were 
those  which  contained  the  record  of  Quiomph's  deed.  Between 
1873  and  1880,  Charles  Henry  Peck  was  Newtown's  town  clerk,  and 
being  extremely  interested  in  the  town  history  and  a  persistent 
student  of  it,  he  was  so  troubled  in  mind,  when  he  saw  the  dilapi- 
dated condition  of  the  three  coverless  volumes  of  records  of  those 
early  days,  that  he  gathered  the  remains  of  the  three  volumes  and 
had  them  rebound  within  one  cover.  It  has  been  from  his  thought- 
fulness  as  to  their  preservation  that  so  much  can  be  gathered  of  the 
doings  of  those  earliest  days.  Not  content  with  having  the  rem- 
nants of  the  these  first  volumes  bound  into  one,  he  also  had  the 
original  deed  from  Quiomph  bound  between  covers  for  preserva- 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  17 

tion,  to  be  handed  down  to  coming  generations.  It  is  a  wonder 
that  the  deed  could  have  been  preserved  in  folio  form,  among  other 
loose  papers,  for  100  years  or  more.  Of  the  two  deeds  that  passed 
between  the  Indians  and  the  English,  the  original  of  the  first  trans- 
action has  been  lost,  but  the  recorded  deed  can  be  found,  com- 
mencing on  Page  48,  Volume  1,  and  of  the  second  deed,  the  original 
is  well  preserved  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office,  but  the  recorded  deed 
was  lost  when  the  third  volume  fell  to  pieces. 

"BEARING  EACH  OTHER'S  BURDENS" 

In  the  early  part  of  my  study  of  town  history,  before  I  had  be- 
come much  interested  therein,  my  attention  was  arrested  by  a  line 
sentence  close  to  the  very  edge  of  the  top  of  a  page  in  Vol  1, 
Newtown  records,  which  made  no  particular  impression  upon  my 
mind  at  the  time.  It  read,  "A  Court  of  election  at  Hartford,  May  9, 
1678."  Following  out  the  clue,  it  proved  the  key  to  open  an  interest- 
ing bit  of  history  closely  related  to  individual  and  family  life.  The 
transaction  referred  to  dates  back  to  May,  1678  and  reads  : 

"A  court  of  Election  at  Hartford,  May  9,  1678.  This  court  grants  John 
Hubbell  in  consideration  of  his  loss  of  one  of  his  fingers  and  one  ear,  etc., 
one  hundred  acres  of  land  provided  he  takes  it  upon  where  it  may  not 
prejudice  any  former  grant  to  a  plantation  or  particular  person.  Ex- 
tracted out  of  the  Court  Record. 

Per    John    Allyn    Secretary. 

Transferred  as  in  ye  copy.  December  ye  25th,  1712.  Per  me  John  Glover, 
Recorder. 

Reading  carefully,  we  see  that  the  grant  of  land  referred  to  was 
given  no  definite  location,  nor  was  there  any  stated  time  within 
which  it  must  be  taken  up.  The  grantor  could  take  it  up  in  any 
part  of  Connecticut  colony  he  might  choose.  Not  until  32  years  had 
passed  do  we  hear  anything  more  about  it,  when  it  appears  that 
John  Hubbell's  two  sons,  acting  in  their  father's  stead,  took  up  the 
100-acre  grant  in  Newtown  and  sold  it  to  John  Glover,  who  was 
fast  becoming  an  extensive  land  owner.  The  following  record  of 
the  sale  forms  interesting  reading  and  we  wish  we  could  also  trans- 
fer the  "annexed  figure"  as  the  pen  picture  looks  upon  the  old  rec- 
ord, giving  the  lines  and  angles  with  their  geometrical  dispropor- 
tions. 

"Newtown,  March  ye  7th,  1710. 

The  Court  was  pleased  to  grant  to  Mr.  John  Hubbell  in  consideration  of 
his  loss  of  his  finger  and  ear,  etc.,  one  hundred  acres  of  land.  Mr.  John 
Glover  hath  bought  sd  grant  of  Mr.  John  Hubbell's  sons  as  may  appear 
from  these  bonds  and  seals  on  ye  back  side  of  ye  copy  of  Court  Grant  and 
I  being  at  Mr.  John  Glover's  house  ye  day  above  in  Newtown  he  desired 
me  to  assist  him  to  lay  out  sd  hundred  acres  near  his  own  land  where 
he  had  about  60  acres  formerly  laid  out  by  persons  appointed  and  there 
being  a  slip  of  land  between  Mr.  Glover's  land  and  a  mountain,  (NE)  also 
sd  Glover  has  a  great  part  of  this  100  acres  yt  taken  up  within  fence  and 
for    pasturage    land. 

The  manner  and  form  as  it  lies  and  distance  is  showed  in  ye  annexed 
figure  or  plott  which  quantity  is  not  above  one  hundred  acres. 

As  per  me,  William  Thompson,  Surveyor. 

Recorded  December  25,  1712,  per  me  John  Glover,  Recorder." 

Following  the  record  of  the  sale  of  the  land  to  John  Glover,  we 
have  the  declaration  of  John  Hubbell's  sons  that  they  have  sold  for 


18  BEARING  EACH  OTHER'S  BURDENS 

a  valuable  consideration  this  land. 

"We,  Richard  Hubbell  and  Josiah  Hubbell,  the  sons  of  John  Hubbell, 
within  mentioned  in  ye  grant  of  ye  election  court  in  May  ye  9th,  1678,  we 
say  we  do  for  a  valuable  consideration  by  us  in  hand  received  sell  and 
make  over  all  our  right,  title  and  interest  in  ye  said  grant  of  ye  aforesaid 
Court  unto  Mr.  John  Glover  of  Newtown,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 

Witness  our  hands  and  seals,  October  10,  1710. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of  Joshua  Judson  and  Caleb 
Galpin. 

October  ye  2nd,  1710,  Richard  and  Josiah  Hubbell  personally  appeared 
before  me  and  acknowledge  this  instrument  to  be  their  free  act  and  deed. 

James  Judson,  Justice. 

Recorded  on  ye  backside  of  ye  copy  of  sd  Court  Grant,  December  25,  1712, 
per  me,  John  Glover,  recorder." 

In  this  brief  space  is  collected  all  that  can  be  gathered  as  to  that 
land  transaction  so  long  ago.  To  the  writer  it  has  a  deep  interest 
not  devoid  of  pathos.  It  is  one  of  many  instances  that  crop  out 
from  the  silent  pages  of  Newtown's  unwritten  history.  The  grant 
of  land  was  given  for  the  loss  of  a  finger,  an  ear,  etc. 

We  would  like  to  know  what  the  "and  so  forth"  included.  We 
would  like  to  know  how  the  misfortune  came.  Was  it  from  skir- 
mishing with  a  hostile  foe? 

Whatever  the  cause,  a  sympathy  corresponding  to  the  misfor- 
tune showed  itself  by  a  substantial  acknowledgement  from  the 
colony,  verifying  the  Scriptural  adage,  that  "when  one  member 
suffers,  all  the  members  suffer  with  it." 

QUANNEAPAGUE, 

The  Home  of  The  Pootatucks. 

The  oldest  people  in  Newtown,  Newtown  born,  are  of  the  sixth 
generation  in  direct  line  of  descent  from  the  first  settlers,  so  that 
information  they  can  give  of  the  town's  earliest  history  must  be 
from  reminiscenses  or  as  gathered  from  the  earliest  of  the  town 
records.  When  Jeremiah  Turner  and  Samuel  Sanford  were  each  in 
turn  given  liberty  to  set  a  grist  mill  in  the  west  part  of  town  on 
"Quanneapague  Brook,"  and  were  to  have  two  parcels  of  land,  one 
of  which  was  a  sixteen-acre  tract  "lying  in  ye  crotch  of  Quannea- 
pague pond,"  we  have  the  evidence  that  our  beautiful  inland  lake, 
nestled  down  between  the  hills  for  aught  we  know  "since  the  morn- 
ing stars  first  sang  together,"  was  known  by  that  name  when  the 
white  man  looked  upon  it  for  the  first  time.  If  it  was  handed  down  to 
the  first  and  second  generation  of  our  ancestors,  it  long  since  became 
obsolete,  but  when  the  land  now  comprised  in  the  town  of  Newtown 
was  purchased  it  was  known  by  the  Indian  name,  Quanneapague. 
To  prove  this,  we  copy  from  the  first  volume  of  town  records  five 
separate  transactions  of  sale  of  petition  rights,  each  independent 
of  the  others  in  1710  and  1711.  The  question  may  arise,  "What  is 
meant  by  'petition  rights?'"  In  1708,  the  General  Court  of  the 
colony  of  Connecticut  granted  to  certain  petitioners  "that  all  that 
tract  of  land  lying  on  the  west  side  of  Stratford  and  part  of  Fair- 
field, westerly  by  Danbury  and  a  line  running  from  the  southeast 
corner  of  Danbury  to  Fairfield  bounds,  northerly  by  New  Milford 
Purchase,  shall  be  one  entire  town,  called  by  name  of  Newtown." 


OUANNEAPAGUE 

TAUNTON    POND 

From  the  South   End 

See  Page  18 


gU ANN EAP AGUE 

TAUNTON  POND 

North    End 
See  Page  18 


SOUTH  MAIN  STREET 

Looking  North 


SCUUDER— SMITH  RESIDENCE 

South   End  Newtown  Street 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  19 

Among  the  Privileges  Granted 

,  Among  the  privileges  granted  those  who  might  become  inhab- 
itants was  that  of  free  liberty  to  purchase  by  petition  a  parcel  or 
I  tract  that  might  be  claimed  by  any  Indian  or  others,  and  a  right  and 
I  privilege  at  all  times  in  all  lands  that  should  be  common  in  the  town. 
An  individual  wishing  to  purchase  a  piece  of  land  independently  of 
]  "pitch"  or  general  division  would  petition  the  General  Court  of  the 
colony,  which  held  two  sessions  yearly,  in  May  and  October,  for 
the  privilege,  and,  if  the  Court  consented  to  the  request,  the  petition 
was  granted  and  he  was  given  what  was  called  in  law  a  "petition 
right"  by  which  he  could  take  land  where  he  chose  that  was  com- 
mon land,  subject  only  to  the  requirements  of  the  General  Court. 
To  illustrate : 

Upon  the  request  of  Captain  Ebenezer  Johnson,  this  Court  grants  him 
liberty  to  purchase  of  the  Indians  about  one  acre  and  half  of  the  land  that 
was  set  out  to  them  by  the  town  of  Milford,  it  being  unsuitable  for  the 
Indians  and  very  advantageous  to  said  Johnson  to  set  his  fence  upon  it,  also 
having  some  meadow  in  it.  This  Court  grants  said  Captain  Johnson's 
request.    Colonial  Records,  Vol.  4,  of  Connecticut. 

That  land  was  bought  by  a  "petition  right"  and  a  person  having 
from  the  Court  a  petition  right  could  sell  the  right  to  any  person, 
if  he  did  not  care  to  use  it  himself.  These  several  recorded  sales  of 
"petition  rights,"  taken  from  Vol.  1  of  Newtown's  Records,  each 
say :  "In  that  tract  of  land  called  by  ye  name  of  Quanneapague  and 
now  known  by  ye  name  of  Newtown." 

DEED  1. — Be  it  known  unto  all  men  by  these  presents  yt  I,  ye  sd  John 
Minor  of  Woodbury  in  ye  county  of  Fairfield  in  Her  Majesty's  Colony  of 
Connecticut  have  by  these  presents,  given,  granted,  alienated,  sold  and 
confirmed  to  yt  sd  John  Burrowsh,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  my  right 
in  ye  sd  Newtown  or  Quanneapague  in  virtue  of  our  petition  to  ye  late 
General  Court  at  Hartford,  the  which  petition  right  for  several  reasons 
and  particular  for  two  (undecipherable)  in  hand  received,  or  good  security 
for  ye  same,  peaceably  to  have,  hold  and  occupy  and  improve  ye  sd  prem- 
ises, with  all  ye  privileages  and  conveniences  therof  from  ye  date  hereof 
for  ever  and  for  ye  confirmation  thereof,  to  all  intents  and  purposes  I  here- 
to subscribe  this  16th  day  of  January,  1710,  John  Minor. 

Witnessed  by  us:     Daniel  Beardsiy,  Thomas  Sherwood. 

The  above  named  John  Minor  ye  same  day  of  ye  date  of  ye  above  written 
deed  and  acknowledged  it  to  be  his  free  act  and  deed.    John  Minor,  Justice. 

Exactly  entered  from  ye  original  deed  and  compared.  September '7,  1710. 
Joseph  Curtis,  assistant  clerk. 

DEEDS  2  and  3 — These  may  signify  to  whom  it  may  concern  that  we  whose 
names  are  underwritten  have  sold  unto  Richard  Hubbell  of  Stratfield  one 
petition  right  (by  grant  from  ye  General  Court)  at  Newtown,  (alias) 
Quanneapague,  dated  in  Stratfield,  April  1st,  1709.    Witness  our  hands, 

Samuel  Hubbell,  Jr. 
David  Whitlock,  Jr. 

Exactly  recorded  from  ye  original  and  compared  March  6,  1710.  per  me, 
Joseph  Curtis,  one  of  ye  Committee  for  Newtown. — Vol.  1,  Page  44,  Town 
Records. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  yt  I,  John  Burross  of  Stratfield  in  ye 
County  of  Fairfield,  have  by  these  presents  given,  granted,  bargained  and 
sold  from  me  and  my  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  and  assigns,  for- 
ever, all  my  right,  titles  and  interest  in  and  unto  a  petition  right  I  purchased 
of  Captain  Minor  of  Woodbury  of  land  granted  by  ye  General  Assem- 
bly to  sd  Minor  lying  in  ye  bounds  of  Quanneapague  or  Newtown  I 
say  I  have  sold  unto  Richard  Nichols  of  Stratford  in  ye  County  of  Fair- 
field to  him,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  for  a  valuable  consideration  to 
pay  10  pounds  in  money  at  eight  shillings  ye  ounce  troy  weight  ye  which 


20  QUANNEAPAGUE 

I  acknowledge  ye  receipt  of  to  my  full  satisfaction  and  for  ye  confirmation 
of  ve  above  sd,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal,  at  Stratfield,  April 
27, '1710.  John  Burross. 

Deed  4 — To  all  Christian  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come, 
greeting.  Know  ye,  that  whereas  I,  Benjamin  Nichols,  inhabitant  in  the 
town  of  Stratford,  in  ye  county  of  P^airfield,  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New 
England,  being  one  of  ye  petitioners  to  ye  General  Assembly  of  this  prov- 
ince for  a  right  in  ye  tract  of  land  commonly  called  by  the  name  of  Quan- 
neapogue,  and  now  by  the  name  of  Newtown,  sd  petition  being  granted, 
I,  having  a  certain  right  therein,  I,  ye  sd  Benjamin  Nicolls  have  sold,  and 
do  by  these  presents  alienate,  set  over,  and  sell  to  Joseph  Fairchild  of  ye 
above  town,  county  and  colony,  ye  whole  of  my  above  sd  right  with  all  of  ye 
appertenances  and  privileges  thereto  belonging  both  as  to  ye  present  and 
future  ye  are  or  may  be  here  to  belonging  for  him  ye  sd  Joseph  Fairchild, 
his  heirs,  executors  or  assigns  for  ever  to  hold,  occupy,  possess  and  enjoy 
and  yt  without  any  let,  molestation,  hindrance  or  disturbance  from  me,  my 
heirs  or  assigns  forever,  hereby  acknowledging  to  have  already  received  in 
full  satisfaction  therefore.  In  testimony  of  ye  above  written  I  have  here- 
unto set  to  mj'  hand  and  seal  in  Stratford,  June  14,  1710.    Benjamin  Nicholls. 

Benjamin  Nicolls,  ye  subscriber  to  ye  above  instrument  personally  ap- 
peared in  Stratford  on  ye  21st  day  of  December,  1710,  and  acknowledge  ye 
above  instrument  to  which  he  had  signed  and  sealed  to  be  his  own  free  act 
and  deed. 

Joseph  Curtis,  assistant  clerk. 

Deed  5  INDENTURE— This  indenture  made  this  fifth  day  of  November, 
in  ye  tenth  year  of  her  Majesty's  reign.  Anno  Domini,  one  thousand  seven 
hundred  and  eleven,  between  Joseph  Botsford  of  Milford,  planter,  in  ye 
county  of  New  Haven,  within  Her  Majesty's  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New 
England  of  ye  one  party,  and  Joseph  Peck  of  Milford  aforesaid  ye  other 
party,  witnesseth  that  Joseph  Botsford  of  aforesaid,  for  and  in  consider- 
ation of  a  certain  parcel  or  division  of  land  situate  in  Milford  aforesaid 
being  ye  fifty-second  lot  in  ye  second  shoot,  containing  twelve  acres,  more 
or  less  lying  on  ye  race  bounded  with  Timothy  Baldwin's  land  northward, 
and  a  high-way,  and  east  and  westward,  and  John  Merwin's  land  southward 
to  him,  ye  sd  Botsford  made  over  by  a  bill  of  exchange  under  ye  hand  and 
seal  of  ye  sd  Peck  being  equal  date  and  indentured  with  these  presents 
which  to  }^e  full  satisfaction  of  ye  sd  Botsford  hath  granted,  bargained  and 
exchanged  and  by  these  presents  doth  freely,  firmly  and  absolutely  grant, 
bargain,  exchange,  alienate  and  make  over  unto  Joseph  Peck  aforesaid,  and 
to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  one  moity  or  half  a  right,  sometimes  called  a 
"petition  right"  in  that  tract  of  land  called  by  ye  name  of  "Quanneapogue" 
and  now  known  by  ye  name  of  Newtown  in  ye  County  of  Fairfield  and  Colony 
aforesaid,  ye  whole  right  being  a  forty-ninth  part  of  ye  whole  tract  of  land,  ye 
other  moity  of  ye  sd  right  being  for  a  valuable  consideration  already  sold  by 
ye  sd  Botsford  to  sd  Peck  and  his  heirs  forever,  is  hereby  ratified  and  con- 
firmed however  hereafter  it  may  be  butted  and  bounded  when  it  shall  be 
divided  and  a  petition  made  of  ye  whole  or  any  part  of  ye  aforesaid  tract  of 
land,  together  with  all  ye  present  and  future  privileges  and  to  have  and  to 
hold  both  ye  moities  or  whole  of  ye  aforesaid  right  or  forty-ninth  part  of  ye 
aforesaid  tract  of  land  to  him  ye  sd  Joseph  Peck,  his  heirs  and  assigns  as 
a  free,  absolute  and  indefeazable  estate  of  inheritance  to  his  and  their 
proper  use,  behoofe  and  benefit  forever,  and  further,  ye  sd  Joseph  Botsford 
doth  for  himself  and  his  heirs  covenant  and  promise  to  and  with  ye  sd 
Joseph  Peck  and  his  heirs  and  assignees  that  he  and  they  shall  quietly  and 
peaceably  have,  hold,  use  and  enjoy  ye  aforsaid  right  or  forty-ninth  part 
of  ye  aforesaid  tract  of  land  called  Newtown  with  ye  privileges  and  appur- 
tenances therein  to  belonging  from  person  or  persons  whatsover,  that 
shall  lay  any  legal  claim  thereunto  or  any  part  thereon  forever. 

In  witness  of  ye  above  premises  ye  aforesaid  Joseph  Botsford  has  here- 
unto set  his  hand  and  put  to  his  seal  ye  day  and  year  first  above  written. 
Joseph   Botsford,  seal 

Milford,  November  5  1711. 

Joseph  Botsford  of  Milford,  subscriber  to  ye  above  written  instrument 
personally  appeared  and  acknowledged  ye  above  writen  instrument  to  be 


NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  21 

his  act  and  deed  before  me.  Jonathan  Law, 

Justice  of  the  peace. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  Richard  Baldwin,  Thom- 
as   Baldwin.      Exactly    entered    from    ye    original    sigment,    November    28. 
1711,  by  me,  Peter  Hubbell,  recorder. 

FIRST  GRIST  MILL 

About  six  years  after  the  land  had  been  purchased  from  the 
Indians,  although  they  had  been  busy  all  the  time,  a  wilderness 
still  surrounded  them,  and  they  were  practically  cut  off  from  the 
outside  world.  Sickness  was  soon  to  come,  and  sorrow  and  death 
might  follow.  What  more  natural  than  that  they  should  feel  lonely 
with  no  well  regulated  method  of  "assembling  of  themselves  to- 
gether," for  the  one  common  purpose  of  religious  sympathy  and 
helpfulness  ? 

Next  to  the  settling  of  a  minister  and  the  building  of  a  meeting 
house,  the  getting  of  a  grist  mill  that  would  grind  the  town's  grain 
was  matter  for  serious  consideration,  being  an  absolute  necessity. 
The  records  show  no  action  to  give  any  one  liberty  to  take  water 
for  power  until  1711.  No  artificial  ponds  had  been  made,  but  there 
was  the  "Great  Pond,"  as  spoken  of,  the  Indian  name  of  which  was 
"Quanneapague."  With  no  mill  for  grinding  grain,  the  pioneers 
had  from  the  first  been  obliged  to  use  a  mortar  and  pestle  as  the 
Indians  did,  or  go  to  Stratford  on  horseback  (for  they  had  no  wag- 
ons) for  the  nearest  mill. 

At  a  town  meeting  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Foot,  1711,  it  was  "  voted  that 
Benjamin  Sherman,  Ebenezer  Prindle  and  Samuel  Sanford  should  view  ye 
pond  and  see  if  it  would  contain  a  grist  mill." 

"Voted  that  Jermiah  Turner  should  have  liberty  to  build  a  grist  mill,  and 
ye  inhabitants  do  promise  to  give  ye  sd  Turner  40  square  acres  adjoining 
to  ye  mill." 

At  a  town  meeting  Dec.  24,  1711,  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Foot  it  was  "voted 
for  Poodertook  brook  to  get  a  grist  mill  on  Poodertook  brook." 

In  the  meantime,  negotiations  had  got  so  far  along  with  Jeremiah 
Turner  that  the  inhabitants  chose  Abraham  Kimberly  and  Turner 
chose  John  Piatt  to  pick  out  the  40  acres  he  was  to  have  for  build- 
ing the  mill  on  Pond  Brook,  but  Turner  for  some  unexplained 
reason  did  not  build  the  mill. 

At  another  town  meeting  Feb.  12,  1712,  it  was  "voted  that  Samuel  Sanford 
shall  have  the  liberty  to  get  a  grist  mill  upon  ye  Pond  Brook  that 
Jeremiah  Turner  had." 

"Voted  that  Abraham  Kimberly,  Ebenezer  Prindle  and  John  Grififin  be 
instructed  to  draw  articles  of  agreement  with  sd  Sanford  as  fast  as  may  be." 

The  articles  of  agreement :  "To  all  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall 
come,  we  agents  for  ye  Town  of  Newtown,  in  ye  county  of  Fairfield  and 
Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New  England,  authorized  by  ye  sd  Town 
by  a  vote  of  ye  sd  Town  at  a  meeting  of  ye  sd  town  on  ye  eleventh  day  of 
January  last  past,  as  by  ye  record  doth  appear,  do  sign,  seal  and  deliver  an 
instrument  of  ye  sd  Town's  behalf  for  ye  conveying  and  passing  over  unto 
Samuel  Sanford  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  two  parcells  of  land 
hereafter  described  upon  this  condition.  That  ye  aforesaid  Sanford  of 
Newtown,  aforesaid,  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  do  erect  and  maintain  a 
grist  mill  on  Quanapague  brook  in  Newtown  aforesaid  or  such  other  place 
as  sd  Town  shall  assign  and  convey  for  such  an  improvement  and  so  attend 
ye  same  as  that  sufficient  stores  may  be  thereby  ground  for  50  families  of 
Newtown,  allowing  reasonable  time  for  repairing  and  rebuilding  as  occas- 
ion shall  require,  and  grinding.  Know  ye  that  whereas  by  instrument 
bearing  date  of  ye  15th  of  March,  1712,  the  sd  Town  did  convenant  to  con- 


22  FIRST  GRIST  MILL 

vey  and  confirm  unto  ye  sd  Sanford  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  on  ye  condi- 
tions therein  mentioned  and  ye  sd  Sanford  being  now  in  a  fair  way  to 
accomplish  ye  erecting  of  a  grist  mill,  for  ye  further  encouragement  we 
ye  aforesaid  agents  for  ye  town  of  Newtown,  do  on  ye  sd  Town's  behalf, 
by  virtue  of  ye  above  sd  authority  above  recited  by  these  presents  firmly 
and  absolutely  grant,  make  over,  and  confirm  on  ye  conditions  above  de- 
scribed, unto  ye  sd  Samuel  Sanford  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  two 
parcells  of  land  situated  in  Newtown  afore  sd,  one  of  which  parcells  con- 
taining 16  acres  lying  in  ye  notch  of  Quannapague  Pond  aforesaid  bounded 
with  an  highway  on  ye  northwest,  ye  other  parcel  containing  24  acres  lying 
on  ye  northwest  side  of  ye  aforesaid  highway  and  bounded  on  all  other 
sides  with  common  land,  together  with  all  the  privileges  and  appurtenain- 
ces  unto  them  belonging,  to  have  and  to  hold  to  him,  his  heirs  and  assigns 
forever,  on  ye  conditions  above  exprest  as  free  land  upon  all  accounts 
whatsoever  excepting  only  non-performance  of  ye  conditions  above  sd 
indefeazable  estate  of  inheritance  to  his  and  their  own  use  and  benefit 
forever.  Reserving  only  to  ye  sd  Town,  liberty  upon  ye  failure  of  sd 
Sanford  and  his  heirs  or  assigns  in  any  part  of  ye  conditions  aforesaid 
to  enter  and  take  ye  above  granted  lands  and  premises.  And  further,  we 
the  aforesaid  agents  on  ye  behalf  of  ye  sd  Town  and  their  successors,  do, 
to,  and  with  ye  sd  Sanford,  his  heirs  and  assigns  covenant  and  promise 
ye  sd  Sanford,  his  heirs  and  assigns  in  ye  quiet  and  peaceable  possession 
of  ye  above  granted  land  appurtenances  during  ye  whole  time  and  term  of 
his  and  their  performances  of  sd  conditions  according  to  ye  true  intent  and 
meaning  thereof  against  all  and  every  person  or  persons  whatsoever  that 
shall  lay  and  legal  claim  unto  ye  premises  or  any  part  thereof  to  warrant 
and  defend  forever. 
Witness  whereof  we  have  hereunto  sett  our  hands  and  seal. 

Samuel  Sanford  (Seal) 

Abraham  Kimberly         (Seal) 
Ebenezar  Prindle  (Seal) 

John  (X)  Grifin  (Seal) 

Witness,  mark 

Jno.  Leavenworth, 
John  Foote, 
September  12,  1713. 

John  Peck,  Recorder. 

A  year  or  more  passed  and  as  neither  Turner  nor  Sanford  entered 
into  agreement  with  the  town  to  build  a  mill  on  Pond  or  Quanna- 
pague brook  another  town  meeting  was  called  to  take  further  action 
in  regard  to  getting  a  grist  mill. 

At  a  lawful  town  meeting,  December  14,  1714,  of  ye  settled  and  aproved 
enhabitants  of  Newtown  being  duly  notified  met  and  assembled  together 
made  choice  of  Thomas  Bennitt,  Abraham  Kimberly  and  Daniel  Foot  a 
comity  in  behalf  of  ye  town  to  agree  with  Samuel  Sanford  about  ye  land 
and  stream  laying  under  Mount  Pizza  and  to  draw  articles  of  agreement 
with  him  for  ye  building  and  erecting  a  grist  mill  there  for  ye  youse  of  ye 
Town  and  what  land  sd  Samuel  Sanford  takes  up  about  sd  stream  he  is  to 
lay  off  as  much  from  his  40  acres  of  land  at  ye  Pond." 

Recorded  per  me 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

In  accordance  with  the  vote  of  the  town,  the  committee  conferred 
with  Samuel  Sanford;  these  articles  of  agreement  were  drawn  up 
between  the  town  of  Newtown  and  Sanford,  to  which  Samuel 
Sanford  agreed: 

"To  all  Christian  people  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come.  We  agents 
for  ye  town  of  Newtown  in  ye  County  of  Fairfield  and  Colony  of  Connecti- 
cut in  New  England  authorized  by  ye  sd  Town  by  vote  on  December  14, 1714, 
to  sign,  seal  and  deliver  an  instrument  on  ye  sd  Town's  behalf  unto  Samuel 
Sanford  and  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  that  is  to  say  a  certain  parcell 
of  land  lying  under  a  mountain  known  by  ye  name  of  Pisga,  that  is  to  say, 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND   HISTORIAN  23 

all  ye  land  lying  under  sd  mountain  to  ye  bend  of  ye  brook  commonly 
called  Pohtertuck  Brook,  so  called,  with  all  ye  land  belonging  to  us  south- 
ward of  ye  sd  mountain  to  ye  farms  called  Old  Farms  all  sd  land  thus 
granted  bounding  eastwardly  on  ye  eastward  bank  of  ye  aforesaid  brook 
to  him  ye  sd  Sanfor,  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever,  provided  ye  sd  Sanford 
throw  up  with  sizer  in  quantity  out  of  his  forty  acres  of  mill  land  ye  sd 
Sanford  hath  Liberty  to  take  up  ye  same  for  part  of  his  60  acres  pitch, 
provided  that  ye  sd  Sanford  erecteth  and  buildeth  a  good  grist  mill  suffic- 
ient for  ye  supply  of  ye  Town  of  Newtown  at  or  before  ye  20th  of  August 
next,  upon  Pohtotuck  Brook,  provided  that  ye  sd  Sanford  maketh  a  good 
mill  seasonably,  allways  allowing  suitable  time  for  repairing  or  rebuilding, 
we  ye  above  sd  agents,  in  ye  Town's  behalf,  engage  yt  no  other  grist  mill 
shall  be  erected  to  ye  damage  of  sd  Sanford  so  long  as  he  sd  Sanford  doth 
supply  ye  sd  Town  with  good  mills  and  for  ye  full  performance  of  ye  above 
sd  premises  we  bind  ourselves,  our  heirs,  executors  or  administrators  or 
assigns  forever.  In  witness  hereof  we  have  set  our  hands  and  seals  in 
Newtown,  this  14th  day  of  December,  1714,  in  ye  first  year  of  our  sovereign 
Lord  George. 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  presence  of  us. 

Joseph  Gray  (Seal) 

Peter    Hubbell  (Seal) 

Samuel  Sanford  (Seal) 

Thomas  Bennitt  (Seal) 

Abraham   Kimberly         (Seal) 
Daniel  Foot  (Seal) 

September  21,  1715. 

Joseph  Peck,  Recorder. 

The  articles  of  agreement  were  duly  signed  and  witnessed,  work 
on  the  foundation  was  immediately  commenced  and  in  due  time  the 
mill,  with  a  limited  assortment  of  machinery,  was  announced  as 
ready  for  use.  What  a  real  treasure  a  good  picture  of  the  first  mill 
would  be  to  the  antiquarian  of  today !  No  need  that  it  be  large,  for 
the  town  called  for  one  only  large  enough  to  furnish  50  families  and 
it  could  be  enlarged  as  necessity  required.  The  records  give  no 
account  of  public  celebration  over  its  completion,  but  we  can  have 
no  doubt  that  in  the  homes  of  those  godly  families  prayers  of 
thanksgiving  were  offered  to  the  Giver  of  all  good  that,  in  addition 
to  the  blessings  in  their  personal  and  family  life  by  having  a  min- 
ister settled  among  them,  they  were  also  to  have  the  means  where- 
with the  grain  they  raised  could  be  the  more  easily  and  effectually 
transformed  into  the  "staff  of  life." 

It  may  be  a  surprise  to  some  that  the  first  grist  mill  was  located 
where  the  building  long  known  as  the  Niantic  mill  stands.  It  served 
its  purpose  well  during  Samuel  Sanford's  life  and  for  many  years 
after  his  death,  the  town  took  entire  charge  of  running  the  mill. 

Samuel  Sanford  was  about  30  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
Newtown  from  Milford,  Conn.  In  1711,  the  year  Newtown  was  in- 
corporated a  town,  he  was  one  of  three  chosen  as  selectmen  at  the 
first  annual  town  meeting,  Dec.  4,  1711.  William  Atwater  Sanford, 
sixth  generation  in  direct  line  of  descent,  who  has  compiled  a  book 
of  the  Sanford  family,  has  this  to  say  of  him :  "He  was  the  father  of 
ten  children,  seven  of  them  born  in  Milford  and  three  in  Newtown." 
Of  John,  second  grandson  of  John  Sanford,  the  writer  says:  "He 
was  one  of  the  largest  landholders  in  Sandy  Hook.  He  was  called 
'Squire  John."  Leaving  considerable  property  to  his  heirs,  his  son 
Elijah  received  the  major  part,  which  included  the  cotton  mill  erect- 
ed on  the  site  of  the  grist  mill  built  by  Samuel  Sanford,  that  still 


24  FIRST  GRIST  MILL 

Stands  on  the  banks  of  the  stream  flowing  through  the  village  ;  also 
a  grist  mill  several  hundred  feet  below,  which  is  still  used  for  the 
purpose  for  which  it  was  originally  built. 

When  Elijah  Sanford  died,  the  mill  property  passed  into  the  hands 
of  his  son,  David  Sanford,  and  from  him  to  his  son,  William,  grand- 
son of  Elijah.  A  long  stretch  of  years  it  stood  in  the  Sanford  name 
and  is  owned  now  by  Patrick  Campbell.  Oft  repaired  and  somewhat 
dull  from  age,  it  serves  the  public,  though  not  exactly  as  of  old, 
when  all  the  work  was  custom  work,  as  the  farmers  raised  the  grain 
they  used  and  the  miller  got  his  living  from  the  toll  he  took  for 
grinding,  and  laid  by  some  cash  for  a  rainy  day.  Now  most  of  the 
grain  for  grinding,  coming  from  the  West,  the  farmer  goes  to  mill 
with  an  empty  wagon  and  money  in  his  pocket,  to  return  with  his 
wagon  full  but  pockets  empty  and,  perchance,  an  increase  of  the 
debit  side  of  the  account. 

The  motive  power  of  the  old  mill  has  not  yet  been  superseded  by 
steam  or  electricity,  as  the  power  still  comes  from  the  sparkling 
waters  of  the  Pootatuck,  the  same  old  stream,  with  the  same  old 
Indian  name,  which,  though  differently  spelled  than  of  old,  is  a 
name  musical  in  our  ears,  whose  waters,  ever  beautiful  to  look  upon 
as  they  ripple  along  in  sunshine  or  in  shade,  until  lost  in  the  quiet 
restfulness  of  the  pond  below,  are  again  let  loose  to  move  the 
great  machinery  of  the  rubber  works  and  from  thence  pursue 
checkered,  fascinating  wanderings  through  wooded  glen  and  quiet 
meadows,  to  find  outlet  in  the  waters  of  our  beautifvil  river,  the 
Housatonic. 

THE  FIRST  SAWMILL 

Almost  as  imperative  as  the  necessity  for  a  Grist  Mill,  was  the 
necessity  for  a  Sawmill. 

March  17,  1712,  the  town  voted,  that  Mr.  Benjamin  Sherman  and  Capt. 
John  Holley  and  John  Sely  shall  have  Liberty  to  get  a  Saw  mill  on  ye  deep 
Brook  South  of  ye  Town  Reserved  and  ordered  four  Rods  on  ye  west  Side 
of  ye  Sawmill  for  A  gangway  and  ordered  that  iff  any  man  draws  any  Log 
or  Logs  into  sd  Gangway  ys  sd  Log  or  Logs  to  be  forfitt  to  ye  Town, 
Except  sd  Logs  are  drawn  or  put  into  sd  Gangway  to  be  sawed  forthwith 
before  any  other  Logs  at  sd  mill. 

Dec.  24  1713.  Voted  and  agreed  upon  yt  ye  proprietors  of  ye  town  do 
freely  give  and  grant  liberty  to  Ebenezer  Smith,  James  Hard,  Jerimiah 
Turner,  John  Seely  and  Joseph  Gray  of  Newtown,  to  build  and  erect  a 
sawmill  on  ye  Half  Way  River,  so  called.  North  west  of  Darby  road  down 
near  Stratford,  or  on  Pohtatook  River,  and  as  much  land  as  shall  be  need- 
ful for  ye  use  of  sd  saw  mill  so  long  as  sd  persons  shall  erect  a  mill  there, 
provided  they  will  saw  for  ye  town  to  ye  halves  all  such  timber  and  logs  as 
yc  inhabitants  shall  bring  to  this  mill  and  for  two  shillings  six  pence  per 
hundred  in  pay  for  Whitewood  and  Chesnut,  it  is  also  granted  yt  they 
shall  have  liberty  of  a  convenient  passage  to  ye  Great  River  yt  ye  owners 
of  sd  mill  and  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  town  may  have  ye  advantage  of  ye 
transportation  of  their  timber,  plank,  boards  and  slit  work  where  they  shall 
see  cause  to  make  sail  of  ye  timber — and  sd  partners  are  to  build  ye  saw- 
mill in  two  years  time  or  else  expect  to  lose  ye  sd  stream.  Also  voted 
Joseph  Gray  and  Jeremiah  Turner  are  chosen  a  Committee  to  lay  out  con- 
cerning ye  land  for  sd  Mill  and  a  Highway  to  ye  Great  River  called  Strat- 
ford River. 

Voted  and  agreed  and  ordered  four  rods  on  ye  west  side  of  ye  sawmill 
for  a  gangway  and  ordered  yt  if  any  man  draws  any  log  or  logs  into  sd 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  25 

gangway  yt  sd  log  or  logs  to  be  forfitt  to  ye  town  except  sd  log  or  logs 
are  drawn  or  put  into  sd  gangway  to  be  sawed  forthwith  before  any  other 
logs  at  sd  mill.  John  Glover 

Town  Clerk. 
December  24,  1713 

John  Glover  enters  caution  upon  yt  land  he  hath  taken  up  on  ye 
north  side  of  ye  Half  Way  River  so  called  at  ye  mouth  of  sd  River  where 
it  emptieth  into  ye  Great  River,  that  it  be  not  taken  from  him  for  no  use 
or  pretense  whatsoever. 

Test  John  Glover 

Town   Clerk. 

The  same  year  as  above,  the  town  Voted  that  Thomas  Bennitt,  John  Burr 
and  Peter  Hubbell  shall  have  liberty  to  set  a  sawmill  on  Potatuck  Brook  any 
where  near  ye  Great  River,  within  60  Rods  of  ye  Great  River  Provided  they 
ye  above  sd  persons  build  ye  sd  mill  in  ye  space  of  three  years. 

Test  John  Glover  town  Clerk. 

In  1712  it  was  voted  and  agreed  That  Joseph  Dudley  shall  have  liberty  to 
get  a  fulling-mill  on  the  Deep  Brook  above  the  saw-mill  and  the  use  of 
half  an  acre  about  his  mill  so  long  as  he  maintain  a  sufficient  fulling-mill 
thereon  the  Deep  Brook  provided  he  do  not  damnify  the  saw  mill. 

Deep  brook  is  the  stream  that  crosses  the  highway  in  South 
Center  district. 

GRANTING  TOWN  RIGHTS 

Power  to  choose  Town  Officers.     Compulsory  Attendance  at  Town  Meeting 
Settling  Bounds  With   Indians.     First  Pitches  of  Land. 

Town  rights  were  granted  Newtown  by  the  General  Court  of 
Connecticut  colony  in  May,  1708. 

At  a  general  assembly  holden  at  New  Haven,  Oct.  11,  1711:  Whereas 
ye  general  assembly  of  this  colony  holden  at  Hartford  in  May  last, 
upon  ye  petition  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  did  appoint  Capt.  John 
Hawley  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Sherman  of  Stratford  and  Mr.  John  Piatt  of  sd 
Newtown  to  be  a  committee  to  lay  out  such  divisions  of  land  within  ye  sd 
Newtown  with  ye  advice  of  Mr  James  Beebie  and  Mr  Thomas  Taylor  of 
Danbury  as  should  be  agreed  upon  by  ye  proprietors  thereof,  and  to  make 
a  return  of  the  findings  therein  to  this  assembly  at  this  time,  and  ye  sd 
committee  in  persuance  of  ye  sd  act  or  order,  having  lately  had  a  general 
meeting  of  ye  sd  proprietors  and  their  agreement  in  order  for  laying  out  a 
certain  division  on  sundry  lots  of  land  within  ye  sd  town  of  Newtown, 
have  thereupon  proceeded  and  laid  out  ye  same  and  have  now  made  their 
return  thereof  to  this  Assembly  which  sd  return  having  been  now  con- 
sidered ye  same  is  allowed  and  approved  by  this  assembly  and  ordered  to 
be  kept  on  file.  And  whereas  ye  above  sd  committee  by  ye  desire  and  on  ye 
behalf  of  ye  proprietors  and  inhabitants  of  sd  Newtown  have  now  petition- 
ed to  this  assembly  to  have  all  such  town  liberties  and  privileges  granted  to 
them  as  all  other  towns  in  this  colony  generally  have  and  enjoy,  and  a 
figure  for  a  brand  mark  for  their  horses  to  be  appointed  for  them,  upon 
consideration  whereof  this  assembly  do  give  and  grant  unto  sd  proprietors 
and  inhabitants  of  ye  sd  town  of  Newtown  all  such  liberties,  privileges  and 
powers  in  all  respects  whatsoever  as  all  other  towns  in  this  colony  gener- 
ally have  and  do  enjoy,  and  do  order  and  appoint  ye  figure  7  to  be  ye  town 
"Brand  Mark"  for  their  horses,  and  it  is  ordered  and  enacted  by  this  as- 
sembly that  the  present  committee  of  sd  Newtown  shall  give  seasonable 
notice  and  warning  to  all  ye  proprietors  and  inhabitants  thereof  to  convene 
together  in  a  general  town  meeting  within  ye  sd  town  some  time  in  ye 
month  of  December  next  upon  a  day  and  at  a  place  by  him  appointed  for 
ye  choosing  of  all  town  officers  as  ye  law  directs. 

A  true  copy  of  ye  record. 

Caleb  Stanley,  Clerk  of  Court. 

Entered  by  me,  December  ye  23,  1711. 

Stanley  Glover,  Recorder. 


26  GRANTING  TOWN   RIGHTS 

Oct.  2,  1911,  Newtown  held  its  200th  annual  town  meeting.  Of 
more  than  800  electors  enrolled  in  the  town,  649  ballots  were  cast, 
showing  that  the  wheels  of  town  government  set  in  motion  200 
years  ago  have  continued  to  revolve  under  varying  conditions. 

The  year  1911  marked  200  years  from  the  time  when  the  town 
was  given  power  by  the  General  Court  of  the  Colony  to  elect  minor 
officers,  and  a  town  clerk,  constable,  surveyor  of  highways,  field 
driver  and  fence  viewer  were  chosen,  each  of  whom  had  to  journey 
to  Danbury  to  take  the  oath  of  office,  after  which  such  business  as 
would  not  conflict  with  the  laws  of  the  General  Court  could  be 
legally  transacted  in  anticipation  of  the  time  when  full  privileges 
would  be  granted.  The  election  of  these  officials  was  in  May  1711. 
The  first  allotment  of  land  was  made  in  March,  1710.  The  second 
allotment  of  land  was  made  easterly  and  adjoining  the  first  in  the 
summer  of  1711,  and  on  this  second  plot  the  village  of  Newtown 
was  laid  out.  It  was  in  1711,  too,  that  by  vote  of  the  proprietors, 
one  acre  and  a  half  of  land  was  set  apart  in  which  to  bury  their  dead. 
Newtown's  first  business  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Peter 
Hubbell.  The  attendance  could  not  have  been  large,  because  in 
1716,  Newtown  had  30  families ;  allowing  one  voter  to  a  family, 
the  show  of  hands  must  of  necessity  have  been  few.  The  meeting 
was  held  on  the  24th  day  of  September,  1711,  when  it  voted  that 
Peter  Hubbell  should  be  Newtown's  first  town  clerk,  which  office 
he  held  until  1714. 

"Voted,  yt  Abraham  Kimberly  should  be  constable  for  ye  year  ensuing." 

"Voted,  yt  Ebenezer  Prindle  and  Thomas  Sharp  should  be  surveyors  of 
highways  for  ye  year  ensuing." 

"Voted,  yt  Johathan  Booth  shall  be  field  driver  or  hayward  for  ye  year 
ensuing." 

"Voted,  yt  Joseph  Gray  and  Daniel  Foot  shall  be  fence  viewers." 

"Voted,  yt  Thomas  Lake  shall  slip  his  20  acre  division  and  take  it  on  the 
west  side  of  ye  rhoad  against  ye  heither  part  of  New  Haven  plain  westerly 
of  sd  plain  to  be  laid  out  by  ye  committee  upon  ye  sd  Lake's  charge." 

"Voted,  yt  each  proprietor  containing  ye  number  of  48  shall  forthwith  as 
soon  as  can  conveniently  be  done  have  four  acres  of  meadow  apiece  laid 
out  by  ye  committee,  ye  sd  committee  to  lay  out  ye  same  in  ye  great 
meadow  at  ye  south  end  of  ye  town  lying  on  ye  Deep  Brook,  and  ye  mead- 
ow at  ye  north  end  of  ye  town  where  it  may  be  as  convenient  either  under 
Mount  Tom  or  elsewhere,  as  also  four  acres  of  meadow  for  ye  ministry  as 
ye  rest  are  laid  out,  and  it  is  to  be  understood  and  it  is  voted,  yt  swamp 
land  that  is  suitable  is  accepted  as  meadow  and  so  to  be  laid  out,  ye  sd 
committee  to  size  ye  whole  meadov;  and  swamp  land  and  ye  proprietors 
to  draw  for  ye  lots  as  hath  been  usual,  unless  they  order  otherwise. 

Peter  Hubbell,  clerk. 

The  first  annual  town  meeting,  held  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Foot. 

"Voted,  yt  Ebenezer  Pringle  should  be  selectman  or  townsman  ye  year 
ensuing,  and  again  voted,  yt  Samuel  Sanford  and  John  Piatt  should  also 
be  townsmen  for  ye  year  ensuing." 

"Voted,  that  Peter  Hubbell  should  be  town  clerk." 

"Voted,  that  John  Griffin  and  Benjamin  Dunning  should  be  surveyors 
of  highways. 

"Voted,  yt  Daniel  Foote  and  Joseph  Gray  should  be  fence  viewers  for  ye 
year  and  Jonathan  Booth  should  be  hayward." 

"Voted,  yt  Ebenezer  Prindle  and  John  Piatt  and  Samuel  Sanford  should 
be  listers  and  collectors  for  ye  year  and  Abraham  Kimberly  should  be 
brander  of  horses." 

"Voted,  yt  Peter  Hubbell,  Ebenezer  Prindle,  Benjamin  Sherman,  Abraham 
Kimberly  and  Joseph  Gray  shall  be  a  committee  to  lay  out  divisions  of  land 
and  highways  for  ye  year  ensuing." 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  27 

"Voted,  that  Benjamin  Sherman,  Ebenezer  Prindle  and  John  Griffin 
should  view  ye  pond  and  see  if  it  would  contain  a  grist  mill." 

"Voted,  yt  Jeremiah  Turner  should  have  liberty  to  build  a  grist  mill  and 
ye  inhabitants  do  promise  to  give  ye  sd  Turner  40  acres  of  land  adjoining 
ye  sd  mill.  The  proprietors  do  also  ask  for  Mr.  Phineas  Fisk  to  come  and 
give  them  another  visit.    John  Glover  protests  against  it." 

"Voted  and  it  is  enacted  ordered  and  declared  by  authority  of  ye  same, 
that  all  and  every  person  or  persons  truly  and  legally  notified  to  give  their 
attendance  at  ye  several  and  respective  town  meetings  yt  hereafter  shall 
be  and  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  attend  on  ye  sd  town  meetings  at  time 
and  place,  shall  pay  ye  sum  of  three  shillings  to  ye  treasury  of  ye  town 
except  ye  fine  be  remitted  and  released  by  ye  town." 

"It  is  further  enacted  and  ordered  by  this  Assembly  aforesaid,  that  it  is 
and  shall  be,  for  ye  time  being  and  from  time  to  time,  true  and  legal  notice 
for  all  town  meetings  to  any  person  or  persons,  to  be  notified  by  ye  select- 
man or  ye  constable  or  by  any  other  meet  or  fit  person  constituted  or 
empowered  by  them,  or  yt  ye  town  shall  impower,  which  notice  shall  be 
given  with  ye  time  and  place  to  ye  person  or  persons,  given  or  left  at  ye 
place  or  ye  usual  abode  and  a  sertificate  or  declaration  from  ye  person  so 
notifying  as  above  expressed  is  and  shall  be  a  sufficient  warrant  for  ye 
Recorder  to  record  ye  meeting  lawful  and  lawfully  convened." 

Peter  Hubbell,  town  clerk. 

Later  on  it  was  voted  and  agreed  upon  "that  ye  warning  for  town  meet- 
ings for  ye  future  shall  be  given  by  setting  up  notifications  by  ye  selectmen 
at  three  certain  places  ten  days  before  ye  sd  meeting,  namely  at  or  near  ye 
oak  tree  near  Sargeant  Joseph  Botsford,  one  at  ye  pound,  and  one  at  ye  oak 
tree  near  Jonathan  Booth's  house,  which  shall  be  sufficient  warning  to  ye 
inhabitants  of  Newtown." 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  further  agreed  that  ye  inhabitants  aforesaid 
should  make  choice  of  John  Glover,  James  Hard,  Jeremiah  Turner  and  John 
Piatt,  a  committee  to  measure  ye  land  and  settle  ye  bounds  with  ye  Indians 
of  that  purchase  which  William  Junos  purchased  of  ye  Indians  with  his 
associates  in  ye  boundary  of  Newtown  and  to  request  Col.  Johnson  and 
Captain  Minor's  assistance  to  declare  to  ye  Indians  what  land  they  sold  by 
ye  deed. 

"Also  to  procure  four  gallons  of  rum  to  treat  ye  Indians  and  to  refresh 
themselves  and  charge  ye  town  for  ye  same  and  all  other  charges  and 
trouble  necessary  in  completing  ye  same." 

It  was  further  "voted  to  lay  out  60  acres  of  land  for  every  right  or  rights 
of  ye  sd  inhabitants  of  ye  town  two  miles  distant  from  ye  center  of  ye 
town  and  as  far  further  as  any  man  shall  please  to  lay  by  way  of  pitches 
according  to  ye  following  lay  or  draft :  Daniel  Foot  ye  first  pitch,  Edward 
Fairchild  ye  second.  Job  Sherman  ye  third,  John  Lake  ye  fourth.  Widow 
Sharp  ye  fifth,  John  Dunning  ye  sixth,  Ebenezer  Prindle  ye  seventh,  Peter 
Hubbell  ye  eighth,  John  Glover  ye  ninth,  John  Burr  ye  tenth,  John  Seely 
ye  eleventh,  Freegrace  Adams  ye  twelfth,  Matthew  Sherman  ye  thirteenth, 
Benjamin  Dunning  ye  fourteenth,  Samuel  Ferris  ye  fifteenth,  Jeremiah 
Turner  ye  sixteenth,  Jonathan  Booth  ye  seventeenth,  Abraham  Kimberly 
ye  eighteenth,  John  Piatt  ye  nineteenth.  Samuel  Sanford  ye  twentieth,  and 
the  balance  of  those  who  drew  the  60  acre  pitches,  in  the  order  their 
names  are  writen  up,  to  the  number  of  42,  viz :  Josiah  Burritt,  John  Griffin, 
Joseph  Gray,  Stephen  Parmalee,  Daniel  Jackson,  James  Glover,  John 
Blackman,  Thomas  Bradley,  Joseph  Miles,  Jonathan  Hubbell,  Stephen  Par-/ 
malee,  Capt.  John  Holly,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Nathan  Baldwin,  Josiah  Curtis,i 
John  Bardslee,  Samuel  Beers,  Alice  Brions  heirs,  Thomas  Bennitt,  Mr  Rood, 
Ebenezer  Booth." 

It  should  be  remembered  that  these  60  acre  "pitches"  were  made 
two  miles  or  more  from  the  center  of  the  town  and,  Jan.  29,  1712, 
it  was  voted  in  town  meeting  to  lay  out  ten  acres  of  land,  which 
was  done.  Because  of  unfair  means  used,  another  town  meeting 
was  held  on  February  ye  second,  1712,  which  was  held  at  the  house 
of  Daniel  Foot,  when  it  was  voted  to  revoke  and  disallow  of  ye  lot 
that  was  drawn,  January  29,  1712,  for  ye  ten  acre  division  within  ye  two 


28  GRANTING    TOWN    RIGHTS 

miles  because  of  some  unfair  dealings  by  some  persons  in  drawing  ye  same 
and  ye  town  for  ye  reasons  aforesaid  judged  ye  lot  aforesaid  to  be  unlaw- 
ful and  came  to  a  new  draft.  Peter  Hubbell  protests  against  it,  yet  not- 
withstanding his  protests,  he,  ye  aforesaid  Hubbell,  voted  as  usual  when  it 
was  put  to  a  vote  to  know  whether  ye  first  lot  should  stand,  and  ye  town 
at  ye  above  sd  town  meeting  above  written  came  to  a  new  draft  for  pitching 
for  ye  ten  acre  division,  which  is  to  be  laid  out  within  ye  two  miles,  which 
is  as  followeth  in  the  order  in  which  the  pitches  were  drawn,  viz  :  John 
Glover,  John  Burr,  Ebenezer  Smith,  Widow  Sharp,  Samuel  Sanford, 
Stephen  Parmalee,  John  Glover,  Thomas  Braase,  Jonathan  Mills,  James 
Brisco,  James  Hard,  Peter  Hubbell,  Jeremiah  Turner,  Abraham  Kimberly, 
Daniel  Foot,  Samuel  Ferris,  John  Blackman,  Edward  Fairchild,  Jonathan 
Booth,  John  Lake,  Joseph  Osborne,  Josiah  Burritt,  Samual  Beers,  Mrs 
Alice  Bryan's  heirs,  Eben  Booth,  Joseph  Peck,  John  Piatt,  Joseph  Dudley, 
Abram  Storo,  Joseph  Miles,  Ebenezer  Prindle,  Freegrace  Adams,  John 
Seeley,  Benjamin  Dunning,  Mrs  Rood,  Josiah  Curtis,  Matthew  Sherman, 
Job  Sherman,  John  Morris,  Daniel  Jackson,  John  Dunen,  Capt.  Halley, 
Jonathan  Hubbell,  John  Griffin,  Nathan  Baldwin,  Joseph  Gray,  Thornas 
Bennitt,  John  Bardslee.  The  town  voted  to  allow  to  ye  ten  acres  for  dist- 
ance from  ye  center  of  Newtown,  two  acres  a  man  for  two  miles,  one  acre 
and  a  half  for  one  mile  and  a  half,  and  one  acre  for  one  mile. 

These  early  pioneers,  coming  to  Newtown  from  Milford,  Strat- 
ford, Guilford,  New  Haven,  Derby  and  elsewhere,  pitched  for  land 
not  only  to  make  themselves  homes,  but  also  to  become  tillers  of 
the  soil  and  nation  builders  as  well. 

As  announcements  were  made  of  drawings  for  "pitches"  of  land 
on  certain  dates  the  freeholders  were  expected  to  be  present.  At 
the  "pitch"  made  Dec,  1712,  42  pitches  were  taken.  These  were  60- 
acre  pitches,  two  miles  and  over  outside  the  center  of  the  town, 
only  one  man  drawing  two  pitches,  determining  the  number  present 
to  have  been  41. 

In  Jan.  1713,  a  second  pitch  was  announced,  this  time  to  be  a  ten- 
acre  pitch  within  two  miles  of  the  center,  at  which  49  pitches  were 
taken,  one  man  taking  three  pitches,  showing  there  were  47  free- 
holders present,  qualified  to  meet  the  requirements  necessary  to 
have  the  right  to  draw  a  number  for  a  "pitch."  How  long  "pitch- 
ing" for  land  continued  is  not  certain,  but  there  came  a  time  when 
the  town  sold  tracts  of  common  and  undivided  land,  which  contin- 
ued until  the  township  at  large  became  individual  property. 

To  raise  money  to  meet  town  expenses,  a  town  meeting  held,  Aug.  18, 
1713,  "voted,  determined  and  agreed  and  settled  to  levy  all  their  town 
charges  and  rates  both  town  and  minister's  rates  upon  each  petition  rate 
proportionably.  Voted  to  make  choice  of  Mr.  Thomas  Bennitt  to  cite  all 
those  that  hold  tracts  of  farm  land  within  ye  boundaries  of  Newtown  to 
appear  before  ye  next  General  Court  to  be  held  ye  next  October  at  New 
Haven  to  give  ye  reason  why  they  ought  not  to  pay  rates  in  Newtown  to 
ye  ministers  and  school,  except  they  will  agree  to  pay,  and  will  pay  without 
their  being  cited." 

John  Glover,  Town  Clerk. 

Another  town  meeting,  two  weeks  later,  Sept.  1,  1713,  "voted  and  agreed 
to  give  ten  shillings  per  head  for  those  wolves  that  were  killed  by  ye 
inhabitants  before  this  date,  and  for  further  encouragement  after  ye  date 
of  those  presents,  if  any  inhabitant  shall  kill  or  destroy  any  grown  wolf 
or  wolves  within  ye  bounds  of  Newtown  he  shall  have  15  shillings  per  head 
and  half  as  much  for  a  wolf's  whelp  yt  suck." 

It  was  also  voted  and  agreed  that  every  right  or  allotment  shall  bear  an 
equal  proportion  of  ye  charge  ye  proprietors  have  been  at  from  ye  time 
when  sd  proprietors  had  town  privileges  granted  by  ye  General  Court,  to 
January,  1714. 

Also  voted   that   every   right   or  allotment   for   defraying  ye   charge   ye 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  29 

proprietors   have  been   at   to  ye  above  mentioned   date   of  January,   1714, 
shall  pay  ye  sum  of  17  shillings  as  money. 

PITCHING  FOR  LAND. 

Proposition    of    John    Glover.      Proprietors'    Meetings.       Settling    disputed 
Boundary    Line    Between    Stratford    and    Newtown. 

For  the  first  75  years  of  Newtown's  life,  town  meetings  were 
frequent.  The  laws  of  the  General  Court  made  it  obligatory  to  hold 
the  annual  town  meeting  in  December,  at  which  time  town  officers 
were  chosen  and  provisions  made  for  the  management  of  town 
afTairs.  Politics  cut  no  figure  in  any  department  of  the  town's 
business  life. 

There  were  also  proprietary  rights  considered  at  what  were  call- 
ed proprietors'  meetings,  that  were  held  when,  by  petition,  they 
were  called  for.  The  care,  the  use  and  the  disposal  of  common  land 
was  a  frequent  theme  for  discussion  and  plans  were  devised  by 
which  proprietors'  meetings  would  act  in  harmony  with  town  offic- 
ials. The  first  business  was  to  settle  a  long  disputed  claim  in 
regard  to  the  line  between  Stratford  and  Newtown,which  was  run 
by  the  county  surveyor  after  the  land  had  been  purchased  from  the 
Indians.  Up  to  this  time  their  chief  concern  had  been  to  pitch  for 
land,  and  settle  disputes  and  dififerences  that  might  arise. 

My  grandfather,  born  in  1772,  used  to  tell  me  in  my  younger  days, 
and  others  of  his  time  told  me  the  same,  that  land  holders  as  far 
down  as  1800  looked  upon  swamp  land  as  being  more  valuable  than 
upland,  as  they  depended  so  much  upon  swamps  for  their  hay  for 
winter  use,  while  they  turned  upland  to  corn,  wheat,  flax,  buck- 
wheat, potatoes  and  oats  ;  that  too  rocky  to  plow  was  sheep  pas- 
ture.    Swamp  land  was  called  meadow  land. 

At  a  proprietors'  meeting,  Sept.  24,  1711,  it  was  voted  that  Thomas  Lake 
shall  slip  his  20  acre  division  and  take  it  on  ye  west  side  of  the  road  against 
ye  neither  part  of  New  Haven  Plain  westerly  of  sd  plain  to  be  laid  out  by 
ye  sd  committee  at  sd  Lake's  charge  and  that  each  proprietor  containing 
ye  number  of  48  shall  forthwith  as  soon  as  can  conveniently  be  done,  have 
four  acres  of  meadow  apiece  laid  out  by  ye  committee,  j^e  sd  committee  to 
lay  out  same  in  ye  great  meadow  at  ye  south  end  of  ye  town  lying  on  ye 
Deep  Brook  and  ye  meadow  lying  on  ye  north  end  of  ye  town  where  it 
may  be  as  convenient,  either  under  Mount  Tom  or  elsewhere,  and  also  four 
acres  of  meadow  for  ye  ministry  as  ye  rest  are  laid  out,  and  it  is  under- 
stood and  it  is  voted  that  swamp  land  that  is  suitable  is  accepted  as 
meadow  and  so  to  be  laid  out.  The  sd  committee  to  size  ye  wliole  meadow 
and  swamp  land  and  ye  proprietors  to  draw  for  ye  lots  as  hath  been  usual, 
unless  they  order  otherwise. 

Peter  Hubbell,  Town  Clerk." 

March  4,  1712,  it  was  also  "voted  for  ye  committee  to  begin  on  ye  north 
side  of  Mr.  Sherman's  mile  square,  (Queen  street  divides  it  now,  1910)  for 
ye  four-acre  division  so  far  as  it  will  hold  out,  and  as  near  elsewhere  as  it 
may  be  found  to  make  up  ye  number  of  49  lots." 

It  was  also  voted,  March  10,  1712,  that  ye  land  on  ye  north  side  of  Mr 
Sherman's  mile  square  shall  be  laid  out  in  a  general  field  and  for  every 
petitioner  to  have  an  equal  share  in  ye  "general  field,"  be  it  more  or  less, 
and  that  after  lots  are  laid  out  timber  and  stone  shall  be  free  for  any  man 
till  improvement  be  made  by  ye  owners  of  such  lots.  The  improvement  is 
to  be  understood  fencing  and  ye  committee  shall  have  three  pence  per  acre 
for  laying  small  divisions. 

April  2,  1712,  it  was  "voted  for  to  take  ye  four-acre  divisions  that  is  to 
be  laid  out  in  "pitches"  and  that  ye  proprietors  shall  go  eight  in  a  company 


30  PITCHING    FOR    LAND 

and  draw  by  figures,  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8,  9,  and  so  on  until  the  whole  number 
of  49  lots  be  drawn,  and  laid  out.  Also  voted  that  John  Glover  shall  have 
his  "pitch"  at  ye  rear  of  his  home  lot,  to  ye  east  and  north  of  ye  highway,  so 
far  as  it  will  hold  out,  and  ye  sd  Glover  will  pay  to  ye  town  treasurer 
twelve  shillings  for  his  "pitch." 

Voted  that  if  any  of  ye  proprietors  don't  agree  when  ye  time  comes  for 
to  "pitch"  they  shall  lose  their  pitch  and  ye  next  shall  take  it  successively, 
and  ye  seventh  day  of  April  shall  be  ye  day  for  ye  first  company  to  pitch, 
and  successively  till  they  have  done,  excepting  foul  weather  hinders. 

Peter  Hubbell,  Recorder." 

In  February,  1712,  a  ten-acre  pitch  for  49  pitches  meant  490  acres  addi- 
tional ownership.  The  act  was  carried  out  under  a  vote  passed  "to  lay  out 
ten  acre  of  land  to  each  petition  right  any  where  within  two  miles  from  ye 
center  of  ye  town  by  way  of  pitches  except  ye  land  lying  on  ye  north  side 
of  ye  Deep  Brook  from  Abraham  Kimberly's  point  to  where  ye  brook  runs 
into  Mr.  Sherman's  farm  to  ye  south  end  of  ye  town.  Also  at  ye  northwest 
end  of  ye  town  from  ye  north  corner  of  John  Glover's  20  acre  lot  to  Mr 
Rood's  12  acre  lot,  ye  line  to  be  south  of  Bear  swamp  from  thence  to  ye 
north  corner  of  Josiah  Burritt's  20  acre  lot,  according  to  ye  following  draft, 
except  any  man  fail  when  it  comes  to  his  pitch,  then  the  next  man  to  fall  in 
and  take  his  pitch  by  possession.  Ye  sd  ten  acres  of  land  is  to  begin  to  be 
pitched  for,  and  laid  out  ye  February  second  1712,  and  to  be  sized  by  ye 
committee. 

Ye  pitches,  Josiah  Curtis  ye  1,  Job  Sherman  ye  2;  Peter  Hubbell,  ye  3; 
Joseph  Gray,  ye  4;  John  Dunning,  ye  5;  Joseph  Miles,  ye  6;  Abraham 
Kimberly,  ye  7;  Ebenezer  Booth,  ye  8;  Jeremiah  Turner,  ye  9;  Nathan 
Baldwin, ye  10;  Samuel  Ferris,  ye  11;  John  Glover,  ye  12;  minister,  ye  13; 
Daniel  Foot,  ye  14;  Freegrace  Adams,  ye  15;  James  Hard,  ye  16;  John 
Glover,  ye  17;  John  Piatt,  ye  18;  Mathew  Sherman,  ye  19;  Mr.  Rood,  ye  20, 
22,  26;  Benjamin  Dunning,  ye  24;  John  Burns,  ye  25;  Capt.  Halley,  ye  27; 
Widow  Sharp,  ye  28;  Ebenezer  Prindle,  ye  29;  John  Beardsley,  ye  30; 
Thomas,  ye  31;  Jonathan  Booth,  ye  32;  Daniel  Jackson,  ye  33;  Samuel 
Sanford,  ye  34;  Joseph  Osborn,  ye  35;  Ebenezer  Smith,  ye  36;  Jonathan 
Hubbell,  ye  37;  Joseph  Peck,  ye  38;  John  Morris,  ye  39;  John  Griffin,  ye  40; 
James  Bisco,  ye  41;  Stephen  Parmalee,  ye  42;  Joseph  Dudley,  ye  43; 
Jonathan  Mills,  ye  44;  John  Seely,  ye  45;  John  Blackman,  ye  46;  Edward 
Fairchild,  ye  47;  Samuel  Beers,  ye  48;  Thomas  Bennitt,  ye  49. 

This  offer  from  John  Glover  was  laid  before  the  proprietors'  meeting; 
I,  John  Glover,  of  Newtown,  County  of  Fairfield  in  Connecticut,  do  declare 
yt  I  do  give  liberty  for  48  families  with  myself  to  take  up  and  settle  all 
that  tract  of  land  I  bought  of  William  Junos  as  ye  deed  on  record  will 
show  what  land  I,  ye  sd  Glover,  have,  which  land  sd  Glover  gives  liberty 
to  be  settled  at  will  forever,  or  to  loan  with  reference  what  ye  town  shall 
give  for  ye  fee  simple  of  sd  land,  except  what  sd  Glover  has  taken  up 
according  to  court  grant,  and  my  petition  rights,  ye  fee  simple  thereof 
reserved  to  myself.  John  Glover." 

The  proprietors  made  choice  of  Capt.  John  Halley  of  Stratford  and 
Peter  Hubbell  of  Newtown  and  empowered  them  to  act,  and  to  represent 
ye  town  and  also  to  choose  a  man  to  arbitrate  and  make  up  all  contriv- 
ences  between  ye  town  and  John  Glover  aforesaid,  and  John  Glover  to 
choose  another  man,  which  arbitrators  are  to  determine  what  ye  town 
shall  pay  to  sd  Glover  for  his  native  rights  in  Newtown  as  offered,  and  the 
town  at  a  town  meeting  agreed  to  and  with  John  Glover  to  bind  them- 
selves and  heirs  in  a  bond  of  ten  thousand  pounds  to  John  Glover  and  his 
heirs,  to  stand  by  ye  award  of  ye  arbitration  of  ye  two  arbitrators  which 
are  to  be  indifferently  chosen. 

Entered  John  Glover,  Town  Clerk." 

Call  of  the  proprietors  of  Newtown  to  elect  a  proprietors  clerk : 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  of  Newtown  warned  by  authority  as 
the  law  directs  for  such  cases,  holden  May  ye  4,  1724,  the  bisness  to  be  at- 
tended att  sd  proprietors'  meeting  is  to  make  choice  of  a  proprietors' 
clerk  to  consult  about  a  pattent  for  the  Township  of  Newtown,  to  pitch 
upon  a  time  when  to  begin  to  lay  out  ye  30  acre  division,  and  to  do  some- 
thing about  ye  land  yt  Mr  John  Reed  has  laid  out  in  ye  neck  so-called 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  31 

above  ye  Pond  Brook.  Peter  Hubbell  by  ye  vote  of  the  proprietors  chosen 
proprietors'  clerk  and  sworn  by  Thomas  Bennitt,  justice.  This  meeting 
adjourned  to  ye  13th  day  of  instant  May  at  5  of  ye  clock  afternoon.  At  an 
adjourned  meeting  agreed  and  voted  held  May  13,  1724,  to  warn  ye  propri- 
etors' meeting  in  Newtown  by  notifications  set  up  in  writing  to  be  set  up 
in  three  several  places  in  Newtown,  one  at  ye  north  end  of  ye  town  near 
Capt  Thomas  Bennitt's  and  on,  at  or  near  Abraham  Kimberly's  shop  and 
ye  other  near  Joseph  Botsford's  house  which  notifications  are  to  be  set  up 
by  ye  proprietors'  clerk  as  the  law  directs  six  days  before  ye  meeting  and 
ye  proprietors  are  to  be  assembled  or  to  convene  together  at  ye  beat  of  ye 
drum  at  time  and  place  appointed,  which  methods  are  to  stand  good  till 
ye  proprietors  see  cause  to  alter  ye  same. 

Peter  Hubbell,  Clerk." 
"Newtown,  April  ye  3,  1725,  att  a  proprietors'  meeting  legally  called  and 
warned  by  ye  proprietors'  clerk  to  make  choice  of  some  persons  to  meet 
Stratford  committy  at  the  head  boundary  between  Stratford  and  Fairfield 
on  ye  fifth  day  of  instant  April  att  tenn  of  ye  forenoon.    Then  made  choice 
and  elected  Reverend  Thomas  Tousey,  Mr.  John  Glover,  Mr.  John  Leaven- 
worth, Mr.  Joseph  Peck  and  Mr.  Ephriam  Peck  a  committy  to  settle  ye 
I  head  line  between  Stratford  and  Newtown  and  to  use  any  leagale  measures 
I  for  ye  accomplishing  the  same,  and  in  case  there  shall  arise  any  dispute 
between  Stratford  agents  and  above  said  committee  yt  we  do  empower  the 
,  committee    above    named    or    any    three    of    them    agreeing    to    leave    ye 
!  desition    of   that    matter    to    three   uninterested    gentlemen    that    shall    be 
mutually  chosen  by  both  partys,  and  upon  their  award  to  sett  down  for- 
ever satisfied  as  they  in  their  wisdom  shall  think  fitt.     To  be  understood 
that  the  work  of  choosing  three  uninterested  gentlemen  to  determine  as 
I  above  exprest,  is  refered  to  ye  above  sd  committy  for  ye  proprietors  of 
Newtown  as  far  as  it  concerns  ye  part  of  Newtown.     This   meeting  ad- 
journed to  ye  ninth  day  of  April  at  five  of  ye  clock  afternoon. 

Peter  Hubbell,  Clerk." 
"Agreement    as    to    the    lines    between    Stratford    and    Newtown.      This 
,  writing  witnesseth  that  Mr.  Thomas  Tousey,  Mr.  John  Glover,  Mr.  Joseph 
I  Peck  and  Mr.  Ephriam  Peck,  proprietors  and  committee  and  agents  for 
I  Newtown  and  Mr  Joseph  Curtiss,  Capt.  James  Lewis,  Mr.  John  Wilcokson, 
!  Mr  Joseph  Judson,  Selectmen  of  Stratford  and  committee  for  sd  town  to 
1  settle  the  line  between  Stratford  and  Newtown  for  final  issue  and  deter- 
mination   of    all    differences    between    said    towns    have    mutuallj'    agreed 
respecting  sd  bounds  of  Stratford  and  Newtown  as  followeth.     Begining 
at  the  northwest  corner  bounds  betwixt  Stratford  and  Fairfield  a  due  cross 
I  line  as  already  run  by  Ensigne  Edmund  Lewis,  County  surveyor,  which  line 
i  runs   upon   a   due   cross   line   from   sd  northwest   corner   on   the   south   or 
southerly  side  of  ye  swamp  called  Monkantick  swamp  and  so  upon  a  strait 
line  to  ye  brook  or  river  called  ye  Half  Way  River  and  there  the  said  river 
until  it  emptieth  itself  into  the  Grate  River,  which  river  and  straight  line 
frorn  the  northwest  come  aforesaid  to  be  the  north  bounds  of  Stratford  and 
ye  fixed  bounds  between  Stratford  and  Newtown,  according  to  means  and 
bounderies    now    erected    by    said    Edmund    Lewis,    county    surveyor.      A 
straight  due  cross  line  as  bounds  are  set  by  sd  surveyor  from  the  northwest 
corner   bounds  aforesaid   to  the   half  way  brook  and   from   thence  the   sd 
brook  to  be   the  bounds  between   the   sd   town   as  aforesaid.     In   witness 
whereof  and  for  confirmation  of  ye  above  boundaries  betwixt  the  sd  town 
of  Stratford  and  Newtown  is  confirmed  by  the  committee  of  each  town 
subscribing  as  agents  for  sd  towns,  this  19th  day  of  April,  1725. 

On  this  29th  day  of  April,  1725,  I  declare  by  my  subscription  hereunto  my 
concurrence  in  and  with  above  sd  agreement. 

Committee  for  Stratford. 
Joseph  Curtis, 
James  Lewis, 
John  Wilcokson  Jr., 
Joseph  Judson. 
Committee  for  Newtown. 
John   Glover, 
Thomas  Tousey, 
Joseph  Peck. 
Entered  this  28th  day  of  December,  1725,  per  me,  Peter  Hubbell,  Clerk. 


32  PITCHING  FOR   MEADOW  LAND 

PITCHING  FOR  MEADOW  LAND, 

In  ye  Great  Boggs  and  ye  Little  Boggs  and  Elsewhere. 

Pitching  for  land  means  drawing  by  lot.  At  the  town  meeting  in 
September,  1711,  it  was  voted  to  take  two  pitches  for  meadow  land, 
the  one  to  be  under  Mount  Tom,  and  the  other  to  be  below  Deep 
brook. 

Mount  Tom  is  the  name  given  more  than  200  years  ago  to  the 
highest  point  in  the  range  of  hills  running  northerly  from  Walnut 
Tree  hill  to  Hanover,  Through  the  intervale  at  the  base  of  the 
hill's  western  slope  flows  the  stream  that  feeds  what  is  known  as 
Foundry  Pond  (the  town's  skating  rink  every  mid-winter)  flowing 
on  in  serpentine  course  until  it  enters  the  Pootatuck  near  the 
village  of  Sandy  Hook  still  remembered  by  its  old  name,  Tom  brook. 

The  other  drawing  by  lot  arranged  for  at  this  meeting  was  to  be 
south  of  Deep  brook.  That  swamp  land  lay  and  still  lies  as  swamp, 
part  of  which  is  still  mown,  and  the  balance  is  a  maple  swamp.  It 
lies  on  the  west  side  of  the  railroad,  as  you  round  the  rock  curve 
about  a  mile  south  of  Newtown  station.  Forty  eight  proprietors 
(and  that  was  all  the  town  numbered  in  1711)  were  to  draw  lots, 
and  the  lots  were  to  contain  four  acres  each. 

At  a  town  meeting,  Sept.  24,  1711,  it  was  voted  that  each  proprietor  to 
the  number  of  48  shall  forthwith  as  soon  as  can  conveniently  be  done  have 
four  acres  of  meadow  apiece  laid  out  by  ye  committe,  the  said  committee 
to  lay  out  ye  same  in  ye  great  meadow  at  ye  south  end  of  ye  town  lying 
on  ye  Deep  Brook  and  ye  meadow  at  ye  north  end  of  ye  town  where  it 
may  be  convenient  either  under  Mount  Tom  or  elsewhere.  Also  four  acres 
of  meadow  for  ye  ministry  as  ye  rest  are  laid  out,  and  it  is  understood  and 
it  is  voted  that  swamp  land  that  is  suitable  is  accepted  as  meadow  and  so 
to  be  laid  out,  ye  sd  committee  to  size  ye  whole  meadow  and  swamp  land 
and  ye  proprietors  to  draw  for  ye  lots  as  hath  been  usual  unless  they  order 
otherwise. 

Voted  that  for  to  take  ye  four  acre  division  that  is  to  be  laid  out  by 
"pitches." 

Voted,  that  the  proprietors  shall  go  eight  in  a  company  and  draw  by 
figures  as  1,2,  3, 4,  5,  6,  7, 8,  till  ye  whole  number  of  48  lots  be  laid  out.  Voted 
yt  Abraham  Kimberly  shall  draw  for  all  of  ye  proprietors  of  ye  town. 

Voted  that  if  any  of  ye  proprietors  of  ye  town  don't  agree  when  ye  time 
comes  for  to  pitch  they  shall  lose  their  pitch  and  ye  next  shall  take  it 
successively. 

Voted  yt  ye  7th  day  of  April,  shall  be  ye  day  for  ye  first  company  to 
pitch  and  successively  till  they  have  done,  excepting  foul  weather  hinders. 

In  1716  the  town  voted  another  drawing  of  meadow  lots  at  ye 
Great  Boggs  and  ye  Little  Boggs.  As  we  drive  from  Newtown 
street  to  Bethel,  by  what  is  known  as  the  lower  road,  when  we 
have  driven  a  half  mile  or  so  we  drop  into  a  valley  of  swamp  land 
on  either  side  of  the  road,  passing  through  maple  swamp  and  open 
swamp,  some  of  which  is  still  mown,  while  on  either  side  is  as  fertile 
upland  meadow  and  pasture  as  one  need  rest  their  eyes  upon.  We 
drive  on  a  little  further  and  enter  another  strip  of  low  land  thickly 
wooded,  until  we  come  to  what  is  still  known  as  Morgan's  four 
corners.  We  enter  this  long  strip  of  swampy  land  at  what  is 
known  on  the  records  as  the  Head  of  the  Meadow  from  which  the 
school  district,  first  called  on  the  records  Scoschia,  then  Sugar 
Street.  The  records  tell  us  that  the  drawing  for  meadow  land  was 
made  at  the  head  of  the  meadow  in  the  Great  Boggs  and  the  Little 
Boggs. 


NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  33 

At  a  town  meeting,  Jan.  12,  1716,  "It  was  voted  to  lay  out  ye  Great  Boggs 
lying  at  ye  head  of  ye  northwest  sprain  of  Pootatuck  brook  sou'west  from 
ye  town,  in  ye  bounds  of  sd  town,  and  ye  little  meadow  also  lying  about 
half  a  mile  easterly  on  ye  stream  that  comes  out  of  ye  great  bogs. 

Also  voted  that  ye  above  sd  two  pieces  of  meadow  land  above  mentioned 
shall  be  equally  divided  to  each  proprietor  by  a  Sizer,  what  is  wanting  in 
quality  to  be  made  up  in  quantity. 

Voted  also  at  sd  meeting  that  James  Hard,  Jeremiah  Turner,  Daniel 
Foot,  and  Peter  Hubbell  be  a  committee  and  are  empowered  to  lay  out  ye 
above  granted  division  of  meadow  land  by  Sizure  according  to  their  best 
judgment. 

Joseph  Peck,  Recorder." 

Feb.  5,  1716,  "It  was  voted  that  John  Lake  and  John  Bristol  shall  be 
and  are  empowered  to  lay  out  ye  above  granted  divisions  of  meadow  land 
with  ye  committee  above  named. 

Joseph  Peck,  Clerk." 

February  8,  1716,  "Agreed  and  voted  to  draw  ye  meadow  lotts  laid  out  in 
ye  great  Boggs  and  Little  Boggs.  This  division  of  land  was  granted  Jan- 
uary 12,  1716,  February  11,1717.  We  ye  subscribers  hereof  a  committee  for 
laying  out  ye  Great  Boggs  and  ye  Little  Boggs  near  adjoining  according  to 
ye  trust  reposed  in  us  have  been  upon  and  accomplished  sd  work  in  man- 
ner following:  The  lot  on  ye  north  side  of  ye  brook  in  ye  Great  Boggs, 
ye  most  eastward  lot  of  ye  tier  of  lots  lies  on  ye  side  of  ye  Brook  bounding 
eastwardly  on  land  of  John  Griffin,  north  on  ye  upland,  south  on  ye  brook 
and  after  ye  manner  ye  rest  on  ye  tier.  The  division  ye  first  column  of 
figures  showing  ye  number  of  ye  lots,  ye  second  ye  width  at  ye  upland  or 
swamp,  ye  third  ye  width  at  ye  brook.  The  number  in  all  being  SO  according 
to  ye  number  of  rights.  The  lots  on  ye  south  side  of  ye  Brook  begining  on 
John  Gfifiin's  land,  there  being  allowance  for  private  highways  through  all 
ye  lots  on  ye  south  brook  till  it  comes  to  a  highway  between  ye  28th  and 
29th  lots  and  where  any  lots  do  not  join  to  ye  upland  there  is  allowance  in 
ye  next  lots  to  get  along  from  ye  cross  highway  to  ye  upland.  Att  ye  north 
easterly  corner  of  ye  Great  Boggs  laid  out  two  lots  against  ye  northerly 
end  of  ye  29th,  30th,  31st  lots,  ye  34th  joining  upon  them  and  ye  35th  join- 
ing upon  ye  34th  so  yt  between  them  there  is  liberty  for  a  private  highway." 
Then  follow  the  names  of  those  who  draw  lots,  in  the  order  in 
which  they  drew,  up  to  the  number  of  50,  the  whole  number  of  pro- 
prietors. 

Joseph  Blackman,  1;  Samuel  Prindle,  2;  John  Glover,  3;  Mr  Glover,  4; 
John  Read,  5;  Edward  Fairchild,  6;  John  Read,  7;  Jehew  Burr,  8;  Ephriam 
Peck,  9;  Daniel  Jackson,  10;  Samuel  Samp  and  John  Golot,  11 ;  Daniel  Fott, 
12;  Daniel  Baldwin,  13;  Samuel  Beers.  14;  Ebenezer  Prindle,  15;  John  Grffin 
and  John  Treadwell,  16;  Mathew  Sherman,  17;  John  Read,  18;  John  Seely, 
19;  Joseph  Peck,  20;  Hullhens  and  James  Hard,  21;  Job  Shermanj  22; 
Thomas  Bracy  and  Jeremiah  Northrupp,  23;  Peter  Hubbell,  24;  Jonathan 
Hubbell,  25;  Thomas  Bennitt,  26;  Jonathan  Booth,  27;  Benjamin  Dunning, 
28;  Ephraim  Osborn,  29;  Freegrace  Adams,  30;  Moses  Johnson,  31; 
Abraham  Kimberly,  32;  Samuel  Ferris,  33;  Ebenezer  Johnson,  34;  Samuel 
Sanford,  35;  John  Read,  36;  Josiah  Bennitt,  37;  Thomas  Toucey,  38;  John 
Lake,  39;  Jeremiah  Turner,  40;  Mr  Tousey,  41;  Thomas  Sharp's  heirs,  42; 
Joseph  Gray,  43;  Capt.  Halley,  44;  Capt.  Curtis,  45;  Ebenezer  Booth,  46; 
John  Piatt,  47;  Eleazer  Morris,  48;  Joseph  Bristol,  49;  Stephen  Parmalee,  50. 

Peter  Hubbell, 
Daniel  Fott, 
Joseph    Bristol, 

Committee. 
Recorded   March  25,   1717. 
Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 
Aug.  1,  1717,  following  the  lay  out  of  meadow  land,  a  town  meeting  was 
called   and  the  following  resolutions   adopted  : 

"Whereas  there  was  a  division  of  meadow  land  granted  to  each  Right  or 
Proprietor  of  Newtown,  January  12,  1717  (viz)  to  each  Petition  Right, 
their  equal  proportion  of  land  by  sizure,  the  two  tracts  of  meadow  land 


34  PITCHING   FOR   MEADOW   LAND 

lying  at  ye  head  of  ye  nor'west  sprain  of  ye  Pohtatuck  brook  sou'west 
from  ye  town  in  ye  bounds  of  sd  Newtown,  which  is  called  ye  Great  Boggs 
and  ye  Little  Boggs.  lying  about  half  a  mile  down  ye  same  stream,  also  a 
committee  appointed  to  lay  out  ye  same  and  ye  committee  have  finished 
their  work  and  made  return  of  their  doings,  and  each  proprietor's  lot  is 
recorded,  as  now  fully  appears  on  reccord.  Whereas,  Mr.  Daniel  Burr, 
Senr.  of  Fairfield,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Burr,  ye  son  of  Major  John  Burr, 
deceased,  do  lay  claim  to  ye  aforesaid  Boggs,  therefore  at  a  lawful  meeting 
of  ye  proprietors  of  Newtown  this  August  1,  1717,  then  agreed  and  voted 
that  if  any  of  ye  aforesaid  Burrs,  or  any  person  or  persons  representing 
sd  gentlemen,  shall  molest  any  particular  proprietor  or  proprietors  in  ye 
improvement  of  their  meadow  lots  and  prosecute  any  proprietor  in  a  court 
of  law  that  each  proprietor  having  in  either  of  ye  above  sd  tracts  of 
meadow  a  lott  shall  pay  his  or  their  equal  proportion  of  all  ye  charges  yt 
shall  arise  in  going  through  ye  law  to  try  title  of  land  with  ye  Burrs  in 
defending  of  ye  aforesaid  tract  of  meadow  land. 

Entered  August  ye  1st,  1717,  per  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 
As  no  law-suit  followed  the  drawing  of  the  meadow  lots,  the 
owners  held  them  in  peaceable  possession  free  to  dispose  of  them 
by  sale  or  otherwise. 


NEWTOWN'S  FIRST  MEETING  HOUSE 

A  Brief   History   of   its   Building,   Furnishing  and   Moving,  with   Sketch   of 
the    Present    Church    Edifice. 

Could  we  dissociate  the  past  from  the  present  and  see  Newtown 
Street  as  it  was  when  the  meeting  house  was  built  and  when  the 
Town  House  was  built,  I  am  sure  we  could  the  more  readily  enter  in- 
to the  spirit  of  those  times  and  realize  more  fully  how  things  were, 
but  that  is  difficult  especially  for  those  in  middle  life  or  younger. 
Children  are  thinking  of  the  present,  young  people  of  the  near 
future,  while  those  in  middle  life,  busy  with  the  cares  increasing 
about  them,  are  ever  looking  forward  to  the  time  when  they  may 
hope  to  lay  down  life's  greater  burdens  and  engage  in  retrospection. 
It  is  left  to  the  aged  to  find  their  greatest  pleasure  in  dwelling  upon 
the  past,  and  recalling  forms  and  faces  of  those  who  started  on  life,s 
journey  with  them,  and  of  happenings  of  childhood,  of  early  life, 
and  of  later  years,  if,  perchance,  their  lives  have  been  lived  in  or 
near  the  ancestral  home. 

The  first  action  taken  about  building  a  meeting  house  was  at  a  town 
meeting  Nov.  23,  1713.  when  it  was  "Voted,  that  John  Glover,  James  Hard 
and  Ebenezer  Smith  be  a  committee  to  hire  workmen  on  ye  town's  account 
to  build  a  meeting  house  to  serve  God  in,  40  foot  long  and  32  foot  between 
Joynts." 

We  find  nothing  further  referring  to  the  matter  until  Dec.  26, 
1717,  and  on  the  day  following.  No  written  agreement  was  entered 
into  and  for  some  unknown  reason  it  fell  through.  Naught  appears 
again  on  record  about  a  meeting  house  until  Nov.  18,  1718. 

In  the  spring  of  1718,  the  Colonial  Court,  convened  at  Hartford, 
came  to  the  aid  of  the  proprietors  in  their  attempt  to  build  a  meet- 
ing house,  by  laying  a  tax  of  one  penny  an  acre  yearly  for  four  years. 
The  vote : 

"The  proprietors  of  farm  to  paj^  at  that  rate  for  so  many  acres  as  they 
have  by  grant,  and  every  proprietor  of  a  right  to  pay  for  400  acres  pro- 
portionately for  any  part  of  a  right,  and  all  that  have  purchased  any 
quantity  of  land  in  sd  town  to  pay  according  to  ye  number  of  acres  express- 
ed in  their  deeds,  all  ye  money  to  be  raised  by  this  tax  to  be  improved  for 
building  a  meeting  house." 

May  15,  1719,  the  town  "voted  that  ye  committee  for  ye  care  of  erecting 
a  meeting  house  shall  have  power  to  defer  ye  time  for  ye  completion  of  ye 
sd  house  according  to  agreement  until  June  in  ye  year  of  1720." 

In  the  meantime  Thomas  Scidmore,  inhabitant  and  landed  pro- 
prietor in  Newtown,  came  forward  with  an  ofifer  to  build  a  meeting 
house  on  certain  conditions  which  led  to  the  calling  of  a  town 
meeting  on  Nov.  18,  1718,  to  act  upon  the  proposition  of  Thomas 
Scidmore,  the  result  being  as  follows : 

'Voted,  that  whereas  Thomas  Scidmore  hath  made  offer  to  this  town  for 
ye  sum  of  45  pounds  to  get  and  hew  ail  ye  timber  for  a  meeting  house  of 
dimensions  as  followeth  and  to  frame  it  workmanlike,  viz..  In  length,  30 
foot,  in  breadth  36  foot  and  between  joynts  20  foot,  and  also  to  cover  it, 
the  sides  with  clabbord  and  the  ruff  with  short  shingles,  the  town  finding 
nails  and  boards  to  shingle  on,  and  to  do  all  ye  carting,  and  whereas  the 
Town  doth  comply  with  his  motion,  it  is  by  this  meeting  voted  Mr  John 
Glover,  Mr  Thomas  Bennitt  and  Mr  Joseph  Peck  shall  be  a  committe  and 


36  NEWTOWN'S  FIRST   MEETING  HOUSE 

shall  have  full  power  to  concert  all  matters  necessary  with  sd  Scidmore 
relating  to  sd  work  in  behalf  of  ye  town.  Draw  writing  with  sd  person 
consarning  aforementioned  work,  thereby  to  bring  him  under  due  obliga- 
tions and  to  render  him  secure  with  respect  to  ye  payment  of  ye  aforesaid 
45  pounds,  upon  his  answering  of  ye  engagement,  also  that  sd  committee 
shall  have  full  power  to  oversee  sd  work  and  to  do  and  get  done  what- 
soever shall  be  necessary  to  the  carrying  on  or  perfecting  of  it  until  sd 
Scidmore  shall  have  answered  the  proposals  above  mentioned." 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

With  the  contract  let  for  building  the  meeting  house,  the  next  matter 
was  its  location.  At  a  town  meeting  Jan.  8,  1719,  it  was  "voted  and  agreed 
that  the  Cross  Lane  or  that  by  John  Piatt's  or  rather  where  the  lane  that 
runs  easterly  and  westerly  intersects  the  maine  town  street  or  the  street 
that  runs  northerly  and  southerly  shall  be  ye  place  to  set  or  erect  the 
meeting  house  or  house  for  carrying  on  ye  public  worship  of  God  that  is 
already  agreed  upon  to  be  built." 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

January  27,  1720,  another  town  meeting  was  called  when  it  was  "agreed, 
concluded  and  voted  that  an  addition  of  20  feet  should  be  made  to  ye 
meeting  house,  which  was  agreed  upon  now,  to  be  50  feet  in  length. 
Further  voted  that  Thomas  Bennitt,  James  Peck  and  Jeremiah  Turner 
should  be  and  are  appointed  by  this  vote  in  behalfe  of  this  town  to  cove- 
nant and  agree  with  Thomas  Scidmore  to  frame  and  cover  ye  above  20  feet 
added  to  ye  meeting  house,  also  to  take  ye  whole  care  and  oversee  of 
getting  ye  shingles,  clabboards  and  other  stufif." 

One  can  readily  see  that  for  45  ])ounds.  which  in  our  money 
would  be  less  than  $225,  the  building,  finished  according  to.contract, 
inust  have  been  not  much  more  than  a  barn,  and  even  20  feet  added 
to  its  length,  making  its  entire  length  50  feet,  would  not  add  to  its 
comfort,  while  it  would  add  much  to  the  aggregate  expense.  We 
will  show  from  the  records  that  making  the  interior  comfortable 
and  convenient  was  the  slow  work  of  years. 

The  records  show  that,  though  unfinished,  it  was  ready  to  occupy 
before  Rev.  Thomas  Toucey  resigned  in  1724,  because  one  pew  was 
built  for  ye  use  of  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Toucey's  family. 

When  Mr  Toucey's  successor.  Rev.  Elisha  Kent,  came,  a  pew 
was  built  for  ye  Rev.  Mr  Kent's  family.  With  these  exceptions 
there  were  nothing  but  wide  benches  for  seats  and  no  other  furnish- 
ings save  an  open  fire  place  where  they  could  roll  on  logs  for  bodily 
comfort. 

Things  remained  in  this  way  until  1735,  when  at  a  town  meeting  April 

22,  1735,  it  was  "voted  and  agreed  that  ye   Presbyterian   society   shall  as 

soon  as  may  be,  erect  and  set  up  in  ye  Presbyterian  meeting  house  on  ye 

north   side  six  fationable  pews,  three  on  either  side  of  the  pulpit,  and  ye 

tax  to  defray  ye  charge  of  building  ye  same  if  there  be  money  enough,  to 

be  paid  by  ye  town  but  if  not,  then  ye  sd  society  to  defray  ye  charge  of  ye 

above  sd  pews."    Also  "voted  that  there  is  liberty  to  build  two  pews  more, 

one  on  ye  west  side  of  Mr  Kent's  pew  and  ye  other  on  ye  east  side  of  Mr 

Tousee's  pew,  so  as  not  to  damnify  ye  gallery  stairs,  which  pews   are  to 

be  built  at  ye  cost  of  ye  particular  persons  that  ye  committy  shall  allow, 

they  bearing  their  proportion  of  ye  charges  of  finishing  ye  meeting  house 

notwithstanding."  t^^^^u  d     i     t-  /^i     i 

"  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

Nothing  more  was  done  towards  making  the  interior  of  the  meet- 
ing house  more  comfortable  or  attractive  until  after  the  installa- 
tion of  the  Rev.  David  Judson  in  1743. 

December  9,  1745,  the  society  "voted  to  proceed  so  far  in  ye  finishing  of 
our  publick  meeting  house  as  to  lay  ye  gallery  floor  and  erect  a  fore  seet 
and  also  ye  gallery  stairs.  A  rate  of  three  pence  on  the  pound  was  laid 
and  Heth  Peck,  Donald  Grant  and  Deacon  Bennitt  were  appointed 


NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  7^ 

to  look  after  the  work,  to  whom  Abel  Booth,  Alexander  Bryan  and 
Caleb  Baldwin  were  added  later.  Within  two  months  i230  was 
raised  which  decided  the  society,  January  30,  1746,  to  lay  it  out,  "in 
rectifying  ye  underpinning,  in  rectifying  ye  gable  ends  and  in  puting  on 
good  fine  boards  and  if  subscription  shall  be  more  than  sufficient  for  doing 
'  all  ye  aforesaid  outside  work,  with  glass  and  nails,  that  what  remains  shall 
be  laid  out  on  ye  inside  of  ye  house  so  far  as  it  is  consistent  with  ye 
prudent  and  advantageous  management,  and  whatever  more  was  necessary 
to  ye  outside  of  ye  house  to  make  it  fationable." 

In  the  spring  of  1746,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  "bellfree."  The 
;  galleries  were  still  without  seats  and  April  24,  1749,  "a  rate  of  12 
j  pence  on  the  pound  was  laid  for  finishing  ye  meeting  house  as  to  ye 
i  galeries  and  plastering  over  head  or  any  other  work   in   sd   house   which 

shall  be  seen  needful.     Jeremiah  Northrop,  Abram  Bennitt,  John   Botsford 

and  Caleb  Baldwin  were  in  charge  of  the  work. 

In  1762  Captain  Amos  Botsford,  Lieutenant  Nathaniel  Brisco, 
Gideon  Botsford,  Ebenezer  Ford,  and  Caleb  Baldwin  3rd  were 
I  appointed  a  committee  "to  build  a  steeple  at  ye  east  end  of  ye 
'  meeting  house  if  there  shall  be  money  enough  signed  to  build  ye 
same."  At  a  society's  meeting,  Sept.  6,  1762,  Captain  Amos 
Botsford  and  Lieutenant  Nathaniel  Brisco  promised  "  that  at  their 
own  cost  and  charge  they  would  procure  a  good  bell  of  about  500  pounds 
weight  fit  to  hang  in  ye  steeple  and  that  it  shall  be  for  ye  use  of  sd  society 
as  long  as  there  shall  be  a  Presbiterian  society  to  meet  in  ye  above  sd 
meeting  house,  that  is  to  say,  if  ye  above  sd  society  will  go  on  to  complete 
ye  steeple,  fix  ye  outside  of  ye  meeting  house  and  culler  it  and  culler  ye 
pulpit  and  ye  society  voted  to  go  on  and  finish  ye  steeple  and  culler  ye 
house  and  culler  j'e  pulpit  according  to  ye  proposal." 

January  4,  1763,  "Voted  that  ye  work  of  fixing  ye  meeting  house  should 
be  completed  by  November  1,  1763,  at  which  vote  passed,  Captain  Amos 
Botsford  and  Lieutenant  Nathaniel  Brisco  made  open  declaration  that 
they  freely  and  frankly  gave  ye  bell,  which  they  had  procured  for  ye  use 
of  ye  society  so  long  as  there  should  be  a  Presbiterian  society  to  meet  in 
sd  house." 

Up  to  this  time  Stephen  Parmalee  had  been  hired  to  beat  the 
drum  for  religious  meetings,  town  meetings  and  public  gatherings 
but  the  spirit  of  progress  was  developing  and  at  a  meeting  Jan.  9, 
1764,  it  was  "voted  that  Abel  Botsford  should  be  bell  ringer  for  ye  year 
ensuing  and  shall  ring  ye  bell  on  ye  Sabbath  and  on  all  other  public  times 
and  at  9  o'clock  at  night  and  shall  have  for  his  services  for  ringing  ye  bell 
and  sweeping  ye  meeting  house  40  shillings  a  year." 

The  bell  was  used  until  May,  1787,  when  it  was  "voted  to  get  a  new  bell 
in  sd  meeting  house"  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  ye  first  Monday  after 
ye  new  bell  should  arrive  in  Newtown.  It  is  on  record  "that  on  ye  first 
day  of  July,  1767,  ye  committee  for  ye  bell  took  ye  old  bell  to  Fairfield, 
got  it  recast,  brought  it  back  and  it  was  hung  on  the  3rd  day  of  July,  1767," 
and  the  society's  records  further  gratefully  adds,  "it  is  always  to  be  under- 
stood that  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  church  of  England  society  in  Newtown 
signed  of  ye  above  money  of  £27-4s-7d  and  provitions,  ye  sum  of  five  pounds 
12s-9d,  nearly  a  fifth  of  the  whole  cost." 

January  9,  1769:  "Voted  that  ye  time  of  intermission  between  meetings 
on  ye  Sabbath  shall  be  one  hour  and  one  quarter  to  the  tenth  of  March 
next." 

"Voted,  that  ye  meeting  house  bell  shall  be  rung  at  all  seasons  needful, 
at  deaths  and  funerals,  and  other  occasions  of  lectures  and  religious  meet- 
ings of  a  religious  nature." 

"Voted,  that  Abiel  Botsford  is  chosen  to  ring  ye  bell  at  all  times  and 
seasons  as  above  and  that  he  is  to  have  for  his  services  three  pounds  per 
year  to  be  paid  out  of  ye  town  treasury." 


38  NEWTOWN'S   FIRST   MEETING  HOUSE 

It  makes  a  long  story  even  to  give  an  outline  of  the  history  of 
the  building  of  "the  first  meeting  house."  At  this  time,  New- 
town contained  three  hundred  and  fifty  families.  Our  fathers, 
where  are  they?  And  do  the  children  live  forever?  But  the  old 
bell  that  has  done  continuous  service  for  143  years  still  hangs  in 
the  belfry  sending  forth  its  peal  over  the  hills  and  adown  our  val- 
leys, calling  new  forms  and  new  faces  "not  to  forget  the  assem- 
bling of  themselves  together  as  the  manner  of  some  is,"  but  to  join 
in  the  service  of  devotion,  adoration  and  praise,  and  though  the 
old  bell  is  cracked,  its  tones  are  still  sweet  music  to  him  who  has 
been  hearing  them  for  nearly  four  score  years. 

This  inscription  is  cast  on  the  bell,  "The  Gift  of  Capt.  Amos  Botsford  and 
Lieutenant  Brisco,  1768." 

During  the  Revolutionary  war  the  society  fell  into  sore  straits, 
a  wide  divergence  of  opinion  prevailed,  many  of  its  members  were 
Tories,  although  their  minister  espoused  the  cause  of  the  colonies. 
The  time  had  passed  when  the  society  was  depending  on  the  town 
to  pay  the  minister's  rate  and  funds  ran  low.  Those  who  would 
not  take  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  cause  of  the  colonies  absented 
themselves  from  public  worship  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  to  win  them 
back  the  society  called  a  meeting  for  Oct.  9,  1781,  under  the  follow- 
ing warning : 

"Notice  is  hereby  given  to  the  first  society  in  Newtown,  that  a  society's 
meeting  will  be  held  on  Tuesdaj-  ye  9th  at  2  o'clock  p.  m.  at  the  meeting 
house  in  said  district  to  transact  ye  business  (viz)  of  ascertaining  ye 
number  and  strength  of  sd  society,  of  making  sale  of  ye  parsonage  lott, 
belonging  to  sd  society,  of  disposmg  of  ye  floor  of  sd  meeting  house,  so 
much  as  is  sufficient  for  12  pews,  of  repairing  said  meeting  house  and  new 
painting  of  ye  outside  of  ye  same,  of  removing  some  dificultys  in  sd  so- 
ciety heretofore  existing,  of  appointing  a  committee  to  supply  ye  desk 
for  six  months,  next  coming,  of  hiring  a  master  of  Music  to  instruct  sd 
society  in  singing  psalms,  hims  and  spiritual  songs,  and  to  do  any  other 
business  necessary  and  proper  to  be  done  at  sd  meeting  and  it  is  desired 
that  ye  society  will  punctually  attend  by  order  of  committee. 

Abel   Botsford,  Society's  Clerk.     Newtown,  Oct.   1,   1781. 

October  9,  the  meeting  met  according  to  notification,  chose  Mr.  George 
Terrill  moderator  and  voted  as  follows  :  "That  it  is  the  opinion  of  this 
meeting  that  all  those  that  belong  to  this  society  notwithstanding  they 
have  nott  taken  ye  oath  of  fidelity  as  required  by  law  in  political  matters, 
in  society  matters  have  the  same  privileges  with  those  who  have  sworn 
and  that  the  excuses  of  many  for  not  attending  legal  meetings  on  that 
account   are  groundless." 

Also  "voted  that  the  three  pennjf  rate  laid  on  the  society  in  April  last  past 
for  ye  support  of  preaching  the  gospel,  shall  be  collected  and  applied  to 
the  use  of  paying  the  debts  or  arrearages  of  the  society  and  if  there  be  any 
overplus,  it  shall  be  for  the  use  of  hiring  a  minister." 

Also  "voted  that  the  meeting  house  shall  be  repaired  and  that  Mr  Jabez 
Botsford,  Amos  Tirrill  and  Joseph  Wheeler  be  a  committee  to  see  what 
repairs  are  necessary  for  said  house  and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting 
and  Jabez  Botsford  and  Abram  Bennett  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
procure  flax  seed  to  exchange  for  oil  to  paint  the  meeting  house." 

In  1786  there  seems  to  have  been  an  awakening  of  things  temporal  and 
at  a  society's  meeting,  April  3,  1786,  it  was  "voted  to  procure  by  donation 
shingles  sufficient  to  cover  the  back  roof  of  the  meeting  house  and  to  take 
care  that  the  same  be  laid  on  as  a  free  donation  and  John  Sherman, 
Nathanial  Northrop,  Capt.  Silas  Fairchild,  Capt  Joseph  Wheeler,  Asa 
Cogswell  and  Hezekiah  Booth  be  committee." 

In  May  of  the  same  year  it  was  "voted  that  this  society  will  sell  and 
convey  to  the  purchasers  an  exclusive  right  to  that  part  of  the  lower  floor 
of  the  meeting  house  where  the  body  seats  now  are,  except  the  front  seats 


[  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  39 

J  on  each  side  of  the  main  alley."  The  floor  space  for  pews  on  the  broad 
alley  nearest  the  pulpit  was  appraised  at  9  pounds  English  money  each, 
the  next  two  at  7  pounds,  the  next  two  at  6  pounds.  The  front  pews  on  the 
i  side  alleys  at  5  pounds,  10  shillings  each,  the  next  two  at  5  pounds,  the 
[next  two  at  3  pounds.  The  pews  when  built  were  to  be  constructed  accord- 
j  ing  to  specifications,  fixed  by  vote  of  the  society. 

May  1786,  at  a  meeting  of  the  first  societ}'  in  Newtown,  "voted  that  this 
society  will  sell  and  convey  to  the  purchasers  an  exclusive  right  to  that 
•  part  of  the  meeting  house  on  the  lower  floor  where  the  body  seats  now 
■  are,  except  the  front  seats  on  each  side  of  the  main  alle3\     Voted,  that  on 
j  each  side  of  the  broad  alley  there  may  by  the  purchasers  be  built  six  pews 
;  of  equal  bigness  provided  they  be  built  all  on  one  construction.     (Viz)  to 
i  be  raised  not  exceeding  four  inches  from  the  present  floor,  that  they  be 
built   of  equal   height,  panel  work  thus,  one   panel   of   proper   length   per- 
pendicular, over  which  one  panel  of  proper  width  horizontal,  a  handsome 
rail   on   the   top,  the   door   equivclent   and   painted   a   proper   color   for   the 
inside  of  such  a  building.    Voted,  that  said  pews  shall  be  built  within  nine 
months  of  this  time  or  the  purchaser  shall  forfeit  his  right  which  shall  be 
sold  again  for  the  benefit  of  said  society. 

Voted,  that  the  purchasers  immediately  on  bidding  off  said  floor  for  the 
purpose  aforesaid  shall  give  their  obligation  with  surety  to  the  society's 
clerk  payable  the  first  of  March  next.  Voted,  that  said  ground  floors  for 
pews  be  set  up  in  the  following  manner:  The  two  front  pews  nearest  the 
pulpit  on  the  broad  alley  be  set  up  at  9  pounds  each,  the  next  two  at  7 
pounds  each,  the  next  two  at  6  pounds  each,  the  front  pews  on  the  other 
alleys  at  5  pounds,  10  shillings  each,  the  next  two  at  5  pounds  each,  the 
next  2  at  3  pounds  each.  That  the  persons  that  bid  these  several  prices 
unless  some  person  or  persons  bid  higher  shall  be  entitled  to  said  ground 
to  build  on  as  aforesaid,  at  his  own  expense,  but  in  case  any  person  or 
persons  jointly  bid  higher  for  any  or  every  ground  floor  for  a  pew,  the 
highest  bidder  to  be  entitled  as  aforesaid." 

"Voted  that  the  society's  clerk  make  record  of  those  who  purchase  or 
bid  ofi  said  pews  and  what  number  beginning  at  the  front  pew  on  the 
women's  side,  No.  1,  the  opposite  No.  2,  the  next  on  the  women's  side  No.  3, 
the  opposite  No.  4,  and  so  on  according  to  the  dignitj'  or  rank,  and  said 
clerk  being  thereunto  requested,  is  hereby  directed  to  give  a  copy  of  these 
votes  to  the  proprietors  or  purchasers  which  shall  be  to  them  a  sufficient 
title  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  they  having  first  complied  with  and 
fullfiUed  the  several  articles  and  directions  contained  in  these  votes,  so 
be  it  the  whole  of  the  ground  is  sold. 

Voted,  that  John  Chandler  be  appointed  and  he  is  herebj'  appointed  to 
make  sale  of  said  ground  floor  for  the  purposes  aforesaid  and  that  he  begin 
on  Tuesday  of  next  week  at  3  of  the  clock  at  this  place  and  use  his  descre- 
tion  until  he  hath  bid  off"  the  whole  provided  he  finish  with  a  reasonable 
time  and  that  he  have  good  right  to  bid  for  himself." 

So  it  came  about  that  a  considerable  amount  of  floor  space  was 
sold  for  pews,  a  goodly  number  of  pews  were  built,  money  flowed 
into  a  depleted  treasury,  for  ministers'  salary  and  building  im- 
provements. Nothing  more  appears  on  the  society  minutes  about 
the  meeting  house,  either  for  its  adornment  or  repairs,  until  1792, 
when  the  Church  of  England  people  having  the  consent  of  the 
town  to  build  a  church  for  public  worship  on  the  ground  where  the 
town  house  was  standing,  provided  they  would  remove  the  Town 
house  to  some  other  site,  without  expense  to  the  town.  The  meet- 
ing house  standing  near  to.  and  in  front  of,  the  Town  house  made 
an  objection  to  putting  the  Church  of  England  house  there  without 
removing  the  meeting  house  also,  and  it  was  proposed  to  them  that 
their  house  be  removed  to  the  opposite  side  of  the  north  and  sotith 
road,  which  led  the  Presbyterians  to  call  a  society's  meeting  under 
the  following  warning,  to  act  upon  the  proposition : 


40  NEWTOWN'S  FIRST  MEETING  HOUSE 

NOTIFICATION. 

"Warning  is  hereby  given  to  ye  first  society  in  Newtown  that  there  is  a 
meeting  of  sd  societ}'  to  be  holden  at  the  meeting  house  of  sd  society  on 
Monday,  ye  7th  day  of  May,  1792  at  five  of  ye  clock  afternoon  to  determine 
the  matter  respecting  ye  moving  of  ye  meeting  house  and  to  do  all  other 
business  necessary  to  be  done  at  sd  meeting.  All  persons  who  belong  to 
sd  society  are  desired  to  attend. 

Notified  by  order  of  ye  committee. 

Newtown,  May  1,  1792. 

Abel  Botsford,  Society's  Clerk. 

The  meeting  met  as  warned  and  adjourned  to  May  10. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting.  May  10,  1792,  it  was  "voted  that  to  render  it 
more  convenient  for  ye  Episcopal  society  in  Newtown  to  erect  a  church  or 
house  of  public  worship  on  the  ground  where  the  town  house  now  stands 
we  are  willing  that  said  Episcopal  society  or  any  individual  of  them 
remove  our  meeting  house  to  the  west  side  of  the  street  so  that  the  east 
end  of  the  steeple  fall  in  a  line  drawn  from  the  north  east  corner  of  Gen. 
John  Chandler's  dwelling  in  said  Newtown  and  the  southeast  corner  of 
Josiah  Curtis'  store,  provided  the  same  can  be  done  without  any  risk, 
damage,  or  expense  to  this  society,  and  that  said  meeting  house,  when 
removed,  be  put  in  a  good  repair  in  every  respect  as  the  same  now  is." 

Voted,  "that  said  meeting  house  in  its  present  state  be  estimated  and 
valued  at  700  pounds,  lawful  money  and  that  sufficient  surety  be  taken  by 
this  society's  committee  for  the  payment  of  the  same  in  case  of  damage. 
Voted  that  Jabez  Botsford,  Esq.,  Mr  Abel  Booth,  Roger  Terrill,  Capt. 
Moses  Sheapard  and  Capt.  Elijah  Botsford  be  a  committee  to  transact  all 
business   relative  to  the   foregoing  vote. 

Test  Abel  Botsford,  Society's  Clerk." 

At  the  rooms  of  the  Connecticut  Historical  Society,  at  Hartford, 
can  be  seen  a  bound  volume  of  the  Connectictit  Journal  of  the  year 
1792,  a  weekly  newspaper  then  printed  in  New  Haven,  in  which 
under  date  of  June  6,  1792,  is  the  following: 

"On  Wednesday,  the  13th  of  June  inst.,  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.,  if  the 
weather  be  fair,  and  if  the  weather  is  not  good  at  the  same  time  of  day  on 
on  the  first  fair  day  following,  an  attempt  will  be  made  to  remove  the 
meeting  house,  together  with  the  steeple  entire,  belonging  to  the  Ecclesi- 
astical society  in  Newtown,  about  eight  rods  west  of  its  present  site.  As 
this  will  be  the  greatest  movement  ever  attempted  in  this  part  of  the  state, 
the  subscribers  by  whom  the  business  is  to  be  performed  have  been  re- 
quested to  give  this  public  notice  to  their  friends. 

Solomon  Glover, 
Andrew  Beers, 
Daniel   Tomlinson. 

Fortiniately  for  us  we  are  not  left  in  the  dark  as  to  the  result  of 
such  a  "great  movement,"  for  in  the  same  paper  under  the  date  of 
June  27,  1782,  we  are  given  the  result : 

"On  the  13th  instant  the  meeting  house  in  Newtown  was  removed  about 

eight  rods;  the  removal  was  effected  in  one  hour  and  a  half,  after  previous 

preparations  had  been  made.     The  house  is  between  70  and  80  feet  long, 

and  about  50  feet  wide,  with  a  steeple  at  one  end,  the  whole  of  which  was 

removed  without  the  least  injury  to  any  part.  ^   i  r-i 

Solomon  Glover, 

Andrew    Beers, 

David  Tomlinson 

We  have  only  to  measure  a  distance  of  eight  rods  directly  east 
from  where  the  Congregational  church  now  stands  to  get  the  exact 
location  of  the  first  meeting  house  in  Newtown,  and  the  buildings 
it  was  in  line  with.  Gen,  John  Chandler's  house  stood  where  the 
Grand  Central  Hotel  is,  and  the  store  of  Josiah  Curtis  stood  where 
R.  H.  Beers  &  Co.'s.  store  now  stands. 


NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  41 

The  old  building  must  have  grown  rapidly  into  disfavor,  for  only- 
eleven  years  passed  before,  at  a  society  meeting  at  the  meeting 
house,  October  3,  1803,  at  3  o'clock  afternoon  it  was  — 

"Voted  that  we  prefer  a  memorial  to  the  General  Assembly  to  be  holden 
at  New  Haven  on  the  second  Thursday  in  October,  1803,  in  behalf  of  said 
society,  praying  for  a  grant  of  a  lottery  to  raise  the  sum  of  $4000  to  enable 
the  society  to  build  a  meeting  house  for  said  society  where  the  meeting 
house  now  stands,  or  for  such  other  sum  as  the  Assembly  may  think 
it  expedient  to  grant." 

Hon.  William  Edmond  was  appointed  a  committee  to  prefer  a 
petition  to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  grant.  The  assembly 
granted  the  petitioners  the  sum  of  $3,000. 

March  2,  1808,  "Voted  that  the  society  go  forward  the  present  season  to 
build  a  meeting  house  with  all  convenient  speed  where  the  old  meeting 
house  now  stands,  60  feet  in  length,  and  40  feet  in  breadth,  with  posts  of 
a  proportionable  length,  to  have  a  belfry  and  cupola  or  dome  thereon,  in 
lieu  of  a  steeple  upon  the  east  end;  that  the  avails  of  the  lottery  granted 
by  the  General  Assembly  and  the  materials  of  the  old  meeting  house  be 
appropriated  for  the  purpose  aforesaid." 

Isaac  Scudder  did  the  work  of  building  by  contract  for  $1138.48 
and  the  completed  building  left  the  society  in  debt.  In  Feb.,  1810, 
a  tax  of  17  cents  on  the  dollar  on  list  of  1808  was  laid  to  apply  on 
the  debt.    Arnold  Foot  was  collector. 

With  no  money  left  with  which  to  finish  the  interior,  funds  for 
building  slips  and  pews  were  raised  by  carrying  out  a  society  vote 
passed  Feb.  1,  1812. 

"To  dispose  of  the  pew  grounds  adjoining  the  wall  on  the  north  and  south 
sides  of  the  meeting  house  to  the  highest  bidder  belonging  to  said  society. 
The  purchaser  of  the  pew  to  be  at  the  expense  of  building  the  same.  The 
money  for  which  the  pew  ground  shall  be  sold  to  be  paid  down  or  secured 
by  note  payable  to  the  society's  treasurer  within  six  months  and  appro- 
priated to  pay  the  expense  of  building  the  slips  or  pews  on  the  ground  not 
disposed  of;  and  every  purchaser  shall  hold  the  pew  ground  so  purchased 
to  himself  and  heirs  forever  and  shall  have  right  at  any  time  to  sell  and 
assign  the  same  to  any  other  person  or  persons,  a  member  or  members  of 
said   society,  and   not   otherwise." 

Michael  Parks  auctioned  ofif  the  pew  grounds,  No.  1,  on  the  north  side  to 
Silas  Fairchild  and  Philo  Fairchild,  $15;  No.  1  on  the  south  side  to  David 
Peck  and  Chauncey  Botsford,  $20;  No.  2,  north  side,  Lamson  Birch  and 
Ebenezer  Turner,  Esq.,  $9;  No.  3,  south  side,  William  Edmond,  $26;  No.  2, 
south  side,  Samuel  C.  Blackman,  Esq.,  $14;  No.  3.  north  side.  Moss  K. 
Botsford  and  James  Terrill,  $20;  No.  4,  south  side,  Timothy  Shepard,  Esq., 
$22;  No.  4,  north  side,  Caleb  Bennitt,  $21 ;  No.5  south  side,  Ezra  H.  Johnson, 
$20.50;  No.  5,  north  side,  Ziba  Blakslee  $12;  No.  6.  south  side,  Arnold  Foot, 
$15;  No.  6  north  side,  Thomas  B.  Botsford,  $10.50;  No.  7,  south  side,  Daniel 
Morehouse.  $5:  No.  7,  north  side,  Rev.  Jehu  Clark,  $2;  No.  8,  south  side, 
Levi  Jackson.  $1 ;  No.  8,  north  side,  Timothy  Shepard,  Esq.,  $1 ;  $215  was 
raised  from  the  sale  of  pew  ground. 

The  pews  once  sold,  became  the  family  possessions  and  were  sold 
as  such,  as  far  down  as  1839. 

A  deed  that  Horace  M.  Shepard  gave  to  'Squire  John  Dibble  for 
one  dollar  (as  I  have  it)  describes  the  pew  as  situated  in  the 
"Presbyterian  meeting  house  on  the  south  side  of  the  house,  being  the 
fourth  pew  from  the  west  end,  formerly  owned  by  and  occupied  by  my 
father,  Timothy  Shepherd,  deceased  April  7,  1825." 

Witnessed  by  Samuel  C.  Blackman. 

Charles  Johnson  (father  of  the  writer)  held  a  deed  for  a  pew  he 
bought  of  Czar  Keeler  in  the  year  1839,  for  which  he  paid  $5.  The 
deed  described  it  as  being  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  south  alley, 


42  NEWTOWN'S  FIRST   MEETING  HOUSE 

east  by  pew  of  Ezra  H.  Johnson,  south  by  the  wall  and  west  by 
pew  owned  by  Hon.  William  Edmond. 

That  box  pew  was  usually  my  vSunday  home  during  the  hours 
of  "meeting"  and  by  resting  my  chin  on  the  top  cap  piece  I  could 
see  all  about.  In  those  days  ministers  wrote  long  sermons  and  I 
soon  learned  that  there  was  time  for  a  good  long  nap  before  he 
would  reach  "eighthly,"  "ninthly"  and  "finally."  1  would  stretch 
on  the  long  seat  and  go  to  sleep,  to  be  awakened  by  the  singing  of 
the  last  hymn,  in  time  to  hear  the  benediction  pronounced. 

The  committee  appointed  to  build  the  pews  were  Lamson  Birch, 
Timothy  Shepard  and  Ziba  Blakeslee,  and  they  were  to  lay  out  the 
residue  of  pew  ground  money  partly  finishing  the  galleries.  May  10, 
1813.  another  petition  was  sent  to  the  General  Assembly  for  the 
grant  of  $4000  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  society  in  building  their 
meeting  house  and  in  support  of  public  worship  in  the  society.  The 
petition  was  not  granted.  During  the  Rev.  Jason  Atwater's  min- 
istry, between  1845  and  1852,  the  exterior  of  the  building  was  very 
much  improved,  the  belfry  was  closed  in,  a  new  steeple  was  built, 
the  building  newly  covered  and  painted. 

Twelve  hundred  dollars  were  s])ent  in  renovating  the  exterior 
and  in  1852  the  basement  was  fitted  up,  the  main  floor  raised  to  its 
present  level,  new  seats  and  a  pul])it  were  provided  for  the  audience 
room,  at  an  expense  of  $500.  Down  to  the  present  time  the  people 
have  kept  pace  with  the  needs  of  the  times  and  this  building  com- 
pares well  in  its  furnishing,  conveniences  and  adornment  with  those 
of  any  country  edifice  in  the  Fairfield  County  Consociation. 

The  writer  regrets  exceedingly  that  he  finds  nothing  on  record  of 
the  history  of  the  "weather  vane."  That  it  was  on  the  steeple  at 
the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war  is  well  known,  for  it  bears  the 
marks  of  bullets  fired  by  French  soldiers,  as,  by  order  of  Gen. 
Washington,  they  passed  through  Newtown  on  their  way  from 
Hartford  to  the  Hudson  River  in  1781. 

When  the  old  building  was  torn  away  to  make  room  for  the 
present  structure,  the  weather  vane  was  transferred  to  it. 

When  a  little  boy,  my  father  took  the  rooster  to  Bridgeport  to 
have  it  re-gilded  and  I  had  the  honor  of  riding  to  the  city  with  it. 
It  was  nearly  as  high  as  I  and  its  long  spurs,  its  high  comb,  and  the 
dent?  the  bullets  had  made  on  its  body  were  all  part  of  a  history 
lesson  which  I  have  never  forgotten.  It  was  a  catch  story  of  those 
early  days  told  to  us  children  that  whenever  the  old  rooster  on  the 
Presbyterian  meeting  house  steeple  heard  Judge  Blackman  (who 
lived  on  the  corner  close  by)  call  his  hens  to  feed  them  he  always 
flew  down  and  ate  with  them.  Judge  Samuel  C.  Blackman  lived  in 
a  house  on  the  ground  where  the  Grand  Central  Hotel  stands.  He 
was  a  lawyer  and  proverbially  known  as  a  truthful  man.  Even 
little  children  knew  it,  and  the  mother  had  to  solve  the  puzzle  tell- 
ing the  reason,  "The  rooster  could  not  hear  the  call." 


NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  43 

NEWTOWN'S  TOWN  HOUSES 

In  two  hundred  and  more  years  of  our  town  history,  the  town 
has  built  but  two  town  houses.  Not  until  1717  do  we  find  in  New- 
town town  records  allusion  to  the  building  of  a  town  house.  The 
business  meetings  of  the  town  were  held  at  dwelling  houses,  for 
which  rentals  were  paid.  At  a  town  meeting,  October  9,  1717,  it  was 
"Voted  by  ye  inhabitants  of  the  town  that  a  schoolhouse  or  town  house 
shall  be  forthwith  or  with  all  possible  speed  erected  of  ye  following  dimen- 
sions :  25  foot  square  and  eight  foot  between  joists,  and  whereas  Joseph 
Gray  and  Peter  Hubbell  have  undertaken  to  build  ye  sd  house  (viz)  to  get, 
draw  ye  timber,  make  ye  frame,  get  all  ye  shingles  and  clabbords  and  lay 
them,  ye  town  finding  nails.  It  is  agreed  and  voted  to  give  sd  workmen 
for  sd  work,  10  pounds  money,  to  be  paid  upon  their  accomplishing  or 
compleating  sd  work,  workmanlike."     Entered,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

On  Jan.  8,  1718,  another  town  meeting  was  held,  to  fix  the  loca- 
tion for  the  town  house  that  the  town  had  voted  to  have  built.  It  was 
"voted,  that  the  place  for  building  ye  school  or  town  house  or  house  for 
holding  town  meetings  in,  and  for  teaching  school  in,  shall  be  on  ye  main 
street  or  town  street  near  unto  Abraham  Kimberley's  betwixt  sd  Kimber- 
ley's  and  John  Lake's  house."  (Abraham  Kimberley's  house  stood  on  the 
corner  opposite  Trinity.) 

In  1733,  the  population  had  increased  so  that  as  new  conditions 
arose,  a  larger  town  house  was  needed.  By  vote'  of  the  town,  the 
town  house  was  removed  to  become  the  schoolhouse  for  Middle 
district,  the  neighborhood  moving  it  at  their  own  expense.  The 
second  town  house  was  not  built  until  1766.  In  the  meantime, 
business  meetings  of  the  town  were  held,  sometimes  in  the  north 
and  sometimes  in  the  south  schoolhouse,  and  at  other  times  in  the 
meeting  house.  Thirty-three  3'ears  passed  and  then  a  tow^n  meet- 
ing was  called  for  Dec.  8,  1766,  at  which  meeting  it  was  "voted, 
that  there  shall  be  a  town  house  built  for  ye  use  of  ye  town  and  that 
Johnathan  Booth,  Ebenezer  Ford  and  Nathanial  Nichols  shall  be  a  com- 
mittee to  examine  into  what  place  is  most  convenient  to  set  the  house  and 
what  ye  house  will  cost,  and  make  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting."  The 
second  town  house  was  located  on  what  was  the  site  of  the  first  one  and 
at  a  town  meeting  held  Dec.  22,  1766,  it  was  "voted,  that  the  town  house 
shall  be  built  32  feet  long,  24  feet  wide  and  nine  feet  between  joists  and 
that  Oliver  Tousey  shall  build  it  at  ye  price  of  66  pounds  and  that  he  shall 
give  bonds  to  ye  committee  for  ye  building  of  sd  house  and  that  there 
shall  be  a  rate  of  three  farthings  half  farthings  on  ye  pound  raised  to 
build  sd  house  and  also  voted  that  Jonathan  Booth  and  Caleb  Baldwin 
shall  be  a  committee  to  obligate  sd  Tousey  and  take  his  obligations  for  ye 
completing  sd  house  and  shall  make  and  collect  a  rate."  Also  "voted,  that 
sd  Tousey  shall  cause  to  be  made  in  sd  town  house  good  seats  as  are  gen- 
erally made,  in  form  as  in  ye  State  House  at  Hartford.  Sd  house  to  be 
finished  by  ye  first  day  of  December,  1767."  Also  "voted,  that  ye  sd  Tousey 
shall  light  ye  house  with  30  windows,  15  squares  of  glass  in  a  window 
size  of  ye  glass  7  x  9." 

The  house  was  finished  as  per  contract  and  the  first  meeting  was 
held  in  it,  Dec.  7,  1767.  Nothing  further  is  said  of  the  building  until, 
at  a  town  meeting  in  1789,  it  was  "voted  that  the  selectmen  should, 
as  soon  as  convenient,  repair  ye  town  house  in  a  manner  as  shall  seem  to 
them  most  prudent  and  best  for  ye  advantage  of  ye  town." 

When  the  third  Episcopal  church  was  to  l)e  built,  the  ground  on 
which  the  town  house  stood  was  needed  as  part  of  the  site  of  the 
Church  building,  and  the  town  gave  the  Episcopalians  liberty  to 
remove  the  building.  Capt  Solomon  Glover  bought  the  old  Episcopal 
church  building  (the  second  one)  in  1799,  and  the  town  voted  to 


44  NEWTOWN'S  TOWN  HOUSES 

give  him  five  pounds  in  money,  yearly  rental,  provided  he  would 
purchase  for  it  a  plot  of  ground  on  which  to  set  the  building,  which 
was  then  standing  on  the  west  side  of  the  north  and  south  high- 
way and  a  little  south  of  where  now  stands  Newtown  Inn.  The 
old  Church  building  was  removed  to  the  westward  ofif  the  highway, 
fitted  up  for  the  use  of  the  town  for  a  town  house,  and  was  rented 
by  Solomon  Glover  for  a  long  term  of  years  to  the  town  at  an  an- 
nual rental  of  $20.  In  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  the  build- 
ing now  used  as  a  tin  shop,  stood  where  the  store  of  R.  H.  Beers 
&  Co.  is  and  was  used  for  a  general  merchandise  store  by  the  firm 
of  Baldwin  &  Beers,  which,  with  the  two-story  building  joined  on 
the  north  end,  covered  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  present 
building.  The  second  floor  of  the  main  building  was  rented  for 
many  years  by  the  town,  and,  when  Norman  B.  Glover  put  up  a 
buihJmg  for  a  store  on  the  ground  near  the  house  now  owned  by 
Mrs.  S.  F.  Schermerhorn,  somewhere  in  the  "70s,"  the  town  rented 
the  upper  floor,  until  it  burned  down,  for  a  town  house,  owning  no 
building  for  town  use,  until  it  bought  the  present  town  house, 
which  was  originally  built  by  the  Universalists  for  religious  pur- 
poses, and  afterward  became  the  property  of  St.  Rose's  parish, 
and  so  remained  until  the  building  of  this  present  edifice,  when,  in 
1883,  it  was  sold  to  the  town  of  Newtown  and  is  now  a  large  and 
commodious  building,  that  is  likely  to  continue  (except  in  case  of 
fire)  Newtown's  town  house  for  at  least  a  century  to  come. 

SABBATH  DAY  HOUSES 

The  Sabbath  Day  house  was  a  place  in  which  to  take  refresh- 
ments between  the  two  Church  services  and  for  social  and  religious 
worship  as  the  occupant  might  be  inclined.  It  was  built  in  two 
divisions,  one  for  males  and  the  other  for  females.  They  were 
located  on  the  highway,  permission  being  given  by  vote  of  the 
free  holders  in  Town  meeting.  They  were  necessary  because  the 
meeting  houses  were  not  warmed. 

Dec.  9,  1740,  "voted  and  agreed  that  Jeremiah  Northrop  shall  have  liberty 
to  set  a  small  .Sabbath  Day  house  in  ye  lane  by  or  against  Capt.  Baldwin's 
orchard." 

Dec.  3.  1750,  "voted  that  Jonathan  Sanford  shall  have  liberty  to  build 
a  small  Sabbath  Day  house  at  ye  westerly  end  of  John  Piatt's  Sabbath 
Day  house." 

Dec.  30,  1754,  "voted  that  Captain  Amos  Botsford  shall  have  Liberty  to 
Build  a  small  house  for  Sabbath  Days  not  Doing  Damage  to  ye  Highway 
nor  any  other  person." 

Dec.  23,  1751,  "voted  that  Benjamin  Northrop  shall  have  liberty  to  build- 
ing a  Sabbath  Day  house  for  his  use  in  ye  Lane  of  Captain  Baldwin's 
fence  of  his  home  lott  below  or  something  west  of  Caleb  Baldwin's  Sab- 
bath  Day  house." 

DISPUTES  OVER  TOWN  LINES 

Reference  has  been  made  to  the  dispute  between  Stratford  and 
Newtown  regarding  lines  between  the  two  towns,  a  dispute  that 
arose  in  1725  and  was  not  amicably  adjusted  and  confirmed  by  the 
General  Court  until  1761.  About  the  same  time,  disputes  arose 
between  Newtown  and  Danbury  and  Newtown  and  New  Milford 


NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  45 

from  the  same  cause,  creating  uneasiness,  friction,  and  contention, 
from  which,  in  the  case  between  New  Milford  and  Newtown,  liti- 
gation arose. 

NEW  MILFORD— NEWTOWN  TOWN  LINE 

"At  a  town  meeting  held  March  28,  1727,  at  sd  Newtown,  Mr.  Thomas 
Tousey  and  Capt.  Thomas  Bennett  bj-^  vote  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
meet  ye  gentlemen  from  New  Milford  upon  Thursday,  ye  13th  instant  of 
March,  at  westerly  end  of  ye  supposed  line  between  New  Milford  and 
Newtown  to  declare  to  sd  gentlemen  the  dissatisfaction  of  sd  Newtown 
with  respect  to  sd  line  and  to  propose  to  them  with  respect  to  sd  line,  and 
to  propose  to  them  whether  some  method  of  accommodation  and  what 
might  be  pitched  upon  for  ye  removing  of  ye  difficulty,  and  that  speedy 
and  effectual  care  be  taken  in  that  matter,  yt  those  who  are  not  only 
neighbors,  but  christian  neighbors,  may  dwell  as  such. 

Entered  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

"April  6,  1731,  John  Leavenworth  is  chosen  and  empowered  in  behalf 
and  in  room  of  Newtown  to  appear  at  ye  county  court  to  be  holden  in  New 
Haven  on  ye  seventh  day  of  April  to  implead  ye  town  of  Newtown  at 
New  Milford  in  an  action  or  plea  of  debt  as  it  is  by  New  Milford  termed, 
commenced  against  Newtown  as  they  say,  for  neglecting  to  perambulate 
according  to  law  between  ye  two  towns  of  Newtown  and  New  Milford 
and  that  ye  sd  Leavenworth  shall  have  full  power  in  ye  affair  to  employ 
any  attorney  and  to  review  or  appeal  as  ye  case  may  require,  making 
firm  and  good  what  ye  Leavenworth  shall  do  in  ye  premises. 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown,  held,  August 
17th,  1735,  "voted  by  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  that  Capt.  Thomas  Tou- 
sey should  be  moderator  to  carry  on  ye  business  of  sd  meeting. 

Voted  that  Capt.  Thomas  Tousey  should  be  agent  in  ye  behalf  of  ye 
town  of  Newtown  to  appear  at  ye  Superior  Court  to  be  holden  at  New 
Haven  on  ye  first  Tuesday  in  September,  1730,  and  is  fully  impowered  to 
emplead  ye  town  of  New  Milford  in  an  action  or  plea  of  debt  commenced 
against  Newtown,  as  they  say,  at  ye  County  Court  held  at  New  Haven, 
April  7,  1730,  for  neglect  to  perambulate  according  to  law,  etc.  The  town 
ratifying  and  confirming  what  ye  sd  Capt.  Tousey  shall  do  in  ye  premises. 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

"At  a  lawful  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  held  April  9,  1731, 
appointed  to  consult  what  method  to  take  to  get  or  have  j-e  dividing  line 
atwixt  New  Milford  and  Newtown  settled,  first  voted  that  Capt.  Thomas 
Tousey  should  be  moderator  to  carry  on  ye  business  of  sd  meeting. 

Secondly,  agreed  and  voted  to  send  a  prayer  or  petition  to  ye  General 
Assembly  to  be  holden  at  Hartford  in  May  next,  to  intreat  ye  favor  of  ye 
honorable  assembly  for  a  committee  of  their  appointment  to  settle  ye 
above  sd  line  that  further  trouble  may  be  prevented. 

Thirdly,  agreed  and  voted  that  Capt.  Thomas  Tousey  be  Committee 
or  agent  in  ye  behalf  of  ye  town  to  prepare  and  present  to  ye  General 
Assembly  to  be  held  in  Hartford  in  May  next,  a  memorial,  and  to  take  ye 
whole  care  of  ye  business  aforesaid. 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

"At  a  lawful  town  meeting  held  in  Newtown,  September  17,  1731. 

Whereas  ye  General  Assembly  have  appointed  a  committee  with  ye  as- 
sistance of  ye  surveyor  of  ye  county  of  Hartford  to  run  and  ascertain  of 
ye  dividing  line  between  New  Milford  and  Newtown,  it  was  voted  that 
Capt.  Thomas  Tousey  and  Lieut.  John  Northrop  were  chosen  and  appointed 
a  committee  in  behalf  of  ye  town  of  Newtown  when  sd  committee,  shall 
come  upon  sd  work,  to  appear  to  do  and  act  whatsoever  shall  be  proper 
in  order  to  bring  said  affair  to  a  good  conclusion  and  to  take  thorough 
care  that  ye  return  of  sd  committtee  shall  be  presented  to  ye  General 
Assembly  in  order  to  the  ratification  and  confirmation  thereof. 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 


46  NEW   MILFORD— NEWTOWN   TOWN   LINE 

At  a  town  meeting  held  March  23,  1732,  it  was  voted  that  Captain  Thomas 
Tousey,  John  Leavenworth  and  Jeremiah  Northrop  shall  be  a  comrnittee 
to  discourse  and  conclude  with  ye  committee  chosen  by  New  Milford 
upon  terms  of  accomodations  between  the  two  towns  respecting  ye  charges 
yt  have  arose  upon  Newtown  by  virtue  of  New  Milford  having  commenced 
an  action  against  Newtown  for  not  perambulating  and  what  sd  committee 
shall  do  in  ye  premises  shall  be  held  as  valid  and  that  ye  sd  committee 
shall  have  power  this  spring  to  perambulate  ye  line  between  New  Milford 
and  Newtown,  late  established  by  ye  General  Assembly. 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

New  Milford,  Dec.  10,  1734. 

"To  ye  inhabitants  or  to  ye  moderator  of  your  meeting  which  is  to  be 
held  on  ye  12th  day  of  this  instant  in  Newtown,  greeting. 

"Gentlemen,  these  are  to  propose  conditions  of  people  with  you  in  con- 
sideration you  will  let  all  former  contentions  in  ye  law  be  laid  aside  from 
this  time,  which  hath  been  about  ye  line,  between  New  Milford  and  New- 
town, about  perambulating  with  you  on  ye  new  line  or  boundary  line.  Be 
pleased  to  return  by  the  bearer  how  or  what  you  will  do  refering  to  this 
matter.     Wishing  you  peace  and  prosperity, 

James  Prime, 
Theophilus  Baldwin, 
Selectmen. 

Recorded  December  12,  1734,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

The  above  seems  to  have  been  an  "olive  branch  of  peace"  sent 
from  New  Milford  to  Newtown.  Nothing  further  appears  upon 
the  records  in  regard  to  the  matter. 

DANBURY— NEWTOWN  TOWN  LINE 

In  1758,  the  boundary  line  between  Newtown  and  Danbury  hav- 
ing become  so  obscure,  the  town  took  action  in  regard  to  making 
the  establishment  of  the  line  the  better  understood  and  appointed 
a  committee  to  act  with  a  committee  appointed  by  the  town  of 
Danbury  to  report  at  a  future  meeting.  The  result  of  that  action 
was  embodied  in  a  report  made  at  a  town  meeting  held  on  the  17th 
day  of  April,  1758,  which  reads  as  follows : 

"These  may  certify  whom  it  may  concern,  that  we,  ye  subscribers  here- 
unto being  chosen  appomted  by  and  impowered  by  ye  selectmen  of  New- 
town a  committee  appointed  to  meet  ye  selectmen  or  a  committee  of  Dan- 
bury to  perambulate,  renew  and  erect  ye  boundaries  or  monuments  in  ye 
line  between  ye  township  of  sd  Danbury  and  Newtown  if  any  of  them 
were  unknown  on  this  17th  day  of  April,  1758,  proceeded  and  performed 
in  manner  and  for  following: 

Viz.  First,  we  reported  to  and  made  our  appearance  at  ye  N.  W.  corner 
bounds  of  sd  Newtown  and  there  joined  with  Danbury  committee,  who 
were  Capt.  John  Benedict,  Capt.  Ebenezer  Hecock  and  Phineas  Judd. 
We  agreed  to  renew  sd  boundaries  or  monuments  by  putting  stones  to  it 
which  was  and  is  a  small  ditch,  and  a  heap  of  stones  about  one  foot  on 
ye  east  side  of  ye  sd  ditch.  Then  we  went  S.  by  E.  to  ye  next  monument, 
added  stones  to  it  which  is  red  or  black  oak  tree  with  stones  to  it,  then 
moving  southeasterly  about  80  rods  where  we  erected  a  new  boundary  or 
monument  which  is  a  black  oak  tree  with  stones  to  it,  then  on  ye  same 
course  about  89  rods  to  a  heap  of  stones,  adding  to  it  more  stones,  from 
thence  to  a  rock  near  Lyon's  orchard,  from  thence  to  a  rock  with  stones 
boundary,  which  is  a  large  rock  with  a  heap  of  stones  on  it,  and  from 
thence  to  Garshum  Botswick's  shop,  a  little  south,  where  we  erected  a  new 
on  it  at  the  corner  of  Mr.  Northrop's  lot,  and  then  running  ye  same  line 
80  or  90  rods,  where  we  erected  a  new  boundary  or  monument,  which  is  a 
heap  of  stones  where  ye  southard  side  of  sd  Northrop's  lot  or  land,  then 
to  a  large  rock  with  stones  on  it  gainst  Ebenezer  Blackman's  land  adding 
stones  to  it. 


NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN  47 

Performed  per  us  on  ye  17th  day  of  April,  1758. 

Caleb  Baldwin, 
James  Hard,  Jr., 
H.  Peck. 

Committee. 
This  return  of  ye  committee  received  for  record  May  ye  8th,  1758.     Re- 
corded per  John  Northrop,  Town  Clerk. 

STRATFORD— NEWTOWN    TOWN    LINE 

Until  1761,  there  were  frequent  disputes  between  the  towns  of 
Stratford  and  Newtown  in  regard  to  the  line  established  by  the 
duly  appointed  committees  as  the  records  plainly  show,  causing 
suits  at  law,  expense  and  general  uneasiness.  At  a  proprietors'  meet- 
ing held  on  the  15th  of  Sept.,  1761,  Messrs.  Esquire  Caleb  Baldwin, 
Capt.  John  Glover,  Capt.  Henry  Glover,  Mr.  Benjamin  Curtis  and 
Theodore  Leavenworth  were  chosen  a  committee  in  behalf  of  ye  pro- 
prietors in  ye  affair  or  case  about  ye  dividing  line  betwixt  Stratford  and 
Newtown,  and  empowered  "to  prefer  a  petition  to  the  General  Assembly 
in  ye  name  of  ye  proprietors  of  common  and  undivided  land  in  such  man- 
ner and  form  as  said  committee  shall  judge  best,  praying  said  assembly  to 
establish  ye  antient  agreement  made  between  ye  townships  of  Stratford 
and  Newtown,  or  in  some  other  way  relieve  ye  sd  proprietors  from  the 
force  of  ye  judgment  of  ye  Superior  Court  held  at  Fairfield  in  August  last." 

"At  a  town  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newtown  held  January  30, 
1761,  it  was  voted  and  agreed  that  at  the  charge  of  ye  proprietors  of  New- 
town with  ye  assistance  of  a  proper  County  surveyor  of  ye  county  of 
Fairfield  that  the  east  or  easterly  line  of  ye  township  of  Stratford  ac- 
cording to  their  patent  shall  be  procured  with  all  proper  speed.  To  be 
run  and  at  ye  extent  of  12  miles  from  ye  sea  a  fair  monument  be  there 
erected  and  from  sd  monument  a  straight  or  due  cross  line  be  run  to  ye 
northeast  corner  of  ye  township  of  Fairfield  and  that  Thomas  Tousey, 
Esq.,  Capt.  John  Glover  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Curtis  shall  be  a  committee  in 
all  respects  to  take  care  that  ye  above  said  work  be  thoroughlj^  aflFected. 

John  Glover,  Town  Clerk." 

At  a  town  meeting,  May  11,  1761.  "It  was  voted  that  Capt.  John  Glover 
and  Mr.  Daniel  Booth  shall  be  agents  in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  New- 
town to  prefer  or  persue  the  petition  at  the  General  Assembly  to  be  held 
at  Hartford  on  the  second  Thursday  of  Alay,  praying  sd  Assembly  to 
appoint  a  committee  to  ascertain  the  dividing  line  between  the  town- 
ship of  Stratford  and  sd  Newtown  and  that  sd  agents  are  hereby  either  of 
them  fully  empowered  to  act  in  ye  premises.  Another  town  meeting 
held  on  October  8,  1761.  It  was  voted  that  Richard  Fairman  and  Capt. 
Henry  Glover  be  agents  and  they  are  hereby  impowered  to  act  in  the 
name  and  behalf  of  the  town  at  the  next  General  Assembly  at  their  pres- 
ent session  to  prosecute  and  persue  their  petition  now  depending  at  sd 
Assembly.  Voted  also  that  Capt.  John  Glover  shall  have  the  like  power 
as  above  mentioned. 

John  Northrop,  Town  Clerk." 

The  committee  appointed  in  Oct.  1761,  acted  in  conjunction  with 
that  appointed  in  Sept.  1761,  and  the  General  Court  accepted  and 
confirmed  the  action  of  inhabitants  of  Newtown  and  established 
the  line  and  monument  and  declared  the  same  to  be  the  dividing 
line  between  the  towns  of  Stratford  and  Newtown.  This  line  is 
now  the  dividing  line  between  Monroe  and  Trumbull  on  the  south 
and  Newtown  on  the  north,  those  two  towns  having  been  set  off 
from  Stratford  in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century. 

"At  a  general  assembly  of  the  governor  and  company  of  the  Colony 
of  Connecticut  holden  at  New  Haven  on  the  second  Thursday  of  October, 
1761,   upon   the   petition    of   Daniel    Booth,   Caleb    Baldwin    and    Benjamin 


\ 


48  STRATFORD— NEWTOWN    TOWN    LINE 

Curtiss,  all  inhabitants  of  Newtown  and  proprietors  of  the  common  and 
undivided  land  in  sd  Newtown  and  ye  rest  of  ye  inhabitants  of  sd  New- 
town and  ye  rest  of  ye  proprietors  of  ye  sd  common  and  undivided  land  in 
sd  Newtown,  representing  to  this  assembly  that  ye  dividing  line  between 
yt  town  towards  Stratford  was  for  a  long  time  unsettled  and  uncertain, 
which  occasioned  teadius  and  unhappy  disputes  and  controversies  be- 
tween sd  towns,  the  same  lasting  and  continuing  until  ye  year  1725,  when 
ye  sd  towns  and  ye  proprietors  of  ye  common  and  undivided  lands  in  sd 
towns  by  their  respective  committees,  in  order  to  prevent  any  further  dis- 
putes and  contentions  respecting  such  dividing  line  and  to  settle  and  make 
ye  same  known,  did  honestly  and  in  an  amicable  manner  did  agree  to 
settle  and  establish  a  dividing  line  between  said  towns,  that  the  sd  agree- 
ment was  put  into  writing  and  duly  executed  and  that  the  same  was  ac- 
cepted and  approved  of  by  ye  inhabitants  of  said  towns  and  at  last  by 
the  proprietors  of  ye  common  and  undivided  lands  in  sd  Stratford.  But 
such  acceptance,  etc.,  not  being  entered  upon  record,  rendered  such  agree- 
ment week  and  not  a  lawfull  evidence  of  such  dividing  lines.  But  said 
agreement  being  so  honestly  made  as  aforesaid  said  line  therein  contained 
ought  to  be  deemed  and  accounted  ye  dividing  line  between  sd  towns  as 
to  jurisdiction  and  propriety.  Praying  that  sd  agreement  may  be  con- 
firmed and  established  and  that  sd  line  may  be  the  dividing  line  between 
said  towns  both  as  to  jurisdiction  and  propriety,  etc.,  as  on  file." 

"Resolved  by  this  assembly  that  the  sd  agreement  mentioned  in  sd 
petition  be  confirmed  and  established  and  that  the  sd  line  and  monument 
mentioned  and  contained  therein  shall  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  de- 
clared to  the  dividing  line  between  said  towns  both  as  to  jurisdiction  and 
propriety,  etc.,  as  petition  on  file." 

Recorded  per  John  Northrop,  proprietors'  clerk  a  coppie  of  ye  bill  in 
form  at  Hartford  past  at  New  Haven,  October,  1761. 

A  true  cope  of  record  examined  by  George  Willeys,  secretary  of  state. 

BROOKFIELD'S  ORIGIN 

Less  than  20  years  after  Newtown  was  incorporated,  some  living 
in  the  north  end  of  town,  more  particularly  at  the  "West  farm," 
the  local  name  of  which  was  "Whiskenere,"  wanted  to  be  set  off 
with  part  of  Danbury  and  part  of  New  Milford  as  an  ecclesiastical 
society. 

"At  a  town  meeting  called  in  Oct.  1751,  it  was  voted  to  appoint  agents 
in  behalf  of  ye  town  in  ye  case  of  ye  people  of  ye  west  farm  belonging  to 
Newtown  making  application  to  ye  honorable  Assembly  to  be  held  at 
New  Haven,  Oct  9,  1751,  in  order  to  be  set  ofif  with  ye  other  parts  of  ye 
neighboring  towns  as  an  Ecclesiastical  society."  And  it  was  also  "voted 
that  ye  professors  of  ye  Church  of  England  in  Newtown  shall  be  freed 
from  any  charge  in  that  aflfair  above  mentioned."  That  meeting  being 
declared  illegal  another  was  held  as  soon  as  the  law  would  allow,  at 
which  "Messrs.  Joseph  Smith,  Daniel  Booth  and  Joseph  Botsford  were 
appointed  agents  in  behalf  of  the  town  to  oppose  in  ye  case  of  ye  west 
farm  belonging  to  sd  Newtown  and  others,  making  application  to  ye 
Honorable  Assembly  to  be  held  at  New  Haven,  October  9,  1751,  in  order 
to  be  set  off  with  some  parts  of  ye  neighboring  towns  as  an  Ecclesiastical 
Society,  therefore  voted  that  whereas  a  committee  May  last  was  by  ye 
Honorable  Assembly  authorized  to  view  ye  circumstances  of  part  of  ye 
town  of  Danbury,  Newtown  and  New  Milford,  all  adjoining,  in  order  to 
ye  forming  of  an  Ecclesiastical  Society  and  to  make  report  to  ye  Assem- 
bly in  this  month  of  October  with  instructions  to  notify  ye  several  parties 
concerned  of  ye  time  and  place  of  their  meeting  upon  that  affair  that  they 
might  have  opportunity  of  making  their  pleas  that  ye  Honorable  General 
Assembly  to  be  held  this  month  be  made  acquainted  that  ye  town  of  New- 
town by  sd  committee  or  any  form  or  under  them,  were  never  notified 
with  relation  to  ye  premises  whereby  they  are  debarred  of  their  first 
privilege  and  exposed  to  suffer  great  wrong  and  many  are  aggrieved. 
Voted  in  ye  affirmative. 

John  Northrop,  Town  Clerk." 


BROOKFIELD'S    ORIGIN  49 

Though  thus  far  disappointed,  the  people  of  the  north  end  of 
Newtown  were  not  discouraged.  Released  by  vote  in  town  meet- 
ing from  their  tax  toward  the  support  of  the  Newtown  minister, 
provided  they  would  support  one  in  the  "north  end,"  they  hired 
Rev.  Thomas  Brooks  in  1757,  the  parish  of  Newbury  having  been 
incorporated  in  1754. 

Warning  concerning  Newbury  being  opposed  by  Newtown  at 
the  General  Court  for  a  town,  in  1772: 

"Whereas  the  town  of  Newtown  is  called  to  answer  to  Newbury  parish 
at  ye  General  Assembly  to  be  holden  at  Hartford  Instant  May,  concern- 
ing said  Parish  being  granted  town  privileges  and  ye  selectmen,  not  hav- 
ing power  invested  in  them  to  oppose  or  not  oppose  unless  by  agreement 
with  sd  Newbury  to  ye  maintainance  of  their  proportionable  part  of  ye 
poor,  which  they  refuse  to  comply  with.  Therefore  at  ye  desire  of  ye 
selectmen  warning  is  hereby  given  to  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  in  Fair- 
field County  that  there  is  to  be  a  town  meeting  holden  at  ye  Town  house 
in  sd  town  on  Monday,  ye  18th  day  of  May,  1772,  at  5  of  ye  clock,  after- 
noon, to  consider  and  determine  ye  matter  above  mentioned. 

Caleb  Beldwin,  Town  Clerk." 

At  a  town  meeting  held  in  accordance  with  this  notification  "it  was 
voted  that  the  town  shall  oppose  ye  parish  of  Newbury  at  ye  General 
Court  now  sitting  at  Hartford  in  regard  to  sd  parish  being  set  ofT  for  a 
township." 

Voted  that  Mr.  Oliver  Tousey  shall  be  agent  in  behalf  of  ye  town  of 
Newtown  to  oppose  sd  Newbury  at  ye  General  Assembly. 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Town  Clerk. 

We  are  not  able  to  find  that  further  action  was  taken  by  New- 
town in  regard  to  the  matter  until  1779.  The  seven  years  between 
the  action  taken  by  vote  of  the  town  in  1772  "to  oppose  the  parish 
of  Newbury  from  being  set  off  as  a  town"  and  that  taken  by 
Newtown  at  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1779  showed  a  decided 
reaction  in  feeling  in  relation  to  the  matter,  and  again  at  the  annual 
town  meting  in  December,  1781.  Still  matters  were  held  in  abey- 
ance for  some  reason  until  1785,  when  it  was  voted  in  town  meet- 
ing that  "all  objection  and  opposition  on  the  part  of  Newtown  should  be 
withdrawn,"  as  will  be  seen  by  these  votes  : 

At  Newtown's  annual  town  meeting  in  Dec.  1779,  "it  was  voted  that  ye 
inhabitants  of  ye  parish  of  Newbury  that  belong  to  the  limits  of  New- 
town shall  have  liberty  to  apply  to  ye  General  Assembly  next  coming  to 
be  set  oflf  as  a  district  town  without  any  opposition  made  by  this  tov/n." 

Again  at  the  annual  town  meeting  held  in  Dec.  1781,  the  town  voted  "that 
this  town  will  not  oppose  the  inhabitants  of  the  parish  of  Newbury  at  the 
General  Assembly  in  May  next  for  town  privileges." 

Again  at  a  special  town  meeting  in  Newtown,  March  29,  1785,  to  deter- 
mine the  matter  concerning  town  privileges  for  the  parish  of  Newbury 
it  was  voted  "that  this  town,  considering  ye  difficulties  ye  parish  of  New- 
bury labors  under  in  lying  in  three  towns  and  two  counties,  have  no  ob- 
jection nor  shall  we  oppose  them  at  ye  General  Assembly  in  their  me- 
morial for  town  privilege,  they  ye  sd  parish  of  Newbury  bearing  their 
proportion  of  ye  town  debts  already  contracted  or  that  shall  be  contracted 
as  a  town  at  any  time  before  ye  confirmation  of  sd  parish  in  town 
privileges." 

As  to  the  line  to  be  established  between  Newtown  and  Newbury,  the 
town  voted  at  the  same  meeting,  "that  the  line  between  the  Township 
of  Newtown  and  the  proposed  Township  of  Newbury  shall  begin  in  the 
line  between  the  Township  of  Danbury  and  Newtown  80  rods  southerly 
of  the  known  monument  called  the  "bound  hollow"  which  was  the  ancient 
parochial  bounds  of  the  said  parish  of  Newtown.  Thence  a  straight  line 
to  a  monument  30  rods  southerly  of  a  white  oak  tree  at  the  southeasterly 
corner  of  Capt   Richard   Smith's   garden,  sd   tree  being  an   old   boundary 


50  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY   AND   HISTORIAN 

line  between  the  sd  parish  of  Newbury  and  Newtown,  thence  a  straight 
line  to  the  Great  River  at  the  riding  place  about  120  rods  northerly  from 
the  mouth  of  Pond  Brook. 

Although  Newtown  did  not  oppose  the  people  of  the  "north  end" 
having  parish  privileges  to  the  finish,  yet  their  opposition  long  de- 
layed the  time  of  its  incorporation  as  a  town.  Time,  the  mollifier 
of  long  continued  disputes,  at  last  brought  about  the  wished  for 
result  and,  in  1788,  Newbury  was  incorporated  as  a  town.  From 
1757  to  1788  Rev.  Thomas  Brooks  had  had  the  pastoral  care  of  all 
Newbury,  and  it  was  known  far  and  wide  as  "Brooksfield,"  and 
what  more  natural  than  the  name  Newbury  being  dropped  to 
make  way  for  the  proposed  new  name  of  "Brookfield,"  a  name  to 
be  retained,  we  hope,  until  it  shall  be  proclaimed  that  "Time  shall 
be  no  more." 

In  deference  to  the  towns  from  which  Newbury  was  formed,  its 
name  was  taken  from  the  first  part  of  the  name  of  Newtown  and 
New  Milford  and  for  the  last  part  of  Danbury,  from  which  came 
Newbury.  The  parish  of  Newbury  was  incorporated  in  1754.  In 
1759  the  General  Court,  upon  petition,  annexed  the  section  of  the 
parish  taken  from  New  Milford  town  to  Fairfield  county,  and  in 
March,  1788,  it  petitioned  for  its  incorporation  with  town  priv- 
ileges and  it  was  granted  34  years  intervening.  In  June,  1788.  the 
town  of  Brookfield  held  its  first  town  meeting,  at  which  the  follow- 
ing vote  was  passed. 

"Thanks  to  the  gentlemen  spectators  from  neighboring  towns  for  the 
respect  shown  to  the  town  of  Brookfield  in  attending  their  first  town 
meeting  and  in  particular  to  Col.  Samuel  Canfield,  Esq.,  appointed  first 
moderator  for  said  town  of  Brookfield  by  the  General  Assembly  for  his 
care  and  service  in  said  office." 

LAY  OUT  OF  COUNTRY  ROADS  IN  YE 
OLDEN  TIMES 

Fifty  years  ago  or  so,  a  little  boy  of  eight  or  ten  years  of  age 
was  trudging  along  on  his  way  home  from  the  school  in  Taunton, 
when  he  was  overtaken  by  an  elderly  man,  a  stranger,  who,  instead 
of  asking  "Where  does  this  road  lead  to?"  accosted  him  with  the 
query,  "Say,  bub,  where  does  this  road  go  to?"  The  boy,  with  a 
quick  wit  replied,  "Don't  go  nowheres,  zi  knows  on,  it's  been  here 
ever  since  I've  been  here."  The  questioner,  together  with  a  lis- 
tener, who  related  the  epsiode  to  me,  died  long  time  since,  but  the 
lad  of  the  years  long  gone  is  still  living  and  a  grandfather.  That  same 
question  is  one  of  to-day  with  some,  who,  upon  pleasure  bent,  drive 
along  the  lanes,  the  by-ways  and  the  highways  of  our  extensive 
township,  forming  as  they  do  a  complete  net  work  of  mysterious 
complications,  which,  at  the  same  time,  are  a  delight  to  the  artist, 
the  naturalist  and  the  botanist,  though  a  burden  to  the  tax  payers 
and  a  perplexity  to  the  town  fathers.  A  conservative  estimate  of 
those  best  informed,  as  to  the  mileage  of  Newtown's  roads  to  be 
kept  in  repair  at  town  expense,  is  not  less  than  400  miles.  While 
it  is  true  that  none  of  our  roads  "go"  anywhere,  it  is  equally  true 
that  in  their  circuitous  courses  and  serpentine  windings  they  have  a 
continual  series  of  surprises  for  tourists,  to  whom  it  is  the  height 
of  pleasure  to  drive  along  our  country  roads. 


HOUSE  BUILT  BY  EZRA  H.  JOHNSON 

E.    L.    Johnson's    grandfather,    in    1795 


BIRTHPLACE  OF   EZRA    L.   JOHNSON 

Built    in    1830,    reconstructed    in    1876. 


LAY  OUT  OF  COUNTRY  ROADS  51 

The  most  reasonable  opinion  that  the  student  of  history  can 
arrive  at  in  regard  to  their  extreme  crookedness  is  that  in  the 
early  days  the  pitching  for  land  and  the  building  of  homes,  "shacks," 
if  we  please  to  call  them,  took  precedence  of  the  laying  out  of  high- 
ways, a  long  time  intervening  before  the  coming  of  wheeled  ve- 
hicles, so  that  footpaths  for  man  or  horse  were  all  needed  for  the 
first  few  years  of  pioneer  life.  There  seems  not  a  doubt  that  the 
highway  leading  from  the  center  of  Newtown  to  Bridgeport  fol- 
lows the  trail  of  the  Scatakooks  and  Pohtatucks  who  wandered  all 
over  the  Housatonic  valley  from  the  Massachusetts  line  down 
through  Kent,  New  Milford,  Newtown  and  Stratford  to  the  shore 
of  the  great  salt  sea. 

My  grandfather,  born  in  1772,  died  in  1854  and  lived  his  life 
alongside  this  road.  My  father,  born  in  1799,  lived  alongside  the 
same  road  all  his  life,  dying  in  1871.  The  writer,  born  in  1832,  has 
lived  all  his  life  on  the  ancestral  farm,  and  has  seen  the  summer 
migrations  of  the  Indians  along  this  road  on  their  way  to  "salt 
water."  Year  after  year  they  dwindled  in  numbers,  a  natural  re- 
sult of  the  coming  of  the  "pale  face,"  so  that  the  last  of  their  mi- 
gratory trips  ended  about  1860. 

Newtown's  bi-centennial  celebration  fixed  permanently  in  our 
minds  the  fact  that  the  township  of  land  was  purchased  from  the 
Indians  in  1705.  In  course  of  time,  settlers  began  to  come  in.  It 
was  decided,  after  careful  investigation,  where  the  center  of  the 
town  should  be  fixed  and  a  certain  routine  line  of  business  affairs 
moved  along,  controlled  by  regulations  laid  down  by  the  General 
Court,  which  held  semi-annual  sessions  in  May  and  Oct.  alternately 
at  Hartford  and  New  Haven. 

The  layout  of  highways  in  the  early  years  of  Newtown  life  was 
in  striking  contrast  to  the  scientific  methods  along  the  same  lines 
at  the  present  day.  We  are  having  a  daily  object  lesson  of  the 
laying  out  and  also  of  the  building  of  highways,  not  only  as  regards 
survey  and  easy  grades  by  cutting  down  the  hills  and  filling  the 
valleys,  but  also  by  widening  the  road  bed  and  the  elimination  or 
the  lessening  of  heavy  and  dangerous  curves. 

The  first  recorded  lay-out  of  a  highway  the  writer  has  been 
able  to  find  in  his  researches  of  the  tow-n's  records  is  dated  Nov. 
14,  1715.  It  is  called  "Ye  lay-out  of  ye  country  road  toward 
Stratford." 

We  will  need  to  keep  in  mind  that  the  present  boundary  line 
separating  Newtown  from  Monroe  and  Trumbull  is  the  same  line 
that  separated  Newtown  from  Stratford  in  1715,  Monroe  and 
Trumbull  having  been  set  ofT  from  the  north  part  of  Stratford 
long  time  afterward,  so  that  it  was  only  six  miles  from  the  center 
of  our  town  to  the  boundary  line  between  Stratford  and  Newtown. 
That  the  earliest  lay-out  of  roads  followed  the  foot  paths  or  trails 
that  led  from  one  central  point  to  another  is  especially  true  of  the 
lay-out  toward  Stratford,  toward  Woodbury  and  toward  New  Mil- 
ford  and  Danbury. 

"Jonathan  Hubbell  hath  pitched  for  his  ten  acre  pitch  at  ye  swamp 
at  ye  north  corner  of  Mr.  Rood's  lot  now  in  ye  improvement  of  Stephen 


52  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN 

Parmalee  and  on  ye  southeast  side  of  ye  path  which  goes  from  Nototuck 
to  Danbury.     Entered  this  fourth  day  of  Nov.  1714. 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

Of  the  lay-out  of  highways  in  Newtown,  first  in  order  is  the  road 

leading  southerly  to  the  town  line,  the  whole  distance  now  a  State 

road  that  will  become  a  section  of  a  "trunk  line"  extending  from 

New  York  City  to  Berkshire  Hills  in  Massachusetts. 

We,  the  committee  that  are  to  lay  out  highways  whose  names  are  un- 
derwritten have  ye  14th  day  of  November,  1715,  laid  out  ye  country  road 
towards  Stratford  as  far  as  Pototuck  brook  and  measured  it  from  Joseph 
Peck's  house  two  miles.  Sd  road  is  eight  rods  wide  from  Ebenezer  John- 
son's and  crooks  as  ye  path  to  ye  Deep  Brook  does  and  there  we  crost  ye 
east  corner  of  Ebenezer  Booth's  land,  which  he  had  of  Samuel  Beers, 
which  quantity  he  takes  and  joyns  to  his  other  land.  We  clypt  ye  north- 
east corner  of  Jeremiah  Northrop's  twelve  acre  lott  from  his  eastward 
corner  which  is  a  white  oak  tree,  and  by  ye  side  of  ye  next  brook  we 
marked  a  black  oak  tree.  Ye  highway  down  stream  eight  rods  from  sd 
tree.  Ye  first  mile  goes  16  to  18  rods  southard  to  a  crooked  white  oak, 
marked.  We  clypt  ye  east  corner  of  Joseph's  Peck's  20  acre  lott  as  marked 
by  a  black  oak  standing  on  his  part.  He  then  consented  to  it.  Betwixt 
this  and  ye  next  swamp  we  began  to  lay  out  ye  highway  10  rods  wide. 
Eastward  of  ye  cart  parth  it  goes  to  Joseph  Peck's  60  acre  lot  as  marked 
trees  will  discern,  the  eight  rods  until  over  sd  Pohtatuck  brook  ye  two 
miles.  Here  is  a  white  oak  tree  marked  against  sd  Peck's  land.  When  we 
laid  out  ye  highway  eight  rods  wide  over  Pohtatuck  brook  across  ye 
southern  end  of  John  Glover's  60  acre  lot,  and  up  a  valley  between  New 
Haven  Plain  and  Long  Swamp,  eight  rods  wide,  and  so  crossing  ye  old 
road  at  a  little  brook  as  ye  marked  trees  will  show,  and  rocks  with  stones 
and  homeward  to  ye  place  where  we  began  to  make  ye  road  10  rods  wide 
sd   highway   comes   in.  Thomas  Bennitt, 

John  Glover, 
Ebenezer  Booth,         Committee. 

Recorded  per  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk,  November  25,  1715. 

A  lay-out,  a  few  days  later,  from  the  center  to  what  became  Sandy 
Hook  and  on  toward  Woodbury  : 

"We  that  are  ye  committee  for  to  lay  out  highways  whose  names  are 
underwritten  have  this  18th  day  of  November,  1715,  laid  out  a  highway 
or  country  road  two  miles  from  ye  middle  of  ye  town  down  by  ye  north 
side  of  ye  old  farm  over  Pohtatuck  Brook  and  so  toward  ye  Single  Pine 
to  a  bunch  of  stones  upon  a  rock  which  was  two  miles.  The  highway  is 
20  rods  wide  according  as  ye  common  or  undevided  land  will  allow.  We 
removed  Daniel  Foot's  southwest  corner  of  his  four  acre  lott  northwest 
six  rods  and  we  gave  him  seven  rods  at  his  east  corner.  Sd  Foot  was  preas- 
ant  and  consented  to  ye  same.  We  lay  out  a  road  for  to  go  to  Wood- 
bury. We  began  it  at  ye  First  Meadow  in  ye  above  sd  road  eastward  of 
ye  Pohtatuck  Brook  turning  of  it  more  North  till  we  come  to  some  pines. 
We  lay  it  20  rods  wide.  We  laid  out  Darbee  road  from  ye  going  over  sd 
brook  by  ye  side  of  it  upon  ye  east  side  of  ye  Old  Farms  till  we  come  to 
a  path  that  leads  to  Fregrace  Adamses  60  acre  pitch.  Also  that  path  we 
laid  20  rods  wide  except  when  there  is  a  meadow. 

Thomas  Bennitt, 
John  Glover, 
Ebenezer  Booth, 

Recorded  November  28.  1715,  Joseph  Peck,  Clerk.      Committee. 

The  Great  Boggs,  in  Head  of  Meadow  district : 

"We  whose  names  are  under  written  have,  this  23rd  day  of  November, 
1715,  laid  out  a  road  southward  of  ye  town  towards  ye  Great  Boggs  two 
miles,  ten  rods  wide,  joining  upon  ye  west  side  of  Ebenezer  Smith's  home 
lott,  and  Ebenezer  Johnson's  four  acres,  and  Samuel  Ferris'  20  acre  lot, 
in  ye  east  side  of  ye  home  meadow  until  we  get  to  Stephen  Parmalee's 
20  acre  lot,  it  turns  more  eastern  to  a  marked  black  oak  tree  and  then  to 
a  white  oak  tree  which  stands  by  ye  west  side  of  a  swamp  against  Samuel 
Beers,  20  acre  and  other  trees  we  have  marked  till  we  come  to  ye  top  of 


LAY  OUT  OF  COUNTRY  ROADS  53 

ye    hill    which    is    on    ye    east    side    of    ye    highway    and    so    to    ye    place 
where  ye  paths  part  to  ye   Little  and  Grate   Boggs,  as  ye  path  goes,   10 
,  rods  wide." 

Layout  in  South  Center  district,  Nov.  23,  1715: 

"Also  we  have  laid  out  a  road  this  same  day  round  ye  east  corner  of 
;  Mr.  Peck's  nine  acres  over  Deep  Brook  and  so  on  ye  northwest  side  of 
Ebenezer  Smith's  20  acre  lott  or  14  acres,  and  on  ye  west  end  of  Joseph 
Peck's  20  acre  lot,  and  Samuel  Prindle's  land  on  ye  eastern  part  of  Bushy 
Hill  as  ye  trees  will  decifer,  being  marked  on  each  hand  till  we  come  to  a 
small  swamp  which  goes  down  to  Prindle's  land  or  20  acre  lott,  so  up  a 
valle  till  we  come  near  to  a  swamp,  near  to  Joseph  Botsford's  30  acre  lott, 
ye  north  corner  of  it,  then  turns  more  eastward  as  ye  marked  trees  will 
show  till  we  come  to  a  swamp  and  cross  it,  which  is  near  to  Joseph 
Botsford's  east  corner  and  then  round  it  upon  ye  eastward  side  down  to  a 
little  brook,  yt  enters  itself  into  ye  west  sprain  of  Pohtatuck  brook,  as 
markd  trees  will  show.  We  have  also  laid  out  ye  road  eight  rods  wide  cross 
ye  Deep  Brook  at  ye  north  corner  of  Ebenezer  Smith's  lot,  which 
corner  we  have  clypt  for  ye  straightening  of  ye  rode,  and  so  to  ye  center 
at  ye  northwest  corner  of  Mrs.  Widow  Toucey's  lot.  We  have  laid  out 
a  highway  to  Ebenezer  Booth's  60  acre  lott  10  rods  wide  as  his  part  goes, 
only  he  crosses  ye  brook  10  rods  hier  to  get  akross  a  swamp  until  he 
comes  to  his  path  again. 

Thomas  Bennitt, 
Ebenezer  Booth, 

Committee. 
Joseph    Peck,   Town    Clerk. 

As  the  reader,  enjoying  the  comforts  that  come  from  a  well- 
ordered,  well-cared-for  home,  ponders  over  the  crude  ways  of 
those  early  days,  let  him  give  a  tender  thought  to  those  to  whom 
we  are  so  much  indebted  under  the  providence  of  God,  who,  in 
perilous  times,  crossed  the  ocean  to  make  for  themselves  homes  in 
a  new  world,  and  later  to  join  in  laying  foundations  for  a  "Govern- 
ment of  the  people,  by  the  people  and  for  the  people,"  the  like  of 
which  exists  nowhere  else  upon  the  earth.  Let  us  not  only  think  of 
these  things,  but  may  it  be  our  daily  desire  and  our  daily  endeavor 
to  make  principle,  honesty  of  purpose  and  virtue  our  guiding 
stars,  so  that  our  form  of  government  shall  not  perish  from  the 
earth. 

NEWTOWN'S  FIRST  CALL  FOR  A  MINISTER 

MR.   PHINEAS    FISK— 1711. 

For  many  years  the  ministers  of  the  several  towns  in  the  colony 
were  hired  at  the  annual  town  meeting  and  the  salary  was  paid  by 
a  tax  levied  on  the  taxable  property  of  the  freeholders  and  was 
considered  a  part  of  the  town  expenses,  and  there  was  no  getting 
away  from  payment  of  the  tax  when  once  levied.  Although  the 
settlement  of  Newtown  commenced  in  1705,  it  was  not  until  six 
years  after  that  the  first  move,  town-wise,  was  made  toward  calling 
a  minister,  who  was  to  be  a  non-conformist,and  settled  upon  the 
Presbyterian    foundation. 

The  first  town  meeting  for  that  purpose  was  on  September  24, 
1711,  at  the  house  of  Peter  Hubbell.  It  was  then  voted  that  Peter 
Hubbell  be  town  clerk  for  the  year  ensuing,  and  it  was  at  this 
meeting  that  the  calling  of  a  minister  was  first  taken  up. 

"Voted,  that  Mr.  Phineas  Fisk  be  invited  to  come  to  this  place  to  preach 
a  sermon  amongst  us,  and  that  we  may  discuss  him  about  settling  amongst 
us  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel  for  half  a  year  or  some  other  space  of  time 
as  may  be  agreed  upon  for  a  trial.     And  Lieutenant  William  Adams   be 


54  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY   AND   HISTORIAN 

the  person  to  wait  upon  him  here  as  soon  as  can  be  conveniently  attended 
upon."  December  24,  1711,  it  was  "Voted,  that  if  Mr.  Phineas  Fisk  will 
come  and  settle  in  Newtown  and  preach  ye  ministry  to  us  he  shall  have  a 
petition  right."  February  12,  1712,  Ebenezcr  Prindle,  Samuel  Sanford,  John 
Piatt,  Abraham  Kimberley  and  John  Griffin  were  made  a  committee  "to 
discourse  a  minister  in  order  for  settling  him  in  Newtown." 

May  30,  1712,  it  was  voted  "to  give  the  minister  that  settles  as  a  minister 
that  right  of  land  that  was  laid  out  to  the  ministry.  "Voted  by  the  major 
part  for  Mr.  Phineas  Fisk  to  be  minister  for  Newtown."  "Voted  to  give 
the  minister  that  comes  and  settles  amongst  us,  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel 
to  preach  the  Gospel  amongst  us,  that  he  shall  have  a  petition  right  in  full 
with  said  petitioners  of  Newtown." 

August  12,  1712,  it  was  voted  in  town  meeting  "that  if  Mr.  Phineas  Fisk 
carry  on  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  amongst  us  we  will  for  his  encouragement, 
besides  ye  petition  right,  before  granted  him  build  him  and  finish  a 
sufficient  dwelling  house  of  40  feet  in  length,  and  20  feet  in  breadth,  two 
stories  high,  16  feet  between  joists,  frame  and  cover  a  lean-to,  12  feet  wide 
ye  whole  length  of  ye  house  and  provide  him  at  our  cost  a  comfortable 
house  until  we  have  built  as  above  sd,  and  give  him  his  wood  yearly  and 
to  be  at  ye  charge  of  ye  removal  of  his  family  and  goods,  fence,  clear  and 
sow  his  home  lot  with  wheat,  ye  first  year,  and  in  like  manner  fence,  clear, 
and  sow  four  acres  of  his  land  a  year  for  three  years  following,  give  him 
for  a  salary  30  pounds  for  ye  first  year,  40  pounds  a  year  the  three  follow- 
ing years,  fifty  pounds  ye  fifth  year,  60  pounds  ye  sixth  year  in  money  or 
wheat  at  a  shilling  a  bushel,  and  Indian  corn  at  20  pence  a  bushel  and  so 
much  upon  ye  yearly  after  ye  sixth  year  as  60  pounds  shall  amount  to  upon 
ye  pound  on  ye  list  of  rateable  estate  sd  year." 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

After  the  town  had  held  six  town  meetings  in  regard  to  calling 
Mr.  Phineas  Fisk  and  all  of  no  avail  at  a  town  meeting  Oct.  1,  1712, 
it  was  "voted:  "That  Mr.  John  Glover  request  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Charles 
Chauncey  and  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Weed  and  some  other  ministers  of  ye 
county,  if  they  think  needful,  that  one  or  two,  or  as  they  see  meet,  come 
and  assist  and  carry  on  and  advise  us  at  Newtown  and  keep  a  day  of 
humiliation  with  us,  that  God  in  His  mercy  would  direct  us  and  prosper  us 
with  a  man  to  preach  the  Gospel  to  us,  and  that  God  would  continue  the 
Gospel  to  us." 

It  might  seem  to  a  thoughtful  person  that  disrespect  was  shown 
by  the  Town  Clerk  in  not  entering  the  name  of  the  one  called  with 
his  title,  but  at  the  time  the  call  came,  Mr.  Fisk  was  still  tutor  at 
Yale  College  at  Saybrook,  and  had  not  been  ordained  minister  of 
the  Gospel.    From  1706  to  1713  he  was  tutor  at  Yale. 

As  the  correspondence  was  all  on  one  side,  nothing  came  of  it. 
It  was  learned  many  years  later  that  he  settled  in  Haddam. 

NEWTOWN'S  FIRST  SETTLED  MINISTER 

REV.    THOMAS    TOUSEY— 1714-1724. 

At  a  lawful  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown,  April  29,1713,  voted 
and  agreed  for  Ebenezer  Smith  to  go  to  Wethersfield  to  treat  with  Mr. 
Tousey  of  Wethersfield  and  request  him  to  come  and  give  us  a  visit 
and  preach  a  Sabbath  or  two  with  us  that  we  may  have  opportunity  to 
discourse   him   in   order  to  carry  on   ye  work  of  ye  ministry  amongst   us. 

John  Glover,  Recorder. 

May  ye  21,  1713,  "voted  and  made  choice  of  John  Glover,  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Smith  and  Mr.  Benjamin  Sherman,  a  committee  to  discourse  and  treat  with 
Mr.  Tousey  of  Wethersfield  in  order  to  settle  amongst  us  to  carry  on  ye 
work  of  ye  ministry  in  this  place.  This  meeting  is  adjourned  until  to- 
morrow night,  sun  half  an  hour  high,  from  ye  date  above." 

John   Glover,  Recorder. 

May  ye  22d,  1713.  "At  ye  said  adjourned  meeting  the  inhabitants  voted 
and  agreed  to  give  Mr.  Thomas  Tousee  thirty  pounds  in  money  and  also 
to  sow  all  ye  minister's  home  Lott  with  Wheat  that  is  suitable,  Mr.  Tousee 


NEWTOWN'S  FIRST  SETTLED  MINISTER  55 

to  have  ye  crop  provided  ye  sd  Mr.  Tousee  preach  ye  Gospel  Amongst  us 
a  year.  The  Inhabitants  Aforesaid  voted  and  agreed  and  made  choice  of 
Mr  Thomas  Tousee  to  preach  ye  Gospel  Amongst  us  for  ye  space  of  a  year, 
upon  Probation  in  order  to  settlement."  John  Glover,  recorder. 

November  16,  1713.  The  town  "voted  and  agreed  and  made  choice  of 
Abraham  Kimberly,  John  Glover,  Ebenezer  Prindle  and  John  Griffin  a 
committee  to  discourse  Mr.  Tousey  in  order  to  settlement,  to  know 
whether  he  is  willing  to  carry  on  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  in  this  place  as 
long  as  God  shall  grant  him  life  and  health  on  ye  salary  yt  ye  town  and 
he  shall  yearly  agree  for."  Voted,  "to  give  Josiah  Burritt  20  shillings  in 
pay  or  two-thirds  money  for  meeting  in  his  house  on  ye  Lord's  Day  from 
this  date  until  next  May  ensuing."  John  Glover  recorder. 

December  14,  1713.  "Voted  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  on  ye  Date  above 
written.  Have  made  and  in  our  place  and  stead,  Put  and  Empowered  our 
trusty  and  loving  friends  Abraham  Kimberly,  John  Glover,  Ebenezer  Smith 
Ebenezer  Prindle  and  John  Griffin  our  true  and  lawful  attorneys,  agents 
or  trustees  for  us  and  in  our  name  to  indorse  and  agree  with  ye  Reverend 
Mr.  Tousee  respecting  his  settlement  and  maintainance  so  long  as  he  shall 
continue  to  carry  on  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  in  this  place  or  town  Afore- 
said. Ratifying,  Allowing  and  Confirming  and  holding  firm  and  effectual 
all,  and  whatsoever  our  sd  Attorneys  or  Trustees  shall  Lawfully  do  in  and 
About  ye  Premises  as  we  ourselves  had  Personally  indented  and  Agreed. 
Entered  verbatim  as  voted.     Attest  John  Glover,  Town  Clerk." 

At  a  town  meeting  called  and  held  three  days  later,  Dec.  16,  the  follow- 
ing vote  was  passed.  "The  householders  and  Inhabitants  of  Newtown  by 
their  vote  Accepted  ye  agreement  of  Town's  committee,  Attorneys  or 
Trustees  made  with  ye  Reverend  Mr  Thomas  Tousee  as  to  his  settlement 
and  sallary  and  ordered  yt  sd  agreement  to  be  recorded. 

John   Glover,   Town   Clerk. 

May  6,  1714:  "At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of  ye  householders  and  Inhab- 
itants of  Newtown  by  their  vote  accepted  the  agreement  ye  town's  com- 
mittee, attorneys  or  trustees  made  with  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Thomas  Tousey  as  to 
his  settlement  and  sallary  and  orders  ye  sd  agreement  to  be  recorded." 

John  Glover,  Town  Clerk. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  February  24,  1718,  the  question  of  salary  came 
up  when  the  following  vote  was  passed:  "Voted,  Whereas  it  is  concluded 
Between  Mr.  Tousey  and  ye  selectmen  of  ye  town  of  Newtown  that  for  ye 
greater  convenience  of  paying  ye  sd  Mr.  Tousee  his  sallary  that  the  year 
shall  begin  with  Him  as  to  his  ministerial!  work  on  ye  8th  day  of  March 
next,  and  so  shall  continue  year  by  year.  It  is  concluded  yt  all  j't  is  behind 
or  remaining  due  of  sd  Air.  Tousey's  salary  from  ye  iirst  of  his  ministry 
to  ye  8th  of  March,  next  is  43  pounds,  16  shillings,  three  pence,  shall 
be  Payed  by  sd  Day  or  with  all  convenient  speed  and  that  ever  after  ye 
8th  of  March  Shall  be  ye  time  on  or  by  which  ye  sd  Mr.  Tousee  shall  be 
cleared  or  that  shall  be  promised  therefor." 

Thomas  Bennitt, 
Thomas  Toucey,  Joseph  Peck, 

Selectmen. 
Attest,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

March  7,  1718:  "At  ye  above  sd  town  meeting  the  Inhabitants  aforesaid 
did  consent  to,  and  by  their  vote  confirm  ye  agreement  between  ye  Rever- 
end Mr.  Tousee  and  ye  selectmen  of  ye  town  of  Newtown,  February  24, 
1718,  and  ordered  sd  agreement  to  be  recorded," — Attest  Joseph  Peck, 
Town  Clerk. 

"Whereas,  in  the  articles  of  agreement  between  the  town  of  Newtown 
and  myself,  particular  prices  are  specified  of  grain  and  provisions,  I  do 
hereby  declare  that  as  to  the  grain  and  provisions  that  I  shall  receive  of 
the  town  for  the  use  of  my  family  or  for  my  own  necessity  or  occasion  to 
be  improved  in  this  place,  that  I  will  receive  it  at  the  common  and  current 
price  that  it  shall  go  at  in  this  place  of  Newtown  from  man  to  man  and  as 
to  what  I  shall  receive  over  and  above  what  is  above  mentioned,  that  I  will 
receive  it  at  the  price  that  it  will  fetch  at  the  market  at  the  seaside  where 
I  shall  cause  it  to  be  transported.  The  price  of  transportation  being  to  be 
subtracted.  That  is,  that  I  will  give  as  much  here  as  it  shall  fetch  me  at 
any  of  the  near  seaboard  towns  where  I  shall  carry  it,  except  the  charges 


56  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN 

and  expense  that  I  shall  be  at  in  conveying  of  it  down  and  the  loss  that  I 
may  sustain  by  shrinkage  of  grain  before  such  sale  or  rather  at  the  recep- 
tion of  such  grain  or  provision  I  will  allow  how  as  it  will  fetch  at  the  same 
time  at  the  next  seaport  town  or  towns  excepting  the  common  and  usual 
price  of  transportation  from  here  thither. 

In  witness  whereof  I  do  hereunto  set  my  hand  this  18th  day  of  November 
A.  D.  1718. — Thomas  Toucey." 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

"At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newtown  held  on  Feb- 
ruary 9th  1714,  it  was  agreed  and  voted  that  the  inhabitants  aforesaid 
shall  pay  four  pence  per  pound  of  the  List  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Toucey's  salary 
for  the  year  1718  to  the  8th  of  March,  next,  and  then  the  years  begin 
again   according  to   agreement   as  appears   on   record." 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

At  a  lawful  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Newtown  held  December  26, 

1720,  "It  was  unanimously  agreed  upon  and  voted   to   pay   Mr.  Toucey   Iiis 

salary  and  all  the  provisions  he  shall  name  of  the  above  inhabitants  as  is 

specified  in  the  instrument  to  be  seen  on  Page  79." 

Three  years  of  apparent  prosperity  pass,  and  for  the  greater  en- 
couragement of  the  minister  the  town  "voted  and  agreed  by  ye 
Inhabitants  aforesaid  to  get  Mr.  Tousee  his  fire  wood  the  year  1721  by  a 
rate  leavied  out  of  ye  list  of  ye  estate  of  ye  inhabitants  afore  sd  at  one 
penny  per  pound;  ye  price  of  a  load  of  wood,  walnut  wood  is  to  be  2  shill- 
ings, 6  pence;  a  load  of  oak  or  other  good  wood  is  2  shillings  a  load;  ye 
aforesaid  wood  is  to  be  carted  or  sledded  by  ye  last  of  January  or  ye  first 
of  February  next,  and  if  any  man  shall  neglect  to  give  in  his  account  of 
his  wood  into  ye  Collector  of  ye  Wood  Rate,  Shall  by  virtue  of  this  vote 
be  as  Liable  to  be  strainde  upon  for  his  wood  rate,  as  he  yt  has  got  no 
wood  for  ye  aforesaid  Mr.  Tousee."  "Voted  that  Daniel  Foot  shall  be  and 
is  appointed  collector  for  to  take  care  of  and  collect  ye  above  sd  wood 
rate  according  to  vote  or  as  the  law  directs  for  ye  gathering  of  other 
town  rates."  Attest,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

Two  years  pass  and  the  conditions  between  the  town  and  the 
minister  are  again  discussed  at  a  town  meeting  March  12,  1823.  It 
was  voted  :  "that  Capt.  Thomas  Bennett,  Sergt.  Peter  Hubbell,  Samuel  Beers 
and  Ephraim  Peck  be  a  committee  in  ye  behalf  of  ye  town  to  discourse  with 
ye  Reverend  Mr.  Tousee  by  reason  of  uneasiness  of  ye  major  part  of  ye  in- 
habitants of  sd  town,  they  being  willing  to  pay  himself  for  ye  time  he  has 
continued  in  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  till  this  Instant  and  no  further,  provid- 
ed he  will  lay  down  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  among  us." — Recorded,  Joseph 
Peck,  Clerk. 

In  the  fall  of  1723,  Mr.  Tousey  prefers  a  memorial  to  the  General  Court 
complaining  that  his  salary  is  not  forthcoming.  The  General  Court,  upon 
complaint  of  Mr.  Tousey  issues  an  order  that  the  "Inhabitants  of  the  town 
of  Newtown  in  compliance  with  the  agreement  with  Mr.  Tousey  shall  pay 
to  the  sd  Mr  Tousey  60  pounds  of  money  beside  a  reasonable  consideration 
for  his  fire  wood  for  ye  year  1723,  which  ended  ye  8th  of  March  last,  and 
it  is  further  enacted  that  a  rate  of  five  pence  on  ye  pound  on  all  ye  polls 
and  rateable  estate  within  ye  sd  Town  and  collect  and  gather  the  same  and 
pay  it  to  ye  sd  Mr.  Tousey  on  or  before  ye  third  Tuesday  of  July  next  year, 
and  still  further,  should  this  fail,  ye  secretary  of  ye  colony  is  ordered  to 
issue  a  warrant  or  distraint  to  ye  sheriff  of  Fairfield  County,  who  is  to  be 
allowed  15  shillings  fee;  and  is  to  send  forthwith  a  copy  of  this  act  to  Mr. 
Thomas  Bennitt,  Justice  of  ye  peace,  who  is  hereby  required  to  see  it 
properly  served."  — Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

July  10,  1723,  "It  was  put  to  vote  whether  or  no  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  town 
would  abide  contented  and  sitt  still  under  Mr.  Tousey's  ministry  and  pay 
him  a  salary  of  60  pounds  ye  year  and  find  him  fire  wood  for  ye  time  to 
come.     Voted  in  ye  negative." — Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

March  12,  1724,  "it  was  voted  whether  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  town  would 
pay  Mr  Tousee  a  sallary  of  60  pounds  and  find  him  his  fire  wood  under  ye 
consideration  of  ye  sircumstances  of  ye  place  and  as  Mr.  Tousee  hath  and 
now  doth  carry  on  ye  work  of  ye  ministry.    Voted  in  the  negative."    At  ye 


NEWTOWN'S   FIRST  SETTLED  MINISTER  57 

above  sd  meeting  ye  persons  underwritten  Entered  their  protest  against 
paying  Mr.  Tousee  any  Money  by  way  of  rate,  declaring  themselves  to  be 
of  another  persuasion,  namely:  Mr.  John  Glover,  Sergt.  John  Seely,  Robert 
Seely,  Daniel  Jackson,  Samuel  Henry  and  John  Foot,  because  they  could 
not  sit  easy  under  him. — Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

At  a  town  meeting,  March  19,  1724,  it  was  "Voted  for  to  discuss  with  Mr. 
Toucey  about  laying  down  the  work  of  the  ministry  among  us,  hoping  to 
have  some  answer  from  him  about  the  same  thing,  but  we  had  none.  Then 
we  put  to  vote  whether  or  no  Capt.  Bennitt,  Peter  Hubbell,  Samuel  Beers, 
and  Ephraim  Peck  should  be  a  committee  to  act  and  write  in  behalf  of  the 
town  to  the  Reverend  Mr  Toucey,  and  to  the  rest  of  the  elders  and  it  was 
a  clear  vote  that  they  should." 

Samuel  Beers, 
Ebenezer  Booth, 
Nathan  Baldwin, 
Selectmen. 
Recorded  March  27,  1724,  per  Joseph  Peck. 

"At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Newtown  held  May  14, 
1724,  tried  by  vote  separating  one  from  another,  whether  the  inhabitants 
would  send  an  agent  or  an  attorney  to  the  General  Court  to  be  holden  at 
Hartford  on  May  14,  1724,  to  show  reasons  why  a  petition  to  be  preferred 
to  the  General  Assembly  aforesaid  by  Mr  Tousey  should  not  be  granted  as 
set  forth  in  the  writ,  and  it  was  voted  in  the  affirmative  and  at  the  above 
said  meeting  the  inhabitants  by  their  votes  authorized  the  selectmen  in 
the  town's  behalf  to  assist  in  the  matter  depending  between  Mr.  Toucey 
and  the  town  relating  to  a  petition  to  be  preferred  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly to  be  holden  at  Hartford,  May  14,  1724,  according  to  that  decision  either 
by  an  attorney,  agent  or  by  writing." 

Recorded,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

December  28,  1724,  "it  was  voted  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  in  town 
meeting  that  the  selectmen  should  discourse  with  Mr.  Toucey  concerning 
an  account  of  salary  and  rearages  and  see  what  his  demands  are  and  make 
report  to  the  town." 

From  the  State  records  at  the  October  Assembly  of  1725 :  "Upon  the 
memorial  of  the  town  of  Newtown  showing  to  this  Assembly  that  sd  town 
is  at  present  under  pressing  circumstances  occassioned  by  ye  removeal 
of  ye  former  minister  (Mr.  Toucey)  and  the  settling  of  another  (Mr  John 
Beach)  being  weakened  by  ye  dissension  in  opinion  which  hath  been  and  is 
still  among  them,  and  remarkably  cut  short  in  their  crops  this  present 
year  by  ye  frost  by  ye  which  they  are  much  straightened  and  incapacita- 
ted to  pay  a  rate  to  ye  publick,  this  Assembly  therefore  for  ye  special 
reasons  aforesaid,  do  see  cause  to  free  and  do  hereby  exempt  and  free  the 
Inhabitants  of  sd  town  from  paying  any  county  rate  for  ye  next  year  en- 
suing, provided  ye  town  of  Newtown  draws  no  money  for  ye  schools  nor 
sends  representatives  to  this  Assembly  during  ye  exemption." 

"Whereas,  In  the  Engagement  of  the  town  of  Newtown  by  their  com- 
mittee to  myself  for  my  encouragement  and  for  them  In  the  work  of  the 
ministry  bearing  date  July  the  27th,  1714,  there  is  in  it  an  article  as  this 
expressed  in  these  words:  'And  also  if  by  the  Providence  of  God  the  Rev- 
erend Mr  Tousey  should  be  disinabled  from  his  work  in  the  ministry 
through  sickness,  iniirmity,  or  age,  he  is  notwithstanding  to  have  his  salary 
of  sixty  pounds  a  year  yearly  during  life.'  This  article  being  to  some  dis- 
trustful, be  it  known  to  all  men  to  whom  this  present  shall  come.  That  I 
do  that  is,  I  the  said  Tousey  do  accept  said  agreement  of  the  Tovvn  as 
though  the  above  said  article  had  never  been  mentioned,  always  reminded 
that  there  be  never  any  but  confidence  on  this  act  of  mine  as  though  I  did, 
in  such  losses  as  above  said  cut  myself  from  the  common  privileges  of 
ministers  of  the  Gospel,  or  from  reasonable  subsidence  being  adminstered. 
In  witness  whereof  I  do  hereunto  set  my  hand  and  seal  this  fifth  day  of 
October,  Anno  Domini  1715."  Thomas  Tousey. 

In  presence  of  us 

Abraham  Kimberley, 

Samuel  Beers. 


58  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY   AND   HISTORIAN 

At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown,  held  by  adjourn- 
ment on  ye  8th  day  of  February,  1725,  then  agreed  and  voted  by  ye  inhab- 
itants "aforesd  at  sd  meeting  to  pay  a  rate  of  two  pence  half  penny  upon 
ye  pound  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  per  year  to  recompense  MrToucey 
for  ye  time  he  served  in  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  in  ye  year  1724. 

Differences  were  at  last  amicably  adjusted,  all  arrearages  paid 
and  soon  after  Mr  Toucey  went  to  England,  accepted  a  commission 
of  Captain  in  the  King's  Army  and  on  his  return  to  America  came 
back  to  Newtown,  retired  from  the  ministry,  but  retained  his  resi- 
dence in  Newtown  through  life,  always  taking  an  active  part  in 
religious,  social,  civic  and  business  matters  and  holding  many  high 
ol^ces  of  public  trust. 

Soon  after  Rev.  Mr.  Toucey  was  hired,  the  town  began  to  take 
necessary  steps  towards  building  a  house  for  the  minister,  which 
was  speedily  carried  to  completion.  It  stood  on  ground  opposite 
Newtown  Inn. 

A  meeting  house  was  also  built  during  his  ministry.  The  matter 
began  to  be  agitated  soon  after  Mr.  Tousey  was  settled,  but  the 
town  moved  slowly  in  the  matter  and  it  was  not  until  after  1720, 
that  the  work  had  progressed  so  far  as  to  encourage  them  to  hold 
meetings  in  it,  and  it  was  used  in  an  unfinished  state  for  many 
years. 

The  location  of  the  meeting  house  was  fixed  beyond  dispute  by 
vote  of  the  town  "to  be  where  the  lane  that  runs  easterly  and  westerly 
intersects  the  main  street,  or  the  street  that  runs  northerly  and  southerly." 
There  it  was  placed  and  so  remained  until  1792,  when  it  was  moved 
80  feet  directly  west,  where  it  is  recognized  as  the  Congregational 
church  of  to-day,  remodeled  without  and  within,  and  the  home 
church  of  a  goodly  congrgation.  "The  groves  were  God's  first 
temples,"  and  although  the  town  by  vote  in  town  meeting  paid  a 
rental  to  such  families  as  would  open  the  doors  of  their  crude  log 
houses  for  Sunday  worship,  we  can  easily  believe  that,  when  the 
warm  mid-summer  days  came,  they  held  their  meetings  out  of 
doors,  oft-times  in  the  shade  of  native  trees  that  were  then  abund- 
ant all  through  what  is  now  our  beautiful  village  street. 

Rev.  Thomas  Toucey  was  born  in  Wethersfield,  Conn.,  in  1688, 
graduated  from  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1707,  and  was  hired  to 
become  the  minister  for  Newtown  in  December,  1713,  and  was  or- 
dained as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  and  commenced  his  work  as  such 
in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1714.  He  was  married  to  Hannah 
Clark  of  Milford,  November  12,  1717.  They  had  a  family  of  11 
children:  Hannah,  born  September  25,  1718;  Arminal,  born  Apr.  15, 
1720;  Elizabeth,  born  November  26,  1721;  Oliver,  born  April  26, 
1726;  Mehitable,  born  March  16,  1728;  Sarah,  born  October  16,  1730; 
John,  born  June  15,  1731;  Ann,  born  May  4,  1733;  Thomas,  born 
December  5,  1736;  Zalmon,  born  February  20,  1738;  Amaryllis,  born 
September  11,  1739.  Rev.  Mr.  Toucey  died  in  Newtown,  March  14, 
1761,  in  the  74th  year  of  his  age.  A  blue  slate  stone  slab  marks  his 
grave  in  the  old  part  of  Newtown  cemetery,  with  this  epitaph : 

"Down  to  an  impartial  Graves'  devouring  shade. 
Sink  human  honors  and  the  Hoary  Head 

Protract  your  years,  acquire  what  mortals  can 
Here  see  with  deep  concern  ye  end  of  man." 


NEWTOWN'S    SECOND    SETTLED    MINISTER  59 

NEWTOWN'S  SECOND  SETTLED  MINISTER 

REV.    JOHN    BEACH— 1724-1732. 

At  a  town  meeting  July  27,  1724,  it  was  "voted,  that  Capt.  Thomas  Bennitt 
should  be  moderator  to  put  to  vote  what  was  then  in  consideration  to  be 
acted  for  ye  hireing  a  young  minister  to  preach  ye  gospel  to  ye  town  of 
Newtown.  At  ye  above  meeting  Mr  John  Beach  of  Stratford  was  made 
choice  of  by  vote  of  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  above  sd  town  to  come  and  preach 
ye  gospel  to  sd  town  for  ye  space  of  two  or  three  months,  and  it  was 
further  agreed  and  voted  also  yt  if  Mr  Beach  cannot  be  obtained  by  ye 
messenger  or  messengers  that  shall  be  empowered  in  behalf  of  ye  town, 
then  ye  messengers  are  to  apply  themselves  to  Mr  Andrews  of  Milford, 
Mr  Gould  of  Stratford  and  Mr  Cook  of  Stratfield  for  counsel  and  advice 
when  they  had  best  applied  themselves  for  a  man."  "Voted  also  at  ye 
above  meeting  that  Capt.  Thomas  Bennitt  and  Mr  Freegrace  Adams  shall 
also  be  messengers  in  ye  towns  behalf  to  act  in  ye  business  above  written 
according  to  act  of  ye  town.  Robert  Seely,  being  of  another  persuasion, 
entered  his  protest  against  ye  vote  passed  concerning  a  minister."  "Voted, 
that  Mr  Beach  should  be  paid  for  his  salary,  sixty  pounds  a  year  for  the 
first  two  years,  and  so  rise  ten  pounds  a  year,  yearly,  until  it  should  make 
one  hundred  pounds  per  annum  and  that  to  be  Mr  Beach's  salary,  all  which 
payments  are  to  be  truly  paid  to  him  in  money  or  provisions  as  they  shall 
pass  from  man  to  man.  Besides  his  standard  salary  he  is  to  be  paid  in 
pork,  beef,  rye,  wheat,  flax,  and  Indian  corn,  also  to  give  him  fire  wood 
when  he  is  settled,  also  erect  and  build  for  him  a  two  story  house,  Mr 
Beach  to  furnish  ye  glass  and  nails,  ye  house  to  be  40  feet  long  and  21 
feet  wide,  and  in  height  as  generally  two  story  houses  are  built,  and  erect 
a  chimney  in  ye  midst  of  ye  house,  of  three  funnels,  two  fire  places  below 
and  one  in  ye  chambers,  Mr  Beach  finding  glass  and  iron;  also  agree  to 
give  him  ye  improvement  of  a  four  acre  home  lot,  during  life,  and  also 
make  to  him  123  acres  of  land  besides."  "At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of  ye 
inhabitants  of  Newtown,  held  October  8,  1724,  ordered  and  appointed  for 
ye  making  choice  of  a  gospel  minister  in  order  to  settlement,  the  voters 
were  ordered  to  bring  in  their  votes  for  ye  man's  name  whom  they  desired 
should  be  their  settled  minister  with  ye  man's  name  fairly  written  on  a 
piece  of  paper  with  their  own  names  to  it  also,  and  Mr  John  Beach  of 
Stratford  was  made  choice  of  for  ye  Gospel  minister  in  Newtown.  Those 
whose  names  are  underwritten  declaring  themselves  to  be  of  another 
persuasion,  dissented  or  entered  their  protest  against  their  doing  anything 
for  ye  settling  of  any  dissenting  minister,  namely  John  Glover,  Robert 
Seely,  Daniel  Jackson,  Samuel  Henrix,  James  Hard,  Senr,  Moses  Lyon. 
Received  for  record  ye  date  above." — Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

At  a  lawful  meeting  of  ye  proprietors  of  Newtown,  Nov.  9,  1724,  voted: 
"Whether  Mr  John  Beach  shall  have  the  improvement  of  four  acres  of 
paster  land  lying  south  on  ye  land  of  Thomas  Sharpe's  home  lott,  westerly 
on  Samuel  Ferris,  southerly  on  common  land  or  highway,  duering  ye  sd 
Mr  Beach  his  natural  life,  viz.  if  he,  ye  sd  Beach  shall  settle  in  ye  work  of 
ye  ministry,  in  this  place  of  Newtown.  Voted  in  ye  affirmative."  "Voted, 
that  those  proprietors  which  have  or  shall  give  by  subscription  to  Mr.  John 
Beach  for  his  encouragement,  to  settle  in  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  in  New- 
town, according  to  ye  conditions  of  this  Government,  that  is  to  say,  ye 
persons  so  subscribing  shall  have  liberty  to  lay  what  they  have  subscribed 
out  of  their  thirty  acre  divisions,  in  one  or  two  entire  tracts — that  is  to 
say,  part  on  Brushy  Hill,  near  ye  south  end  of  ye  town,  on  ye  westerly 
side  the  other  part  or  tract  without  ye  sequesterment.  Voted  in  ye  affirm- 
ative.    Entered  per  me,  Peter  Hubbell,  Town  Clerk." 

November  9,  1724:  We,  ye  subscribers  do  freely  give  for  ye  encourage- 
ment of  Mr.  John  Beach's  settlement  in  ye  ministry  in  Newtown,  that  is 
to  say,  out  of  ye  thirty  acre  divisions  already  agreed  upon  to  be  laid  out, 
money  sufficient  to  pay  for  ye  number  of  acres  subscribed  to  our  respec- 
tive names  the  same  to  be  combined  in  two  or  more  larger  tracts  : 

Subscribers:  Capt.  Thomas  Bennitt,  5;  Samuel  Beers,  5;  Ebenezer  Booth, 
6;  Joseph  Peck,  5;  Ebenezer  Prindle,  2>^ ;  Stephen  Parmelee,  5;  Samuel 
Sanford,   5;    Ephraim   Peck,   5;    Mathew    Sherman,    5;    John    Northrop,  2; 


60  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND   HISTORIAN 

Josiah  Burritt,  4;  Jeremiah  Northrop,  2;  Joseph  Botchford,  2;  Nathan 
Baldwin,  4;  Benjamin  Dunning,  3;  Jonothan  Hubbell,  2;  Lemuel  Camp,  3; 
Hugh  Stillson,  5;  Adonijah  Morriss,  2;  Peter  Hubbell,  5;  Joseph  Gray,  5; 
Jonathan  Booth,  4;  Joseph  Bristol,  2;  John  Gillett,  7^;  John  Plat.  5; 
Andrew  Wheller,  1;  Thomas  Sharp,  1;  Benjamin  Northrop,  1;  John  Griffin, 
4;  Moses  Stillson.  4;  Samuel  Bryan,  6;  Thomas  Skidmore,  4;  John  Lake,  2. 

In  addition  to  these  acres,  at  a  town  meeting  April  6,  1725,  "It  was  voted 
that  Mr.  John  Beach  shall  have  liberty  to  take  up  30  acres  of  land  that  was 
given  to  him  out  of  ye  30  acres  as  it  appears  on  the  records,  viz.  at  ye  end 
of  one  mile  from  ye  meeting  house  to  be  taken  in  two  or  three  places  at 
his  election,  provided  it  be  taken  so  that  it  damnify  no  highway." 

Peter  Hubbell,  Clerk. 

One  of  the  first  propositions  made  Mr  Beach,  in  case  he  would 
become  Newtown's  minister,  assured  him  that  he  was,  at  the  outset, 
to  be  ranked  among  the  town's  largest  landed  proprietors.  That 
settled  there  was  to  follow  the  matter  of  salary  and  the  perquisites. 

"The  agreement  entered  into  between  Rev.  John  Beach  of  Stratford,  in 
ye  County  of  Fairfield,  and  Colony  of  Connecticut  in  New  England,  on  ye 
one  part,  and  Peter  Hubbell,  Samuel  Beers  and  John  Leavenworth  of 
Newtown,  in  ye  County  and  Colony  aforesaid,  on  ye  other  part,  witnesseth 
as  followeth — 

The  above  sd  Mr  Beach  doth  covenant  with  ye  above  sd  Peter  Hubbell, 
Samuel  Beers  and  John  Leavenworth,  as  they  are  a  committe  in  ye  behalf 
of  ye  town  of  Newtown  abovesaid  to  settle  in  ye  ministry  of  Newtown 
aforesaid,  as  soon  as  may  be  with  conveniency  comformable  to  Providence 
only  excepted  and  allowed  to  continue  during  my  life  if  ye  Providence  of 
God  shall  allow  ye  same,  and  furthermore  I,  ye  sd  Mr  Beach,  do  promise 
to  find  all  ye  iron  work,  nails  and  glass  for  ye  building  me  a  house  in 
Newtown,  this  house  after  exprest. 

Peter  Hubbell,  Samuel  Beers  and  John  Leavenworth  as  a  committee  in 
ye  behalf  of  ye  town  of  Newtown  above  sd  do  covenant  with  ye  above  sd 
Mr.  John  Beach  that  upon  his  settling  in  ye  work  of  a  ministry  in  New- 
town aforesaid,  therefore  ye  sd  Mr.  John  Beach  shall  have  paid  him  for  his 
salary  ye  sum  hereafter  mentioned,  sixty  pounds  per  year  for  ye  tvvo  first 
years,  after  ye  first  day  of  this  instant  January,  and  allow  to  rise  ten 
pounds  per  year  yearly,  until  make  one  hundred  pounds  per  annum,  and 
then  to  be  Mr  Beach  his  standing  salary,  all  which  payments  are  to  be 
truly  paid  to  Mr  Beach  in  provisions  as  they  shall  pass  from  man  to  man 
here  in  Newtown  on  ye  first  day  of  January,  also  to  erect  and  finish  a 
two  story  house  for  Mr  Beach,  he  finding  glass  and  nails  as  above  exprest, 
and  to  find  Mr  Beach  in  his  fire  wood  yearly  and  also  to  give  Mr  Beach  ye 
improvement  of  four  acres  of  pasture  land  lying  near  Shay's  home  lots 
as  appears  by  record  during  his  life,  also  we,  Peter  Hubbell,  Samuel  Beers 
and  John  Leavenworth  as  a  committee  for  ye  town  of  Newtown  do  make 
over  unto  Mr  John  Beach  sundry  parcels  of  land  containing  one  house  and 
23  acres,  and  also  four  acres  home  lot,  in  Newtown  above  sd  as  may  appear 
by  deed  executed  under  my  hands  and  seal,  bearing  date  with  this  instru- 
ment in  confirmation  of  every  one  of  above  articles  ye  above  mentioned 
parties  have  enterchangeably  sett  to  their  hands  and  seals  in  Newtown, 
ye  date  above  mentioned." 

John    Beach    (Seal) 

Note:  That  ye  above  house  is  to  be  finished  on  or  before  the  first  day 
of  November  next  ensuing  the  date  above  mentioned. 

Peter  Hubbell  (Seal) 

Samuel    Beers  (Seal) 

John  Leavenworth   (Seal) 
Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  Thomas  Bennitt,  Joseph 
Peck. 
This  instrument  received  for  record  January  ye  25th,  1725. 
Recorded  per  me,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

"At  a  lawful  meeting  held  May  14,  1725,  it  was  agreed  and  voted  by  ye 
inhabitants  at  sd  meeting  that  Peter  Hubbell,  John  Leavenworth,  and 
Nathan  Baldwin  shall  be,  and  are  appointed  a  committee  in  ye  behalf  of 


NEWTOWN'S   SECOND   SETTLED   MINISTER  61 

ye  town  to  take  efficient  care  yt  ye  sd  town  answer  those  obligations  to 
and  for  Air.  John  Beach  and  ye  sd  town  as  appears  in  ye  article  of  agree- 
ment between  Mr.  Beach  and  ye  sd  town  and  by  votes  of  sd  town  as 
appears  on  record,  or  by  subscription  under  hand  by  particular  persons; 
also  take  special  care  ye  work  be  done,  ye  town  ratifying  and  confirming 
what  ye  aforesaid  committee  shall  do  in  ye  premises." — Joseph  Peck, 
Town    Clerk. 

"At  a  town  meeting  held,  June  8,  1725,  it  was  voted  to  recompense  Rev. 
Mr.  Beach  for  ye  time  he  preached  in  Newtown  before  ye  town  agreed 
with  Mr.  Beach  for  settlement.  Further  voted  that  if  ye  selectman  of  ye 
town  cannot  gather  money  enough  to  pay  ye  purchase  of  ye  house  lot 
bought  of  Daniel  Foot  for  Mr.  Beach,  then  ye  selectmen  are  to  make  or 
levy  a  rate  upon  ye  list  for  ye  payment  of  what  money  is  wanting  of  ye 
sum  of  40  pounds. 

"At  a  lawful  meeting  held  December  30,  1726:  Voted  to  pay  a  rate  of  four 
pence  on  ye  pound  upon  ye  list  of  ye  inhabitants  to  pay  Mr  Beach  his 
salary  for  ye  year  1726.  Also  agreed  to  vote  to  pay  one-half  penny  on  ye 
pound  to  get  Mr  Beach  his  fire  wood.  Voted  that  ye  price  of  walnut  wood 
is  four  shillings  six  pence  a  load,  and  of  oak  wood  is  three  shillings  and 
six  pence  a  load  :  also  voted  to  give  the  two  collectors  of  the  town  and 
minister's  rates,  fifteen  shillings  apiece  for  one  year." — Joseph  Peck,  Town 
Clerk. 

April  6,  1727:  The  town  voted  and  agreed  that  they  should  pay  a  tax  of 
10  pence  on  ye  pound  for  to  defray  ye  charges  of  erecting  and  furnishing 
a  house  for  ye  Rev.  Mr.  John  Beach. — Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

December  18,  1727:  "Voted  that  Capt.  Thomas  Bennitt,  Dea  John 
Botsford,  Lieut.  John  Northrop,  Joseph  Peck  and  Peter  Hubbell  shall  be  a 
committee  in  behalf  of  ye  town  to  audit  the  accounts  with  Nathan  Baldwin 
and  John  Leavenworth,  committee  for  ye  erecting  and  building  a  house 
for  Mr  Beach  and  make  returns  to  ye  town.  Further  voted  and  agreed 
that  the  committee  appointed  to  erect  and  build  the  house  for  Mr  Beach 
shall  have  40  shillings  apiece  for  their  labor  and  trouble  in  sd  service, 
which  is  six  pounds." 

January  8,  1728,  the  town  "voted  to  pay  a  rate  of  three  pence  half  penny 
half  farthing  upon  ye  pound  of  ye  list  to  pay  Mr  Beach  his  salary  for  ye 
year  1727,  and  further  agreed  and  voted  to  pay  a  rate  of  one-half  penny 
upon  ye  pound  to  defray  ye  charges  of  Mr  Beach's  fire  wood  for  ye  year 
1728  and  voted  to  give  ye  collectors  fifteen  shillings  apiece  for  collecting 
ye  minister's  and  ye  town  rates  (viz.)  thirty  shillings." — Joseph  Peck,  Town 
Clerk. 

Decernber  10,  1730,  the  town  "voted  that  Samuel  Henry  and  his  son, 
Nathaniel  Henry,  be  freed  from  paying  any  church  minister's  rate  ye  year 
ensuing,  provided  that  ye  sd  Samuel  and  Nathanial  Henry  pay  their  pro- 
portion according  to  their  list  to  a  preaching  Presbyterian  minister  at 
Redding  at  ye  place  known  by  ye  name  of  Redding  Ridge." 

Mr.  Beach  was  dearly  beloved  by  the  people,  but  he  was  so 
strongly  fortified  in  his  conscience  in  regard  to  the  invalidity  of 
ordination,  and  the  necessity  of  being  consecrated  to  the  minis- 
terial office  by  a  duly  chosen  Bishop  that  after  a  few  short  years 
had  passed  he  made  known  his  views  and  that  because  of  his  strong 
convictions  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  resign  the  pastoral  office.  In 
no  way  can  the  proceedings  that  culminated  in  the  severing  of  the 
ties  by  which  he  and  his  people  were  so  closely  knitted  together  be 
so  clearly  portrayed  than  from  compilations  from  the  records  of  the 
more  important  town  meetings  that  were  held  in  relation  to  the 
matter.  A  town  meeting  was  called  for  January  12,  1732,  "to 
consult  what  was  proper  to  be  done  with  ye  Rev  John  Beach  under  ye 
present  difficulties  of  ye  town  by  sd  Mr  Beach,  who  hath  declared  himself 
to  be  in  communion  with  ye  church  of  England.  Ye  meeting  is  adjourned 
until  ye  19th  day  of  January  at  3  o'clock  in  ye  afternoon."  At  ye  aforesaid 
adjourned  meeting  "voted  by  ye  inhabitants  above  sd  to  keep  a  day  of 


62  XFWTOWX'S   HISTORY    AXD   HISTORIAN 

solemn  fasting  and  prayer  under  ye  present  difficult  circumstances.  Also 
to  call  in  ye  Ecclesiastical  Council  of  ye  County  of  Fairtield  to  direct  and 
do  what  they  shall  think  proper  under  yc  present  difficult  sircunistances 
of  ye  sd  town  respecting  >e  Rev  John  Beach  and  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  town 
of  Xewtown.  Also  ye  first  Wednesday  of  February  next  is  ye  day  appoint- 
ed for  ye  fast.  Also  voted  by  ye  inhabitants  aforesaid  that  Captain  Thomas 
Toucey.  Mr  Peter  Hubbell  and  Mr  John  Leavenworth  be  a  committee  in 
ye  behalf  of  ye  town  to  write  to  ye  Reverend  Elders  of  ye  County  as  above 
said,  for  their  assistance."  The  following  protest  was  entered  at  the  same 
meeting  against  its  action  :  "Protest — Whereas  there  being  a  town  meeting 
held  in  Xewtown  on  ye  instant  January  1^,  \7S2.  it  is  voted  in  sd  meeting 
to  keep  a  fast  and  to  send  out  for  ye  Council  of  Elders  to  consult  what 
methods  to  take  in  ye  present  difficulty  of  ye  town  above  sd.  We  whose 
names  are  hereunto  subscribed  do  enter  our  protest  against  sd  vote:  James 
Hard.  Benjamin  Glover.  James  Hard.  Jr..  John  Glover.  Samuel  Sherman, 
Robert  Seely.  Henry  Glover.  John  Fabrique."  — Joseph  Peck.  Town  Clerk. 

January  31,  1732.  it  was  voted  in  town  meeting  that  Capt  Thomas  Bennitt 
Capt.  Thomas  Toucey  and  Deacon  John  Botsford  be  a  committee  to  lay 
before  ye  Ecclestiastical  council  this  work  expected  here,  the  present  diffi- 
culties of  ye  town  for  that  ye  Rev.  John  Beach  declareth  himself 
to  be  partly  reconciled  to  ye  Church  of  England,  that  he  questions  the 
validity  of  the  Presbyterian  ordination,  that  he  cannot,  in  faith,  admin- 
ister the  Sacrament  and  refuseth  to  administer  them,  and  declares  that 
though  there  is  a  possibility,  yet,  not  ye  least  probability  that  he  shall 
return  to  us  again  upon  his  former  principles,  and  to  begg  that  ye  said 
venerable  Council  would  conclude  and  determine  for  this  place  with 
respect  to  ye  premises  as  they  shall  think  most  regular."  A  protest  was 
made  by  those  whose  names  are  entered  below,  "declaring  themselves  to 
be  of  another  persuasion  and  protesting  against  the  meeting  doing  any- 
thing for  ye  settlement  of  any  dissenting  minister  :  John  Glover.  Robert 
Daly.  Daniel  Jackson.  Samuel  Hawley.  James  Hard  and  Moses  Lyon." 
— Joseph   Peck.  Town   Clerk. 

The  town  voted  February  JSth.  17oJ.  "that  Capt.  Thomas  Bennitt.  Deacon 
John  Botsford.  Lieut.  John  Xorthrop  and  Mr  John  Leavenworth  be  a  com- 
mittee in  behalf  of  ye  town  to  discourse  with  John  Beach  with  respect  to 
ye  estate  made  by  settlement  here  and  to  know  of  him  his  terms  (.if  any) 
that  he  will  be  upon  with  respect  to  the  signification  of  ye  whole  or  a  part 
of  what  as  above  he  hath  received  and  to  make  report  to  ye  town  at  an 
adjourned  meeting." 

Reply  of  Rev.  John  Beach  to  the  above  request :  "Whereas  a  committee 
appointed  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  X'ewtown  have  made  this 
proposal,  viz  :  That  if  I  will  quit  claim  all  ye  land  which  I  do  now  possess 
by  virtue  of  a  deed  from  ye  proprietors  of  sd  town  and  any  of  their  acts, 
then  I  shall  hold  ye  house  and  home  lot,  as  my  own  estate  and  have  ye 
use  of  that  under  Mount  Tom.  and  ye  use  of  that  lot  near  X^athaniel  Par- 
malee's  until  Xovember  next,  and  be  paid  by  sd  town  for  ye  fences  about 
ye  above  lots.  To  ye  above  sd  proposal  I  consent,  as  witness  by  hand 
this  Sth  day  of  March.  17o2."        John  Beach. 

In  presence  of  us  :  Thomas  Bennitt.  John  X'orthrop.  John  Leavenworth, 
John  Botsford.  Committee. 

"At  a  lawful  meeting  held  by  adjournment,  this  13th  day  of  March.  1732, 
upon  condition  that  Sir  Beach  shall  amply  quit  claim  unto  all  ye  lands 
referred  to  by  ye  town  committee  in  their  proposal  to  ye  sd  Mr  Beach  as 
on  ye  other  side  bearing  date  March  S.  1732.  that  is  to  say,  shall  quit  claim 
ye  same  to  ye  Presbyterian  part  of  ye  town  of  X'ewtown  considered  as  in 
distinction  from  that  of  the  Episcopal  persuasion,  the  town  of  Xewtown 
by  their  vote  concur  with  sd  proposal  made  by  their  committee  accepted." 
"Voted,  that  the  town  committee  shall  take  a  quit  claim  of  Mr  Beach  of  ye 
land  according  to  ve  proposals  above  expressed." — Joseph  Peck.  Town 
Clerk. 

"In  ye  stead,  behalf  and  name  of  ye  town  of  X'ewtown  and  their  succes- 
sors forever,  unto  ye  aforesaid  Mr  John  Beach,  his  heirs  and  assigns  for- 
ever, devise,  release,  relinquish  and  quit  claim  with  ye  house  and  home- 
stead on  which  sd  house  is  now  erected,  containing  four  acres,  east  on  ye 


NEWTOWN'S    SECOND    SETTLED    MINISTER  63 

main  street,  north  on  ye  home  lot  of  Daniel  Foot,  south  and  west  by  ye 
heirs  of  Hugh  Stillson,  deceased.  Recorded  April  8,  1732,  by  Joseph  Peck, 
and  signed  by  John  Gregory,  Justice  of  ye  Peace." 

In  the  first  settlement  of  New  England  the  preachers  introduced 
the  practice  of  having  their  congregation  rise  as  they  entered  the 
meeting  house.  The  males  and  females  being  separate,  the  one  on 
the  left  and  the  other  on  the  right,  the  moment  the  minister  enter- 
ed the  broad  aisle,  the  whole  congregation  rose.  The  minister,  with 
a  slow  and  solemn  pace  proceeding  up  the  aisle,  inclined  his  head 
first  to  the  ladies,  and  then  to  the  gentlemen.  After  entering  his 
pulpit,  all  standing,  he  first  bowed  to  the  ladies,  who  returned  the 
compliment  by  a  decent  courtesy,  then  he  turned  to  the  gentlemen 
and  bowed  to  them,  they  also  returning  the  compliment.  Rev. 
Mr.  Beach,  finding  the  practice  had  been  introduced  in  the  congre- 
gation, requested  them  not  to  rise  and  bow  to  him,  but  worship 
God.  saying  that  kneeling  meant  prostration-  and  that  we  were 
told  by  the  Apostle  that  at  the  name  of  Jesus  "every  knee  shall  bow." 

Rev.  John  Beach,  successor  to  Rev.  Thomas  Toucey,  was  the 
second  settled  minister  in  Newtown.  He  was  born  in  Stratford, 
Conn.,  Oct.  6,  1700,  and  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College  of  the  class 
of  1724.  He  was  married  in  Stratford  in  1726  and  became  the  fath- 
er of  eight  children,  all  of  whom  were  born  in  Xewtown.  He  died 
in  Xewtown  in  1782.  When  he  resigned  as  minister  of  the  first 
Ecclesiastical  society  in  Xewtown  in  1732,  it  was  from  his  conscien- 
tious convictions  of  duty  and  he  publicly  informed  his  people  of  a 
change  in  his  views  and  declared  his  readiness  to  receive  orders  in 
the  Church  of  England.  His  resignation  came  in  March,  1732.  He 
soon  sailed  to  England  for  Holy  Orders,  returning  in  September  of 
the  same  year.  He  was  appointed  by  the  Society  for  the  propaga- 
tion of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts  missionary  over  the  towns  of 
X'ewtown  and  Redding,  which  work  he  carried  on  until  his  death  in 
1782.  He  was  much  loved  by  his  congregation  and,  though  the 
sundering  of  the  ties  that  bound  them  caused  many  a  heart  ache,  it 
did  not  weaken  friendship,  nor  cause  a  bitterness  of  feeling  that 
was  long  continued. 

TTie  Ministry  of  Rev.  EUisha  Kent. 

An  Association  of  ye  County  of  Fairfield  met  in  Newtown,  Feh2,  1732: 
"It  is  agreed  that  it  is  advisable,  and  accordinly  advise  ye  good  peolpe  in 
Newtown  to  be  speedy  in  their  application  to  some  meet  person  for  steady 
information  in  order  to  a  settlement  in  ye  ministry  among  them  and  rec- 
omend  to  them  for  that  purpose  Mr  Samuel  Sherman  of  New  Haven  or 
Mr  Hinsdall  of  Deerfield. 

Ye  above  advice  offered  to  ye  town  at  ye  above  sd  meeting  and  accepted 
by  vote  of  3'e  inhabitants,  James  Hard  Junr.,  entered  his  protest  against 
ye  advice  above  sd  at  sd  meeting.  The  meeting  is  adjourned  until  Tues- 
day at  sun  an  hour  high  in  ye  afternoon  ye  8th  day  in  Februray  inst." 

The  meeting  convened  according  to  ye  adjournment  Feb.  8th.  Then  was 
ye  judgment  of  ye  venerable  Council  concerning  Mr.  Beach  published  in 
ye  sd  town  meeting." — Joseph  Peck.  Town  Clerk. 

At  a  meeting  held  Feb.  8,  1732.  "it  was  voted  by  ye  inhabitants  yt  Capt. 
Thomas  Toucey,  Deacon  John  Botsford.  Lieut.  John  Northrop.  Mr.  Joseph 
Peck  and  Mr.  John  Leavenworth  shall  be  yt  committee  in  j-e  behalf  of  ye 
advice  of  ye  Rev.  Association  Late  Given  to  ye  town  of  Newtown  with  re- 
spect to  ye  obtaining  if  it  may  be,  either  Sir.   Samuel  Sherman  of  New 


64  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND   HISTORIAN 

Haven  or  Mr.  Hinsdale  of  Deerfield  to  come  and  carry  on  preaching  in 
this  place  in  order  to  a  settlement  in  ye  gospel  ministry  here  in  case  there 
be  a  good  liking  and  agreement  to  that  end  between  those  calling  and  him 
called,  and  in  case  that  neither  of  those  gentlemen  can  be  obtained  that 
ye  sd  committe  shall  have  power  with  good  advice  to  apply  themselves 
to  any  other  suitable  persons  for  ye  end  aforesaid." — Joseph  Peck,  Town 
Clerk. 

"At  a  lawful  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  held  May  H,  1732, 
appointed  to  consider  and  conclude  upon  proper  measures  to  be  pushed 
under  our  present  circumstances,  to  ye  end  that  we  may  have  ye  greater 
reason  to  hope  for  ye  blessing  of  God  in  and  upon  our  proceedings  and 
endeavors  for  ye  obtaining  a  Gospel  Minister  of  ye  Presbyterian  persua- 
sion to  be  settled  among  us  in  Newtown.  Captain  Bennett  appointed  mod- 
erator. Agreed  by  vote  at  above  meeting:  That  ye  next  Thursday,  ye  18th 
of  this  instant,  be  in  this  place  religiously  observed  as  a  day  of  fasting  and 
prayer.  To  seek  of  God  a  right  way  for  us  and  ye  smiles  of  his  contenance 
upon  us  and  to  make  application  to  two  or  three  neighboring  elders  for 
assistance  in  carrying  on  ye  work  of  sd  day." 

"Agreed  and  voted  that  at  or  towards  ye  close  of  ye  fast,  that  ye  town 
be  brought  to  vote  respecting  ye  choice  of  ye  men  whom  they  would  have 
to  be  ye  minister  as  above  said.  The  meeting  is  adjourned  to  this  day 
ye  18th  instant  May,  until  ye  exercises  of  ye  fast  be  concluded.  Capt. 
Toucey  voted  moderator  for  ye  present  meeting." 

At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  town  of  Newtown  held 
June  30,  1732,  appointed  to  vote  for  a  minister.  Lieut.  John  Northrope 
appointed  moderator,  for  ye  business  of  ye  meeting.  "Voted,  that  ye 
voters  should  bring  in  their  votes  with  their  names  written  to  their  votes, 
which  was  done  and  brought  in  and  Mr.  Elisha  Kent  was  by  a  fair  and 
clear  vote  of  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  town  of  Newtown  made  choice  of  for 
their  minister,  upon  ye  Presbyterian  foundation."  Voted  also,  by  ye  inhab- 
itants of  Newtown  at  above  sd  meeting  that  if  Mr  Elisha  Kent  shall  if  he 
see  cause  to  settle  in  ye  ministry  in  Newtown  upon  ye  Presbyterian 
foundation,  (by  Presbyterian  foundation  is  to  be  understood  that  in  oppo- 
sition to  ye  Episcopal  persuasion,)  that  Mr.  Kent  so  settling  and  contin- 
uing, that  for  his  encouragement  he  shall  have  all  of  ye  land  quit  claimed 
by  Mr  Beach  unto  those  of  ye  Presbyterian  foundation  in  Newtown,  and 
one  iiundred  and  ten  pounds  per  year  during  his  continuing  in  ye  ministry, 
provided  that  Mr  Kent  shall  give  good  security  that  if  he  shall  see  cause 
to  alter  his  principles  from  his  foundation  on  which  he  shall  be  settled  to 
pay  unto  ye  above  Presbyterian  party  ye  sum  of  four  hundred  pounds 
lawful  money.  It  is  to  be  understood  by  Mr  Kent,  his  salary  is  to  be  paid 
in  provisions  or  other  such  as  we  raise  at  ye  prices  as  they  pass  among  ye 
neighborhood  in  Newtown.  Voted  That  Capt.  Thomas  Bennitte,  Mr  Peter 
Hubbelle  and  Ensign  Thomas  Skidmor  should  be  added  to  ye  committee 
that  were  appointed  to  seek  out  for  a  minister  in  behalf  of  ye  town  of 
Newtown  above  as  appears  upon  record  (namely)  Captain  Thomas  Toucey, 
Deacon  John  Botsford,  Lieut.  John  Northrop,  Joseph  Peck,  and  John 
Leavenworth,  and  are  empowered  by  fhis  vote  in  behalf  of  ye  town,  to 
represent  ye  towns  affairs  to  Mr.  Kent,  respecting  to  his  settlement  and 
salary  in  Newtown  and  make  report  to  ye  town.  This  committee  was 
adjourned  until  the  6th  day  of  July,  1732,  at  sun  and  hour  high  in  ye  after- 
noon."   Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

"At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  holden  June 
30,  1732,  appointed  to  vote  for  a  minister,  etc.,  ye  names  of  those  that  voted 
for  Mr.  Elisha  Kent  to  be  their  minister  at  sd  meeting  are  as  followeth  : 
John  Leavenworth,  Moses  Johnson,  Ephraim  Hawley,  Johoial  Hawley, 
Henry  Botsford,  Henry  Botsford  Jr.,  Daniel  Foot,  Jedediah  Prindle.  Eben- 
ezer  Johnson,  Joseph  Peck  Jr.,  Joseph  Peck,  James  Brisco,  Nathaniel 
Brisco,  Jeremiah  Johnson,  Thomas  Pearce.  John  Piatt,  Ebenezer,  Piatt, 
Stephen  Parmelee,  Joseph  Benedick,  Joseph  Benedick  Jr,  Gideon  Benedict, 
Samuel  Pearce,  Samuel  Griffin,  John  Lake,  Daniel  Booth,  Capt.  Thomas 
Bennitt,  John  Golot,  Abraham  Bennitt,  John  Griffin,  Joseph  Botsford, 
Noah  Parmelee,  Joseph  Murray,  Samuel  Parmelee,  Thomas  Northrop, 
Johnathan  Hubbell,  James  Baldwin,  Benjamin  Northrop,  Mathew  Sherman, 


MINISTRY   OF   REV.   ELISHA   KENT  65 

Deacon  John  Botsford,  Nathan  Baldwin,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Caleb  Baldwin, 
Jr.,  Capt.  Thomas  Toucey,  Samuel  Summers,  Benjamin  Dunning,  Stephen 
Burritt,  Jehosaphat  Prindle,  Edward  Fairchild,  Stephen  Hawley,  Ephraim 
Prindle,  Joseph  Prindle,  John  Blackman,  Thomas  Skidmore,  Jeremiah 
Northrop,  Lieut.  John  Northrop,  Joseph  Bristol,  Moses  Botsford,  Ebenezer 
Prindle,  Benjamin  Dunning,  Jr.,  Samuel  Sanford,  Lemuel  Camp,  Mr.  Peter 
Hubbell,  John  Hull,  Job  Sherman,  Abel  Booth." 

"At  a  lawful  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown,  held  July  21,  1732, 
Lieut.  John  Northrop,  moderator,  it  was  agreed  and  voted  to  give  Mr. 
Elisha  Kent  for  his  encouragement  and  settlement  in  ye  work  of  a  gospel 
minister  in  Newtown  one  hundred  pounds  money  to  be  paid  (viz.)  one- 
third  part  of  ye  one  hundred  pounds  sometime  in  November  next  ensuing, 
ye  second  part  of  sd  one  hundred  pounds  in  November  in  ye  year  1733, 
and  ye  last  third  part  sometime  in  November,  1734. — Joseph  Peck,  Town 
Clerk." 

"Understood  thus  by  ye  town  that  Mr  Elisha  Kent  is  to  pay  Mr  John 
Beach  for  ye  fence  that  Mr  Beach  hath  erected  on  some  of  ye  lands  which 
Mr.  Kent  is  to  have  if  he  see  cause  to  settle  in  Newtown  in  ye  ministry. 
The  meeting  is  adjourned  until  Thursday  ye  25th  of  July.  Ye  meeting  con- 
vened ye  25th  of  July  and  by  reason  of  having  no  direct  answer  of  Mr. 
Kent's  acceptance  of  ye  town's  proposals  as  above  exprest,  ye  meeting  is 
adjourned  until  Tuesday  ye  first  day  of  August  at  sun  an  hour  high  in  ye 
afternoon." 

"Ye  meeting  convened  August  ye  1st,  1732:  Voted  by  ye  inhabitants  of 
Newtown  at  sd  lawful  town  meeting  that  Mr.  John  Leavenworth  should  be 
moderator  of  sd  meeting.  Agreed  and  voted  at  said  adjourned  meeting  that 
Mr  Peter  Hubbell,  and  Ensign  Thomas  Skidmore  shall  be,  and  are  by  this 
vote,  appointed  committee  and  are  empowered  with  ye  committee  that 
took  a  quit  claim  of  Mr.  Beach  in  ye  behalf  of  ye  Presbyterian  part  of  ye 
town  so  distinguished  in  opposition  to  Episcopal,  namely,  Captain  Thomas 
Toucey,  Deacon  John  Botsford,  Lieut.  John  Northrop  and  John  Leaven- 
worth, which  appears  of  record,  as  to  ye  lands,  quit  claimed  by  Mr.  Beach 
and  before  named  committee  power  to  act  in  ye  behalf  of  ye  town  as 
above  sd.  The  above  named  committee  are  by  this  vote  empowered  to 
make  ample  conveyance  of  sd  land  unto  Mr  Elisha  Kent,  according  to 
agreement  and  vote  of  ye  town."    Entered  per  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

"At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown,  held  by  agree- 
ment August  1st,  1732,  Agreed  and  voted  at  sd  meeting  that  Captain 
Thomas  Toucey,  Captain  Thomas  Bennitt,  Deacon  John  Botsford,  Lieut. 
John  Northrop,  Mr  John  Leavenworth,  Mr  Peter  Hubbell  and  Ensign 
Thomas  Skidmore,  shall  be,  and  are  appointed  a  committee  and  are  em- 
powered by  this  vote  in  ye  behalf  of  ye  town  to  give  sufficient  security,  to 
Joseph  Murray  for  ye  sum  of  one  hundred  pounds  in  current  bills  of  credit 
which  hundred  pounds  is  to  be  understood  the  hundred  pounds  which  is 
voted  to  Mr.  Elisha  Kent  in  order  to  his  settlement  in  the  ministry.  The 
town  holding  firm  and  good  whatever  the  above  sd  committee  shall  law- 
fully do  in  ye  premises.  Further  voted  at  above  sd  meeting  that  there 
shall  be  a  rate,  a  tax  levied  upon  ye  list  made  in  ye  year  1731,  that  amounts 
to  ye  sum  of  thirty-three  pounds,  seven  shillings.  Voted  also  at  sd  meet- 
ing that  Joseph  Bristol  and  Abraham  Bennitt  shall  be  collectors  to  gather 
sd  tax  of  thirty-three  pounds,  seven  shillings  and  deliver  it  to  ye  above 
named  committee.  Meeting  adjourned  till  ye  24th  day  of  August,  1732 — 
Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

"At  a  lawful  town  meeting  held  by  adjournment  August  24th,  1732.  Then 
by  vote  of  ye  inhabitants  Captain  Thomas  Toucey  was  chosen  and  appoint- 
ed committee  or  agent  in  ye  behalf  of  ye  town  to  take  ye  bond  of  Mr 
Elisha  Kent  of  sum  of  four  hundred  pounds  money,  which  sd  Mr  Kent  is 
to  pay  to  ye  Presbyterian  part  of  ye  town  so  distinguished  from  ye  Epis- 
copal, in  case  sd  Mr.  Elisha  Kent  falls  from  ye  principles  he  shall  be 
settled  upon  in  ye  work  of  a  gospel  minister  in  Newtown.  Also  voted  at 
sd  meeting  that  ye  ordination  of  Mr  Kent  should  be  attended  on  ye  last 
Monday  of  September  next,  which  will  be  ye  27th  day  of  ye  month. — Joseph 
Peck,  Town  Clerk." 


66  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

"December  19,  1733,  voted  by  ye  inhabitants  yt  there  shall  be  a  rate  of 
four  pence  farthing  half  farthing  levied  on  ye  list  of  aforesaid  inhabitants 
to  pay  ye  ministers  their  salary  (viz.)  to  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Kent  his  salary,  and 
those  of  ye  Episcopal  persuasion  to  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Beach  his  salary  on  w^hat 
is  levied  upon  their  list." 

"December  24,  1733:  Voted,  that  there  shall  be  a  rate  levied  upon  ye 
Presbyterian  party,  so-called,  to  defray  ye  extraordinary  charges  of  ye 
council  and  Rev.  Mr.  Kent's  ordination,  to  be  under  stood  thus,  that  ye 
Presbyterians  shall  pay  three  pence  on  ye  pound  upon  their  list,  and  ye 
church  of  England,  so  distinguished,  shall  pay  tw^o  pence  halfpenny  upon 
ye  pound  levied  upon  their  list." 

"December  24,  1734:  Whereas,  ye  worshipful  Mr.  Thomas  Toucey  and  ye 
Rev.  Mr  Elisha  Kent  have  petitioned  for  liberty  t*o  build  upon  their  owrn 
charge  each  of  them  a  pew  in  ye  meeting  house  in  Newtown  for  ye  use  of 
themselves  and  families  as  they  shall  have  occasion  ye  one  on  ye  one  side  of 
ye  great  or  south  door,  and  ye  other  on  ye  other  side  thereof,  at  ye  above 
sd  meeting,  voted  in  ye  affirmative  that  their  petition  be  granted  and  is 
hereby  granted. — Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

"December  19,  1737:  Agreed  and  voted  that  ye  Rev  Mr  Kent  shall  have 
one  hundred  and  eighty  pounds  for  his  salary  for  ye  year  past  in  ye  work 
of  ye  ministry." 

"December  11,  1738:  Agreed  and  voted  that  a  rate  or  tax  shall  be  levied 
upon  ye  list  of  ye  rateable  estates  of  ye  Presbyterian  society,  that  shall 
amount  to  ye  sum  of  two  hundred  pounds,  to  pay  ye  Reverend  Mr.  Kent 
his  salary  for  ye  year  1738." 

Rev  Mr  Kent  gave  time  among  the  Indians  still  living  in  the  town  during 
his  ministry,  for  in  1742  the  Colonial  Court  of  Connecticut  voted  13  pounds 
lawful  money  to  be  delivered  out  of  the  treasury  of  the  Colony  to  Rev. 
Elisha  Kent,  who  shall  improve  it  for  the  instruction  and  Christianizing  of 
the  Indians  at  a  place  called  Pohtatuck. 

December  ye  2d,  1742:  "Voted  that  two  of  ye  Reverend  Council  shall  be 
called  into  our  assistance.  Voted  and  aggreed  they  being  brought  in,  that 
ye  committee  chosen  and  appointed  by  ye  Society  in  Newtown  shall  be 
empowered  and  are  hereby  empowered  to  lay  all  such  reasons  as  they  shall 
think  proper  why  Rev  Mr  Kent  should  be  removed  from  ye  ministry  in 
this  place,  before  ye  Venerable  Consociation  now  sitting  in  Newtown  as  a 
Judicial  Council  for  their  judgment  and  determination  and  to  manage  sd 
act  in  that  affair  in  behalf  of  this  society  according  to  their  best  prudence 
and  judgment  and  discretion.  The  above  mentioned  vote  clearly  passed. 
Caleb    Baldwin,   Clerk." 

"At  ye  desire  of  ye  subscribers  hereof  these  are  to  give  notice  to  ye  Pres- 
byterian society  in  Newtown  in  ye  County  of  Fairfield  to  meet  at  ye  North 
School  house  in  Newtown  on  Monday,  ye  20th  instant  at  nine  of  ye  clock  in 
ye  morning  for  ye  following  reasons.  That  is  to  say  to  know  ye  minds  of 
ye  society  relating  to  ye  Reverend  Mr  Kent  and  also  to  make  a  rate  for 
ye  defraying  of  charges  that  hath  or  may  necessarily  occur  or  for  any 
other  business  that  may  be  thought  proper. 

Job  Sherman,  Obadiah  Wheeler,  Heth  Peck,  John  Shepherd,  Joseph  Peck, 
Dated  December  6,  1742.  Per  me,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Clerk." 

"The  above  said  meeting  opened  and  convened  on  ye  20th  of  December, 
1742,  Deacon  Job  Sherman  chosen  moderator  and  Caleb  Baldwin  clerk,  and 
it  was  fairly  tryed  by  poles  whether  sd  society  would  further  proceed  to 
have  ye  Council  proceed  in  ye  case  in  which  they  have  been  heretofore  en- 
gaged in  referring  to  ye  differences  between  ye  Reverend  Mr.  Kent  and  ye 
above  society  and  it  is  voted  in  ye  affirmative.  Voted  also  that  ye  above 
Council  shall  convene  on  ye  first  Tuesday  of  January  next  ensuing.  Voted 
also  that  ye  Rev.  Mr  Kent  should  sign  a  note  to  ye  moderator  of  sd  meet- 
ing if  he  is  pleased  with  the  committee  appointed.  Meeting  adjourned  to 
first  Wednesday  of  January  at  one  of  clock,  afternoon,  at  ye  same  hour. 
Caleb  Baldwin,  Clerk." 

The  adjourned  meeting  convened  on  ye  fifth  day  of  January,  1743  and 
"Voted  yt  whereas  ye  Reverend  Council  sat  in  Newtown  on  ye  third  day  of 
December,  1742,  their  final  determination  was  considering  ye  circumstances 
of  this  church  and  society  ye  Council  concluded  it  not  proper  to  determine 


MINISTRY   OF   REV.   ELISHA   KENT  67 

suddenly  yt  ye  union  between  ye  Reverend  Mr  Kent  and  this  people  should 
be  disturbed,  or  to  say  he  shall  still  continue  their  minister,  without  ye 
concurring  advice  of  ye  neighboring  consociation  which  said  council  de- 
clared they  were  willing  to  attend  when  called  upon.  Wherefore,  we  of 
Ecclestiastical  society,  in  Newtown,  do  by  this  vote  desire  the  speedy 
attendance  of  sd  Council  to  determine  ye  diflference  between  ye  Reverend 
Mr.  Kent  and  ye  people  whose  affections  are  very  much  alienated  from  him 
as  hath  already  or  shall  be  made  to  appear  before  sd  council  when  con- 
vened and  yt  ye  Reverend  Moderator  would  be  pleased  to  signify  to  this 
society  or  any  one  of  their  committee  when  he  shall  think  proper,  for  ye 
calling  sd  Council,  and  this  society  desires  ye  moderator  be  as  expeditious 
as  in  His  wisdom  shall  think  fit.  The  above  mentioned  vote  clearly 
passed. — Test,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Clerk." 

January  14,  1743:  Unaminously  voted  yt  ye  moderator  of  this  District 
be  forthwith  sent  to,  to  call  in  ye  Council  of  this  district  to  gather  with  ye 
neighboring  consociations  in  this  County  to  appear  in  Newtown  on  ye 
fourth  Tuesday  of  February  next  at  one  of  ye  clock  in  ye  afternoon  at  ye 
meeting  house  in  Newtown,  then  and  there  to  hear  and  determine  ye 
matters  of  difference  between  ye  Reverend  Mr.  Kent  and  ye  Society  under 
his  present  care  and  finally  to  determine  ye  same  according  to  ye  rules 
of  justice  and   equity. — Caleb   Baldwin,   Clerk. 

"At  ye  desire  of  ye  subscribers  hereof  they  are  to  give  notice  and  warn 
ye  Ecclesiastical  Society  in  Newtown,  in  ye  County  of  Fairfield,  to  meet 
at  ye  North  schoolhouse  in  Newtown  on  Thursday,  ye  tenth  day  of  Jan- 
uary, 1745,  at  two  of  ye  clock,  afternoon,  for  ye  following  reasons:  To 
consult  in  and  to  agree  upon  some  proper  measures  whereby  we  may  be 
able  to  answer  ye  Reverend  Mr.  Kent,  our  former  minister,  in  his  further 
demands  upon  sd  Society  for  his  service  in  times  past,  among  us. 

Job  Sherman,  Nathan  Baldwin,  Joseph  Smith,  Abraham  Bennitt,  John 
Botsford,  members  of  committee. 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Clerk." 

January  10,  1745:  "Voted  at  meeting  of  ye  Society  yt  we  will  give  ye 
Reverend  Mr  Kent  for  his  two  last  months  services  in  ye  ministry  in  sd 
society  after  ye  rate  of  one  hundred  and  ten  pounds  per  year,  old  tenure 
money  or  provisions  according  to  former  agreement  with  ye  lawful  inter- 
est for  ye  year  which  is  to  be  levied  on  ye  list  of  rateable  estates  in  ye 
year  1744.  Voted :  Deacon  Job  Sherman,  Lieut  John  Northrop,  Captain 
Ephraim  Peck  and  Capt.  Wheeler  shall  be  a  committee  to  make  ye  above 
rate  and  to  discors  and  agree  with  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Kent  as  there  shall  be 
further  occasion. — Caleb  Baldwin,  Clerk." 

"A  vote  passed  by  ye  proprietors  of  the  Common  and  undivided  land  in 
Newtown  in  ye  County  of  Fairfield  at  their  meeting  legally  warned  and 
held  by  adjournment  on  ye  19th  day  of  March,  A.  D.  1744. 

Forasmuch  as  divers  persons  of  ye  Presbyterian  persuasion  did  formerly 
sign  or  subscribe  to  give  to  ye  Rev.  Mr  John  Beach  divers  peaces  of  land 
out  of  ye  thirty  acre  division  and  other  divisions  them  to  themselves  grant- 
ed to  be  laid  out  in  ye  bounds  of  sd  Newtown  as  appears  on  Record,  on 
consideration  of  said  Mr  Beach  settling  in  ye  work  of  ye  ministry  in  sd 
town  and  sd  lands  so  signed  to  be  given  was  laid  out  to  Mr.  Beach  and 
afterward  sd  Mr.  Beach  declare  himself  to  be  of  ye  church  of  England 
pursuasion  in  matter  of  Religion  and  thereupon  did  resign  up  to  ye  town 
of  Newtown  all  his  right,  title  and  interest  in  the  lands  to  him  laid  out  as 
aforesaid  and  thereupon  sd  town  did  by  its  committee  excute  a  deed  in  due 
form  of  law  dated  August  ye  first  1732  of  one  hundred  and  four  acres  and 
half  of  land  to  Mr.  Elisha  Kent  in  consideration  of  his  settling  in  ye  work 
of  ye  ministry  according  to  ye  Presbyterian  persuasion  and  sd  signers  not 
having  conveyed  ye  sec.  of  sd  lands  by  any  legal  deed  or  deeds  did  after- 
wards lay  out  their  full  right  in  sd  division  to  themselves  and  to  their 
heirs,  and  therefore  sd  lands  laid  out  to  Mr  Beach  as  aforesaid  and  suppos- 
ed to  be  conveyed  to  Mr  Kent  by  sd  deed  and  then  by  right  belong  to  ye 
proprietors  of  ye  common  and  undivided  land  in  sd  Newtown,  several  of 
which  sd  proprietors  was  and  did  then  profess  themselves  to  be  of  ye 
church  of  England  persuasion  and  not  willing  to  contribute  towards  a 
settlement  of  a  Presbyterian  minister  and  whereas  part  of  sd  lands  was 


68  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

laid  out  nearer  than  ye  limits  of  ye  30  acre  division  therefore  to  secure  to 
sd  churchmen  ye  proportionable  right  in  ye  common  and  undivided  lands 
for  ye  use  of  a  church  of  England  ministry  equal  both  in  quantity  and 
quality  to  those  of  ye  Presbyterian  persuasion  whose  rights  are  devoted  to 
Mr  Kent,  his  heirs  and  assigns   forever. 

It  is  voted  and  agreed  in  sd  meeting  that  those  proprietors  of  said  com- 
mon and  undivided  land  that  were  and  did  profes  themselves  to  be  of  ye 
church  of  England  persuasion  have  two  acres  and  forty  three  rods  of  land, 
and  so  in  proportion  for  half  rights,  etc.,  three  eighth  parts  to  be  laid  out 
within  one  mile  from  ye  meeting  house,  ye  remainder  to  be  laid  in  ye  limits 
assigned  for  ye  thirty  acre  division  to  be  laid  out  for  a  parsonage  for  a 
church  of  England  clergy  for  ye  use  of  ye  Rev.  Mr  John  Beach  and  his 
lawful  successors  forever. 

Always  provided  that  nothing  in  this  vote  shall  be  conserved  to  brake 
ye    sequesterment. 

Recorded  ye  day  and  date  above  per  me.  Job  Sherman,  Clerk. 
Voted  in  ye  afifirmative." 

"Copy  of  a  writ  put  into  the  hands  of  the  collector  of  the  minister's  rate 
for  the  Town  of  Newtown  in  the  County  of  Fairfield  for  the  year  1747." 

"Whereas  by  the  Selectmen  of  the  town  of  Newtown  aforesd  a  certain 
rate  or  tax  leavied  according  to  law  upon  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of 
Newtown  for  defraying  the  publick  charges  of  the  ministry  for  the  year 
1747  which  hath  been  for  collection  committed  unto  you.  In  his  Majesties 
name  you  are  hereby  required  of  the  several  persons  named  in  the  sd  Rate 
to  Collect  the  Respective  sum  or  sums  to  their  names  annexed  in  sd  rate 
and  upon  any  or  all  such  person  or  persons  refusing  or  neglecting  to 
make  payment  of  the  respective  sum  or  sums  at  which  they  are  in  sd  rate 
asesed  you  are  to  leavie  by  Distress  of  the  Goods  or  Chatels  of  sd  persons 
if  to  be  found  by  you  for  ye  answering  ye  respective  sum  or  sums  as  above 
with  your  own  fees  and  two  shillings  more  for  the  writ,  and  the  same 
dispose  of  as  the  law  directs  for  the  satisfying  the  above  said  sum  or  sums 
and  fees  and  ye  overplus,  if  any,  be  returned  to  ye  proper  owners  thereof, 
and  for  want  of  such  goods  or  chattels  by  you  to  be  found,  you  are  to  take 
the  body  of  him,  them  any  or  all  of  them  so  refusing  or  neglecting  as  a- 
bove,  and  him,  them  any  or  all  of  them  to  receive  and  safely  keep  until  he 
or  they  shall  have  satisfied  the  above  sd  sum  or  sums  his,  the  sd  Gaoler's 
fees,  all  charges  and  be  by  due  order  of  law  discharged  hereof  fail  not  and 
make  Due  return  of  this  writ  with  your  doing  thereon  as  the  law  directs. 

Dated  in  Newtown,  this  sixth  day  of  April,  A.  D.  1748. 

Job  Sherman,  Justice  of  ye  peace." 

December  27,  1757,  whether  this  society  will  do  anything  as  a  society  in 
order  to  reward  ye  Rev.  Mr.  Kent  for  his  past  services  in  sd  society. 

Voted  in  ye  affirmative. 

Voted  in  sd  meeting  whether  the  society  will  give  ye  Reverend  Mr  Kent 
fifteen  pounds  money,  New  York  currency  for  his  past  services  in  ye 
society. 

Voted  in  ye  affirmative 

Mr.  Obadiah  Wheeler  chosen  to  gather  ye  15  pounds  and  pay  it  in  to 
some  certain  place  as  Mr.  Kent  shall  appoint,  which  is  Abiel  Botsford's 
house. 

Voted  that  Abiel  Botsford  shall  deliver  ye  same  IS  pounds  when  collected 
to  ye  Reverend  Mr.  Kent  and  take  of  him  a  final  discharge  from  ye  society. 

Caleb   Baldwin,  Clerk. 

Mr  Kent  was  25  years  of  age  when  he  took  up  ministerial  work 
in  Newtown.  No  record  can  be  found  as  to  his  family,  but  he  must 
have  had  one  for  the  town  gave  him  liberty  to  build  upon  his  own 
charge  a  pew  in  the  meeting  house  for  "ye  use  of  himself  and  fam- 
ily as  they  shall  have  occasion  for  themselves  on  one  side  of  ye 
great  south  door."  There  was  some  delay  in  the  final  settlement 
between  the  society  and  the  minister,  but  at  last  all  was  amicably- 
adjusted,  as  the  following  receipt  will  show. 

February  22,  A.  D.,  1763,  there  received  of  Mr.  Obediah  Wheeler,  collector 


MINISTRY   OF    REV.    ELISHA    KENT  69 

ye  full  of  ye  15  pounds  rate  granted  by  ye  society  in  Newtown  in  ye  year 
1757  which  I  very  freely  acknowledge  is  ye  full  of  my  demands  upon  sd 
society  on  ye  account  of  my  ministerial  labors  amongst  them,  and  assure 
this  people  I  retain  a  gratified  remembrance  of  ye  many  favors  received 
from  them  as  witness  by  hand,  — Elisha  Kent. 

Mrs  Emily  H.  Denslow  of  Marbledale,  Conn.,  a  descendant  of 
the  Rev.  Elisha  Kent,  writes  of  the  Kent  family: 

"The  first  of  the  Kent  name  in  this  country  was  Thomas  Kent,  who,  with 
his  wife  cme  from  England  to  Gloucester,  Mass.,  prior  to  1643,  and  was 
one  of  Gloucester's  original  proprietors.  He  died  April  1,  1658.  His  widow 
died  at  Gloucester,  Mass.,  Oct.  16,  1671.  Their  children,  Thomas,  Samuel 
and  Josiah,  were  probably  born  in  England.  Samuel  was  married  Jan.  17, 
1654,  to  Frances  Woodal.  They  had  nine  children,  of  whom  the  youngest 
son  Elisha,  was  born  in  Suffield,  Conn.,  July  9,  1704.  He  was  graduated  at 
Yale  college  in  1729  and  was  married,  April  3, 1732,  to  Abigail  Moss,  daughter 
of  Rev.  Joseph  Moss,  of  Derby,  Conn.,  granddaughter  of  Rev.  M.  Russell, 
a  graduate  of  Yale,  1702.  He  left  his  charge  in  Newtown,  conscientiously 
opposed  to  the  existing  religion  there,  and  in  1743  was  installed  first  pastor 
of  Fairfield  East  Association,  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.  Southeast  Carmel, 
East  and  West  Phillippi  were  under  his  charge,  but  in  1750  he  confined  his 
labors  to  East  Phillippi,  where  he  had  in  1743  purchased  a  farm  of  500  acres. 
He  became  one  of  the  most  influential  men  of  his  section.  His  wife  died 
in  1751  and  his  own  death  occurred  at  Phillippi,  N.  Y.,  July  17,  1776.  They 
are  buried  in  the  old  Southeast  cemetery.  His  children  had  settled  near 
by,  the  daughters  and  their  families  within  a  few  miles  of  East  Phillippi 
parsonage.  The  sons-in-law  were  royalists,  and  the  fortunes  of  war 
scattered  the  family,  whose  members  became  prominent  in  civil,  religious 
and  scientific  circles.  The  children  of  Elisha  and  Abigail  Kent :  Moss 
Kent,  born  March  25,  1733.  Elisha  Kent,  born  July  6,  1736.  Abigail  Kent, 
born  July  6,  1736.  Sybil  Kent,  born  July  9,  1738.  Lucy  Kent,  no  date.  Mary 
Kent,  born  Dec.  10,  1744. 

The  oldest  son.  Moss  Kent,  married  Hannah  Rogers  and  was  father  of 
James  Kent,  Chancellor  of  New  York.  Abiel  Botsford  married  the  oldest 
daughter,  Abigail  Kent,  and  they  have  several  descendants  in  this  vicinity, 
among  whom  are  Mrs  James  A.  Sperry  and  Dr.  M.  H.  Denslow.  Mrs.  M.  H. 
Denslow  (nee  Kent)  is  descendant  from  Rev.  Elisha  Kent  through  his  sec- 
ond son,  Elisha.  The  Arctic  explorer,  Elisha  Kent  Kane,  was  also  descend- 
ant of  Rev.  Elisha  Kent  of  Newtown. 

The  Calling  and  Settlement  of  the  Rev.  David  Judson  as  Minister 
of  the  "Presbyterian  Foundation."  1743—1776. 

With  the  going  of  Rev.  Elisha  Kent  and  the  incoming  of  Rev. 
David  Judson,  there  came  a  change  in  the  business  methods  of  the 
calling  and  settlement  of  a  minister.  Whether  the  change  came  by 
mutual  consent  of  the  taxpayers  or  by  an  enactment  of  the  General 
Court  of  the  Colony,  the  writer  does  not  know,  but  we  find  no 
further  allusion  in  the  town  records  to  the  hiring  of  ministers  after 
the  discharge  of  Rev.  Elisha  Kent,  although  the  meeting  did  fix  a 
tax  for  the  minister's  rate,  as  far  along  as  1752.  For  information 
as  to  calling  and  settling  Rev.  Mr  Judson,  it  is  fortunate  that  the 
first  book  of  records  of  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  takes  up 
the  history  where  the  town  records  leave  off,  and  from  that  we 
gather  the  business  relations  between  the  society  and  minister 
during  the  33  years  of  his  ministry. 

Upon  the  retirement  of  Rev.  Elisha  Kent  in  1743,  the  society 
was  again  in  dire  straits  for  a  minister.  On  March  8,  1743,  the 
society  convened  at  the  North  schoolhouse  in  Newtown  at  2  of  the 
clock  in  the  afternoon  by  order  of  Job  Sherman,  John  Northrop,  Moses 
Stillson,  Joseph    Bristol   and   Nathaniel    Brisco,   members   of   the    society: 


70  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

"So  to  make  choice  of  a  committee  in  our  desolate  state  to  take  all  proper 
measures  in  order  for  procuring  some  suitable  person  upon  probation  to 
supply  ye  pulpit  in  this  place  for  a  season.  In  order  for  ye  settlement,  if 
to  ye  good  choice  of  sd  society,  sd  committee  so  to  proceed  from  time  to 
time  as  there  shall  be  occasion  until  sd  society  shall  be  satisfactorily  sup- 
plied even  to  settlement.  Also  to  take  all  proper  measures  at  sd  meeting 
for  ye  levying  and  gathering  such  sum  or  sums  of  money  or  other  species 
as  shall  be  thought  needful  for  ye  defraying  or  answering  ye  past  or  com- 
ing charges  of  ye  society  and  any  other  affairs  yt  shall  be  thought  need- 
ful to  ye  real  advantage  of  sd  society  as  though  they  were  herein  par- 
ticularized.    Caleb  Baldwin  Society's  clerk." 

At  the  above  sd  meeting  it  was  "voted  that  Lieutenant  John  Northrop, 
Seargent  Joseph  Botsford,  Capt.  Obadiah  Wheeler  and  Heth  Peck  shall  be 
a  committee  to  proceed  in  calling  in  some  suitable  person  on  probation 
for  settlement  in  ye  ministry  and  so  to  proceed  from  time  to  time  if  there 
be  occasion  until  there  is  a  settled  minister  in  sd  society."  May  3,  1743: 
"Upon  ye  desire  of  ye  persons  hereafter  subscribing  that  there  is  to  be  a 
meeting  of  ye  Presbyterian  society  in  Newtown  on  ye  ninth  day  of  May  at 
four  of  ye  clock,  afternoon,  at  the  north  schoolhouse,  then  and  there  to 
take  some  proper  measure  with  ye  worthy  Mr.  David  Judson,  for  his  con- 
tinuance among  us  in  ye  Gospel  ministry,  in  order  for  settlement  and  such 
other  business  as  may  be  thought  proper  at  sd  meeting  to  be  done." — John 
Botsford,  Johnathan  Booth,  Nathan  Baldwin,  Job  Sherman,  Free  Grace 
Adams,  members  of  Society. 

May  9,  1743,  it  was  voted,  "whether  so  far  as  they  had  made  trial  of  ye 
Worthy  Mr.  David  Judson  in  his  work  as  by  ye  committee  he  was  invited  to 
this  place  in  order  to  probation  for  ye  Gospel  ministry  here  he  was  to  their 
good  satisfaction  voted  very  fully  in  ye  affirmative." — Caleb  Baldwin  clerk. 

"Voted  at  ye  above  meeting  whether  this  society  will  call  ye  Worthy  Mr 
David  Judson  to  ye  Gospel  ministry  in  this  place,  and  it  was  voted  fully  in 
ye  affirmative.  Also  voted  whether  this  society  will  give  ye  Mr.  David 
Judson  four  hundred  pounds  settlement  old  tenure  to  be  paid  three  years 
from  this  date  and  it  was  voted  fully  in  ye  affirmative."  Voted  at  a  meet- 
ing held  on  the  23rd  day  of  May,  1743,  "to  give  to  ye  worthy  Mr.  David 
Judson  if  he  shall  see  cause  to  settle  in  ye  Gospel  ministry  as  above — the 
sum  of  three  hundred  pounds  old  tenure  towards  or  for  his  ye  sd  Mr. 
Judson's  settlement  in  manner  and  form  as  followeth :  One  hundred 
pounds  at  or  before  ye  first  day  of  December  next,  and  one  hundred 
pounds  per  year  to  be  paid  annually  by  ye  first  day  of  December  annually, 
until  ye  three  hundred  pounds  above  sd  be  paid.  All  ye  above  unanimously 
voted.  There  is  also  promised  by  signature  to  ye  worthy  Mr.  David  Judson 
if  he  shall  settle  in  ye  ministry  in  this  society  one  hundred  pounds  old 
tenure  to  be  paid  at  or  before  ye  23rd  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1743." 

At  a  society's  meeting  held  by  adjournment  at  ye  Presbyterian  meeting 
house,  August  15,  1743,  it  was  voted  "that  whereas  ye  vote  by  this  society 
of  fifty  pounds  lawful  money  per  annum  for  Mr  David  Judson,  his  support 
upon  his  settlement  in  ye  ministry  in  sd  society  is  considered  dissatisfac- 
tory to  many  and  fearing  it  mayn't  be  for  ye  health  of  sd  society,  and, 
understanding  from  ye  committee  of  sd  society  upon  conference  with  ye  sd 
Mr.  Judson  that  ye  sd  Mr.  Judson  for  ye  peace  of  sd  society  was  willing  to 
forgo  sd  vote  provided  his  support  might  by  sd  society  be  voted  in  manner 
and  form  as  hereunto  immediately  annexed:  Voted,  that  upon  ye  worthy 
Mr  Judson's  settlement  in  ye  Gospel  ministry  in  this  Presbyterian  society 
upon  ye  Presbyterian  foundation  and  so  long  as  he  shall  faithfully  continue 
their  minister  upon  sd  foundation  yt  for  his  annual  support  they  will  give  him 
year  by  year  ye  sum  of  fifty  pounds  lawful  money  or  two  hundred  pounds 
according  to  bills  of  credit  of  ye  old  tenure  of  Connecticut,  ye  which  is 
now  equivalent  to  what  it  now  is  if  there  shall  be  any  falling  of  ye  cur- 
rency of  ye  above  mentioned  two  hundred  pounds  of  bills  of  credit  ac- 
cording to  old  tenure  in  Connecticut  the  above  sum  to  be  answered  in  bills 
of  credit  of  New  England,  or  provisions  as  they  shall  currently  pass  at  ye 
market  price  in  Newtown. — Caleb  Baldwin  Clerk." 

"I,  David  Judson,  referred  to  in  ye  above  sd  vote  declare  in  case  of  my 
settlement  in  ye  Gospel  ministry  in  Newtown,  I  will  never  take  ye  advan- 


THE    REV.    DAVID    JUDSON  71 

tage  of  ye  vote  of  ye  society  in  fifty  pounds  per  annum  lawful  money  pro- 
posed May  ye  23,  1743,  for  my  support,  there  being  later  provision  made 
by  sd  society  and  it  is  my  desire  yt  this  with  ye  former  go  upon  ye  public 
record  of  sd  society,  as  witness  my  hand  in  Newtown  above  sd,  in  this 
15th  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1743. — David  Judson." 

"Voted  at  this  same  meeting  that  ye  standing  committee  so-called  for 
this  society  for  ye  calling  in  a  probationer  for  ye  Gospel  ministry  and  pro- 
ceeding from  time  to  time  in  ye  affair  till  there  shall  be  a  minister  settled 
here  to  be  seen  as  of  record,  that  they  are  hereby  authorized  in  ye  behalf 
of  this  society  in  conjunction  with  ye  committee  of  ye  Presbyterian  church 
in  this  place  to  send  forth  letters  of  request  to  ye  neighboring  churches 
to  cause  their  help  that  their  reverend  pastors  with  a  messenger  from  each 
church  would  be  pleased  on  ye  third  Wednesday  of  September  next  with 
ye  leave  of  Providence  attend  ye  solemn  affair  of  ye  ordination  of  ye 
Worthy  Mr.  David  Judson  to  ye  pastoral  office  in  and  over  this  society 
and  church  yt  sd  committee  in  behalf  of  sd  society  are  authorized  to  take 
care  yt  ye  sd  gentlemen  of  yt  affair  are  provided  for,  and  that  a  day  of 
fasting  and  prayer  be  solemnly  attended  by  this  society  on  ye  first  Wed- 
nesday of  September  next,  to  implore  ye  Divine  blessing  in  that  great 
affair  and  yt  ye  help  of  }^e  Rev.  Mr  Graham  and  Mr  Judd  be  sought  on  yt 
occasion." — Caleb    Baldwin,   Clerk. 

From  the  first  book  of  records  of  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society 
of  Newtown  Jan.  30,  1746,  we  find  the  first  allusion  to  the  first 
repairs  on  the  meeting  house  as  follows  :  At  a  legal  meeting  of  ye  Pres- 
byterian Society  in  Newtown,  held  on  ye  30th  day  of  January,  1746, 
Thomas  Toucey,  Esq.,  moderator  of  sd  meeting,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Clerk. 
Voted  at  above  sd  meeting  that  ye  several  sums  above  subscribed  or  that 
shall  be  subscribed  to  a  certain  instrument  dated  Newtown,  December  30, 
1745,  already  ammounting  to  two  hundred  and  thirty  pounds  old  tenure  for 
repairing  and  completing  ye  Presbyterian  meeting  house  which  shall  be 
laid  out  in  new  shingling  sd  meeting  house,  in  putting  in  new  window 
frames  and  windows  of  sash  glass,  in  well  siding  sd  house,  in  well  securing 
and  rectifying  ye  underpinning,  in  rectifying  ye  gable  ends,  and  in  putting 
on  good  floor  boards,  and  if  sd  subscription  shall  be  more  than  sufficient 
for  doing  all  ye  above  sd  outside  work  with  glass  and  nails,  that  what 
remains  shall  be  laid  out  upon  ye  inside  house.  All  to  be  under  ye  direc- 
tion of  sd  committee  yt  shall  be  chosen  for  sd  business,  always  to  be 
understood  yt  ye  committee  shall  as  far  as  is  consistant  with  ye  prudent 
and  advantageous  management  of  above  sd  affairs  improve  several  sub- 
scriptions in  said  business  as  they  ye  committee  shall  think  best  and  ye 
above  sd  committee  is  to  cause  to  be  done  to  ye  outside  of  ye  sd  house 
what  further  they  shall  see  to  be  needful  to  make  it  fationable.  Voted: 
That  Heth  Peck,  Donald  Grant,  Deacon  Bennitt,  Abel  Booth,  Alexander 
Bryan,  and  Caleb  Baldwin  are  appointed  committee  to  take  ye  oversight 
of,  and  carry  on  ye  work  according  to  ye  above  described  vote.  Voted: 
That  ye  above  sd  committee  shall  have  ye  care  of  all  ye  old  shingles  and 
clapboards  and  lead  window  frames  and  all  ye  other  furniture  of  sd  house 
and  dispose  of  it  all  to  ye  best  advantage  of  sd  society. — Caleb  Baldwin, 
Society's    Clerk. 

"At  ye  desire  of  ye  subscribers  hereof  these  are  to  notify  and  warn  ye 
Presbyterian  Society  of  Newtown,  in  ye  County  of  Fairfield,  to  meet  at 
ye  north  school  house  in  sd  Newtown  on  Thursday  ye  13th  day  of  March, 
at  three  of  ye  clock  afternoon,  for  ye  following  reasons:  That  we  may 
know  ye  minds  of  sd  society  respecting  our  erecting  or  building  a  conven- 
ient belfry  on  ye  public  meeting  house  of  sd  society  in  order  for  a  bell  when 
sd  society  is  able  to  purchase  one.  Ye  subscribers  are  Job  Sherman, 
Nathan  Baldwin,  Abraham  Bennett,  Donald  Grant,  John  Botsford,  members 
of  society. — Caleb  Baldwin  Clerk,  March  7,  1746.  Voted  at  sd  meeting:  Yt 
there  shall  be  a  convenient  belfry  built  upon  ye  meeting  house  of  sd 
society.  We  ye  subscribers  being  members  of  j^e  Presbyterian  society  in 
Newtown,  being  sensible  of  ye  neglect  of  ye  house  of  God  in  this  society 
for  want  of  being  furthur  finished  as  to  seats  in  ye  galleries  and  all  other 
work  necessary  to  be  done  in  sd  house  for  necessary  convenience  at  public 
meetings,  notice  is  hereby  given  to  ye  society  to  meet  at  ye  North  school 


72  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

house  on  Monday,  ye  24th  day  of  April,  at  three  of  ye  clock,  afternoon,  for 
reasons  above  mentioned.  Dated  April  17,  A.  D.  1749.  Thomas  Toucey, 
Ephraim  Peck,  Nathan  Baldwin,  Joseph  Botsford,  Nathaniel  Peck,  mem- 
bers of  Society." 

"Voted  at  above  meeting:  That  a  rate  of  12  pence  on  ye  pound  old 
tenure  on  ye  list  of  rateable  estates  of  ye  Presbyterians  which  is  to  be 
improved  for  ye  further  finishing  of  ye  meeting  house  as  to  ye  galleries 
and  plastering  overhead  or  any  other  work  in  sd  house  that  shall  be 
thought    needful. — Caleb    Baldwin,    Clerk." 

At  a  meeting  Jan.  6,  1762,  it  was  "Voted  that  there  shall  be  a  steeple 
built  on  ye  east  end  of  ye  meeting  house  if  there  shall  be  money  enough 
signed  to  build  the  same,  and  that  Captain  Amos  Botsford,  Lieutenant 
Nathaniel  Brisco,  Mr  Gideon  Botsford,  Mr  Ebenezer  Ford,  and  Mr  Caleb 
Baldwin  shall  be  the  committee  to  receive  the  money  so  signed  and  to  lay 
out  ye  same  in  building  sd  steeple  to  ye  best  of  their  judgment." 

"At  a  legal  meeting  of  ye  Presbyterian  society  in  Newtown,  Fairfield 
County  Conn.,  holden  on  ye  6th  day  of  September,  A.  D.,  1762,  Richard 
Fairman  chosen  moderator,  proposed  at  sd  meeting  by  Captain  Amos 
Botsford  and  Mr.  Nathaniel  Brisco,  that  they  will  on  their  own  cost  and 
charge  procure  a  good  bell  of  500  pounds  weight,  fit  for  to  hang  in  ye 
steeple  of  aforesaid  society  and  that  it  shall  be  for  ye  use  of  sd  society  so 
long  as  there  shall  be  a  Presbyterian  society  to  meet  in  ye  above  sd  meet- 
ing house,  that  is  to  say,  if  ye  above  sd  society  will  go  on  to  complete  ye 
sd  steeple,  fix  ye  outside  of  ye  meeting  house,  culler  it  and  culler  ye  pulpit 
proposed  for  to  vote  whether  ye  sd  society  will  concur  with  ye  sd 
Botsford  and  Brisco  in  their  proposals  will  go  on  to  finish  sd  steeple  and 
house  according  to  sd  proposals.  Voted  in  ye  affirmative.  It  was  voted 
that  there  should  be  a  rate  laid  out  in  finishing  ye  steeple  and  cullering  ye 
meeting  house   and   pulpit." 

"At  a  meeting  held  in  January,  1763,  Captain  Botsford  and  Nathaniel 
Brisco  made  open  declaration  that  they  freely  and  frankly  gave  ye  bell 
which  they  had  procured  for  ye  use  of  ye  society  so  long  as  there  should 
be  a  Presbyterian  society  to  meet  in  sd  house,  and  ye  society  gave  them 
hearty  thanks." 

For  some  reason  not  given  in  the  record,  the  first  bell  did  not 
meet  expectations,  and  at  a  society  meeting,  May  28,  1767,  it  was 
"Voted  whether  they  would  do  anything  in  order  to  get  a  new  bell,  and 
it  was  voted  in  ye  affirmative  and  sometime  in  ye  month  of  June  was  made 
out  by  way  of  signation  ye  sum  of  twenty-seven  pounds,  four  shillings  and 
seven  pence,  lawful  money  or  provisions,  and  ye  same  being  gathered  on 
or  about  ye  first  day  of  July,  ye  committee  for  ye  bell  took  ye  old  bell  and 
conveyed  it  down  to  Fairfield,  got  it  recast  and  brought  up  ye  new  bell 
and  delivered  it  up  and  it  was  hung  on  ye  third  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1767. 
Alvvays  to  be  understood  that  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  Church  of  England 
society  in  Newtown  signed  of  ye  abovesaid  moneys  and  provisions  ye  sum 
of  five  pounds  twelve  shillings  and  nine  pence." 

"Voted,  yt  Gideon  Peck  shall  sweep  ye  meeting  house  twelve  times  in 
ensuing  year  and  shall  have  twelve  shillings  for  his  services.  Voted,  yt 
time  of  intermission  between  meetings  on  ye  Sabbath  Day  shall  be  one 
hour  and  one  quarter  from  ye  time  of  this  meeting  to  ye  first  of  next 
March. — Caleb     Baldwin,    Society    Clerk." 

In  1773,  the  agitation  over  w^hat  was  known  as  the  Saybrook 
platform  came  up,  which  neither  Mr.  Judson  nor  his  congregation 
favored.  A  meeting  of  the  church  was  held  October  6,  1773,  when 
it  was  proposed  whether  it  be  the  minds  of  this  church  to  stand  in 
the  consociated  connection  according  to  the  Saybrook  platform, 
and  it  was  voted  in  the  negative.  It  was  then  put  to  vote  "whether  this  society 
will  choose  a  committee  to  send  for  a  council  of  the  churches  or  not,"  and 
it  was  voted  in  the  negative.  January  12,  1774,  a  meeting  of  the  ecclesias- 
tical society  was  called,  when  it  was  put  to  vote  "whether  this  society 
will  agree  to  what  the  first  church  in  Newtown  does  respecting  their 
renouncing  their  connection  with  Consociated  churches  or  not  and  it  was 
voted  in  the  affirmative." 


THE    REV.    DAVID    JUDSON  73 

In  January,  1775,  it  was  voted  to  raise  Rev.  Mr.  Judson's  salary  for  the 
year  by  subscription,  provided  £50  could  be  subscribed,  which  was  done. 
The   subscribers  : 

John  Botsford,  £2;  Richard  Fairman,  £2;  Amos  Botsford,  £2;  Abel  Bots- 
ford,  £1  10s;  Abraham  Bennett,  £1  10s;  Josiah  Beardsle,  £2;  John  Sherwood, 
£1  10s;  Caleb  Baldwin,  £1  10s;  Jonathan  Northrop,  £1  5s;  Benjamin  Curtis, 
18s;  Joseph  Botsford,  15s;  Moses  Piatt,  10s;  Ichabod  Fairman,  £1;  Abel 
Baldwin,  £2;  Nathan  Burritt,  £1;  Joseph  Wheeler,  £1  10s;  Joel  Bassett,  10s; 
Asa  Cogshall,  12s;  Nathaniel  Northrop,  10s;  Joseph  Peck  Jr.,  10s;  Nathan 
Sherman,  15s;  Jonathan  Baisley,  10s;  Ezra  Peck,  8s;  Abraham  Bennett  Jr., 
18s;  Henry  Fairman,  158;  Gideon  Botsford,  £1  10s;  Gideon  Botsford  Jr.,  13s; 
Silas  Fairchild,  10s;  Andrew  Wheeler,  6s;  James  Fairchild,  £1;  Timothy 
Shepherd,  £1  10s;  Abel  Botsford  Jr.,  £1  5s;  J.ared  Botsford,  £1;  Jerusha 
Baldwin,  6s;  John  Sterling,  £1  15s;  Widow  Anna  Baldwin,  15s;  Joseph 
Piatt,  12s;  John  Chandler,  £1;  Amos  Terrill,  £1  2s  6d  ;  Abraham  Botsford, 
12s;  Jabez  Botsford,  18s;  Moses  Piatt,  Jr.,  1£;  Abraham  Shepherd,  Is;  John 
Bassett,  6s;  Moses  Botsford,  15s;  Jonathan  Booth's  wife,  6s;  Thomas  Ben- 
nitt,  10s;  Deacon  Northrop,  6s;  Ebenezer  Beers,  5s;  Henry  Wood,  6s; 
Samuel  Beardsley  Jr.,  5s;  Roger  Terrill,  15s;  Mathew  Curtis,  15s;  Moses 
Gillett,  6s;  John  Gillett,  6s. 

Voted  that  the  above  subscription  be  paid  by  the  first  of  next  April,  1776. 

Richard  Fairman,  Clerk  of  society. 

When  Rev.  David  Judson  was  called  to  become  minister  in 
Newtown  on  the  Presbyterian  foimdation,  it  was  at  a  salary  of 
three  hundred  pounds,  old  tenure,  which  at  that  time  would  be 
equal  to  about  50  pounds,  English  money.  Bills  of  credit  were  in 
a  fluctuating  condition.  Not  later  than  December,  1753,  it  was 
voted  in  the  Presbyterian  society's  meeting  that  for  that  year 
Mr  Judson's  salary  should  be  six  hundred  pounds,  old  tenure,  or  in 
provisions  at  the  market  price  as  they  currently  pass  in  Newtown. 
They  became  tired  of  a  flunctuating  salary  and  in  1755  a  vote  was  passed 
that  the  society  would  pay  ye  Rev.  Mr  Judson  for  his  services  ye  year 
past,  ye  full  sum  of  fifty  pounds  lawful  money  and  that  if  any  of  sd  society 
shall  pay  him  in  grain  it  shall  be  at  ye  several  prices  hereafter  named: 
Wheat  at  three  shillings  six-pence  per  bushel;  rye  at  two  shillings  four- 
pence  per  bushel;  Indian  corn  at  one  shilling  nine-pence  per  bushel;  flax 
at  five-pence  per  pound;  and  if  any  shall  work  it  shall  be  at  one  shilling 
nine-pence  per  day. 

Later  the  salary  was  raised  to  sixty  pounds,  then  again  to  seventy 
pounds,  and  at  the  time  of  Mr  Judson's  death  in  1776  it  was  fifty 
pounds.  When  Rev.  Mr  Judson  became  minister,  the  rateable 
assessment  of  the  Presbyterians  was  7693  pounds  and  six  pence. 

During  the  whole  of  Rev.  Mr  Judson's  ministry  of  33  years,  he 
kept  a  continuous  record  of  his  ministrations,  which  is  still  intact 
and  carefully  preserved  by  the  Newtown  Congregational  church. 
There  were  30  families  in  Newtown  in  1716.  In  1738,  there  were 
60  families,  and,  by  a  census  taken  in  1752,  the  town's  population 
was  found  to  be  1230  and  in  1770  the  number  of  families  had  in- 
creased to  350.  Mr  Judson  says  that  about  one-half  of  them  were 
of  the  Church  of  England,  and  that  his  own  congregation  numbered 
150  families  and  over  200  church  members.  From  his  manuscript 
record  of  ofificial  acts,  we  find  that  he  solemnized  226  marriages, 
ofificiated  at  887  baptisms,  of  which  only  eight  persons  were  adults, 
13  were  children  of  slaves  and  only  one  Indian;  378  deaths  where 
his  ministrations  were  given. 

Mr  Judson  was  married  by  Rev.  Mr  Gould  of  Stratford,  Conn., 
October  20,  1743,  to  Mary  Judson,  daughter  of  Joshua  Judson,  also 


74  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

of  Stratford,  and  took  his  bride  to  Newtown  when  he  entered  upon 
his  work.  Their  children  were  Mary,  born  July  4,  1744 ;  Phoebe,  born 
August  16,  1746;  David,  born  May  17,  1748;  Hannah,  born  June  10, 
1750;  Mary,  the  second,  born  June  7,  1752;  David,  the  second,  born 
August  25,  1757;  Betty,  born  February  22,  1762.  His  death  came 
Sept.  24,  1776,  from  dysentery,  contracted  while  visiting  soldiers 
in  camp  less  than  four  months  after  the  signing  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence.  A  red  sandstone  slab  marks  his  grave  on  the 
west  side  of  the  old  part  of  the  Newtown  cemetery,  alongside  the 
graves  of  the  two  children,  David  and  Mary,  who  died  in  early 
childhood. 

The  Church  of  England  as  a  corporate  body  was  acknowledged 
by  the  General  Court,  sitting  in  Hartford,  in  May,  1752,  which  then 
gave  the  Church  of  England  parish  privileges.  Until  then  the 
people  of  the  town  were  obliged  to  pay  taxes  to  support  the  Pres- 
byterian minister.  From  that  time  on.  for  many  years,  the  Presby- 
terian part  of  the  people  were  taxed  for  support  of  their  ow^n 
minister  and  the  Church  of  England  people  were  taxed  to  aid  in  the 
support  of  the  missionary  placed  in  charge  over  Newtown  and 
Redding  Church  of  England  people,  then  under  the  supervisions  of 
the  Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts, 
with  its  headquarters  in  England  and  Rev.  John  Beach  minister 
in  charge. 

During  the  Rev.  Mr  Judson's  ministry,  the  records  show  that  the 
best  of  relations  existed  between  the  Church  of  England  people  and 
the  Presbyterians. 

MIDWAY  CHAPTER  IN  THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  FIRST 
ECCLESIASTICAL  SOCIETY  OF  NEWTOWN,  CONN. 

The  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  of  Newtown  has  made  extensive 
improvements  in  the  interior  of  their  house  of  worship,  enlarging 
their  conference  room,  adding  to  their  conveniences  for  social  en- 
joyment, installing  an  up-to-date  plant  with  modern  fixtures,  and 
other  improvements  that  follow  lines  conforming  to  the  demands 
of  the  times  in  which  we  live.  Three  score  years  ago,  the  perplex- 
ing question  with  the  little  band  of  the  faithful  few  was  whether 
to  disband  their  organization,  struggle  along  as  they  were,  or  take 
up  a  site  and  start  anew  in  Sandy  Hook.  A  study  of  our  town  and 
the  society  records  show  that  the  growth  in  numbers  increased 
continuously  until  after  the  death  of  Rev.  David  Judson  in  1776. 
Mr  Judson  left  on  record  that  in  1770  Newtown  numbered  350 
families.  His  own  congregation  numbered  150  families  and  over 
200  church  members.  For  ten  years  after  his  death  they  were 
without  a  settled  pastor  and  they  were  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd. 
The  society  no  longer  kept  up  its  numbers.  From  1786  to  1798, 
Rev.  Zephaniah  Smith  was  minister  on  a  salary  of  75  pounds  lawful 
money  and  30  loads  of  wood. 

Rev  Jehu  Clark  was  Rev.  Z.  Smith's  successor  from  1799  to  1816, 
resigning  in  August  of  that  year.  When  he  was  installed  pastor,  in 
so  dilapidated  a  condition  was  the  meeting  house  that  the  installa- 
tion   services   were   by   invitation   held   in    the    Episcopal    Church. 


FIRST   ECCLESIASTICAL   SOCIETY  75 

What  stronger  evidence  is  needed  to  show  the   friendly  feeling 
between  the  two  Christian  bodies. 

He  was  settled  at  a  salary  of  $400  a  year  and,  when  he  left,  the 
society  was  in  debt  to  him  $1,232.78.  A  tax  of  six  cents  on  the 
dollar  was  laid  on  the  grand  list  of  1815  to  make  up  arrearages,  but 
the  sum  fell  short  and  a  subscription  was  circulated  to  raise  a 
balance  of  $240.  From  an  old  manuscript  in  my  possession  the 
names  of  subscribers  are  copied,  which  probably  represent  the 
families  interested  in  the  Presbyterian  society  at  that  time  : 

William  Edmond,  $10.00;  Moss  R.  Botsford,  $8.00;  Samuel  C.  Blackman, 
$6.00;  Timothy  Shepherd,  $6.25;  Daniel  Botsford,  $3.00;  Abel  Botsford  and 
son,  $8.00;  Gould  St.  John,  $400;  William  H.  Fairchild,  $8.00;  James  Sears, 
$2.00;  Arnold  Fott.  $2.00;  Lamson  Burch,  $5.00;  Caleb  Bennitt,  $4.00; 
Michael  Parks,  $2.50;  Charles  Burroughs,  $4.00;  John  Clark,  $7.00;  John 
Skidmore,  $1.00;  Rebecca  Glover,  $3.00;  Abiel  Booth,  $8.00;  Thomas 
Botsford,  $2.00;  Philo  Botsford,  $3.00;  Philo  Beardslee,  $3.50;  David  Sterling, 
$10.00;  Amos  B.  Fairman,  $7.50;  Abraham  Bennitt,  $3.00;  Luther  Harris, 
$3.00;  Joseph  and  Joseph  B.  Wheeler,  $8.00;  Miles  Johnson,  $3.00;  Daniel 
Colburn,  $1.00;  David  Peck,  $5.50;  Israel  C.  Botsford,  $6.00;  James  Terrill, 
$3.50;  Daniel  Peck,  $2.00;  Benjamin  Fairman,  $2.00;  Jacob  Johnson,  $1.50; 
Abraham  Botsford,  $1.50;  Mehitabel  Botsford.  $2.00;  Molly  Curtis,  $2.00; 
James  Thomas,  $1.00;  Silas  Fairchild,  $6.00;  Samuel  Beardslee,  $6.00;  James 
Fairchild,  $3.25;  John  Johnson,  $2.00;  Asabel  Booth  Jr.,  $3.00;  Samuel 
Northrop,  $2.00;  Philo  Johnson,  $1.00;  Abel  Botsford,  $0.50;  Clement 
Fairchild,  $2.00;Job  S.  Terrill,  $1.00;  Moses  Shepherd,  $3.00;  Jabez  Fairman, 
$2.00;Reuben  Terrill,  $3.00;  Amos  Terrill,  $2.00;  Philo  Fairchild,  $6.00; 
John  Rogers,  $3.00:  John  Blackman,  Jr.,  $3.50;  Roger  Terrill,  $2.00;  Moses 
Beardslee,  $5.00;  Billy  Hall,  $2.00;  Ziba  Blakeslee,  $2.00;  Philo  Baldwin,  $1.00; 
Riverius  Prindle,  $0.50:  Abel  Johnson,  $2.00;  Obadiah  Wheeler,  $1.00; 
Adoniram  Fairchild,  $1.00;  Ezra  H.  Johnson,  payable  in  tailor  work,  $4.50; 
Truman  Fairchild,  $1.00;  Zalmon  Beers,  $1.00;  Joseph  Fairchild,  $2.00; 
Elijah  Jennings,  $1.50. 

From  1816  to  1825,  the  people  were  without  a  settled  minister. 
Those  were  times  when  candidating  was  in  vogue  and  services 
were  irregularly  held.  What  were  called  "deacon's  meetings" 
were  occasionally  held,  when  the  good  deacons  would  take  the  de- 
votional part  and  some  lay  reader  would  read  an  acceptable  sermon. 
January  14,  1825,  Rev.  William  Mitchell  was  installed  pastor,  and 
continued  in  that  relation  until  his  resignation  was  accepted.  May 
31,  1831.  He  died  of  yellow  fever  in  Corpus  Christi,  Texas,  Aug  1, 
1865.  The  two  maple  trees  still  standing  at  the  rear  of  the  Congre- 
gational Church  were  placed  there  by  his  own  hands.  "Woodman, 
spare  those  trees !" 

December  5.  1833,  Rev.  N.  M.  Urmston  was  installed  pastor  and 
remained  until  1838  when  the  Consociation  of  Fairfield  East  met 
in  Bethel  and  by  request  of  all  parties  concerned  the  relation  was 
dissolved  and  the  following  resolution  adopted  by  the  Consociation  : 
"To  the  church  and  society  again  destitute  of  a  pastor  we  would  extend 
our  sympathies  and  hope  they  will  not  be  discouraged,  though  feeble,  but 
make  every  proper  effort  to  sustain  the  interest  of  religion  among  them 
and  as  soon  as  practicable  seek  another  pastor,  relying  as  in  times  past, 
upon  such  aid  as  is  extended  to  feeble  branches  of  our  Zion.  Bethel,  April 
17,  1838. 

From  1839  to  1842,  Rev.  Alexander  Leadbetter  was  in  charge  and 
so  difficult  was  it  to  pay  his  salary,  the  church  at  that  time  having  a 
membership  of  onl}'  45,  that  a  special  subscription  paper  was  circu- 
lated outside  of  the  society,  to  which  members  of  the  other  Chris- 


le  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

tian  bodies,  as  well  as  non-communicants,  contributed.  At  this  time 
there  were  four  houses  of  worship  in  the  village :  The  house  of  the 
ecclesiastical  society,  then  called  the  Presbyterian  meeting  house, 
the  Episcopal  church  standing  its  width  north  of  the  present  Trin- 
ity, the  Universalist  meeting  house,  now  the  town  hall,  and  the 
Methodist,  that  stood  on  the  open  lot  just  north  of  Mrs  Marcus 
Hawley's  residence,  the  building  later  used  as  a  blacksmith  and 
wagon  shop  near  the  Newtown  railroad  station. 

In  order  to  show  the  kindly  feeling  on  the  part  of  the  towns- 
people, other  than  those  who  were  members  of  the  society,  I  include 
a  copy  of  a  subscription  paper  that  shows  the  contributions  raised 
to  keep  the  society  from  becoming  defunct.  The  original  subscrip- 
tion came  into  my  possession  more  than  50  years  ago,  and  reads : 
"We,  the  subscribers,  do  hereby  promise  to  pay  Elizur  W.  Keeler,  treasurer 
of  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  of  Newtown  or  his  successor  in  office, 
the  sums  annexed  to  our  names  respectively,  for  the  purpose  of  employing 
Rev.  Alexander  Leadbetter  to  officiate  as  pastor  of  the  first  Congregational 
church  and  society  of  Newtown  for  one  year  from  the  1st  day  of  May,  1841, 
payable  on  the  1st  day  of  November  next.    Newtown,  March  27,  1841. 

Eben  Beach,  $6.00;  Samuel  C.  Blackman,  $5.00;  Lyman  Beers,  $5.00;  Henry 
Fairchild,   $5.00;    Joseph    D.    Wheeler,   $4.00;    E.    W.    Keeler,   $4.00;    Rufus 
Somers,  $4.00;  George  B.   Peck,  $2.00;   George  Scott,  $2.00;   Lucas   Barnes, 
$3.00;William   Beard,   $8.00;    Russell   Wheeler,   $3.00;    Reuben    B.    Burrows, 
$4.00;  Hiram  Parmelee,  $10.00;  Philo  Northrop,  $2.00;  Reuben  Beach,  $1.50; 
William  Fairchild,  $2.50;  Edwin  A.  Lum,  $2.00;  Charles  W.  Coe,  $1.00;  Rufus 
L.  Parmelee,  $3.00;Jesse  Hoyt,  $3.00;  John  Johnson,  $5.00;  Charles  Johnson, 
$5.00;   Legrand   Bennett,  $2.00;    Esther   Ferris,  $4.00;   Grandison    Parmelee, 
$0.50;  Theodocia  Peck,  $2.00;   Emily  A.  Sanford,  $10.00;  Ambrose  Stillson, 
$1.00;Meeker  Hoyt,  $2.00;  Ladies  Society,  $50.00;  Wooster  Peck,  $4.00;  Mary 
Tomlinson,   $1.00;    Almon    Miller,   $1.00;    Alva    B.    Beecher,   $2.00;    Zalmon 
Griswold,   $1.00;    Sidney    Middlebrook,   $1.00;    John    Glover,   $1.00;    George 
Curtis,  $1.00;  Royal  O.  Gurley,  $0.50;  William  Sherman,  $0.50;  George  C.  Peck, 
$2.00;  A.  Judson,  $1.00;  Daniel  S.  Hawley,  $1.00;  H.  W.  Tucker,  $2.00;  Widow 
Sanford,  $0.50;  Mary  E.  Parsons,  $1.00;  Grahum  Hurd,  $2.00;  Charles  Dick 
$1.00;Doctor  Dutton,  $2.00;  J.  S.  Tomlinson,  $1.00;  Dr,  Erastus  Erwin,  $1.00 
Norman   Hoyt,  $0.50;   Dr.   George  Judson,  $0.50;   Ammon   Shepherd,  $1.00 
Hannah   Shepherd,  $1.00;  David  W.  Jones.  $1.00;   Isaac   M.  Sturges.  $1.00 
Abel  Botsford,  $6.00;  Abigail  Marshall,  $2.00;  S.  B.  Fairchild,  $2.50;  William 
H.  Fairchild,  $1.50. 

Encouraged  by  the  response  of  people  in  contributing  funds.  Rev. 
Mr.  Leadbetter  was  content  with  what  could  be  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion, but  that  method  had  its  day  and  when  the  stipend  became  too 
small  to  live  upon,  he  resigned. 

From  a  secular  standpoint  it  looked  as  if  the  end  of  organized 
action  was  close  at  hand,  so  feeble  numerically  and  financially  had 
they  become.  The  small  fund  they  had  depended  upon  had  nearly 
been  swept  away  by  the  failure  of  the  Eagle  Bank  of  New  Haven, 
and  but  for  the  aid  received  from  the  Connecticut  Home  Mission- 
ary Society,  which  began  in  1817,  the  organization  might  have 
ceased  to  exist.  In  addition  to  all  other  drawbacks,  the  meeting 
house  itself  had  become  so  dilapidated  that  it  seemed  almost  beyond 
repair. 

A  meeting  was  called,  June  3,  1844,  adjourned  to  June  15,  when  it  was 
voted  "that  the  committee  of  this  society  take  such  measures  as  they  may 
deem  proper  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  meeting  house  in  Sandy  Hook." 
Two  days  later  it  appears  by  the  record  the  following  notice  was  sent  out  : 
"Notice  is  hereby  given  to  the  citizens  of  the  village  of  Sandy  Hook  that 
the  Congregational  society  of  Newtown  have  instructed  their  committee  to 


FIRST    ECCLESIASTICAL    SOCIETY  77 

take  such  measures  as  they  may  deem  proper  to  build  a  house  for  public 

worship  in  Sandy  Hook.     The  committee  hereby  call  upon  all  the  friends 

of  the  enterprise  to  meet  with  them  in  the  Temperance  hall,  June  29,  1844, 

at  4  o'clock  p.  m.,  to  take  the  subject  into  consideration  and  to  devise  ways 

and  means  for  the  accomplishment  for  said  object."     „  i  r-   ni     i 

^  Samuel  C.  Blackman, 

Eben  Beach, 

Joseph  D.  Wheeler, 

Hiram  Parmelee, 

Society's  Committee. 

The  meeting  was  held  as  appointed,  the  matter  was  discussed,  it 
did  not  appeal  very  strongly  to  Sandy  Hook  people,  people  in  the 
west  part  of  the  town  did  not  fall  in  with  it.  The  meeting  was 
adjourned  for  six  weeks  and  the  matter  dropped  indefinitely. 

Those  were  dark  days  for  the  few,  at  the  head  of  whom  were  the 
worthy  deacons,  Eben  Beach  and  Rufus  Somers,  while  the  vener- 
able Samuel  C.  Blackman,  Hiram  Parmelee,  Wooster  Peck,  Elizur 
W.  Keeler,  Charles  Johnson,Henry  Fairchild,  Joseph  D.  Wheeler, 
William  Fairchild,  with  their  wives  and  a  few  others,  helped  where- 
ever  duty  seemed  to  call  them.  Then  it  was  that  came  the  most 
perplexing  question,  "What  must  be  done?"  and  one  question  that 
gained  prominence  again  was :  "Shall  we  change  the  site  and  go  to 
Sandy  Hook?"  Up  to  this  time  no  house  of  worship  had  been  built 
in  Sandy  Hook.  The  only  one  in  town,  outside  the  center,  was  the 
Baptist  meeting  house  in  Zoar  on  the  corner  near  what  is  now 
known  as  Snake  Rock  farm.  At  this  juncture,  a  spirit  of  local  pride 
seized  upon  the  town's  people,  for  they  did  not  want  the  society  to 
become  defunct  and  the  meeting  house  obliterated.  Subscription 
papers  were  circulated  until  $1200  was  raised  and  laid  out  in  repairs. 
One  of  the  subscription  papers  fell  into  my  hands  more  than  40 
years  ago.     Some  will  find  the  names  of  their  ancestors  here. 

We,  the  subscribers,  hereby  severally  agree  and  promise  to  pay  to  Eben 
Beach,  treasurer  of  the  First  Ecclesiastical  Society  in  Newtown,  the  sums 
annexed  to  our  names,  respectively  for  the  purpose  of  repairing  the  Pres- 
byterian meeting  house  in  Newtown,  provided  the  sum  subscribed  shall 
amount  to  the  sum  of  $1,000.  This  subscription  to  be  paid  Dec.  1,  1845. 
Newtown,  August  2,  1845. 

Abel  Botsford,  $50.00;  George  Botsford,  $25.00;  Abigail  Marshall.  $10.00; 
Oliver  Peck,  $5.00;  Elliot  M.  Peck,  $5.00;  Wooster  Peck,  $10.00;  Hezekiah 
B.  Fairchild,  $3.00;  John  B.  Wheeler,  $5.00;  Ezra  H.  Johnson,  $15.00; 
Charles  Johnson,  $20.00;  Henry  Fairchild,  $15.00;  William  Fairchild, 
$15.00;  Hiram  Parmalee,  $20.00;  Samuel  C.  Blackman,  $10.00;  Rufus 
Somers,  $10.00;  Eben  Beach,  $10.00;  Lewis  S.  Brisco.  $7.00;  Robert  N. 
Hawlev,  $5.00;  Philo  J.  Marsh,  $5.00;  Sinclair  Tousey,  $5.00;  Abner  Beers, 
$5.00;  Isaac  Hawley,  $3.00;  Charles  H.  Beers,  $3.00;  Sallu  P.  Barnum,  $10.00; 
Lemuel  Beers,  $5.00;  Alexander  Hall,  $2.00;  Isaac  Nichols,  $2.00;  Reuben 
Beach,  $5.00;  Baldwin  and  Beers,  $20.00;  D.  N.  Belden,  $10.00;  Theophilus 
Nichols,  $400;  Charlotte  Glover.  $2.00;  Henry  B.  Glover,  $10.00;  Henry 
Baldwin,  $5.00;Abigail  Walker,  $5.00;  George  Scott,  $2.00;  Ambrose  Stillson, 
$2.00  ;J.  B.  Nichols,  $2.00;  Isaac  Marshal,  $10.00;  Joseph  Wheeler,  $2.00; 
Abel  T.  Peck,  $1.00;  Levi  Peck,  $2.00;  Phoebe  Booth,  $3.00;  Naomi  Booth, 
$5.00;  William  Blakeslee,  $5.00;  Amos  S.  Treat,  $3.00;  Amos  G.  Peck,  $5.00; 
James  P.  Geeler.  $3.00;  Walter  and  Isbell.  $4.00;  George  A.  Townsend,  $20.00; 
Lyman  Beers,  $5.00;  Charles  Fairman,  $3.00;  Hepsa  Foote.  $2.00;  Lucus  M. 
Hard,  $2.00;  Jabez  B.  Peck,  $3.00;  Joseph  Blackman,  $2.00;  Simeon  B.  Peck, 
$2.00  ;Eli  Bennett,  $3.00;  Daniel  Skidmore,  $1.00;  Isaac  Foot,  $1.00;  Mary 
Tomlinson,  $5.00;  Ann  R.  Peck,  $5.00. 

To  help  determine  the  feasability  and  propriety  of  changing  the 
site  to  Sandy  Hook  it  was  decided  to  have  Sunday  services  alter- 


78  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

nate  between  Newtown  Street  and  Sandy  Hook.  The  upper  room 
of  a  three  story  building  near  the  bridge  was  rented,  where,  for  a 
few  months,  services  were  held  every  other  Sunday.  The  writer,  a 
boy  of  10  years,  was  a  regular  attendant  with  his  father  and  mother 
and  the  remembrance  of  those  experiences  comes  vividly  to  mind 
in  these  later  days.  This  experiment  caused  a  reactionary  move- 
ment from  the  other  end  of  the  line.  Voluntary  offers  were  made 
of  money  to  help  put  the  meeting  house  in  repair,  which,  with  other 
reasons,  led  to  the  abandonment  of  the  proposed  project. 

Coming  of  Rev.  Jason  Atwater. 

In  1846,  Rev.  Jason  Atwater  offered  his  services  gratuitously  for 
five  Sabbaths,  an  offer  gladly  accepted.  In  three  years ;  $1200  was 
raised,  the  meeting  house  put  in  repair  and  re-dedicated  in  January, 
1847.  Rev.  Mr  Atwater  resigned  the  pastorate  in  1856.  His  salary 
was  $500  a  year.  The  following  well  deserved  testimonial  is  in- 
scribed on  the  society's  record:  "Like  the  Good  Samaritan  he 
came  to  us  in  the  time  of  our  greatest  necessity,  when  days  were  dark  and 
friends  were  few  and  hopes  were  faint  and  he  has  thereby  exhibited  the 
spirit  of  his  Master,  the  Great  Shepherd  himself,  who  gathered  the  lambs 
in  His  arms  and  carried  them  in  His  bosom." 

As  we  look  backward  from  the  standpoint  of  1845  and  then  for- 
ward to  the  standpoint  of  to-day,  it  would  seem  that  the  year  1845, 
marked  the  point  of  the  Great  Divide  with  this  church  and  society, 
as  the  past  60  years  seem  to  have  been  years  of  most  uninterrupted 
prosperity. 

Here  our  chapter  will  close,  but  not  so  this  society's  history. 
From  1856  to  1914,  58  years  of  additional  history  has  been  making 
and  awaiting  the  pen  of  some  ready  writer.  There  are  but  three 
persons  besides  himself,  who  were  connected  with  the  society  and 
congregation  between  1840  and  1850,  and  those  are  Mrs  Lucy  Beers, 
Mrs  Elizabeth  Fairchild  and  Mrs  Adeline  J.  Fairchild,  each  of 
whom  is  now  well  past  80  years  of  age.  (1914) 

Note:  Since  the  above  was  written  in  1914,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Fairchild  died 
June  7,  1915,  aged  89  years  and  Mrs  Adaline  Fairchild  died  Aug.  4,  1916  aged 
88  years. 

At  this  writing  Aug.  1917,  Mrs  Lucy  Beers  is  more  than  94  years  old. 

Rev.  Wm.  H.  Moore  succeded  to  the  pastorate  the  same  year.  He 
was  a  godly  man  and  an  earnest  and  efficient  pastor.  Mrs.  Moore 
an  invalid  for  many  years  died  in  1861.  In  1862  he  resigned  to 
become  State  Missionary  of  the  Missionary  Society  of  Connecticut 
but  retained  his  residence  in  Newtown  for  some  time.  In  1863  he 
married  Miss  Jeanie  Sanford  and  removed  to  Berlin,  Conn. 

Rev.  Wm.  M.  Arms- became  pastor  in  1863,  but  remained  only  a 
year  and  a  half.  Rev.  Daniel  W.  Fox  was  his  successor.  He  was 
installed  in  1865.  In  that  year  the  church  celebrated  its  150  anni- 
versary, and  the  parsonage  was  bought  that  same  year.  He 
resigned  in  February  1867.  In  June  the  same  year  the  Rev.  Henry 
Bagg  Smith  was  installed,  Mr.  Smith  was  a  faithful  pastor,  visiting 
his  people  scattered  about  the  town,  holding  Sunday  afternoon  or 
evening  services  in  school-houses  at  stated  intervals.  He  was 
especially  noted  for  efficient  work  in  the  Sunday  School.  In  May 
1873  he  resigned  to  accept  a  call  to  Greenfield  Hills.    Miss  Scudder 


REV.  WM.  H.  MOORE 


See    Page   78 


REV.  HENRY  liAGG  SAnTH 

See   Page  78 


RE\'.  JA.MKS  P.  llO\  r 

See   Page  79 


RE\'.  OTIS  W.  BARKER 

See   F'age  79 


REV.  EDWARD  O.  GR I  SB  ROOK 


CONGREGATIONAL    CHURCH 


COMING   OF   REV.   JASON   ATWATER  79 

pays  a  beautiful  tribute  to  the  family  who  made  so  large  a  place  in 
the  life  of  the  church,  "the  pastor's  good  wife,  a  woman  possessing 
rare  gifts  of  heart  and  mind  and  a  tender  sympathy  so  that  all  those 
in  trouble  turned  to  her  for  consolation  and  counsel,  the  charming 
daughters  who  gave  in  unstinted  measure  of  their  time  and  gifts 
to  their  father's  work  in  the  church.  Five  of  the  seven  sons  have 
at  various  times  returned  to  the  town  and  to  the  church  to  do 
valued  services  as  deacons,  superintendents  in  the  Sunday  School 
and  various  activities  in  the  church. 

In  May,  1874,  Rev.  James  P.  Hoyt  accepted  a  call  on  condition 
that  the  pews  be  free.  His  pastorate  was  one  of  the  longest  in  the 
church  coveiing  a  period  of  sixteen  years.  Many  improvements 
were  made  in  his  time  the  greatest  being  in  the  lecture  room.  One 
hundred  and  fifty  new  members  were  received  during  his  pastorate, 
the  benevolences  tripled  and  the  fund  increased  from  $2,200  to 
$5000,  $2000  being  a  legacy  from  Miss  Sarrah  Blackman,  a  daughter 
of  Judge  Samuel  C.  Blackman. 

Mr  Hoyt  resigned  in  1890  accepting  a  call  to  Cheshire  Conn. 

In  August  1890,  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Delzell  became  pastor.  He  was 
a  faithful  pastor  and  an  earnest  preacher  and  it  was  with  sincere 
regret  that  the  church  parted  with  him  after  a  three  years  pastor- 
ate. He  left  to  affiliate  himself  with  the  Baptist  denomination. 

Rev.  Otis  W.  Barker  was  ordained  Oct.  24,  1893,  and  installed, 
October  1894.  Many  improvements  were  made ;  a  new  chandelier 
costing  $90,  also  the  vocalion  organ.  Monthly  missionary  concerts 
were  held  and  many  notable  workers  from  various  fields  all  over  the 
world  came  to  tell  us  of  their  work.  A  Christian  Endeavor  Society 
was  organized  in  1899.  It  was  with  a  feeling  akin  to  dismay  that 
we  learned  in  1905,  that  our  beloved  leader  must  lay  down  the  work 
so  dear  to  him  and  to  us. 

In  October  1905  Rev.  Ralph  Danforth  accepted  a  call  from  the 
church.  He  remained  only  until  September  1907,  when  he  left  to 
study  at  a  western  university.  Rev.  Alexander  Steele  came  from 
the  Methodists,  with  the  understanding  that  he  should  pursue  his 
theological  studies  at  Yale  University.  He  organized  and  led  the 
Boy  Scouts.  He  left  in  August  1912  to  return  to  his  own  denom- 
ination. 

Rev.  T.  J.  Lee  took  up  the  work  of  the  church  and  the  parish, 
February  1913. 

Miss  Susan  Scudder,  from  whose  historical  address,  the  largest 
part  of  the  record  from  the  days  of  Rev.  Mr.  Atwater  down,  have 
been  taken,  says.  "He  is  known  and  loved  by  all  as  he  goes  out 
and  in  amongst  us,  rejoicing  with  those  who  rejoice,  comforting 
those  who  sorrow,  and  breaking  to  us  the  Bread  of  Life  on  the 
Lord's  Day" 

October  18th,  19th  and  20th  1914,  were  given  up  to  celebrating 
the  two  hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  Congregational  Church. 


80  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 


THE  EPISCOPAL  CHURCHES  IN  NEWTOWN  STREET. 

Nothing  can  be  found  in  Newtown  records  regarding  the  location 
of  the  place  of  worship  built  in  1732,  after  the  adherents  of  the 
church  of  England  had  withdrawn  from  the  "standing  order," 
which  in  the  colony  was  Presbyterian,  and  for  the  support  of  which 
taxes  were  levied  on  all  freeholders  of  the  town.  Their  first  public 
service  was  held  in  the  open  under  a  large  button-ball  or  sycamore 
tree  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  to  the  south  of  the  village.  In  1907  a 
boulder  suitably  inscribed  was  placed  to  mark  the  nearby  spot  and 
in  that  vicinity  it  is  supposed  was  their  first  building  in  which  to 
meet  for  worship.  We  know  nothing  further  about  it,  but  how- 
ever small,  crude  or  unpretentious  it  may  have  been,  it  served  their 
purpose  until  1746,  when  they  asked  for  a  grant  of  land  on  the  hill 
to  the  northward.  A  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  north  school- 
house,  March  27,  1746,  "to  take  action  for  ye  setting  up  a  public 
meeting  house  for  ye  church  of  England  so-called  in  Newtown," 
when  it  was  "voted  that  whereas  those  of  ye  church  of  England  people 
in  this  place  are  now  upon  building  a  new  meeting  house  for  ye  public 
worship  of  God,  that  sd  people  of  ye  Episcopal  Communion  shall  have 
liberty  to  erect  sd  house  on  ye  west  side  of  ye  town  street  southward  of 
ye  Presbyterian  meeting  house  28  rods,  ye  south  end  of  ye  termination  of 
ye  church  of  England  meeting  house  to  be  ye  termination  of  28  rods,  said 
house  to  set  northward  and  southward  fronting  to  ye  street,  and  ye  back 
or  westward  side  of  sd  house  to  be  10  feet  distant  from  ye  front  of  ye  house 
lot  on  which  it  stands  against,  and  that  they  and  their  successors  shall 
never  be  molested  by  this  town  from  this  time  forward  and  forever  in  ye 
enjoyment  of  sd  place  for  ye  use  aforesaid. 

Attest  John  Northrop,  Town  Clerk." 

After  the  building  was  erected  and  covered  the  Presbyterians,  troubled 
lest  the  vote  of  the  town  had  not  been  complied  with  in  locating  the 
building,  called  out  Edmond  Lewis,  county  surveyor,  who  "being  assisted 
by  chain  bearers  as  the  law  directs,"  found  that  the  Church  of  England 
meeting  house  had  not  been  located  quite  as  ye  town  directs,  as  ye  28  rods 
south  of  ye  Presbyterian  meeting  house  terminated  19  feet  southward  of 
ye  south  sill  of  ye  Church  of  England  meeting  house  as  they  are  now  laid." 

The  same  day  John  Glover,  Jr.,  Thomas  Skidmore  and  James  Hard, 
committee  of  the  Episcopal  church,  apologized  for  the  mistake  : 

We  ye  subscribers,  members  of  ye  church  of  England  in  Newtown,  being 
sensible  that  we  have  not  fully  complied  with  ye  vote  of  sd  town  in  respect 
to  building  ye  Church,  in  that  we  did  not  lay  ye  foundation  of  sd  Church  as 
far  southward  as  it  ought  to  have  been  by  sd  vote,  by  about  20  feet  and  in 
so  doing  have  so  far  done  contrary  to  good  order  and  ye  agreement  of  ye 
town  by  sd  vote  and  hereby  desire  that  those  who  are  aggrieved  to  forgive 
us  that  rong.  — John  Glover,  Thomas  Skidmore,  John  Glover,  the  Com- 
mitte. 

"Ye  subscribers  hereunto  received  ye  above  acknowledgment  and  accept- 
ed it  to  put  on  record,  April  12,  1746. 

John  Northrope,  Town  Clerk." 


X 


X 


c 


5  c 


t^ 


NEWTOWN'S    EPISCOPAL    CHURCHES  81 

As  the  building  was  erected  at  the  expense  of  the  Church  of 
England  people,  and  not  at  the  expense  of  the  town,  nothing  ap- 
pears on  the  town  records  as  to  the  expense  of  the  work  or  as  to 
its  dimensions  or  the  time  of  its  completion.  All  we  know  about 
the  building  is  what  we  are  told  by  Dr  E.  Edwards  Beardsley  in  his 
history  of  the  Church  in  Connecticut : 

"It  was  a  strong,  neat  building  46  feet  long  and  35  feet  wide  and  25  feet 
to  the  roof." 

To  make  clear  to  the  reader  its  exact  location  with  reference  to 
the  meeting  house  of  the  Presbyterians,  we  need  to  bear  in  mind 
that  the  meeting  house  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  street  exactly 
opposite  where  the  Congregational  church  now  stands,  and  this 
location  of  the  Church  of  England  house  of  worship  was  by  vote  of 
the  town  exactly  28  rods  to  the  south  of  that,  but  on  the  opposite 
side  of  the  road.  The  building  was  used  by  the  Episcopalians  until 
1793,  when  it  was  sold  to  Solomon  Glover,  who  moved  it  off  the 
highway  and  rented  it  to  the  town  for  a  term  of  years  for  a  town 
house. 

In   1752,  the  Church  of  England  people   in  Newtown  began  to 

show  signs  of  uneasiness  at  being  made  to  pay  taxes  to  help  pay 

the  Presbyterian  minister's  salary  and  petitioned  the  authorities  to 

call  a  town  meeting  to  answer  this  Church  of  England  people  pre- 

I  amble : 

Whereas  )'e  professors  of  ye  Church  of  England,  Newtown,  in  ye  county 

1  of  Fairfield  have  cited  ye  inhabitants  of  sd  town  to  appear  at  ye  General 

Court    to   be   held   at    Hartford   on   ye   second   Thursday   of   Instant,   may 

it  please  to  show  reasons,  if  any  they  have,  why   said  court  should  not 

grant  sd  professors  parish  privilege,  etc. 

The   town   meeting  was   held.   May,   1752  at  6  in   the  afternoon,  at   the 
north  schoolhouse  in  the  town  street  to  do  what  shall  be  thought  proper 
f  in  sd  affair. 

I  Capt.  John  Glover  was  appointed  moderator  and  put  to  vote  whether 
I  they  would  make  choice  of  any  meet  person  to  be  an  agent  to  appear 
1  at  Hartford  on  ye  second  Thursday  of  May  of  ye  General  Court  sitting 
I  to  oppose  or  give  reasons  why  ye  professors  of  ye  Church  of  England 
i  in  Newtown  should  not  have  their  prayer  granted  unto  them  and  it  was 
j  voted  in  ye  negative. 

Also  voted  that  we  have  no  reasons  to  oflFer  against  ye  motion  of  the 
i  Church  of  England  in  Newtown  prayer  to  ye  Assembly. 
I  Voted  in  ye  affirmative. 
I  John  Northrop,  Town  Clerk. 

I  Up  to  this  time  the  Church  of  England  people  had  had  no  parish 
'  privileges  independently  of  the  town  authorities.  At  the  annual 
I  town  meeting,  a  man  was  chosen  to  collect  the  minister's  rates 
( which  were  paid  by  tax.  Two  collectors,  one  to  collect  rates  for  the 
[Presbyterian  minister,  who  was  at  that  time  Rev.  David  Judson.  and 
lone  to  collect  for  the  Church  of  England  minister,  who  was  Rev. 
j  John  Beach.  The  population  of  Newtown  in  1752  was  1250,  23  of 
jwhom  were   slaves. 

!  REV.  JOHN  BEACH 

I     The  Rev.  John  Beach  after  his  ordination  in  England  officiated 
]  alternately  at  Newtown  and  Redding.     During  the  Revolutionary 
War  he  was  forbidden  to  pray  for  the  King,  but  like  Daniel  of  old 
(he  persisted  in  doing  what  he  considered  his  duty. 


82  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Attached  to  a  memorial  tablet  near  the  pulpit  in  Christ  Church, 
Redding,  is  a  bullet,  which  had  it  reached  its  mark  would  have  end- 
ed the  career  of  this  brave  pioneer  of  the  Church.  The  inscription 
reads : 

"This  bullet  was  fired  at  the  Rev.  John  Beach  while  officiating  in  the 
Ante-Revolutionary  Church  of  this  parish,  and  was  found  lodged  in  the 
sounding  board  when  that  church  was  taken  down  and  the  present  edi- 
fice erected.  Pausing  for  a  moment  the  venerable  pastor  repeated  these 
words  to  the  alarmed  congregation  :  'Fear  not  them  which  kill  the  body 
but  are  not  able  to  kill  the  soul,  but  rather  fear  Him  who  is  able  to  de- 
stroy both  soul  and  body  in  Hell.'  The  bullet  is  preserved  here  as  a  relic 
of   his   loyalty   to   the   Church." 

To  the  Blessed  Memory  of  Rev.  John  Beach,  A.  M.,  Founder 
of  this  Parish. 

Born  at  Stratford,  Conn.,  A.D.  MDCC,  graduated  Yale  College 
A.  D.  MDCCXXI.  At  great  sacrifice  upon  thorough  investigation 
and  deej)  conviction  conforming  to  the  Church  of  England  he  was 
admitted  to  Holy  Orders  in  England,  A.  D.  MDCCXXXII  and  ap- 
pointed missionary  at  Newtown  and  Redding  of  the  Venerable 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel.  He  was  a  scholar  thor- 
ough— a  reasoner  cogent — a  controversialist  able — a  preacher  per- 
suasive— a  pastor  untiring — a  Christian  hero  undaunted.  He  was 
of  all  most  effective  in  laying  deep  and  broad  the  foundations  of 
the  Church  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut.  From  the  begining  of 
his  ministry  assailed  by  bitter  intolerance  and  pursued  by  malicious 
plottings  he  patiently  endured  in  the  added  perils  of  a  cruel  war 
reinaining  with  his  flock  he  continued  his  ministrations  at  the  con- 
stant risk  of  threatened  violence  and  death.  Full  of  years  and 
labors  he  entered  into  rest,  March  XIX,  A.  D.,  MDCCLXXXH. 

In  1790  the  Church  of  England  people  made  known  to  the  town 
they  desired  to  secure  a  new  location  on  which  to  build.  A  town 
meeting  was  held  Dec.  23,  1790,  and  the  town  voted  "that  the 
people  of  the  Episcopal  Church  and  society  in  this  town  have  liber- 
ty to  erect  a  house  for  public  worship  on  the  place  where  the  Town 
house  now  stands,  placing  the  west  part  of  the  steeple  in  a  line 
with  the  building  on  the  east  side  of  Town  street,  they  being  to 
the  expense  of  moving  the  Town  house  to  some  proper  place  that 
shall  be  agreed  upon  by  the  town." 

The  only  objection  the  Episcopalians  had  to  that  site  was  the 
nearness  of  the  meeting  house  which  was  on  the  east  side  of  the 
main  street  and  near  the  town  house.  The  Episcopalians  made  a 
proposition  to  move  the  meeting  house  to  the  west  side  of  the  main 
street  at  their  own  risk.  This  proposition  was  acted  upon  at  a 
Presbyterian  Society's  meeting,  Jan.  9,  1792,  when  it  was  voted 
"that  the  Presbyterian  society  give  their  free  and  full  consent  that  their 
meeting  house  for  public  worship  may  be  removed  westward  and  placed  in 
such  position  as  shall  be  further  directed,  provided  it  shall  be  done  with- 
out subjecting  the  society  to  any  e.xpense  and  that  the  society  shall  be 
indemnified  for  all  damages  the  said  house  shall  sustain  in  consequense  of 
such  removal  as  shall  be  hereafter  estimated  and  agreed  to  by  said  society 
and  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Episcopal  society's 
committee  to  hear  and  report  their  terms  at  the  next  society's  meeting  or 
adjournment  of  the  present  meeting.  Voted  Mr  William  Edmond.  Jabez 
Botsford  and  Roger  Terrill  be  a  committee  for  the  above  business  " 

Caleb  Baldwin,'  Clerk." 


REV.  JOHN   BEACH  83 

Atter  the  death  of  Rev.  John  Beach  in  1782,  we  have  no  record  of 
a  settled  rector  until  1787,  when  Rev.  Philo  Perry  was  called. 

During  his  rectorship  the  third  church  house  was  built.  The  first  record 
is  dated  Nov.  2,  1790.  At  a  parish  meeting  that  day  "it  was  voted  that  we 
build  a  new  Church  house."  On  the  25th  day  of  the  same  month  another 
meeting  was  held,  at  which  it  was  moved  "to  rescind  the  vote  of  the  pre 
vious  meeting."  The  motion  did  not  prevail,  and  a  committee  was  appointed 
"to  inspect  and  search  where  it  is  most  convenient  to  set  the  new  church 
and  to  make  inquiry  how  the  several  plots  of  ground  that  have  been  pro- 
posed can  be  purchased." 

December  30,  1790,  at  another  parish  meeting  it  was  voted  "that  if  we 
do  build  a  new  church  it  shall  be  erected  where  the  town  house  now 
stands."  It  was  also  voted  "that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  prefer  a 
petition  to  the  General  Assembly  now  sitting  in  New  Haven  for  permission 
to  raise  by  a  lottery  the  sum  of  one  thousand  pounds  lawful  money  by  a 
deduction  of  12  per  cent  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new  church,  or  as 
much  short  of  the  sum  mentioned  as  the  committee  after  further  consid- 
eration shall  think  proper;  and  that  the  committee  shall  have  descretion- 
ary  power  to  form  a  scheme  of  said  lottery  and  to  make  report  of  their 
proceedings  at  the  next  meeting."  Capt.  David  Baldwin,  Messrs.  Andrew 
Beers  and  Solomon  Glover  were  appointed  lottery  committee. 

As  the  records  show  no  report  from  the  lottery  committee  we 
infer  the  scheme  was  abandoned  and  at  a  meeting  in  Oct.,  1791,  it 
was — 

Voted  "that  we  will  build  the  Church  by  subscription  provided  we  can 
get  one  thousand  pounds  subscribed  by  the  second  Tuesday  in  Nov.  Messrs 
David  Beers,  Samuel  Ferris,  Abraham  Booth,  Ebenezer  Beers  and  Josiah 
Fairchild  were  appointed  a  committee  to  obtain  subscriptions  and  David 
Fabrique,  Abijah  Curtiss  and  Jonathan  Sherman  committee  to  examine  and 
propose  the  bigness  of  the  church."  At  a  meeting,  Nov.  8,  1791,  "it  was 
voted  that  the  bigness  of  the  church  shall  be  68  by  48  feet  and  that  Daniel 
Booth,  David  Beers,  Solomon  Glover  and  Jonathan  Sherman  be  a  commit- 
tee to  contrive  carry  out  and  complete  the  building  of  the  Church." 

March  5,  1792,  it  was  "voted  that  the  price  for  common  timber  for  build- 
ing the  Church  should  be  4  pence  the  square  foot,  brought  to  the  place  of 
building  and  well  dressed."  April  23,  1792,  it  was  "voted  that  Andrew  Beers, 
Josiah  Tomlinson,  Solomon  Glover,  Josiah  Fairchild,  Capt.  John  Glover, 
Zalmon  Toucey  and  Ezra  Booth  be  a  committee  to  inspect  and  make 
further  search  for  the  most  convenient  place  to  set  the  new  Church  house 
and  make  a  report  at  our  next  meeting."  A  week  later  a  meeting  was  held 
when  it  was  "voted  whether  we  will  do  anything  in  regard  to  moving  the 
Church  from  the  plot  of  ground  where  it  was  formerly  voted." 

It  was  decided  in  the  negative  by  a  large  majority  and  the  meeting 
decided  to  adhere  to  the  selection  first  made.  In  April,  1793, 
Henry  Glover,  Cyrenius  Hard  and  Joseph  Ferris  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  dispose  of  the  old  Church  and  it  was  also  voted  to 
give  the  reading  desk  and  the  pulpit  to  the  Episcopal  Church  in 
Brookfield.  At  a  parish  meeting  June  17,  1793,  it  was  "voted  that 
the  new  Church  be  called  Trinity."  In  September,  1793,  the  Church 
was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Seabury,  first  Bishop  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  in  America.  The  annual  convention  of  the  Diocese  of  Con- 
necticut met  in  this  Church  three  times,  1801,  1806  and 
1826.  May  18,  1795,  it  was  "voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  parish 
be  returned  to  Messrs.  Richard  Nichols  and  Philo  Norton  for  the 
donation  of  a  bell  for  the  society's  use."  The  bell  was  cast  in  Lon- 
don in  1793. 

Mr  Perry  died  in  1798.  A  tablet  bearing  this  inscription  is  insert- 
ed in  the  wall  of  the  stone  church  :  "In  Memory  of  the  Rev.  Philo 
Perry.    Born  in  Woodbury,  Conn.,  A,  D.  1752.    Graduated  at  Yale 


84  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

College  in  1777.  Admitted  to  Holy  Orders  by  Bishop  Seabury,  June 
3,  1787.  from  which  time  until  he  was  called  to  the  rest  of  Paradise, 
A.  D.  1798,  he  was  the  devoted  and  efficient  Rector  of  this  Parish 
and  a  Clergyman  of  eminence  in  the  Councils  of  the  Church." 

Rev.  Daniel  Burhans,  D.  D.,  became  rector  in  1799  and  remained 
in  charge  of  the  parish  until  1830,  when  he  resigned  and  became 
rector  of  St.  James  Church.  At  that  time  he  reported  belonging  to 
the  parish  214  families  and  300  communicants.  "In  my  30  years 
ministry,  I  have  admitted  by  baptism  1350,  for  confirmation  400, 
admitted  to  Holy  Communion  203."  He  remained  in  Zoar  two 
years  and  accepted  a  call  to  Plymouth.  During  his  later  years,  it 
was  his  custom  to  visit  his  dear  old  parish  each  year  and  preach  a 
farewell    sermon. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beach  Camp  were  the  last  couple  married  while 
rector  at  Newtown  in  1830.  Their  daughter,  Mrs.  E.  L.  Johnson, 
born  in  1837,  heard  him  preach  several  farewell  sermons  and  attend- 
ed his  funeral  at  Trinity  Church.    He  died  Dec.  30,  1853. 

The  tablet  in  the  wall  of  the  stone  church  bears  this  inscription: 
"To  perpetuate  the  blessed  memory  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Burhans,  D. 
D.,  for  thirty-one  years  the  zealous  and  efficient  Rector  of  this 
Parish,  adorning  his  life  with  the  fruits  of  the  Spirit  and  his  min- 
istry with  faithful  diligence.  He  was  the  last  survivor  of  those 
ordained  by  the  first  Bishop  of  Connecticut,  having  for  more  than 
half  a  century  contended  for  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  Saints 
as  this  church  hath  received  the  same.  He  was  born  at  Sherman, 
Conn.,  July  7,  1762.  Entered  into  rest  Dec.  30,  1853,  in  the  ninety- 
second  year  of  his  age  and  the  sixtieth  of  his  ministry." 

Immediately  succeeding  Rev.  Burhans  was  Rev.  Samuel  C. 
Stratton,  a  godly  man  and  much  beloved.  Some  appreciative 
friends  placed  a  beautiful  window  to  his  memory  in  the  new  stone 
Church.  He  was  rector  from  Oct.  1,  1831,  to  Oct.  1.  1839,  being 
succeeded,  Sept.  11,  1841,  by  Rev.  S.  S.  Stocking,  who  remained 
untli  Sept.  24,  1848.  A  good  man  and  loved  by  his  peaple.  Rev 
Horace  Hills  became  rector,  Jan.  7,  1849,  resigned  Nov.  11,  1849. 

Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  M.  Carmichael  became  rector,  Nov.  6,   1850,  re 
signed  Nov.  6,  1852.    The  death  of  his  wife  by  small  pox   and  other 
events  made  his  rectorship  a  period  of  sorrow  and  unrest. 

The  parish  was  greatly  blessed  during  the  ministry  of  Rev.  Benj. 
W.  Stone,  D.  D.,  from  Nov.  20,  1852,  to  Nov.  17,  1856,  when  to  the 
regret  of  his  people  he  answered  a  higher  call. 

At  the  suggestion  of  Jonathan  E.  Goodhue,  a  student  for  the 
ministry  while  Principal  of  Newtown  Academy,  the  parish,  with 
the  Bishop's  permission,  called  Rev.  Dr.  Newton  E.  Marble,  of 
Concord,  N.  H.,  who  became  rector,  April  1,  1857.  In  June,  he 
brought  his  bride,  Miss  Mary  Gillis,  great-grand-daughter  of  Maj. 
Gen.  John  Stark  of  Revolutionary  fame,  to  be  the  mother  of  the 
motherless  Frances,  the  gracious  mistress  of  the  new  rectory  built 
the  same  summer,  and  the  always  loyal  and  efficient  help-meet  in 
a  singularly  useful  and  blessed  ministry  of  more  than  twenty-one 
years. 

Their  two  children:  Mary  Gillis,  born  1858,  died  1874;  Frederick 


REV.  DANIEL  BURHANS,  D.  D. 


See    Page   84 


REV.  NEWTON  E.  MARBLE  D.  D. 


Sec   Page   85 


wnru— .^M^iij  T"   '~"^  —  *• 


TRINITY  p.  E.  CHURCH 


See  Page  85 


SILAS  i\.  BEERS 

See  Page  85 


SHOWING  RELATIVE  POSITION  OF  THE  TWO 
CHURCHES  1793  and   1870 


NEWTOWN'S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCHES  85 

Parker,  born  1859,  is  an  eminent  lawyer  of  Lowell,  Mass. 

In  1866,  the  parish  bought  the  homestead  of  Isaac  Beers,  just 
south  of  the  old  church  and  separated  from  it  by  a  branch  road  con- 
necting at  the  rear  of  the  Church  with  the  road  leading  to  Sandy 
Hook  The  town  relinquished  its  right  to  this  road.  The  strip  of 
road,  together  with  the  homestead  bought  of  Isaac  Beers,  made 
ample  room  for  the  site  and  building  of  the  new  Church,  without 
disturbing  the  old  Church  building.  After  the  completion  of  the 
stone  Church,  the  old  building  w^as  sold  at  auction  for  $100  and 
torn  down. 

The  building  committee  were,  Mr.  Henry  Sanford,  Simeon  B. 
Peck,  David  H.  Johnson,  Henry  B.  Glover,  Aaron  Sanford.  Dec. 
28,  1867,  Walter  Clarke,  Daniel  N.  Morgan,  Silas  N.  Beers,  Le- 
grand  Fairchild  and  Frederick  Chambers  were  added  to  the  build- 
ing committee. 

The  architect  w^as  Mr.  Silas  Norman  Beers,  one  of  Newtow^n's 
gifted  sons.  He,  with  Mr.  Henry  Sanford  and  others  of  the  com- 
mittee, gave  time  and  strength  in  unstinted  measure  to  the  work, 
and  it  was  a  proud  day  in  February,  1870,  that  saw  the  completion 
of  the  fourth  Church  edifice  since  the  first  Rector,  Rev.  John  Beach, 
preached  his  first  sermon  in  1732  under  the  button-ball  tree  at  the 
four  corners  below  the  Street. 

The  last  service  was  held  in  the  old  Church,  Jan.  30,  1870.  The 
text  of  the  last  sermon,  "It  is  the  last  time,"  struck  a  note  of  sad- 
ness in  the  heart  of  many  in  the  well-filled  Church. 

After  a  service  of  thirteen  years  in  the  old  Church,  and  eight  in 
the  new,  whose  building  he  had  watched  from  corner-stone  to 
turret.  Dr.  Marble  was  obliged,  because  of  physical  infirmities,  to 
offer  his  resignation.  May  1,  1878,  to  take  efifect,  Sept.  1,  1878, 
that  date  being  his  70th  birthday  and  the  36th  of  his  entering  the 
ministry.  He  had  been  unable  for  several  weeks  to  walk  or  stand 
and  strong  men  of  the  parish  took  him  in  a  wheel-chair  across 
the  Street,  up  the  steps  and  to  the  chancel  for  his  last  service  in 
the  parish  he  had  served  so  faithfully  for  more  than  twenty-one 
years.  With  heavy  hearts,  we  heard  him  say,  *T  have  finished 
my  course."  The  precious  body  never  entered  the  portals  of  the 
Church  again,  until  after  tw^o  years  of  patient  suffering  it  was 
released,  and  strong  men  again  bore  it  to  the  chancel  where  he 
had  been  wont  to  proclaim  Jesus'  words  :  "I  am  the  Resurrection 
and  the  Life,"  for  the  comfort  of  sorrowing  ones,  then  bore  it  to 
its  last  earthly  resting-place  in  "God's  acre." 

In  1882  during  the  rectorship  of  Rev.  Gouverneur  Morris  Wil- 
kins,  a  beautiful  and  costly  tablet  was  placed  in  the  south  wall  of 
the  Church,  bearing  this  inscription: 

Sacred  to  the  memory  of  the  Rev.  Newton  E.  Marble,  D.  D.,  for  twenty- 
one  years  the  faithful  and  beloved  Rector  of  this  Parish.  This  Church, 
eretced  during  his  rectorship,  stands  as  his  monument;  but  a  nobler  and 
more  enduring  one  will  be  found  in  the  souls  he  won  to  Christ.  Born, 
Sept.  1,  1808,  slept  in  Jesus,  Sept.  28,  1881,  having  lived  on  earth  seventy- 
three  years. 

Rev.  Thomas  W.  Haskins  was  made  rector,  Sept.  30,  1878,  and 
resigned  in  October,   1880,  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  Gouverneur 


86  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

Morris  Wilkins  at  Easter,  1881.  He  found  the  parish  in  sore 
straits  ;  but  young  blood,  earnestness  of  purpose  and  persistence 
in  accomplishing  a  purpose  wrought  wonderful  results. 

A  debt  of  $8,000  rested  upon  the  parish. 

A  committee  appointed  to  canvass  for  subscriptions  was  suc- 
cessful, not  only  in  raising  sufficient  to  wipe  out  the  debt,  but  for 
re-decoration  and  re-furnishing.  The  four  tablets,  to  the  memory 
of  Rev.  John  Beach,  Rev.  Philo  Perry,  Rev.  Dr.  Burhans  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Marble,  are  said  to  be  the  finest  in  the  country. 

June  8,  1882,  the  long-wished-for  event  was  accomplished.  Trin- 
ity Church  was  consecrated  by  Rt.  Rev.  John  Williams,  Connec- 
ticut's beloved  Bishop.     A  record  from  which  we  quote  says : 

"In  conneceion  with  the  building  and  construction  of  the  Church  will 
stand  side  by  side  the  names  of  Rev.  Dr.  Marble  and  Rev.  G.  M.  Wilkins. 
Dr.  Marble's  part  was  to  see  the  beautiful  structure  rise  from  foundation 
to  turret  during  his  ministry  and  to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  ministering  to 
his  people  in  it  eight  years.  Rev.  Mr.  Wilkins'  satisfaction  will  be  to  see 
the  parish  free  from  debt  through  his  efficiency  in  less  than  one  year  after 
coming  among  us" 

That  fact  assured,  Mr.  Wilkins  took  a  much  desired  vacation  of 
a  year  in  Europe,  during  which  time  the  parish  was  most  accept- 
ably served  by  Rev.  J.  Addison  Crockett. 

REV.  GEORGE  THOMAS  LINSLEY 

Rev.  George  Thomas  Linsley  succeeded  Rev.  Mr.  Wilkins  in  Feb., 
1890. 

During  his  rectorship  the  organ,  built  by  Andrews  in  1853,  was 
rebuilt  by  Geo.  Jardine  and  Son  in  1896,  and  moved  from  the  gallery 
at  the  west  end  of  the  Church  to  the  north-east  corner.  Under  the 
direction  of  Prof.  Charles  S.  Piatt,  one  of  Newtown's  sons,  as 
organist,  and  the  instruction  of  his  talented  wife,  the  musical  talent 
of  the  young  people  of  the  parish  was  discovered  and  developed, 
and  a  good  choir  was  formed,  adding  very  materially  to  the  beauty 
and  the  dignity  of  the  Church  service. 

Those  who  were  young  people  at  that  time  remember  the  happy 
social  events  in  connection  with  Trinity  Guild,  organized  under  the 
guidance  of  the  rector  and  his  capable  sister.  Miss  Martha  Linsley. 
In  January,  1895,  Miss  Mary  Chauncey  became  the  bride  of  the 
rector  and  the  rectory  continued  to  be  the  center  of  much  literary 
and  social  activity.  The  Women's  Auxiliary  did  valient  service  and 
the  twelve  years  were  peaceful  and  prosperous.  In  March,  1902, 
the  higher  call  to  the  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  Hartford, 
proved  too  strong  to  be  resisted,  and  reluctantly  the  connection  was 
severed. 

REV.  JAMES  HARDIN  GEORGE 

Rev.  Jame.>  Hardin  George,  who  had  been  several  years  rector  of 
St. John's  Church,  Salisbury,  was  called  in  May,  1902. 

The  large  family  of  children  just  blossoming  into  manhood  and 
womanhood  formed  an  interesting  accession  to  the  life  of  the 
parish. 

The  sick  and  sorrowing  soon  learned  to  look  for  visits  of  the 


REV.  GEORGE  T.  LINSLEY 

See    Page   86 


KE\'.  JAMES  li.  GEORGE 

See  Page  87 


REV.  WILLIAM  C.  CRAVNER 

Elected   Rector   June    1918 


BEACH  CAMP 


Elected  Vestryman  1836 

Junior  Warden  1843 

Senior  Warden  1853 

Died  July  8th  18S5 


DANIEL  G.  HEERS 


See   Page  262 


Elected  Clerk  of  Trinity  Parish    1876 

Vestryman  1877 

Junior  Warden  188.5 

Senior  Warden  1889 

Died  Feb.  IJth  1913 


NEWTOWN'S   EPISCOPAL   CHURCHES  87 

rector,  and  Mrs.  George  won  all  hearts.  A  notable  event  occurred 
Nov.  2,  1905,  when  Rev.  Frederick  Foote  Johnson,  who  had  left 
Redlands,  California,  to  be  General  Missionary  in  Western  Mass., 
had  been  elected  to  become  assistant  Bishop  to  Bishop  Hare  of 
South  Dakota,  was  consecrated  to  that  office  in  Trinity  Church. 
The  Bishops  present  were,  the  Presiding  Bishop,  Rt.  Rev.  Daniel  S. 
Tuttle,  Bishops  Whitaker  of  Penn.,  Vinton  of  Mass.,  Brewster  of 
Conn.,  Lines  of  Newark,  Jagger  of  Boston,  Courtney  of  N.  Y.  More 
than  100  clergy  were  in  the  procession,  besides  Divinity  School 
students  and  crowds  from  adjacent  towns.  Rev.  Mr.  George  receiv- 
ed great  praise  for  having  so  successfully  engineered  the  interesting 
but  difficult  situation. 

Another  notable  event  was  the  celebration,  Sept.,  1907,  of  the 
175th  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  parish,  and  the  unveiling 
of  a  boulder  in  which  was  imbedded  a  bronze  tablet,  which  stated 
that  under  a  sycamore  tree  which  stood  near  that  place,  the  Rev. 
John  Beach  preached,  in  1732,  his  first  sermon  as  rector  of  the 
Church, 

A  few  years  after  their  coming,  an  accident  occurred  which  it 
was  thought  produced  only  a  slight  injury  to  Mrs.  George,  but 
proved  to  have  very  serious  results.  Her  hitherto  active  life  was 
for  a  long  time  restricted  to  the  movements  of  a  wheel-chair,  yet 
she  was  still  a  power  in  the  home  and  in  the  parish.  She  had  the 
joy  of  witnessing  the  ordination  to  the  diaconate  of  James  Hardin, 
Jr.,  the  son  who  remembered  no  other  mother.  He  was  ordained 
by  Bishop  Johnson,  Ascension  Day,  May  28,  1908. 

The  choir  were  vested  for  the  first  time  Easter  Day  1909. 

Slowly  and  insidiously  the  disease  progressed,  until  in  May  1911, 
the  release  came.  Miss  Theodora,  occupying  a  good  position  in  N. 
Y.  and  Miss  Bertha  having  become  the  wife  of  William  R.  Curtis, 
Miss  Caroline  was  the  solace  and  comfort  of  the  rector  and  the 
young  sister  Marilla,  until  in  July,  1914,  he  took  to  wife,  Miss  Jane 
Fitch  Beers,  eldest  daughter  of  Daniel  G.  and  Arabella  Fitch  Beers. 
The  new  wife  at  once  entered  into  all  the  activities  of  the  parish 
and  endeared  herself  to  every  family,  being  in  truth  a  help  meet, 
not  simply  to  the  rector,  but  to  the  whole  parish.  In  the  Autumn 
of  1916,  the  large  basement  room  was  divided,  making  a  much 
smaller  and  more  attractive  room,  suitable  for  parish  activities; 
many  kitchen  improvements  were  also  added.  Trinity  Guild  being 
responsible  for  the  improvements.  It  was  first  used  before  Christ- 
mas for  a  Guild  sale. 

Soon  after  Christmas  the  rector  seemed  to  be  very  weary,  but 
performed  his  customary  parish  duties,  until  prostrated  by  pneu- 
monia early  in  January.  He  entered  into  rest,  Jan.  18,  1917.  The 
large  congregation  that  filled  Trinity  Church  at  the  last  sad  service 
testified  to  the  affection  of  the  people  for  their  rector,  and  their 
sympathy  for  the  bereaved  family. 


88  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Resolutions  Adopted  by  the  Vestry  of  Trinity  Church  on  the  Death 
of  Charles  S.  Piatt,  who  died  Oct.,  1908. 

"Whereas  God  in  His  wise  providence  has  seen  fit  to  take  our  beloved 
friend  and  fellow  worker,  Chas.  S.  Piatt  from  the  scene  of  his  early  life 
to  the  rest  of  Paradise,  therefore,  Resolved,  that  we  place  on  the  record 
of  this  vestry  our  sincere  appreciation  of  his  true  worth  as  an  earnest 
communicant  of  our  Church,  a  consistent  member  of  our  Parish  and  an 
efficient  organist  and  leader  of  our  choir. 

For  25  years  he  has  presided  at  our  organ  with  skill  and  ability,  thereby 
adding  much  to  the  beauty  and  dignity  of  the  worship  of  the  Church. 
Untiring  in  his  faithful  and  devoted  attendance,  with  not  only  an  un- 
flagging interest  in  the  musical  part  of  the  service,  but  a  true  reverence 
for  all  parts  of  the  Church's  worship. 

Though  his  hands  no  longer  touch  the  keys  to  sound  forth  a  hymn  of 
praise,  a  wedding  chime,  or  a  funeral  dirge,  the  memory  of  his  faithful- 
ness and  his  devotion  will  live  always  in  the  hearts  of  those  who  associate 
him  with  the  organ  and  with  the  Church,  where  we  feel  so  keenly  a  sense 
of  great  loss." 

RECTOR'S  ASSISTANTS. 

Rev.  Wm.  Ackley,  the  first  of  Trinity's  assistants  to  Rev.  Dr. 
Marble,  also  officiated  at  St.  John's  Church  from  Aug.  1870,  to 
December,  1873. 

Rev  Thomas  Mallaby  was  assistant  from  April  6,  1874,  to  June 
10.  1875. 

These  two  long  since  "entered  into  rest." 

Rev.  Francis  W.  Barnett,  who  commenced  his  ministerial  labors 
in  June,  1876,  as  assistant  to  Rev.  Dr.  Marble  and  minister  at  St. 
John's,  Sandy  Hook,  resigned  in  April,  1879,  and  became  rector  of 
St.  Matthew's  Church,  Wilton,  Conn.  His  next  charge  was  Christ 
Church,  Canaan,  Conn.,  from  which  place  he  went  to  St.  Luke's, 
South  Glastonbury,  Conn.  His  whole  ministry,  until  ill-health 
made  it  necessary  to  relinquish  charge  of  a  parish,  was  singularly 
useful  and  fruitful.     Each  parish  grieved  when  he  left  them. 

He  married  Miss  Mary  F.  Blackman,  one  of  Newtown's  daugh- 
ters and  when  he  must  retire  from  active  duty,  they  made  a  home 
for  themselves  in  the  home  town. 

Having  regained  sufficient  health  for  occasional  service,  he  was 
chosen  after  the  death  of  Rev.  Mr.  George  as  minister  in  charge 
of  the  parish,  until  a  rector  should  be  secured. 

Of  Mr.  Harnett's  three  sons,  to  whom  by  great  self-sacrifice  he 
gave  a  college  education,  the  eldest.  Rev.  F.  B.  Barnett  served 
acceptably  a  few  years  at  St.  Mary's,  Mitchell,  South  Dakota, 
then  removed  to  Ridley  Park,  Pa.,  from  which  place,  on  the  enter- 
ing of  the  United  States  into  the  world  war,  he  enlisted  to  go  as 
Chaplain  to  France.  Rev.  Joseph  is  curate  at  St.  George's  Church, 
New  York,  and  Edward  is  at  Plattsburg  awaiting  orders.  Miss 
Mary,  the  daughter,  is  the  stay  and  comfort  of  the  parents. 

Since  this  writing.  Rev.  Joseph  Barnett  has  enlisted  in  the  Army  and 
is  now  Lieut.  Barnett  in  U.  S.  service. 

Lieut  Edward  is  in  France  and  has  been  decorated  for  heroic  service. 


RE\'.  FRANCIS  W 

See  Page  8 


BARXETT 


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NEWTOWN    BORN    MINISTERS  89 

THOSE  NEWTOWN  BORN  WHO  BECAME  MINISTERS 
OF  THE  GOSPEL. 

REV.  DAVID  BOTSFORD. 

Rev.  David  Botsford,  son  of  Gideon  and  Pulcrea  Fairman  Bots- 
ford  born  at  Newtown,  March  5,  1797,  graduated  from  Yale,  1818, 
was  ordained  by  Bishop  Brownell,  1821.  He  preached  at  WalHng- 
ford,  Conn.,  for  a  while  but  because  of  ill-health  he  was  obliged  to 
return  to  his  father's  home  at  Newtown,  where  he  died  1823, 
respected  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

REV.   ABEL    NICHOLS 

Rev.  Abel  Nichols,  fifth  son  of  Lucy  Beach  and  Capt.  James 
Nichols,  a  direct  descendant  of  Rev.  John  Beach,  was  born  at  New- 
town, May  23,  1807,  died  Dec.  16,  1859.  He  was  going  to  the 
Bermudas  to  take  charge  of  a  Divinity  School.  He  sailed  on  the 
"Silas  Marner."  A  most  fearful  storm  arose  and  the  vessel  sprung 
a  leak.  The  life-boats  were  lowered  and  the  passengers  and  crew 
taken  off.  Mr.  Nichols  stood  by  the  Captain  and  assisted  him  to 
maintain  order.  At  the  last  moment  it  was  found  that  there  was 
room  for  only  one  more,  and  he  insisted  that  the  Captain's  life  was 
of  more  value  than  his  own,  besides  his  being  responsible  to  the 
agent  for  his  passengers  ;  and  so  the  fact  remains  that  the  Rev. 
Abel  Nichols  was  then  and  there  translated  to  the  reward  of  heroic 
self-sacrifice. 

The  Beach-Sanford  Book. 

REV.  GEORGE  L.  FOOTE. 

Rev.  George  Lewis  Foote,  was  born  in  Newtown,  Conn.,  March 
3,  1812.  When  only  fifteen  years  old,  his  father  died.  For  a  few 
years  he  worked  as  apprentice  to  a  shoemaker,  but  deciding  to 
study  for  the  ministry,  he  obtained  a  situation  at  Elizabeth,  N.  J., 
with  Rev.  Birdsey  G.  Noble,  as  assistant  teacher,  still  studying  and 
preparing  for  college.  He  was  graduated  from  Washington  (now 
Trinity)  College  in  1837,  and  founded  Newtown  Academy  the  same 
year.  April  28,  1839,  he  married  Minerva  Tuttle.  During  the  latter 
part  of  his  teaching  in  Newtown  Academy  he  was  lay-reader  at 
Christ  Church,  Roxbury,  Conn.  After  his  ordination  as  deacon  in 
1840,  and  as  priest  in  1841  by  Bishop  Brownell,  he  became  rector 
and  remained  in  charge  ten  years.  He  was  also  principal  of  Roxbury 
Academy. 

In  1850  he  resigned  and  became  rector  of  Zion  Church,  McLean, 
N.  Y..  where  he  remained  six  years.  He  also  had  charge  of  missions 
in  Homer,  Courtlandt,  and  Truxton,  N.  Y.  In  1856,  he  removed  to 
Sherburne,  but  at  the  end  of  two  years,  realizing  the  need  of  better 
education  for  his  growing  family,  he  became  rector  with  Rev. 
Richard  Whittingham,  of  St.  Andrew's  Church,  New  Berlin,  N.  Y. 
and  principal  of  St.  Andrew's  School.  At  the  end  of  three  years,  find- 
ing the  burden  of  the  school  too  great,  he  resigned  and  in  1860 
became  rector  of  Zion  Church,  Morris,  N.  Y.  For  two  years  he 
devoted  himself  with  untiring  patience  and  fidelity  but  with  im- 
paired health  to  his  parish  work.    May  13,  1862,  he  was  prostrated 


90  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

by  Paralysis  and  after  lingering  in  partial  helplessness  for  eighteen 
months  he  passed  away  in  the  52nd,  year  of  his  age. 

Of  the  nine  children  born  to  them  two  died  in  infancy.  Of  the 
seven  who  reached  maturity,  two  of  the  sons  became  clergymen, 
Rev.  G.  W.  Foote  and  Rev.  Henry  L.  Foote,  and  two  of  the  daught- 
ers married  clergymen.  One  who  died  in  1899  became  the  wife  of 
Rt.  Rev.  Daniel  S.  Tuttle,  now,  in  1918,  Bishop  of  Missouri  and 
Presiding  Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United 
States,  at  81  years  of  age.  Another  went  with  her  husband,  Rev.  G. 
D.  B.  Miller,  as  missionary  to  Japan.  They  returned  and  since  the 
death  of  her  husband  she  has  been  for  many  years  private  secretary 
to  Bishop  Tuttle.  Another.  Mrs.  S.  K.  White,  was  many  years 
principal  of  the  Diocesan  School  for  girls  at  Tacoma,  Washington, 
but  is  now  engaged  in  missionary  work  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

REV.   SYLVESTER   CLARK,  D.   D. 

Rev.  Sylvester  Clarke,  D.  D.,  was  born  in  Newtown,  Sept.  26, 
1833,  son  of  Betsy  Ann  Fairchild  and  Charles  Clarke.  His  early 
education  was  received  at  the  district  school  and  at  the  private 
school  of  Harry  Peck.  While  preparing  for  the  ministry  he  did 
duty  with  several  banking  instiutions,  entering  Berkeley  School  in 
1855.  He  was  ordained  to  the  diaconate  in  1858,  and  to  the  priest- 
hood in  1859,  by  Bishop  Williams,  who  gave  him  charge  of  St. 
Peter's,  Oxferd  and  Christ  Church,  Quaker  Farms.  In  1861,  he 
resigned  charge  of  those  parishes  and  became  assistant  to  Rev. 
Dr.  Gurdon  Coit,  rector  of  St.  John's  Church,  Bridgeport.  In  the 
summer  of  1863  he  became  rector  of  the  new  Trinity  Church, 
Bridgeport.  In  1870,  he  founded  the  Coit  Memorial  Chapel,  now 
St.  Luke's,  East  End,  Bridgeport. 

He  was  elected  Professor  of  Church  History  at  the  University  of 
the  South,  Sewanee,  Tenn.,  to  the  same  professorship  at  Seabury 
Divinity  School,  Fairibault,  Minn.  At  the  Berkeley  Divinity  School, 
Middletown,  Conn.,  he  was  Professor  of  Homiletics  and  Pastoral 
Theology,  and  of  Christian  Evidences.  As  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Constitution  and  Canons  and  for  several  years  its  presi- 
dent, the  greater  part  of  the  present  Canon  Law  of  the  diocese  was 
formulated  by  him.  He  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  examining 
Chaplains  of  this  diocese. 

Of  a  singularly  modest  and  retiring  disposition,  Dr.  Clarke  was 
not  wont  to  push  himself  into  prominence ;  but  the  clearness  and 
balance  of  his  judgment  and  the  purity  of  his  character  made  his 
influence  positive  and  weighty.  Men  accepted  him  and  supported 
him  in  offices  that  called  for  the  higher  qualities  of  intellect  and 
character.  Unfaltering  in  his  loyalty  to  his  own  Church,  his  friend- 
ship could  not  be  bound  by  denominational  lines.  He  displayed  a 
tender  fraternal  spirit,  toward  all  who  like  himself  were  set  for  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel,  to  whatever  denomination  they  belonged. 

The  same  fraternal  spirit  seeking  ample  outlet  led  him  to  mem- 
bership in  the  Masonic  order,  of  which  he  was  a  Master  Mason. 

He  was  past  grand  of  Pequonnock  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  and  one  of 
its  Trustees.  He  served  many  years  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
School    Visitors.      liis    influence    in    the    Church    life    will   be    felt 


REV.  SYLVESTER  CLARK  D.  D. 

See  Page  90 


RT.  REV.  FREDERICK  F.  JOHNSON  D.  D. 


See   Page  91 


NEWTOWN    BORN    MINISTERS  91 

through  coming  years  by  many  who  will  not  know  its  source ;  the 
example  he  set  and  the  words  he  spoke  as  a  Christian  man  and 
pastor  will  continue  to  enrich  many  lives.  The  truth  of  the  state- 
ment that  though  "he  rests  from  his  labors,  his  works  still  follow" 
is  exempHfied  in  the  fact  that  in  1917,  thirteen  years  since  he  enter- 
ed into  rest,  $50,000  are  being  raised  for  a  new  St.  Luke's  Church 
and  "The  Sylvester  Clarke  Parish  House  Memorial,"  to  take  the 
place  of  the  outgrown  chapel  he  founded  in  1870, 

ARTHUR  THOMAS  PARSONS. 

Arthur  Thomas  Parsons,  born  in  Sandy  Hook,  Dec.  2,  1847,  at- 
tended public  schools,  was  fitted  for  college  in  St.  Paul's  School, 
Brookfield.  Conn.,  entered  Trinity  College  in  1867,  was  graduated 
in  1871,  a  member  of  the  Delta  Upsilon  and  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa 
fraternities,  entered  Berkeley  Divinity  School  in  1871,  was  grad- 
uted  in  1874,  the  ordination  to  the  Diaconate  by  Bishop  Williams 
taking  place  on  May  27.  The  class  of  1874  was  the  first  to  be  or- 
dained in  the  new  Church  (Holy  Trinity)  in  Middletown,  and,  as 
Mr.  Parsons  was  senior  candidate,  he  has  the  honor  of  being  the 
first  man  ordained  in  that  building.  Mr.  Parsons  was  advanced  to 
the  Priesthood  in  St.  Andrew's  Church,  Meriden,  by  Bishop  John 
Williams,  Feb.  21,  1875. 

Rectorships :  St.  Alban's  Church.  Danielson,  Conn.,  May  27, 
1847,  to  March  1,  1880;  St.  George's  Church,  Central  Falls,  R.  I., 
March  1,  1880,  to  Jan.  1,  1885;  St.  Stephen's  Church,  East  Haddam, 
Conn,  Jan.  1,  1885  to  Jan.  1,  1890;  Trinity  Church,  Thomaston, 
Conn.,  Jan.  1,  1890,  to  June  1,  1909;  Christ  Memorial  Church,  North 
Brookfield,  Mass.,  June  1,  1909,  to  April  1,  1912;  Christ  Church, 
Shefifield,  Mass.,  April  1,  1912,  to  October  1,  1914.  Retired  from 
active  service,  Oct.  1,  1914.     Has  since  lived  in  Northampton,  Mass. 

In  1878  married  Sarah  E.  Peck,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  daughter  of 
Richard  W.  and  Sarah  (Mather)  Peck.  One  child,  Jessie  A.  Par- 
sons, is  secretary  to  the  Librarian  of  Smith  College,  Northampton, 
Mass. 

REV.  EDWARD  J.  EGAN. 

Born  in  Newtown,  Dec.  12,  1861,  graduated  from  Newtown 
Academy,  1879.  Graduated  from  St.  Charles  College,  Ellicott, 
Md.,  1883;  entered  St.  Joseph's  Seminary,  Troy,  N.  Y.,  the  same 
year,  and  was  ordained,  Dec.  19,  1885. 

Son  of  Edward  and  Eliza  Gordan  Egan.  Pastor  of  St.  Philip  and 
James  Church,  Phillipsburg,  N.  J. 

RT.  REV,  FREDERICK  FOOTE  JOHNSON,  D..D. 

Rt.  Rev.  Frederick  Foote  Johnson,  D.  D.,  born  at  Newtown, 
Conn.,  .A.pril  23,  1866,  son  of  Ezra  L.  and  Jane  E.  Camp  Johnson ; 
educated  at  public  school,  Newtown  Academy,  St.  Stephen's  Col- 
lege, Annandale,  N.  Y.,  Cheshire  Episcopal  School  and  Trinity  Col- 
lege. Hartford,  Conn.,  from  which  he  was  graduated  with  degree 
of  B.  A.  in  1894,  M.  A.  in  1897.  Theological  course  at  Berkeley 
Divinity  School,  Middletown,  Conn.;  ordained  deacon  at  Newtown, 


92  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Conn.,  Nov.  11,  1896,  by  Bishop  White  of  Indiana,  ordained  priest, 
1897,  bv  Bishop  Spalding  at  Denver,  Colorado.  Was  minister  at 
Glenwood  Springs,  Colorado,  1897 ;  curate  at  St.  Stephen's  Church, 
Colorado  Springs,  1897-98;  rector  Boulder,  Colorado,  1898;  rector 
Trinity  Church,  Redlands,  California,  1899-1904;  Diocesan  Mission- 
ary, Western  Mass.,  1904-05 ;  elected  assistant  to  Bishop  Hare, 
South  Dakota,  1905  ;  consecrated  Bishop  at  Newtown,  Conn.,  Nov. 
2,  1905.  Given  D.  D.  degree  by  Trinity  College,  1906;  D.  D.  by 
Berkeley,  1909.  After  the  death  of  Bishop  Hare,  Oct.  23,  1909,  he 
was  elected  Bishop  of  South  Dakota,  Oct.  11,  1910;  elected  Bishop 
Coadjutor  of  Missouri  in  May,  1911.  Feb.  4,  1899,  he  married  at 
Redlands,  California,  Susan  Lynn  Beers,  daughter  of  Silas  Nor- 
man and  Sarah  Nichols  Beers,  of  Newtown.  She  died,  June  23, 
1901,  at  Redlands,  California.  June  26,  1915,  married  Elizabeth  L. 
Beers,  daughter  of  Daniel  G.  and  Arabella  Fitch  Beers,  of  Newtown. 
Son  by  first  marriage,  born  at  Redlands,  California,  July  17,  1900, 
Frederick  Foote  Johnson,  Jr. 

REV.  JAMES    HARDIN    GEORGE,   JR. 

Though  born  Nov.  21,  1884,  in  Salisbury,  Conn.,  Rev.  James 
Hardin  George  has  a  right  to  be  called  a  Newtown  boy  by  virtue  of 
his  descent  in  a  direct  line  from  Rev.  John  Beach,  through  his 
mother,  Harriet  Emma  Sanford,  deceased  wife  of  Rev.  James  H. 
George,  for  fifteen  years  rector  of  Trinity  Church,  Newtown. 

His  early  schooling  was  at  Salisbury,  followed  by  a  course  at  the 
Hotchkiss  School,  a  large  preparatory  school  for  Yale.  He  entered 
Trinity  College  in  1902,  and  evidently  made  good  use  of  his  time, 
for  he  was  graduated  in  1905,  one  year  ahead  of  time.  Perhaps  it 
was  due  to  his  having  acquired  "a  thirst  for  strange  tongues" 
through  his  close  companionship  during  his  college  course  with  Dr. 
W.  A.  Martin,  Professor  of  Oriental  languages,  that  the  same  year 
he  was  sent  to  Shanghai,  China,  to  teach  history  in  St.  John's 
University  there.  He  spent  a  vacation  in  Japan,  then  because  of 
ill-health  it  seemed  best  to  return  home.  Having  decided  to  study 
for  the  ministry  he  entered  Philadelphia  Divinity  School.  While  pur- 
suing his  studies  he  was  a  member  of  the  Philadelphia  City  mission. 
Ascension  Day,  1908,  he  was  ordained  deacon  at  Trinity  Church 
Newtown,  by  Bishop  Johnson,  and  went  that  summer  to  do  mission 
work  in  South  Dakota,  returning  to  Philadelphia  in  the  fall  to  com- 
plete his  seminary  work,  and  was  made  second  assistant  to  the 
work  in  the  parish  of  St.  Simeon. 

As  soon  as  he  was  free  from  that  duty,  he  returned  to  his  former 
field  in  the  extreme  northwest  section  of  South  Dakota,  in  the  new 
territory  about  Lemmon,  which  was  a  new  town  still  having  the 
"smack  of  the  wild  West."  A  new  Chapel  was  built  while  he  was 
in  charge. 

During  his  stay  in  China  he  became  devoted  to  Miss.  Carrie 
Mason  Palmer,  then  a  laborer  in  the  mission  field.  He  reported 
coming  east  in  time  to  prevent  the  return  of  Miss  Palmer  to  China, 
and  they  were  married,  Sept.  28,  1910.  He  accepted  a  call  then  to 
St.  Alban's,  Danielson,  where  he  remained  until  October,  1916,  when 
he  became  rector  of  Calvary  Church,  Columbia,  Missouri.    While  at 


WM.  B.  PRINDLE 

Elected    Chorister    of    Trinity    Church,    from    1835    to    1875. 
Elected    Junior    Warden      1880 
Senior   Warden       1883 
Died   May   23rd  1903 


|i  NEWTOWN   BORN   MINISTERS  93 

Danielson  he  founded  St.  Paul's  Mission,  Plainfield,  and  by  the  aid 
of  the  diocese  a  beautiful  Church  was  built.  A  son,  James  Hardin 
George,  3rd,  was  born  Feb.  2,  1914.  Now  Mr.  George,  1918,  is  a 
Chaplain  in  France. 

ST.  JAMES'  CHURCH. 

No  record  yet  found  gives  the  exact  date  of  the  building  of  St. 
James'  Church,  Zoar,  which  stood  on  the  hill  opposite  the  present 
jGray's   Plain   school  house.     As  nearly  as   can  be   ascertained,  it 
was  about  1830,  with  Rev.  Dr.  Daniel  Burhans,  who  had  resigned 
jthe  rectorship  of  Trinity  parish,  as  first  rector.     In   1832,  he  re- 
signed and  went  to  Plymouth,  Conn.     No  record  is  found  of  reg- 
'ular  services  for  many  years,  but  Rev.  Mr.  Stratton  and  Rev.  Mr. 
Stocking,  rectors  of  Trinity,  gave  occasional  services.     St.  James 
is  the  little  Church  whose  services,  people  and  surroundings  are 
so  graphically  and  truthfully  depicted  in  "Shiloh"  by  W.  M.  L.  Jay. 
[She  was  grand-daughter  to  Alfred  Devine  and  Sarah  Hard  Curtis. 
Her  husband.   Rev.   Curtis   Woodruff,   for   many  years   City   mis- 
isionary  at  New  York  City,  often  officiated  there. 
i     Rev.  H.  V.  Gardner  had  charge  for  several  years  in  connection 
I  with  St.  Paul's.  Huntington.     He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Davis 
,  (Rev.  Mr.  Taylor  in  "Shiloh")  then  by  Rev.  Collis  I.  Potter,  resid- 
ling  in  Huntington.     Losses  by  death  and  removal  so  depleted  the 
attendance  that  after  the  building  of  St.  John's,  Sandy  Hook,  the 
building  was  sold  and  removed. 

I  ST.  JOHN'S  CHURCH. 

I      St.  John's  Church,  Sandy  Hook,  is  the  offspring  of  Trinity,  New- 
'  town.     In  the  spring  of  1864,  Mrs.  Susan  Nichols  Glover,  direct 
j  descendant  of  Rev.  John  Beach,  wife  of  William  B.  Glover,  seeing 
j  the  need  of  more  personal  local  Sunday  School  work  in  the  village, 
I  gathered  the  children  in  her  home  and  taught  them.     The  inter- 
est  increased   and   after  awhile   the   school   was   removed   to   the 
upper   room   of   the   old   store   building,   which   later   became    the 
\  Masonic  hall  (burned  in  1905,)  where  services  were  held  occasion- 
j  ally  by  Rev.  George  Davis  who  lived  in  Zoar  and  by  Rev.  Dr.  Mar- 
ble, until  the  present  Church  edifice  was  erected. 
I      The  first  regular  mission  work  by  the  Episcopal  Church  in  this 
j  part  of  town  was  conducted  by  Rev.  Wm.  N.  Ackley,  assistant  min- 
(  ister  of  Trinity  parish  and  was  continued  by  Rev  Francis  W.  Bar- 
nett  and  other  assistants  of  the  mother  Church. 

The  first  organization  of  this  movement  in  Sandy  Hook  was 
the  Diocesan  Missionary  Association  of  St.  John's  Church,  in  the 
I  parish  of  Trinity  Church,  Newtown,  Dec.  2,  1879.  This  organiza- 
I  tion  was  discontinued,  on  account  of  withdrawal  of  canonical  con- 
sent of  the  rector  of  Trinity  parish.  Rev.  T.  W.  Haskins,  and 
St.  John's  parish  was  organized,  June  1,  1880,  the  formal  consent 
of  Bishop  Williams  and  the  Standing  Committee  having  been  given, 
May  25,  1880.  The  original  members  were  Minott  Augur,  James 
H.  Warner,  Smith  P.  Glover,  Frederick  Chambers,  Ralph  N.  Betts, 
William  E.  Ackley,  Isaac  Percy  Blackman,  John  L.  Sanford,  Charles 
M.  Parsons,  William  B.  Sniffen,  Augustus  W.  Orgelman,  Benjamin 
G.  Curtis,  Wm.  G.  Hard,  James  M.  Blackman,  Eli  J.  Morris,  Martin 


94  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

W.  Lee,  Wm.  A.  Sherman,  James  Turner,  Charles  H.  Payne,  Am- 
mon  Taylor,  E.  W.  Wilson,  M.  B.  Terrill,  Chester  Hard,  Charles 
E.  Minor,  Alonzo  Taylor,  Wm.  A.  Bradley. 

St.  John's  Guild  was  organized,  June  1,  1880,  at  the  house  of  S. 
P.  Glover.  This  Guild  had  its  beginning  in  the  sewing  society  of 
the  ladies  of  St.  John's  Church,  organized,  Sept.  30,  1876,  under 
the  administration  of  Rev.  Thomas  Mallaby,  assistant  to  Rev.  Dr. 
Marble  of  Trinity  Church  and  has  always  been  an  important  factor 
in  the  support  and  progress  of  the  Church. 

The  present  Church  building  was  commenced  in  1868,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  conditions  of  a  bequest  of  $5,000  by  the  will  of  Wm. 
B.  Glover,  which  was  generously  increased  by  his  son.  Smith  P. 
Glover,  who  also  purchased  the  land  on  which  the  Church  stands 
for  $1500  and  gave  it  to  the  parish.  The  building  was  done  by 
authority  of  Trinity  parish,  under  the  direction  of  a  committee 
composed  of  Charles  Morehouse,  Smith  P.  Glover,  James  H.  War- 
ner, Fred'k  Chambers  and  Eli  J.  Morris. 

The  corner  stone  was  laid,  Aug.  27,  1868.  It  was  consecrated 
Oct.  12,  1869,  by  Bishop  Williams.  The  first  rector  was  Rev.  H. 
L.  Myrick,  x^ugust,  1880.  Until  then  it  was  a  chapel  of  Trinity 
and  served  by  assistants  of  Trinity.  Mr.  Myrick  resigned  in  May, 
1886,  at  which  time  Rev.  A.  P.  Chapman  took  charge  until 
April,  1891.  Mr.  Chapman  was  a  faithful  pastor  and  did  good 
work  in  the  place,  conducting  a  private  school  in  the  parish  hall. 
Rev.  Otis  Olney  Wright  became  rector  in  May,  1891. 

It  was  with  keen  regret  that  his  people  accepted  his  resignation 
to  take  effect  in  October,  1912.  It  was  so  true  that  "Mr.  Wright's 
ministry  extends  beyond  his  parish  and  to  the  whole  community. 
His  efforts  in  establishing  the  Sandy  Hook  library  and  his  interest 
and  labors  for  the  public  schools  cannot  be  forgotten,  and  through 
his  articles  in  The  Bee,  a  gratuitous,  kindly  service,  he  has  had 
an  audience  of  from  12,000  to  20,000  weekly." 

He  removed  to  Swansea,  Mass,  where  he  is  leading  a  peaceful  but 
busy  life  among  a  people  whom  he  had  served  before  going  to 
Sandy  Hook.  His  successor  is  Rev.  Charles  Tibbals,  who  became 
rector  in  February,  1913. 

THE  METHODIST  CHURCH. 

The  first  class  meeting  held  by  the  Methodists  was  in  1800.  The 
first  preaching  service  was  held  in  the  house  of  Mrs.  Phebe  Peck, 
just  above  the  village,  with  others  afterward  in  the  old  town  house. 
In  1805,  a  class  was  formed  as  a  nucleus  to  forming  a  Church  or- 
ganization. Later  a  class  was  formed  at  Flat  Swamp  in  1828. 
Circuit  preaching  was  had  once  in  about  four  weeks,  at  school 
houses  or  at  private  dwellings.  The  first  meeting  house,  dedicated 
in  1831,  stood  just  north  of  Mrs.  Marcus  Hawley's  residence. 

In  1850,  that  building  was  sold,  and  a  more  commodious  one 
built  at  Sandy  Hook  at  a  cost  of  $3,300. 

The  old  building  was  removed  near  Newtown  railroad  station, 
and  became  the  carriage-shop  of  C.  H.  Gay,  and,  later,  was  burned 
while  the  property  of  C.  H.  Bassett. 

A  Universalist  Society,  organized  early  in  the  nineteenth  century,  built 


REV.  OTIS  OLXEY  WRIGHT 


See  Page  94 


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ST.  ROSE  R.  C  CHURCH 


Sic  Page  95 


KEY.  JAMES   McCAKTAX 

See  Page  95 


NEWTOWN    CHURCHES  95 

a  commodious  house  of  worship  in  the  center  of  the  village,  but  sold  it 
to  the  Roman  Catholics,  who  later  sold  it  to  the  town  and  it  is  now  the 
Newtown    Town    Hall. 

THE  FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH. 

The  First  Baptist  Church  of  which  there  is  knowledge  stood  on 
the  rocks  by  the  Ezekiel  Beers  place,  now  owned  by  President 
Arthur  T.  Hadley  of  Yale  College.  It  was  a  barn-like  structure, 
not  at  all  churchly  in  appearance. 

About  1850,  there  was  a  revival  among  the  Baptists,  who  built  a 
neat  little  Church  at  the  corner  of  Berkshire  Cemetery.  Death  and 
removal  of  the  members  so  weakened  the  Baptist  society  that  no 
stated  services  were  held  for  several  years.  The  building  was 
used  for  funerals  and  services  were  held  occasionally  by  other 
Christian  bodies. 

In  1913,  the  cemetery  wishing  to  enlarge  the  grounds,  the  build- 
ing was  sold  and  removed. 

ST.  ROSE  CHURCH. 

The  first  resident  pastor  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  of  New- 
town was  Rev.  Francis  Lenihan,  who  organized  the  parish,  Aug. 
1,  1859.  Previous  to  his  appointment,  Newtown  was  served  by  a 
priest  from  Danbury.  Father  Lenihan  purchased  the  first  ceme- 
tery, but  it  was  not  blessed  until  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  James 
Daly,  who  came  here  in  March,  1862,  leaving  in  July,  1868.  Rev. 
John  Rogers  became  pastor,  July  22,  1868,  remaining  until  July, 
1873.  His  successor  was  Rev.  James  McCartan,  who  came  in 
August,  1873  and  died,  January,  1889.  The  present  Church  was 
erected  during  his  pastorate,  in  1882,  and  his  grave  is  in  the  Church- 
yard. 

i  The  old  Church,  purchased  by  Rev.  John  Sinith  about  1858,  had 
j  been  a  Universalist  meeting  house.  It  is  now  Newtown's  Town 
i  Hall.  Rev.  Patrick  Donahue  succeeded  Rev.  James  McCartan,  re- 
I  maining  until  1891.  Rev.  Patrick  Fox  succeeded  Rev.  Patrick 
I  Donahue.     Rev.  George  T.   Sinnott  succeeded  Rev.   Patrick  Fox 

July  30,    1910.       The  new  cemetery  was  bought.   May    16,    1891. 

Ground  was  broken  for  the  Church  in  1881.  Mass  was  first  said 
I  in  the  completed  Church,  the  first  Sunday  in  August,  1883.  It 
I  cost  about  $25,000,  the  old  bell  and  organ  being  taken  from  the  old 

Church.     The  body  of  the  Church  will  seat  800,  the  galleries  300. 

j  SANDEMANIAN  CHURCH. 

*       A  Sandemanian  society  was  organized  in   1740.     The   building 
I  in  which  they  held  services  stood  midway  between  Mrs.  Marcus 
I  Hawley's  and  the  middle  district  school  house.     The  Sandeinaniana 
disbanded  in  the  early  years  of  the  last  century 


96  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 


1717 
NEWTOWN'S  SCHOOL  DISTRICTS 

In  the  persistent  elTorts  of  the  pioneers  to  provide  school  privi- 
leges for  their  children,  the  town  was  divided  into  school  districts 
as  the  needs  of  different  sections  arose,  but  the  districts  were  not 
recognized  in  law  until  about  1766  and  had  no  corporate  existence 
until  1794. 

NORTH  CENTER 

Committees  were  chosen  for  the  several  districts  at  the  annual 
town  meeting  and  a  tax  laid  on  the  rateable  estates  of  the  town 
to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  several  schools,  the  length  of  the 
school  year  depending  upon  the  amount  of  money  raised  for  that 
purpose.  All  were  under  town  management  until  the  system  of 
each  district  paying  its  own  school  expenses  was  adopted. 

The  first  volume  of  Newtown  Records  shows  when  and  how 
North  Center  and  Middle  districts  came  into  existence,  and  tells 
of  locating  and  building  a  school  house  for  each  district.  The  land 
that  comprises  the  town  of  Newtown  was  bought  from  the  Indians 
in  1705.  Twelve  years  thereafter,  Oct.  2,  1717,  it  was  "voted  by 
ye  Inhabitants  of  ye  town  that  a  schoolhouse  or  town  house  shall  forth- 
with or  with  all  possible  speed  be  erected  of  ye  following  dimensions: 
25  foot  square  and  8  foot  between  joynts  and  whereas  Joseph  Grey  and 
Peter  Hubbell  have  undertaken  to  build  ye  said  house  (viz)  to  get,  draw 
the  timber,  make  ye  frame,  get  all  ye  shingles  and  clapboards  and  lay 
them,  ye  town  finding  nails,  it  is  agreed  and  voted  to  give  ye  workmen 
for  said  work  10  pounds  money  to  be  paid  upon  their  accomplishing  or 
compleating  their  work  workmanlike. 

Entered,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

Three  months  later,  Jan.  8,  1718,  a  town  meeting  was  held  to  fix 
the  location  of  the  town  house  when  it  was  "voted,  that  the  place 
for  building  ye  schoolhouse  or  town  house  or  house  for  holding  town 
meetings  in,  and  for  teaching  school  in,  shall  be  on  ye  main  street  or  town 
street,  near  unto  Abraham  Kimberly's  and  John  Lake's  house,  which  is 
ye  northeast  corner  of  ye  cross  road  yt  leads  to  Pohtatuck  brook." 

The  building  served  the  two  purposes  until  1733,  18  years,  when 
a  larger  town  house  was  needed,  and  the  town  voted  to  give  up  the 
building  to  the  town's  children,  the  neighborhood  moving  it  at  their 
own  expense.  The  location  of  the  building  was  where  the  school- 
house  for  what  was  the  Middle  district  now  stands,  and  is  now 
used  for  the  primary  department  of  the  consolidated  district. 

The  agitation  to  build  a  second  school-house  was  begun  in  1727, 
when  a  town  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  Sept.  13,  "voted,  yt  there 
shall  be  erected  a  school-house  between  ye  date  above  sd  and  December 
next  ensuing  ye  sd  date,  and  ye  charges  arising  in  building  sd  school- 
house  shall  be  defrayed  by  ye  town  rate  of  ye  inhabitants  of  sd  town. 
Test,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

One  month  later,  Oct.  19,  1727,  it  was  voted  that  "Hugh  Stillson,  Ephraim 
Hawley  and  Jeremiah  Northrop  should  be  a  committee  in  ye  behalf  of 
ye  town  to  erect  a  school-house  at  ye  place  to  be  appointed,  of  25  foot 
long  and  18  foot  wide,  to  be  erected  with  all  possible  space  and  ye  whole 
care  of  ye  compleating  ye  sd  house  fit  for  service  is.  left  with  ye  above  sd 
committee,  the  town  ratifying  and  confirming  what  ye  above  sd  committee 
shall  do  about  ye  premises  above  said.     Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL   DISTRICTS  97 

The  building  was  finished  in  the  early  fall  of  1728  and,  at  the 
annual  town  meeting  in  December  of  that  year,  the  town  "voted, 
that  ye  selectmen  shall  take  care  of  ye  school  and  are  hereby  authorized 
and  empowered  to  hire  a  schoolmaster  so  long  as  ye  overplus  money  in 
ye  town  rate  will  support  it." 

For  three  years,  the  records  show  that  no  definite  time  was  set 
for  the  continuance  of  the  school,  but  only  as  the  money  should 
hold  out.  At  the  annual  meeting,  Dec.  16,  1731  it  was  "voted, 
that  a  school  for  ye  public  service  of  ye  town  that  may  well  answer 
ye  end  for  promoting  of  common  learning  shall  be  kept  this  year 
for  ye  space  of  six  months.  To  begin  as  soon  as  a  sufficient  school- 
master may  be  obtained  and  to  be  a  constant  and  continued  school  for 
six  months  and  that  it  shall  be  supported  and  maintained,  ye  one  half  by 
ye  sd  town  and  ye  other  half  by  ye  'schoolers'  in  proportion  to  ye  time 
which  they  attend  ye  school,  and  that  John  Golot,  Moses  Stillson  and 
Ephraim  Hawley  are  chosen  and  appointed  to  take  ye  whole  care  of  ye 
school  as  above  voted,  the  town  ratifying  and  confirming  what  ye  sd 
committee  shall  do  in  ye  premises.     Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

Three  years  pass,  and  Dec.  19,  1734,  the  annual  town  meeting 
"voted,  that  Lieut  Thomas  Skidmore,  Stephen  Burwell  and  John  Lake  be 
a  committee  in  ye  behalf  of  ye  sd  town  to  take  care  of  ye  school,  to  lay 
out  ye  said  14  pounds  as  far  as  it  shall  go  for  ye  maintaining  of  ye  school 
to  ye  best  advantage  for  ye  support  of  ye  school." 

Although  permission  was  given  to  build  a  school-house  in  1733, 
no  definite  action  was  taken  until  Dec,  1737.  There  had  been 
disagreement  as  to  location  that  delayed  action,  and,  Jan.  2,  1738, 
a  new  committee  reported. 

"We  whose  names  are  underwritten,  being  appointed  a  committee  to 
fix  ye  spot  or  place  for  erecting  a  school-house  at  ye  north  end  of  ye 
town  above  sd,  is  westerly  of  ye  spot  where  they,  the  sd  north  end,  had 
dug  for  erecting  sd  school-house  is  as  near  ye  common  road  as  conveniency 
will  allow,  where  we  ye  sd  committee  affixed  stakes. 

John  Northrop,  Moses  Stillson,  Joseph  Botsford,  Benjamin  Hawley, 
Ephraim    Prindle,    committee." 

In  Dec.  1741,  the  town  "voted,  that  Ensign  John  Glover  and  Abel  Booth 
were  chosen  a  committee  for  ye  north  school  and  to  provide  a  sufficient 
school-master  for  sd  work,  and  lay  out  half  of  ye  money  voted  for  ye 
school  at  j'e  south  end. 

March  1,  1769,  voted,  "that  ye  subscribers  to  a  certain  instrument  for  a 
school  to  be  kept  at  ye  Town  house  shall  have  liberty  to  use  ye  Town 
house  for  schooling  ye  six  months  coming,  viz:  Jonathan  Booth,  Doct. 
Lemuel  Thomas,  Abiel  Botsford,  and  all  their  associates  of  sd  school." 
This  was  the  first  private  school  held  in  Newtown.  Voted,  "Doctor 
Lemuel  Thomas  and  Doctor  Nathan  Worshburn  shall  be  committee  for  ye 
south  school,  Ebenezer  Ford  and  Jonathan  Booth  for  ye  north  school, 
Robert  Summers,  Amos  Hard  and  Benjamin  Curtis  for  ye  Zoar  school, 
Gamaliel  French  and  Benjamin  Burr  for  Huntingtown,  Moses  Wright, 
Ensign  Joseph  Prindle  and  Peter  Nichols  committee  for  Tinkerfield  school, 
Jonah  Sanford  and  Amos  Merchant  for  Pohtatuck  school,  ye  year  en- 
suing." 

Report  of  the  committee  appointed  at  the  annual  town  meeting  of  Dec. 
10,  1770,  to  look  into  the  situation  of  the  two  schools  in  Newtown  street : 
j   "To  ye  adjourned  town   meeting  of  Newtown  inhabitants  to  meet  on  ye 
I    17th   day,   instant.       Whereas   we   ye   subscribers   being   appointed   a   com- 
'    mittee   to   take   into   consideration   ye   situation   and   circumstances    of   ye 
two  schools  in  sd  Newtown  called  ye  north  and  j'^e  south  schools,  in  ye  old 
I    society,  we  find  yt  ye  list  of  ye  north  school  is  3683  pounds,  including  ye 
list  of  Capt.  Joseph  Wheeler,  and  yt  ye   scholars   are   too  numerous   for 
1    one  school,  and  yt  ye   northern   parts,  or  Currituck   so-called,   should  be 
i    set  off  for  a  district  and  begin  north  of  ye  house  of  Ensign  James  Black- 
man,   then   running   westerly   to   New   Milford   road,   leaving  ye   house   of 
Thomas  Chambers  on  ye  north  and  keeping  sd  road  until  it   strikes  ye 


98  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Slut's  Hill  district  then  extending  northward  until  it  strikes  ye 
Obtuse  road  to  ye  Lands  End  brook,  and  all  other  parts  on  districts  al- 
ready set  off.  The  school  called  ye  north  school  to  extend  northward  to 
ye  line  already  given,  and  to  extend  so  far  south  as  to  include  ye  houses 
of  Ebenezer  Bristol  and  Widow  Lake,  and  to  be  so  understood  yt  ye  two 
schools  called  ye  north  and  ye  south  schools  to  enjoy  all  former  privi- 
leges of  subscriptions,  donations,  etc.,  as  usual.  The  above  district  of 
Currituck  voted  exclusive  of  Thomas  Chambers  and  Gideon  Shepherd 
which  are  to  remain  to  their  former  school."  Jonathan  Booth,  Samuel 
Beers,  Oliver  Tousey,  Ephraim   Sherman,  Joseph  Wheeler,  Committee. 

Attest,  Caleb   Baldwin,  town  clerk." 

In  Dec,  1771,  the  town  voted  "that  ye  proprietors  of  ye  north  school 
shall  have  liberty  to  set  up  a  school-house  for  their  district  at  ye  west 
end  of  ye  meeting  house  about  eight  rods  distance  of  ye  meeting  house." 
What  friction  caused  that  action  we  know  not.  Nothing  further 
appears  on  record  as  to  the  matter,  showing  that  the  vote  never 
materialized. 

"Whereas,  at  a  special  Town  meeting  of  the  Town  of  Newtown  held 
Saturday,  January  5,  1878,  at  one  o'clock  p.  m.,  it  was  voted  that  the  school 
district  lines  be  defined  by  the  selectmen,  and  the  Town  clerk  make  copy 
of  the  same  in  a  book  kept  for  that  purpose.  Now,  therefore,  we  the  se- 
lectmen of  the  Town  of  Newtown  for  the  time  being  have  performed  said 
duty  with  the  assistance  of  Beach  Nichols  as  surveyor  and  do  hereby  de- 
fine and  fix  the  lines  of  the  following  named  districts  in  the  words  and 
figures  here-in-after  set  down.  Flat  Swamp,  Gray's  Plain,  Gregory's  Or- 
chard, Half  Way  River,  Hanover,  Head  of  the  Meadow,  Hopewell,  Hunting- 
town,  Lake  George,  Land's  End,  Middle,  Middle  Gate,  North  Center,  Pal- 
estine, Potatuck,  Sandy  Hook,  South  Center,  Taunton,  Toddy  Hill,  Wal- 
nut Tree  Hill,  Walker's  Farms,  Wapping  and  Zoar.  Said  named  dis- 
tricts twenty  three  in  number  being  all  of  the  districts  into  which  said 
Town  of  Newtown  is  at  present  divided. 

Newtown,  April  1,  1878. 

William  N.  Northrop,  W.  J.  Sanford,  William  H.  Hoy,  selectmen. 

Beach  Nichols,  surveyor. 

Recorded  by  Charles  Henry  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

Survey  of  1878 

Beginning  at  a  point  on  the  highway  on  East  Side  of  Taunton  pond,  74 
rods  north  of  the  east  and  west  turnpike,  thence  southwesterly  to  the 
south  east  corner  of  Taunton  pond,  thence  northwesterly  along  the  east 
shore  of  sd  pond  to  the  north  east  corner,  thence  north  six  degrees  west 
to  the  south  line  of  Robert  N.  Hawley's  Barnabas  Hill  land  (so-called). 
Thence  easterly  in  the  south  line  of  sd  Hawley's  land  to  the  south  east  cor- 
ner. Thence  south  easterly  one  and  one  half  rods  to  the  north  west  corner  of 
Albert  Turner's  land.  Thence  easterly  on  the  line  between  sd  Turner 
and  Edwin  Camp  to  highway.  Thence  north  24  degrees  15  minutes,  east 
39.74  chains  to  west  side  of  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  turnpike.  Thence 
same  course  23.50  chains  to  danger  signal  post,  at  crossing  of  railroad  and 
highway  to  Lake  George,  sd  signal  post  being  at  the  corner  of  Land's 
End,  Lake  George,  Hanover  and  North  Center  districts.  Thence  south 
easterly  along  the  Housatonic  railroad  to  the  crossing  of  highway  and 
railroad  near  the  old  Brick  Yard.  Thence  southeasterly  a  straight  line 
to  the  intersection  of  the  Green  road  with  the  road  across  Walnut  Tree  Hill. 
Thence  Southerly  on  line  of  sd  Highway  to  the  Northeast  Corner  of 
James  Turner's  land  (formerly  Caleb  Baldwin's)  thence  westerly  on  north 
line  of  sd  Turner's  land  to  the  N.  west  corner  near  the  Foundry  pond. 
Thence  s.  63  1-4  degrees  west  to  the  northwest  corner  of  George  C.  Peck's 
homestead  on  West  side  of  Island  road,  thence  southerly  on  sd  road  to 
the  southeast  corner,  thence  westerly  on  line  to  southwest  corner,  thence 
northerly  on  west  line  to  a  point  2  3-4  rods  south  of  sd  Peck's  northwest 
corner,  thence  south  63  1-4  degrees  west  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Mrs. 
David  H.  Johnson's  homestead  on  west  side  of  Carcass  lane,  thence  west- 
erly on  south  line  of  sd  Johnson's  land  to  Newtown  street,  thence  across 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS  99 

J  sd  street  to  the  north-east  corner  of  David  B.  Beers'  homestead,  thence 
westerly  in  north  line  of  sd  Beers  land  to  land  of  L.  B.  Booth  (formerly 
,  David  H.  Johnson),  thence   same  course  across   sd  Booth's  land  to  high- 
way at  southwest  corner,  thence  north  2  degrees  west,  41  rods  in  line  of 
,  Elmer  W.  Fairchild  on  the  west  and  sd  Booth  and  Norman  B.  Glover  on 
the  east  to  the  N.  W.  corner  of  Norman  B.  Glover's  land,  thence  on  line 
,  of  stone   wall   through   land  of   sd   Fairchild   S.  71    degrees   west   Zl   rods, 
^  thence  on  sd  wall  west  52  rods,  thence  on  wall  S.   16  degrees  E.  5  rods, 
I  thence  on  wall  north  88  degrees  W.  to  place  of  beginning." 

J  MIDDLE 

[]  First  Town  House.     Built  in  1718.     Served  Also  for  a  School-house 

Until  the  year  1733,  at  which  time  the  two  districts,  North  Cen- 
ter and  Middle  district  were  formed,  and  the  town  voted  that  the 
people  of  the  north  end  of  the  town  might  build  a  school-house 
near  the  house  of  Abraham  Bennitt,  provided  it  be  built  at  their 
own    expense,    and    also    voted    at    the    saine    meeting    that    the 
]  south  end  of  the  town  should  have  liberty  to  remove  the  town 
I  house   (to  make  way  for  a  new  and  larger  town  house)   at  their 
I  own  expense  to  be  their  school-house,  at  such  place  as  shall  be 
1  thought  most  convenient  for  the  neighborhood.     It  was  done  and 
'  the  location  of  the  building  was  where  the  school-house  for  the 
Middle  District  now  stands.     The  school-house  for  North  Center 
I  was  long  time  in  coming  and  during  the  interim  all  the  children 
'  were  being  cared  for  at  the  school  in  Middle  district. 

Survey  of  1878 

1       "Beginning  on  the  highway  east  of  Taunton  Pond  seventy-four  (74)  rods 
I    North  of  the  east  and  west  turnpike,  thence  Southwesterly  to  the  high- 
I    way  at  the  southwest  corner  of  sd  Pond,  Thence  Southerly  by  highway 
I    to  East  and  West  Turnpike,  Thence  Southerly  by  old  abandoned  road  to 
'    angle  in  highway  about  50  rods  northeast  of  Mrs.  Carroll's  house,  thence 
I    by   highway   easterly   to   the   Norwalk   turnpike,   thence   northeasterly   by 
(    highway  to  the  road  leading  to  Palestine,  thence  southerly  on  sd  Pales- 
tine road  to  Deep  Brook,  thence  easterly  by  sd  Deep  Brook  to  the  bridge 
on  highway  running  past  the  cemetery,  thence  northeasterly  by  sd  high- 
I    way    to    the    intersection    of    the    road    leading   to   Abel    Stillson's    house, 
{    thence  north  75  degrees  east  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Hermon  H.  Peck's 
home  lot  on  East  side  of  the  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  turnpike,  thence 
on  south  line  of  sd  home  lot  N.  66  degrees  east  to  Deep   Brook,  thence 
down  sd  Brook  to  the  South  west  corner  of  Roswell  Turney's  land  about 
15  rods  upstream  from  the  bridge  on  Turney's  land,   thence   easterly  on 
I    the  south  line  of  sd  Turney's  land,  thence  easterly  on  the  south  line  of 
the      sd      Turney's      land      to      the      intersection      of      a      straight      line 
from   Mile   Hill   Bridge   to    Mount   Tom   Brook   bridge   on    Newtown    and 
Sandy  Hook  road,  thence   northwesterly   on   sd   line   to   Mt.   Tom   Brook 
bridge,   thence   easterly  on   sd   Newtown   and   Sandy  Hook   road  24   rods, 
thence  north  54  1-2  degrees   east   between  the  house  and  barn  of  James 
Turner    (formerly  William   Glover)    to   highway   leading   to   Walnut   Tree 
Hill,  thence  by  sd  highway  to  the  northeast  corner  of  sd  Turner's  land 
(formerly  Caleb  Baldwin),  thence  westerly  on  the  north  line  to  the  north- 
west corner  near  Foundry  pond,  thence  south  63  1-4  degrees  west  to  the 
northeast  corner  of  George  C.  Peck's  land  on  Island  road,  thence  south- 
erly  on   sd   road   to   the   southeast   corner,   thence   westerly   to    southwest 
corner,  thence  northerly  on  line  of  stone  fence  to  a  point  2  3-4  rods  south 
of  sd  Peck's  northwest  corner,  thence  south  63  1-4  west  to  southeast  cor- 
ner  of   Mrs.   D.   H.  Johnson's    homestead,   on   west   side   of   Carcass    lane, 
Ihence  westerly  along  south  line  of  sd  Johnson's  land  to  Newtown  street, 
thence  across  sd  street  to  the  north  line  of  D.  B.  Beers  homestead,  thence 
westerly  on  north  line  of   sd   Beers'  homestead  to  land  of   L.   B.   Booth 


100  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

(formerly  D.  H.  Johnson),  thence  same  course  across  sd  Booth's  land  to 
Highway  at  Southwest  corner,  thence  north  2  degrees  west  41  rods  in 
line  of  Elmer  W.  Fairchild  on  the  west  and  sd  Booth  and  Norman  B. 
Glover  on  the  east  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Norman  B.  Glover's  land, 
thence  on  line  of  stone  wall  through  land  of  sd  Fairchild  south  71  degrees 
west  Zl  rods,  thence  on  said  wall  west  52  rods,  thence  on  wall  south  16 
degrees  east  5  rods,  thence  on  wall  north  88  degrees  west  to  place  of 
beginning." 

1738 
TAUNTON 

After  town  action  on  the  several  dates  concerning  the  North 
Center  and  Middle  districts,  the  first  record  of  an  out-lying  district 
was  for  Taunton. 

"December  3,  1738,  voted  and  agreed  that  ye  west  farm  called  Taunton 
shall  have  liberty  to  build  a  school-house  upon  their  own  charge  and  to 
have  their  proportions  of  money  voted  for  ye  school  from  time  to  time 
according  to  their  list  of  rateable  estate  provided  they  lay  out  ye  money 
for  ye  school  within  ye  year."     District  lines  established  in  1878: 

"Taunton  school  district,  beginning  on  the  town  line  between  Bethel 
and  Newtown  on  the  highest  point  of  Jolley  Hill  at  stone  bounds  near 
a  high  rock,  thence  S  85  degrees  E  to  a  stone  bounds  on  highway  leading 
southerly  from  Henry  and  George  Fairchild's  residence  4  1-2  rods  south 
of  William  and  Henry  Fairchild's  line,  thence  in  a  straight  line  Easterly 
to  highway  running  northerly  from  Norman  Northrop's  residence  at  the 
line  between  said  Northrop's  and  William  Fairchild's,  thence  a  straight 
line  Easterly  stone  bounds  near  the  sharp  angle  of  old  abandoned  high- 
way leading  Southerly  from  Taunton  Pond,  thence  Northerly  by  said  old 
road  and  road  west  of  said  Pond  to  the  South  west  corner  of  said  Pond,  thence 
Easterly  a  straight  line  to  the  South  East  corner,  thence  Northerly  along 
the  East  shore  to  the  North  East  corner,  thence  North  6  degrees  West 
to  Robert  N.  Hawley's  Barnabas  Hill  land,  thence  Westerly  in  the  south 
line  of  said  Hawley's  land  to  the  South  West  corner,  thence  Westerly  a 
straight  line  to  Pond  Brook  Bridge  near  Shepaug  Railroad  crossing,  thence 
down  Pond  Brook  to  Pokono  Brook,  thence  up  Pokono  Brook  North 
Branch  to  a  rock  in  fence  situated  in  a  marsh  the  head  of  Pokono  Brook, 
thence  north  ZZ  degrees  West  to  the  North  West  corner  of  the  Town  of 
Newtown,  thence  southerly  along  town  line  between  Newtown  and  Bethel 
to  place  of  beginning." 

1745 
ZOAR 

January  20,  1745,  the  town  voted  that  the  eastward  farms  called 
Zoar  shall  have  the  same  liberty  to  set  up  and  carry  on  schooling 
among  themselves  as  the  farmers  elsewhere  have  and  to  build 
their  school-houses  without  any  charge  to  the  town  and  that  Ben- 
jamin Curtis  shall  be  a  committee  to  provide  a  school  master  for 
Zoar.  The  limits  of  Zoar  Easternmost  school  was  established  by 
vote  in  town  meeting  Dec.  5,  1768. 

"The  limits  of  Zoar  Easternmost  school  shall  extend  from  Zachariah 
Ferris's  shop  to  the  Great  River  at  Peter  Foot's,  including  Josiah  Piatt, 
and  down  the  road  to  the  Stratford  line  at  Walker's  Farm." 

Zoar  district  originally  took  in  the  districts  of  Zoar,  Grey's 
Plain,  Half  Way  River  and  that  portion  of  Newtown  now  included 
in  the  joint  district  with  Sotithbury  known  as  Wapping.  Gray's 
Plain  was  set  of?  in  1784  and  Half  Way  River  and  Wapping  in  1786. 
Zoar,  as  given  by  survey  of  1878: 

"Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Pole  bridge  brook  on  the  Housatonic  river, 
thence  up  said  brook  to  a  point  directly  in  line  with  the  southeasterly 
corner  of  Lawrence   Mitchell's   land  on   Housatonic   river  and   the   south 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS  101 

east  corner  of  Cornelia  Curtis'  land,  thence  southerly  along  said  line  of 
Cornelia  Curtis'  corner  which  is  on  highway  leading  from  Berkshire  to 
Bennett's  bridge  24  1-2  rods  northerly  from  a  small  stream  crossing  said 
road,  thence  in  a  straight  line  westerly  to  Mile  Hill  bridge  on  Pohtatuck 
brook,  thence  southerly  by  Pohtatuck  Brook  to  its  junction  with  Saw  Mill 
Brook,  thence  southerly  by  sd  Saw  Mill  brook  west  branch  to  the  north 
abuttment  of  bridge  over  Saw  Mill  brook  on  highway  leading  from  the 
north  mouth  of  the  old  Lebbon  road  to  the  Toddy  Hill  road,  near  Cap- 
tain Walter  Bradley's  residence,  thence  easterly  a  straight  line  to  a  pile 
of  stones  on  the  old  Lebbon  road  near  the  south  east  corner  of  John  Kane 
Jr's  land,  thence  in  a  straight  line  N.  Th  degrees  E.  to  the  bridge  over  a 
small  stream  crossing  highway  about  40  rods  westerly  of  the  High  Rock 
road  at  Lockwood  Shepherd  house,  thence  easterly  by  highway  to  the 
mouth  of  the  High  Rock  road,  thence  northerly  to  a  point  on  highway 
50  rods  west  of  Frederick  Chambers'  dwelling  house  at  corner  of  highway, 
thence  easterly  by  said  highway  to  Gelding  Hill  Brook  between  the  dwell- 
ing houses  of  Thomas  O.  Chambers  and  Charles  Johnson,  thence  northerly 
by  said  brook  to  the  Housatonic  river,  thence  northerly  by  said  Housa- 
tonic  river  to  Pole  bridge  brook,  the  place  of  beginning." 

1745 
LAND'S  END 

Wiskenear 

At  Newtown's  town  meeting  Dec.  9,  1745,  it  was  voted  "that  all  ye  north- 
ern inhabitants  dwelling  within  ye  township  of  Newtown,  that  is  to  say 
northward  of  ye  Pond  Brook  and  westward  of  a  south  line  beginning  at 
ye  New  Milford  line  so  as  to  run  40  rods  east  of  ye  Dunnings  and  to  be 
extended  to  ye  above  sd  Pond  Brook,  shall  have  liberty  to  set  up  and 
carry  on  a  school  among  themselves  for  ye  well  educating  their  children 
in  reading  and  writing  as  ye  law  aims  at,  they  not  putting  ye  town  to  any 
charge  to  build  their  school-house  and  that  they  shall  have  power  ac- 
cording to  their  list,  to  draw  out  their  proportion  for  use  aforesaid  of  ye 
money  which  this  town  hath  this  year  voted  for  ye  use  of  schooling,  or 
shall  be  voted  from  years  to  years,  so  also  their  proportion  of  40  shillings 
upon  ye  thousand  in  ye  country,  ordered  by  law  for  promoting  of  school- 
ing whensoever  ye  country  tax  shall  be  levied  on  this  town  and  collected. 
These  bounds  to  include  Jeremiah  Turner  as  their  most  southern  part 
and  Lieutenant  Smith  was  appointed  to  provide  a  teacher  for  Whiskenear 
and  Jabez  Hurd,  collector  of  ye  money."  On  the  twenty-second  day  of 
Dec,  1779,  the  town  in  town  meeting  voted  "that  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  town 
living  on  ye  main  road  leading  from  Newtown  to  Newbury,  from  Land's 
End  brook  to  Newbury's  south  line,  extending  so  far  west  as  to  include 
ye  Widow  Abigail  Turner,  shall  be  a  district  for  a  school."  known  by  ye 
name  of  Land's  End  school,  and  so  it  is  that  the  present  district 
name  dates  back  to  the  year  1779,  a  period  of  134  years,  in  Dec.  of 
this  year,  with  the  present  district  lines  as  established  in  1878, 
which  are  as  follows : 

Beginning  at  a  stone  monument  marked  B.  and  N.  on  north  east  side  of 
highway  leading  from  Hawleyville  Depot,  to  Danbury.  Thence  along  the 
town  line  S.  41  degrees  W.  34  rods  six  links  to  pile  of  stones  on  top  of 
hill,  11  feet  south  of  a  big  rock.  Thence  same  coarse  54  rods  to  pile  of 
stones  a  few  feet  west  of  a  rock  on  the  line  of  an  old  wall,  running  in  a 
north  and  south  direction,  said  pile  of  stones  being  on  the  corner  of  New- 
town and  Brookfield  in  the  east  line  of  Bethel.  Thence  S.  ZZ  degrees,  51 
minutes,  E.  6.10  chains  to  a  large  rock  in  fence  in  a  marsh,  the  head  of 
Pokono  Brook  (North  branch).  Thence  south  easterly  along  said  Pokono 
brook  to  bridge  on  Highway  running  south  from  James  Green's  residence. 
Thence  down  Pokono  brook  to  Pond  brook.  Thence  up  Pond  brook  to 
bridge  on  highway  near  Shepaug  railroad  crossing.  Thence  easterly  in  a 
straight  line  to  the  south  west  corner  of  Robert  N.  Hawley's  Barnabas 
Hill  land  (so-called).  Thence  in  the  southerly  line  to  the  south  east  cor- 
ner.    Thence  south  easterly  one  and  one  half  rods  to  North  West  corner 


102  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

of  Albert  Turner's  land.  Thence  easterly  on  line  to  the  northeast  cor- 
ner on  highway  leading  to  Hawleyville  from  Newtown.  Thence  north  24 
degrees,  15  minutes  east  39.74  chains  to  west  side  of  Newtown  and  Bridge- 
port turnpike.  Thence  same  course  23.50  chains  to  danger  signal  at  rail- 
road crossing  at  Lake  George,  said  signal  being  at  the  corner  of  Land's 
End,  Hanover,  Lake  George  and  North  Center  districts.  Thence  N.  45 
degrees  west  238  rods  to  point  on  highway  running  easterly  from  R.  N. 
Hawley's  residence  about  60  rods  west  of  James  Lake's  house.  Thence 
north  58  degrees,  west  204  rods  to  Pond  brook.  Thence  north  65  degrees 
west  20  rods  Land's  End  mill  on  highway.  Thence  westerly  by  said  high- 
way to  the  intersection  of  road  at  Benjamin  Hawley's  old  house.  Thence 
northerly  by  highway  to  town  line  of  Brookfield.  Thence  along  said  line 
south  41  degrees  west  to  place  of  beginning." 

1748 
PALESTINE 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  Dec.  3,  1748,  it  was  "voted  that  ye  limits  of 
ye  farm  called  Palestine  shall  be  northward  of  Mr.  John  Glover's  house, 
so  from  there  running  easterly  to  include  Noah  Parmelee's  house,  and 
Ephraim  Prindle's  and  Benjamin  Stillson's  house,  and  so  on  to  Abraham 
Beers'  house.  It  was  also  voted  "that  all  parents  or  masters  who  send 
children  to  school  shall  find  fire  wood  in  proportion  to  ye  scholars  they 
shall  send,  and  if  any  person  fail  of  doing  so  it  shall  be  in  ye  power  of  ye 
school  committee  to  recover  their  proportion  in  money  by  an  action  of 
debt  upon  complaint  made  to  j'e  Justice  of  ye  Peace,  who,  upon  recovery 
shall  forthwith  lay  out  sd  money  for  procuring  of  wood  for  ye  school  or 
answering  for  ye  wood  procured  before,  by  reason  of  ye  aforesaid  neglect." 
Voted  "there  shall  be  two  pence  upon  ye  pound  of  ye  list  of  rateable  es- 
tate of  ye  inhabitants  for  supporting  of  ye  schools  of  ye  several  farms 
and  shall  stand  good  for  ye  year  provided  they  shall  keep  a  good  school 
four  months  of  ye  year  and  render  an  account  to  ye  selectmen  that  they 
have  kept  a  good  school  as  aforesaid."  John  Beers  was  appointed  to  be 
collector  for  ye  Palestine  school.  Ye  money  arising  out  of  ye  town  shall 
be  expended  according  to  their  lists,  two-thirds  in  Michalmas  and  winter 
season  and  the  other  third  in  spring  and  summer  and  ye  parents,  masters 
and  mistresses  of  ye  scholars  shall  add  and  pay  one-third  part  so  much 
money  in  cash  of  ye  above  mentioned  seasons  to  ye  support  of  ye  res- 
pective schools  in  ye  limits  in  which  they  dwell,  that  is  to  say  one-  third 
part  of  ye  expenses  shall  be  paid  by  ye  scholars,  and  John  Beers  shall  be 
collector  for  ye  Palestine  school. 

Survey  of  1878 

Beginning  on  the  Norwalk  and  Newtown  Turnpike  at  the  head  of  the 
Cireat  Bogs,  thence  by  the  northeast  side  of  the  Great  Bogs  to  the  South- 
east corner  of  W.  D.  B.  Ferris'  land,  thence  northerly  in  the  east  line  of 
said  Ferris'  land  to  highway  32  rods  south  of  the  intersection  of  a  road 
running  northwesterly  to  W.  D.  B.  Ferris'  residence,  thence  northerly  by 
highway  to  a  point  due  west  from  the  mouth  of  a  road  leading  southerly 
from  Mrs.  Heman  Northrop's  house  on  Palestine  road  to  Point  of  Rocks 
road,  thence  due  west  on  said  line  to  mouth  of  said  road,  thence  south- 
easterly in  a  straight  line  to  the  north  branch  of  Pohtatuck  Brook  or 
river  at  crossing  of  Orchard  Hill  road,  to  the  Piatt's  Hill,  thence  westerly 
by  said  Piatt's  Hill  road  to  its  junction  with  the  Hog  Swamp  road,  thence 
southerly  by  the  Hog  Swamp  road  to  the  southeast  corner  of  Mrs.  Her- 
mon  Beers  homestead,  thence  west  and  south  in  the  line  of  said  Beers 
land  to  brook,  thence  southerly  by  said  brook  to  the  road  leading  from 
Jerome  H.  Botsford's  residence  to  Huntingtown,  thence  northwesterly  by 
said  highway  to  its  junction  with  highway  leading  from  J.  H.  Botsford's 
to  Turney  French's  saw  mill,  thence  northwesterly  by  highway  to  corner 
of  highway  at  the  residence  of  J.  H.  Botsford's,  thence  southwesterly  by 
highway   to  the   road  leading  from   Hattertown   to   Dodgingtown,   thence 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS  103 

northerly  by  said  highway  to  road  leading  easterly  to  heirs  of  Dr.  Bron- 
son's  residence,  thence  westerly  to  old  shut  highway  to  an  old  cellar,  once 
the  house  of  Bill  Wells  and  now  owned  by  Jerome  H.  Botsford,  thence 
northerly  to  a  point  on  road  leading  from  Dodgingtown  to  Hattertown 
about  six  rods  south  of  Wanzer  Piatt's  dwelling,  thence  northerly  along 
said  highway  to  the  S.  E.  corner  of  Irving  B.  Goodsell's  homestead  (for- 
merly F.zra  Morgan's)  thence  northerly  in  the  east  line  of  said  homestead 
to  the  Palestine  road,  thence  easterly  by  said  road  to  the  southeast  corner 
of  said  Goodsell's  land,  thence  northerly  to  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
Great  Bogs,  thence  northerly  by  the  Great  Bogs  to  Norwalk  and  New- 
town turnpike  at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  thence  northeasterly  by  said  turnpike 
to  the  place  of  beginning." 

1755 
HANOVER 

Dec.  8,  1755,  the  town  voted  "that  ye  inhabitants  of  ye  farms  lying 
northerly  of  ye  two  mile  brook,  so-called  in  Newtown,  shall  have  ye  money 
that  arises  on  their  several  lists  for  ye  maintaining  schooling  and  others 
that  shall  join  with  them  providing  sd  money  be  laid  out  among  them, 
and  Ephraim  Botsford  was  chosen  committee-man  to  take  ye  care  of  ye 
schools. — John  Northrop,  town  clerk." 

The  several  schools  did  not  always  depend  upon  the  amount 
apportioned  them  from  the  tax  levied  upon  taxable  property  of  the 
town,  they  at  times  added  to  their  taxes  by  voluntary  subscrip- 
tion, lengthening  the  school  year.  I  have  in  my  possession  an 
original  subscription  paper  drawn  up  in  1785,  showing  the  spirit 
the  handful  of  families  in  Hanover  in  those  early  days  had  which 
I  have  no  doubt  is  a  fair  sample  of  the  spirit  existing  throughout 
the  whole  community  in  their  anxiety  that  their  children  be  taught 
in  at  least  the  "three  R's."  "We,  the  subscribers  whose  names  are 
under-written  promise  to  pay  the  several  sums  annexed  to  our  names  for 
the  purpose  of  hiring  a  schoolmaster  for  the  time  of  five  months.  Dated 
at  Hanover,  this  10th  day  of  October,  1785. 

ft  s 

James  Glover  1         11 

Amos  Terrill  11 

Hezekiah  Booth  16 

Daniel  Glover  16 

Abraham  Booth  6 

Roger  Terrill  4 

Elijah  Foote  6 

Jonathan  Sanford  1 

Solomon  Sanford  14 

Oliver   Pulford  11 

Jonas  Sanford  17 

Alexander   Sperry  12 

John  Glover  12 

Thomas  Wheeler  4 

Sum  total  9  0 

Jonathan  Sanford  was  E.  L.  Johnson's  maternal  great-grand- 
father. 

Survey  of  1878 

"Beginning  at  the  danger  signal  at  crossing  of  railroad  and  highway 
leading  to  Lake  George,  the  corner  of  Hanover,  Lake  George,  Land's  End 
and  North  Center  districts,  thence  north  easterly  to  Simeon  B.  Peck's 
corner  at  Butterfield  (so-called)  on  the  Highway  leading  past  Anthony 
McMahon's  house,  southerly  to  tunnel,  thence  N.  easterly  along  the  line 


104  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

of  said  Peck's  land,  to  corner  near  Highway  called  the  Butty  Hill  road, 
near  the  crossing  of  a  small  stream  running  northerly.  Thence  down 
small  stream  to  Pond  Brook.  Thence  up  Pond  Brook  to  the  South  west 
corner  of  Thomas  Costello's  land  (formerly  A.  B.  Terrill's).  Thence 
northerly  in  the  west  line  of  said  Costello's  land  to  the  northwest  cor- 
ner adjoining  the  Peter  Lake  Meadow  (so-called)  now  owned  by  Mich- 
ael Lillis.  Thence  in  a  straight  line  N.  14  degrees  east  255  rods  to  the 
stone  monument  in  the  old  saw  mill  road  at  the  town  line  between  Brook- 
field  and  Newtown.  Thence  on  said  Town  line  N.  41  degrees  east  to  the 
Housatonic  river.  Thence  down  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  first  small 
stream  north  of  the  fording  place.  Thence  up  said  stream  a  short  dis- 
tance to  the  old  Union  Bridge,  now  closed.  Thence  a  straight  line  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  Thomas  Cavanaugh's  home  lot.  Thence  S.  38  degrees 
west  to  an  elbow  in  the  road  leading  from  Hanover  across  Walnut  Tree 
Hill.  Thence  southerly  by  said  road  to  the  junction  with  the  Walnut 
Tree  Hill  road.  Thence  north  westerly  by  said  road  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Green  road.  Thence  a  straight  line  to  the  crossing  of  the  railroad  and 
highway  near  the  old  Brick  yard.  Thence  northerly  in  line  of  railroad 
to  danger  signal,  the  place  of  beginning." 

1761 
SOUTH  CENTER 

KETTLETOWN 

Jan.  30,  1761,  Newtown  voted  in  town  meeting  "that  ye  subscribers 
hereafter  named,  belonging  to  ye  south  end  of  j'e  town  or  south  of  Deep 
Brook  according  to  their  desire  shall  have  ye  liberty  of  setting  up  a 
school  among  themselves,  and  upon  their  keeping  a  school  so  long  as  may 
be  found  beneficial  for  learning  their  children  to  reade  or  wright,  etc., 
that  then  they  shall  draw  their  part  of  ye  money  appropriated  for  ye  use 
of  schools  in  Newtown.  The  subscribers  are  Peter  Nichols,  John  Peck, 
Ephraim  Peck,  George  Terrill,  Daniel  Baldwin,  Henry  Peck,  Gideon  Peck, 
Aaron  Peck,  Thomas  Stillson.  Peter  Nichols  and  George  Terrill  are  to 
provide  a  suitable  person  to  teach  and  instruct  the  children  in  learning 
and  Ephraim  Peck  shall  be  the  committee-man. — Attest,  John  Northrop, 
town   clerk." 

DEEP   BROOK 

Dec,  1767,  the  town  voted  "that  all  included  in  ye  circle  hereafter  men- 
tioned shall  be  a  district  for  schooling  known  as  Deep  Brook  school,  viz: 
From  Lieutenant  Samuel  Griffin  to  Eliphalet  Hull,  Noah  Parmelee's,  Jr., 
Benjamin  Stillson,  Gideon  Northrop  and  Abraham  Kimberly.  Voted, 
William  Birtch  shall  be  exempted  from  ye  above  school.  Voted,  Ensign 
John  Shoperd  shall  be  committee." 

The  school-house  for  Deep  Brook  district  stood  on  the  triangu- 
lar piece  of  ground,  between  three  roads,  now  owned  by  A.  P. 
Smith,  editor  of  the  Bee,  and  near  his  dwelling.  It  was  called  the 
Federal  school-house.  _  My  authority  was  Abel  B.  Prindle  and 
Town  Clerk  Charles  Henry  Peck. 

At  the  anntial  town  meeting  Dec,  1791,  Amos  Sherman,  Gen. 
John  Chandler  and  John  Beach  were  appointed  committee  to  look 
into  uniting  the  school  at  the  south  end  of  town  with  the  school  at 
Tinkerfield.  The  year  following,  this  above  committee  reported 
as  follows:  "Whereas  the  town  at  their  last  meeting  appointed 
a  committee  to  examine  into  the  circumstances  of  the  South  Center  school 
district  and  Tinkerfield  district  and  make  report  at  this  meeting  which 
report  is  as  follows:  It  is  the  opinion  of  the  committee  that  the  southerly 
center  school  and  that  of  Tinkerfield  district  shall  be  united  in  one  district 
and  known  as  the  South  Center  school  district."  The  report  was  accepted 
and  it  was  voted  in  town  meeting  December,  1792,  "that  the  above  two 
schools  shall  be  united  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  South  Center  school 
district." 

At   the   first  called   Kettletown,   a    few  years   later   changed   to 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS  105 

Tinkcrfield,  and  in  1792  Deep  Brook  district,  also  known  as  South 
Center,  was  joined  with  Tinkertield  district  and  given  the  new  name 
of  South  Center,  which  name  it  has  since  retained. 

Survey  of  1878 

"Beginning  at  the  Cold  Spring  culvert  and  running  northeasterly  by 
the  Pootatuck  brook  to  the  Mile  Hill  bridge,  thence  northerly  in  a  direct 
line  with  the  Alount  Tom  brook  bridge  to  the  south  line  of  Roswell 
Turney's  land  (formerly  James  Nichols'),  thence  westerly  on  said  line  to 
the  southwest  corner  about  IS  rods  up  stream  from  the  bridge  across 
Deep  Brook  on  said  Turney's  land,  thence  up  said  Deep  Brook  to  a  point 
in  line  with  the  south  line  of  Hermon  Peck's  home  lot,  thence  S.  66  degrees 
W.  crossing  highway  to  s:iid  Peck's  southeast  corner  of  home  lot  on 
Bridgeport  and  Newtown  turnpike,  thence  north  75  degrees  west  to  the 
junction  of  the  road  leading  to  Abel  Stillson's  with  the  road  leading  past 
the  cemetery,  thence  southwesterlj'  along  side  of  the  road  to  Deep  Brook, 
thence  Southerly  and  Easterly  by  highway  past  William  Stillson's  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Point  of  Rocks  road,  thence  southeasterly  along  said  Point 
of  Rocks  road  to  its  junction  with  a  road  leading  southerh^  from  Pales- 
tine road  near  heirs  of  Heman  Northrop's  dwelling,  thence  southeasterly 
in  a  straight  line  to  the  north  branch  of  the  Pootatuck  Brook  on  Orchard 
Hill  road,  thence  southeasterly  along  said  brook  to  its  junction  with 
South  branch,  thence  easterly  along  Pootatuck  brook  to  Cold  Spring  cul- 
vert, the  place  of  beginning." 

SLUT'S  HILL 

In  1768  the  town  voted  "that  all  included  in  ye  circle  hereafter  men- 
tioned shall  be  a  district  for  schooling  known  by  ye  name  of  Slut's  Hill 
school,  viz:  James  Baldwin,  Lemuel  Sherman,  Benjamin  Hawley,  Jere- 
miah Turner,  Junr,  and  all  ye  rest  within  sd  limits."  The  circle  included 
the  territory  now  known  as  Mount  Pleasant  as  far  west  as  Taun- 
ton pond  (Quanneapague  Lake)  and  toward  Hawley ville  on  what  is 
still  known  as  the  "Barnabas  road."  This  district  was  discontinued 
later. 

17S8 
LAKE  GEORGE 

In  Jan.  1768,  the  town  voted  "that  all  whose  names  are  hereafter  men- 
tioned shall  be  a  district  by  ye  name  of  Lake  George  school,  viz:  From 
Capt  Joseph  Wheeler  to  Newbury  line,  including  all  whose  narnes  are 
here  annexed:  Nehemiah  Skidmore,  Thomas  Lake,  Elnathan  Skidmore, 
George  Smith,  Nathan  Lake,  Joseph  Wheeler,  Ezra  Bryan.  Voted,  "that 
Nehemiah  Skidmore  shall  be  committee." 

In  my  younger  days  I  heard  the  district  took  its  name  from  the 
combination  of  the  names  of  two  men  who  were  foremost  in  bring- 
ing the  matter  about.  The  Christian  name  of  one  man  was  George 
and  the  surname  of  the  other  was  Lake.  The  combination  formed, 
"Lake  George." 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  held  in  the  following  year,  1769,  it  was 
voted  "that  there  shall  be  a  tax  of  one  farthing  on  ye  pound  for  ye  use  of 
ye  schools  for  ye  year  ensuing — and  that  ye  rate  may  be  paid  in  pro- 
visions." It  was  also  voted  "that  wheat  shall  be  rated  at  four  shillings 
per  bushel,  rye  at  two  shillings  eight  pence  per  bushel,  flax  six  pence  per 
pound,  Indian  corn  two  shillings  six  pence  per  bushel,  and  oats  one  shill- 
ing per  bushel,  for  ye  school  rate  of  ye  year  ensuing,  and  also  voted, 
"Ebenezer  Bristol  shall  have  thirty  shillings  as  town  treasurer  for  his 
services  ye  year  ensuing." 

Survey  of  1878 

Lake  George  District  bounds  :  "Beginning  at  the  danger  signal  at  cross 


106  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

ing  of  railroad  and  highway  leading  to  Lake  George  (the  corner  of  Han- 
over, Lake  George,  Land's  End  and  North  Center  districts),  thence  north- 
easterly to  the  northwest  corner  of  Simeon  B.  Peck's  land  on  highway 
leading  past  Anthony  McMahan's  southerly  to  Tunnel,  thence  northeast- 
erly along  the  line  of  sd  Peck's  land  to  the  corner  near  highway  called 
Butty  Hill  road  near  the  crossing  of  a  small  stream  running  northerly, 
thence  down  sd  stream  to  Pond  Brook,  thence  up  Pond  Brook  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  Thomas  Costello's  land,  thence  northerly  in  the 
west  line  of  said  Costello's  land  to  the  northwest  corner  adjoining  the 
Peter  Lake  meadow  (so-called)  now  owned  by  Michael  Lillis,  thence  in  a 
straight  line  north  14  degrees  east  255  rods  to  the  stone  monument  on 
the  old  saw  mill  road  at  the  town  line  between  Brookfield  and  Newtown, 
thence  on  sd  town  line  S.  41,  W.  to  monument  on  highway  running  north- 
erly from  Benjamin  Hawley's  old  house,  thence  southerly  on  highway  to 
its  junction  with  road  running  easterly,  thence  easterly  along  sd  road  to 
the  Land's  End  Mill,  thence  S.  65  degrees  E.  20  rods  to  Pond  Brook,  thence 
S.  58  degrees  E.  204  rods  to  a  point  about  60  rods  west  of  James  Lake's 
house  on  road  leading  easterly  from  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  Turnpike 
near  Robert  N.  Hawley's  residence,  thence  S.  45  degrees,  E.  238  rods  to 
the  danger  signal  above  described  and  the  place  of  beginning." 

1769 
FLAT  SWAMP 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  Dec,  176Q,  it  was  voted,  "that  from 
Timothy  Shepherd's  to  Agur  Fairchild's  and  to  Daniel  Crowfoot's  and 
Timothy  Piatt  and  Thomas  Roberts  and  all  within  ye  sd  limits  shall  be  a 
district  for  a  school  known  by  ye  name  of  Flat  Swamp  school  and  that 
Daniel  Crowfoot  shall  be  school  committee  for  ye  year." 

In  1878,  these  boundary  lines  were  run  :  "Beginning  on  the  Town  line 
between  Bethel  and  Newtown  on  the  highest  point  of  Jolly  Hill  so-called, 
at  stone  bounds  near  a  high  rock,  thence  southerly  along  the  said  Town 
line  to  the  northeast  corner  bounds  of  Redding,  thence  due  east  to  Shut 
Road  south  of  Andrew  Barnum's  dwelling  house,  thence  northerly  by 
said  highway  to  the  Jangling  Plain  road  to  the  old  Fairfield  County  turn- 
pike, thence  due  east  to  a  point  6  rods  south  of  Wanzer  Piatt's  house  on 
the  Monroe  turnpike,  thence  northerly  by  said  turnpike  to  the  southeast 
corner  of  Irving  Goodsell's  homestead  (formerly  Ezra  Morgan's),  thence 
northerly  in  the  east  line  of  said  homestead  to  the  Palestine  road,  thence 
by  said  road  to  the  southeast  corner  of  said  Goodsell's  homestead,  thence 
in  the  east  of  said  homestead  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Great  Bogs, 
thence  Northerly'  by  the  Great  Bogs  to  the  Norwalk  and  Newtown  turnipke 
at  the  foot  of  a  hill,  thence  by  said  turnpike  to  Key  Hole  Rock,  thence  north- 
erly to  a  point  60  rods  east  of  bounds  near  the  line  between  William  and 
Henry  Fairchild's  on  highway  leading  south  from  Henry  and  George  Fair- 
child's  residence  and  in  line  with  aforesaid  bounds  and  the  corners  of 
William  Fairchild  and  Norman  Northrop  on  highway  east  of  said  highway, 
thence  westerly  60  rods  along  said  line  to  aforesaid  bounds  4  1-2  rods  south 
along  said  line  between  William  Fairchild,  thence  north  85  degrees  west 
to  place  of  beginning." 

1779 
SANDY  HOOK 

POHTATUCK  BROOK 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  Dec.  22,  1779,  it  was  voted,  "that  the  in- 
habitants living  or  residing  in  the  following  limits,  viz:  Beginning  at 
Josiah  Curtis'  and  to  extend  easterly  on  the  road  to  Woodbury  to  the 
Great  River  and  northerly  so  far  as  to  include  Hezekiah  Sanford,  shall 
be  a  district  fur  schooling  and  be  known  by  the  name  of  Pohtatuck  Brook 
school." 

That  lay-out  took  in  all  the  country  from  Totn  brook  on  the  west 
to  the  Great  river  on  the  east,  and  along  the  Great  river  north- 
ward to  the  southerly  line  of  Hanover  district,  extending  northwest- 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS  107 

erly  to  the  line  of  beginning,  Tom  Ijrook.  The  school-house  for 
that  large  area  was  on  the  road  to  Woodbury,  less  than  half  a  mile 
east  of  where  Sandy  Hook  school-house  stands,  but  on  the  op])osite 
side  of  the  highway.  The  writer's  mother,  born  in  Sandy  Hook 
in  1804,  attended  school  there  until  she  was  15.  The  school-house 
was  on  what  is  now  known  as  Gas  street,  not  far  in  a  southerly 
direction  from  the  road  that  leads  over  the  hill  to  St.  Rose  ceme- 
tery. There  came  a  time,  too,  when,  for  residents  on  the  plain 
land  along  the  west  bank  of  the  Great  river,  after  the  Abijah 
Curtiss  house  (now  James  Cavanaugh's)  was  built,  (a  few  others 
living  in  that  vicinity  and  along  toward  Hanover),  a  small  school- 
house  was  built  near  the  edge  of  the  highway  that  led  to  Hanover, 
near  a  house  then  know  as  the  Dillazon  Peck  place.  This  school 
was  kept  ojjen  until  1854,  when  the  children  became  so  few  in  num- 
ber, that  it  was  given  up  and  the  children  were  received  into  Sandy 
Hook  school.  Patrons  of  the  school  had  been  paying  teacher's 
salaries  ranging  from  $1.50  a  week  in  summer  to  from  $10  to  $12  a 
month  with  board  for  a  man  teacher  in  the  winter. 

"Pootatuck  Brook  School  District,"  as  established  by  vote  of  the 
town,  in  the  year  1779,  the  greater  part  of  which  is  now  included 
in  the  Sandy  Hook  school  district  according  to  the  survey  of  1878 
and  the  remainder  of  the  same  is  now  a  portion  of  the  two  dis- 
tricts, Pootatuck  and  Walnut  Tree  Hill.  The  boundary  lines  of 
Sandy  Hook  district  are  as  follows  : 

"Beginning  at  the  southeasterly  corner  of  Lawrence  Mitchell's  land 
(formerly  .A.bijah  B.  Curtis')  on  the  banks  of  the  Housatonic  river  about 
10  rods  north  of  a  ledge  of  rocks  in  river  near  the  western  bank,  thence 
westerly  in  a  straight  line  to  a  point  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Pootatuck 
brook  or  river  directly  in  the  line  with  the  said  Mitchell's  corner  and  the 
junction  of  the  Union  bridge  and  Pootatuck  roads  a  little  north  of  the 
upper  rubber  factory  in  Sandy  Hook,  thence  up  said  Pootatuck  to  a  small 
stream  emptying  into  said  Pootatuck  near  said  upper  rubber  factory, 
thence  westerly  in  a  straight  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Charles 
Parsons'  land  on  Walnut  Tree  Hill  road  near  house  of  Morris  Leavey, 
thence  southerly  along  said  road  to  a  point  six  rods  north  of  the  Sandy 
Hook  and  Newtown  road,  thence  south  54  1-2  degrees  west 
between  the  house  and  barn  of  James  Turney  (formerly  William  Glover) 
to  Sandy  Hook  and  Newtown  road,  thence  westerly  along  said  road  to 
Mount  Tom  Brook,  thence  in  a  straight  line  southeasterly  to  the  Mile 
Hill  Bridge  over  the  Pootatuck  brook  or  river,  thence  easterly  to  the 
southeast  corner  of  Cornelia  Curtis'  land  (formerly  Philo  Curtis')  24  1-2 
rods  north  of  a  small  stream  crossing  the  road  from  Berkshire  to  Ben- 
nett's Bridge,  thence  in  a  straight  line  northeasterly  to  Mitchell's  corner, 
the  place  of  beginning." 

1779 
POHTATUCK 

The  original  school-house  for  Pohtatuck  was  close  by  the  road 
in  the  brush,  near  a  little  stream  near  what  was  then  known  as 
the  Dillazon  Peck  place,  now  the  home  of  Mrs.  Lester.  In  1854, 
there  were  but  seven  children  of  school  age,  and  they  were  allowed 
to  attend  school  in  Sandy  Hook.  There  was  no  further  school  in 
Pohtatuck  until  the  district  area  was  increased  and  lines  run  as 
they  now  exist.  At  Ragged  Corner,  now  Half  Way  River,  the 
first    school-house    occupied   ground   on    the   highway   nearer   the 


108  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY  AND    HISTORIAN 

Housatonic  river  than  now.  When  the  main  part  of  the  present 
school-house  in  Sandy  Hook  was  built  in  1840,  the  site  was  changed 
from  Gas  Street,  one-quarter  of  a  mile  beyond  its  present  location. 
The  name  Pohtatuck  Brook  had  been  previously  changed  to  Sandy 
Hook. 

When  lines  were  run  for  the  present  district  of  Pohtatuck  in 
1878,  it  took  in  that  part  of  Pohtatuck  Brook  district  along  the 
west  bank  of  the  Great  river,  and  also  the  Pohtatuck  brook  valley 
as  far  up  the  stream  as  the  upper  rubber  factory.  The  present  lay- 
out : 

"Corner  of  Lawrence  Alitchell's  land  (formerly  Abijah  B.  Curtis)  on  the 
banks  of  the  Housatonic  river,  about  10  rods  north  of  a  ledge  of  rocks 
in  said  river  near  the  western  bank.  Thence  westerly  in  a  straight  line 
to  a  point  on  the  west  bank  of  Pootatuck  brook  or  river,  directly  in  line 
with  the  aforesaid  Mitchell's  corner  and  the  junction  of  the  Union  Bridge 
and  Pootatuck  roads,  a  little  north  of  the  Upper  Rubber  factory  in  Sandy 
Hook.  Thence  down  said  Pootatuck  to  Lawrence  Mitchell's  dam.  Thence 
following  said  Mitchell's  saw  mill  dam  thence  following  said  Mitchell's 
watering  ditch  to  highway  near  said  ^Mitchell's  residence.  Thence  north- 
erly and  westerly  in  line  of  said  higlnvay  to  fording  place  on  Housatonic 
river.     Thence  down  said  river  to  place  of  beginning." 

1783 
BEAR  HILLS 

Voted,  1783,  "that  ye  limits  hereinafter  expressed  shall  be  a  district  for 
schooling  by  themselves  and  known  by  ye  name  of  Bear  Hills  district, 
viz:  Beginning  at  a  monument  south  of  John  Merritt  at  a  place  called 
Pine  Swamp  hill,  thence  running  northwesterly  betwixt  Timothy  Tread- 
well's  and  John  Johnson's  to  Daniel  Baldwin's  east  line  of  Piatt's  hill, 
thence  running  northerly  a  straight  line  to  Little  Boggs  brook." 

UNITING  BEAR  HILLS  AND  HUNTINGTOWN  DISTRICTS. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  Dec,  1794,  Capt.  Moses  Shepherd 
and  Capt.  Solomon  Glover  were  appointed  committee  to  examine 
into  the  circumstances  and  limits  of  the  two  school  districts  of 
Huntingtown  and  Bear  Hills  and  make  report  at  the  next  annual 
meeting.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  Dec,  1795,  this  committee  re- 
ported as  follows:  "That  the  two  above  sd  districts  unite  in  one  school 
for  the  term  of  three  years,  to  be  kept  near  the  house  of  John  Brisco  on 
condition  that  the  children  of  Justus  Sherwood  and  William  Nickerson 
Ta3'lor  shall  not  be  taxed  for  fire  wood  and  boarding  the  schoolmaster 
during  that  time.  The  report  was  accepted  and  voted  in  the  affirmative. 
Caleb   Baldwin,  town  clerk." 

MIDDLE   GATE 

The  experiment  was  carried  out.  but  was  not  repeated.  Before 
leaving  these  districts,  we  call  attention  to  the  spelling  of  the 
name  l^^ear  Hills,  the  writer  believes  it  indicated,  not  the  bare- 
ness of  the  hills,  but  a  favorite  home  and  haunt  of  bears. 

The  original  name  given  Middle  Gate  district  was  Bear  Hills, 
changed  soon  after  the  Newtown  and  Bridgeport  turnpike  was 
opened  for  traffic.  There  were  three  toll  gates  on  the  turnpike,  one  in 
Newtown  near  the  Brookfield  line  and  one  on  the  line  between 
Newtown  and  Monroe,  which  being  midway  between  the  upper 
and  lower  gate  was  called  Middle  Gate  which  changed  the  name 
of  the  school  district  from  Bear  Hills: 

In  time  there  came  to  be  families  living  in  a  corner  of  Monroe 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS  109 

SO  near  to  jMiddle  Gate  school,  as  to  wish  to  be  set  off  to  that  dis- 
trict. Selectmen  of  Newtown,  acting  with  those  of  Monroe, 
changed  the  southwesterly  line  between  Monroe  and  Newtown  on  the 
Guinea  road  to  run  eastwardlj-  to  bounds  on  Newtown  turnpike  opposite 
a  chestnut  tree  called  the  "Five  Mile  tree,"  south  of  the  Ambrose  Beach 
place,  thence  in  the  same  direction  to  the  railroad  crossing  at  the  Pepper 
Street  road  near  the  old  Burr  place,  thence  in  a  northerly  direction  to  the 
place  of  starting.  The  change  was  made  under  the  administra- 
tion of  Aaron  Sanford  and  Timothy  Costello,  selectinen  of  New- 
town, and  Eli  B.  Seeley,  Elbert  S.  Olmstead  and  William  R.  Ferris, 
selectmen  of  Monroe,  April  28,  1886. 

"Beginning  on  the  Town  line  between  Monroe  and  Newtown  at  the 
crossing  of  highway  leading  from  Monroe  to  Newtown,  thence  north- 
westerly along  said  Highway  to  its  junction  with  the  old  Lebbon  road. 
Thence  northwesterly  a  straight  line  to  the  junction  of  Toddy  Hill  road 
with  the  Monroe  road,  thence  northwesterly  by  said  Monroe  and  New- 
town road  to  Housatonic  railroad,  thence  northerly  by  sd  railroad  to 
the  Pootatuck  Brook  or  river,  thence  by  said  brook  southwesterly  to 
Coger's  mill,  thence  in  a  straight  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Nathan 
Burr's  dwelling  house  (formerly  Peter  Shepherd's),  thence  southerly  in  a 
straight  line  to  the  mouth  of  the  Pine  Swamp  Hill  road,  thence  south- 
[  westerly  bj'  said  road  to  the  Monroe  and  Newtown  line,  thence  easterly 
on  said  line  to  highway,  the  place  of  beginning." 

i  1784 

I  GRAY'S  PLAIN 

Special    town    meeting,   Feb.   7,    1784,    voted,    "that    the    people    living   at 

I  Gray's  Plain,  that  is  to  say,  from  Benjamin  Lattin's  to  the  Widow  Mal- 

I  lery's  old  house,  thence  to  Stratford  line  by  Ebenezer  Lewises  and  all  the 

people  within   said  limits   shall  be  a   district   for  schooling  and   known  by 

the  name  of  Gray's  Plain   district  and  that  Daniel   Morris,  Junr.,  shall  be 

committee  for  the  district." 

In    1878.   these    lines   were    run  :     "Beginning  at   a    point   on    highway   50 
.  rods  west  of  Frederick  Chambers'  dwelling  house,  thence  easterly  by  said 
highway  to  Gelding  Hill  Brook  between   the  dwellings  of  Thomas   Cham- 
;  hers    and    Charles    Johnson,    thence    northerly    by    Gelding    Hill    Brook    to 
Housatonic  river,  thence  southerly  by  said  river  to  the  road  leading  from 
j  the  river  at  Wallace  &  Son's  to  Patrick  Hartnett's  residence,  thence  west- 
erly by  said  road  to  highway  leading  from  Half  Way  River  to  Berkshire 
at  said  Hartnett's,  thence  south  15  degrees  east  in  the  west  line  of  Patrick 
Lynch's   land   to  the   southwest   corner,   thence   due   south   crossing  high- 
way at  bounds  to  a  pile  of  stones  at  foot  of  Rock  Oak  in  the  east  line  of 
I  Alosia    Porter's    woodland   about   30   feet    west   of   a   ledge   of    rocks,   said 
;  bounds  being  the  corner  of  Grey's  Plain  and  Walker's  Farms  on  the  line 
I  of  Half  Way  River  district,  thence  north  66  degrees  west  to   the  top  of 
Sandy  Hill  a  point  40  rods  north  of  Sandy  Hill  Brook  on  High  Rock  road, 
'  thence  \Vesterly  to  a  rock  3-4  of  a  mile  northerly  from  the  road  leading 
I  to  Monroe  on  the  Old  Lebbon  Road,  thence  northerly  by  said  Old  Lebbon 
I  Road  to  a  pile  of  stones  on  west  side  near  John  Kane,  Jr.,  land,  thence 
I  north   IZ  degrees   east   to   the   bridge   over   a   small   stream   crossing   high- 
way about  40  rods  west  of  the  mouth  of  High  Rock  road,  thence  easterly 
by  highway  to  mouth  of  High  Rock  road,  thence  northerly  to  a  point  on 
j  highway  50  rods  west   of   Frederick  Chambers'  dwelling  to   the   place   of 
beginning." 

i  1784 

HEAD  OF  MEADOW 

Dec,  1784,  voted,  "that  ye   boundaries   and   limits   hereinafter  described 

I  shall  be  a  district  for  schooling  by  themselves  known  by  name  of  Head  of 

I  Meadow  district,  viz:     Beginning  at  a   place  called   the   causeway,  thence 

running  south  so  far  as  the  top  of  the   Mine  hill,  from  thence  eastward 

(  to   the   parting   of    the   paths    near    Mr.    William    Northrop's    house    from 


no  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

thence  northeast  to  the  Crooked  brook  and  from  thence  north  to  the 
place  begun  at.  Petitioners  for  the  above  described  district  are  Samuel 
Gillett,  Gideon  Northrop,  David  Shepherd,  John  Gillett,  Nehemiah  Birtch, 
George  Shepard,  Amos  Shepard,  Moses  Gillett,  George  Northrop,  Abra- 
ham Gillett." 

Survey  of  1878 

"Beginning  at  Key  Hole  Rock,  thence  southerly  by  the  Norwalk  and 
Newtown  turnpike  to  the  head  of  the  Great  Bogs.  Thence  by  the  north 
east  side  of  the  Great  Bogs  to  the  south  east  corner  of  W.  D.  B.  Ferris' 
land.  Thence  northerly  in  the  east  line  of  said  Ferris'  land  to  highway 
32  rods  south  of  the  intersection  of  a  road  running  north  westerly  to  W. 
D.  B.  Ferris'  residence.  Thence  northerly  by  highway  to  a  point  due 
west  from  the  mouth  of  a  road  leading  southerly  from  heirs  of  Heman 
Northrop's  house  on  Palestine  road  to  Point  of  Rock's  road.  Thence  due 
east  on  said  line  to  mouth  of  said  road.  Thence  south  easterly  along  said 
road  to  Point  of  Rock's  road.  Thence  north  easterly  along  said  Point 
of  Rock's  road  to  mouth.  Thence  east  and  north  past  William  Stillson's 
dwelling  to  Deep  Brook  Bridge,  south  of  cemetery.  Thence  up  Deep 
Brook  to  the  Palestine  road.  Thence  northerly  on  said  road  to  Norwalk 
and  Newtown  turnpike.  Thence  westerly  along  said  turnpike  to  a  road 
leading  to  and  past  Arthur  Peck's  house.  Thence  by  said  road  westerly 
to  elbow  in  road  about  50  rods  N.  E.  of  Mrs  Carroll's  house,  the  junction 
of  an  old  abandoned  road  running  northerly.  Thence  northerly  by  said 
old  abandoned  road  to  stone  bounds  on  said  old  road  near  the  sharp  angle 
of  said  road.  Thence  westerly  a  straight  line  to  the  highway  at  the  line 
between  William  Fairchild  and  Norman  Northrop.  Thence  to  a  point 
directly  in  line  and  60  rods  east  of  stone  bounds  on  west  side  of  highway 
4  1-2  rods  south  of  Henry  and  William  Fairchild's  corners  on  road  lead- 
ing to  Dodgingtown,  from  Henry  and  George  Fairchild's  residence.  Thence 
southerly  in  a  direct  line  to  Key  Hole  Rock,  the  place  of  beginning." 

1786 
WAPPING 

Dec,  1786,  voted,  "that  the  following  petition  be  granted  to  the  sub- 
scribers, that  the  limits  herein  mentioned  be  a  district  for  schooling  by 
themselves,  viz  :  We  the  subscribers  do  petition  to  be  set  off  a  district 
by  themselves  for  a  school  bounded  as  follows  :  Beginning  at  pole  bridge 
and  running  from  thence  to  Carlton  bridge,  so-called,  and  from  thence 
to  take  in  Nehemiah  Knapps,  from  thence  to  cross  to  said  bounds  begun 
at.  Abel  Bennitt,  Thomas  Bennitt,  James  Bennitt,  Richard  Bennitt,  David 
Rugg,  Nehemiah  Knapp,  petitioners."     Survey  of  1878. 

"Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  the  Pole  bridge  brook  on  the  Housatonic 
river,  thence  northerly  by  said  river  to  the  south  easterly  corner  of  Law- 
rence Mitchell's  land  (formerly  Abijah  B.  Curtis)  on  the  bank  of  the 
Housatonic  river  about  ten  (10)  rods  north  of  a  ledge  of  rocks  near  the 
western  shore.  Thence  southerly  in  a  straight  line  with  the  aforesaid 
Mitchell's  corner  and  the  south  east  corner  of  Cornelia  Curtis  land  (for- 
merly Philo  Curtis)  to  the  Pole  bridge  brook.  Thence  down  said  brook 
to  its  mouth,  the  place  beginning." 

This  gives  only  that  part  of  Wapping  district  on  the  Newtown 
side  of  Housatonic  river,  and  when  Newtown  children  attend  the 
school  in  Wapping,  Newtown  has  to  pay  Southbury  its  share  of 
school  expenses.  The  town  of  Southbury  was  incorporated  in  May, 
1787.  How  long  after  its  incorporation  Wapping  of  Southbury  and 
Wapping  of  Newtown  became  a  joint  district,  Newtown  records  do 
not  tell. 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS  111 

1788 
GREGORY'S  ORCHARD 

1788,  "We,  the  subscribers,  inhabitants  of  part  of  Newtown  included  in 
the  following  bounds  do  desire  to  be  set  off  as  a  district  for  keeping  and 
maintaining  a  school.  The  bounds  to  be  as  follows  :  Beginning  at  a  point 
on  the  line  between  Newtown  and  Redding  which  shall  be  due  west  from 
where  the  brook  crosses  the  road  north  of  Mr.  Jarvis  Piatt's  dwelling- 
house,  thence  running  east  to  the  south  side  of  where  the  sd  brook  crosses 
the  road,  from  thence  running  easterly  to  where  the  Brook  called  Castle 
Meadow  brook  crosses  the  road  above  Gregories  Orchard,  so-called,  thence 
southeast  to  the  line  between  Newtown  and  Weston,  thence  westerly  on 
the  line  between  Newtown  and  Weston  to  Redding  line,  thence  northerly 
on  the  line  between  Newtown  and  Redding  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
Lazarus  Beach,  John  Raymond,  Jabez  Rowland,  Seth  Gilbert,  Jarvis  Piatt, 
petitioners.  The  above  limits  voted  to  be  a  district  for  schooling  by 
themselves  by  the  name  of  Gregories  Orchard  district.— Caleb  Baldwin, 
town  clerk." 

In  1878,  these  lines  were  established: 

"Beginning  at  the  Monroe  and  Newtown  turnpike  at  shut  highway  near 
Heirs  of  Dr.  Bronson's  spring.  Thence  westerly  in  said  shut  highway  to 
old  cellar  formerly  called  Bill  Wells',  now  owned  by  J.  H.  Botsford.  Thence 
southerly  in  the  lines  of  George  R.  Parmalee  and  Charles  Short,  Andrew 
Northrop,  Ralph  Benedict  to  David  Somer's  land.  Thence  southerly  in 
said  Somer's  line  to  Gregory's  Orchard  and  Reading  Road,  said  line  being 
nearly  straight.  Thence  southeasterly  by  highway  about  40  rods  to  the 
north  west  corner  of  Albert  Edwards  Meadow  south  east  of  the  burying 
ground.  Thence  southerly  in  the  west  line  of  said  meadow  to  the  town 
line  between  Easton  and  Newtown.  Thence  easterly  in  the  Town  line 
between  Monroe  and  Newtown  to  highway  leading  from  Andrew  Leaven- 
worth's to  Turney  French's  saw-mill.  Thence  northerly  by  said  highway 
to  the  corner  of  highway  at  Jerome  H.  Botsford  residence  (leaving  the 
homesteads  of  all  persons  on  west  side  of  the  said  road  from  Turney 
French's  saw  mill,  south  to  Town  line  to  be  included  in  Huntingtown 
district).  Thence  south  easterly  by  highway  to  Monroe  and  Newtown 
turnpike.     Thence  northerly  by  said  turnpike  to  place  of  beginning." 

1789 
WALKER'S  FARMS 

The  original  Walker's  Farms  school  district  was  made  up  of 
I  territory  now  lying  in  the  town  of  Monroe. 

Monroe  was  set  off  from  Himtington,  and  held  its  first  town 

meeting  in  June,  1823,     The  town  of  Huntington  was  incorporated 

in  1789. 

In   1878,  a  survey  was  made  of  that  part  of  Walker's   Farms 
I  school  district  in  the  town  of  Newtown,  which  reads  as  follows : 
j      "Walker's    Farms    District.     Beginning    on    the    old    Lebbon    Road    at    a 

rock  3-4  of  a  mile  northerly  from  the  junction  of  said  road  with  the  road 
(  leading  from  Monroe  Centre  to  Botsford  Depot.  Thence  easterly  in  a 
(  straight  line  to  the  top  of  Sandy  Hill  at  bounds  on  the  Road  40  rods 
I  Northerly  from  Sandy  Hill  Brook,  Thence  south  66  degrees  east  to  stone 
I  bounds  on  west  side  of  Highway  east  of  the  High  Rock  Road,  Thence 
;  same  course  to  the  south  west  corner  of  Mrs.  Alosia  Porter's  Woodland 

at  the  sharp  angle  of  the  road  leading  from  Granville  Latin's  to  Monroe 

Center,  Thence  same  course  to  a  pile  of  stones  at  the  foot  of  a  Rock  Oak 
I  in  the  east  line  of  Alosia  Porter's  woodland  about  30  feet  west  of  a  ledge 
I  of  rocks,  said  bounds  being  the  corner  of  Gray's  Plain  and  Walkers  Farms 

on  the  line  of  Half  Way  River  Districts,  Thence  due  south  to  Half  Way 
(  River,  said  course  being  directly  in  line  with  the  church  steeple  at  Mon- 
(  roe  Centre,  Thence  westerly  on  said  River  (the  town  line  between  Men- 


112  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

roe  and  Newtown)  to  highway  leading  from  Monroe  Center  to  Botsford's 
Depot.  Thence  north  westerlj'  along  said  Highway  to  junction  of  old 
Lebbon  road,  thence  northerly  along  said  road  to  rock  the  place  of  begin- 
ning." 

"On  the  23rd  of  March,  1886,  the  selectmen  of  Newtown  and  Monroe 
were  called  upon  to  change  a  southerly  line  that  should  put  a  few  fam- 
ilies into  the  Half  Way  River  District.  The  line  agreed  upon  was,  that 
at  the  end  of  the  Lebbon  road  the  line  should  run  in  a  straight  line  to 
the  Railroad  crossing  on  the  Pepper  street  road  near  the  old  Burr  place. 
Thence  to  a  pile  of  stone  on  the  north  side  of  Highway  on  the  first  hill 
east  of  Lynson  Beardsley's.  Thence  in  a  north  easterly  direction  to  a 
pile  of  stone  on  a  rock  on  the  west  side  of  the  old  road  leading  north 
from  Thompson  Judson's  house.  Thence  to  a  large  rock  on  the  south  side 
of  the  road  42  rods  west  of  Turkey  Roost  Bridge.  Thence  to  a  pile  of  stone 
on  a  rock  on  the  east  side  of  Paul's  pond  road,  about  31  Rods  north  of 
Michael  Curnance  house  to  intersect  the  Eastern  District  line.  Thence 
northerly  following  said  Road  to  the  first  Bridge  on  the  Josie  Ring  road. 
From  thence  to  a  pile  of  stone  between  land  of  George  Ferris  and  the 
heirs  of  Stephen  C.  Whitlock  on  the  bank  of  Half  Way  River. 

Aaron  Sanford 
Timothy  Costello 
Samuel  F.  Tillson 
Selectmen  of  Newtown. 
Eli  B.  Seeley 
Elbert  Olmstead 
William  R.  Ferris 
Selectmen  of  Monroe. 
Dated  at  Monroe,  Conn.,  March  23,  1886. 

Received  for  Record,  April  28,  1886  and  recorded  by  C.  H.  Peck,  Town 
Clerk." 

1789 
TODDY  HILL 

Dec,  1789,  voted  "that  the  limits  hereafter  named,  viz:  Bounding  west- 
erly on  Potatuck  brook,  northerly  on  Milcses  brook,  easterly  on  that 
branch  of  Mileses  brook  which  runs  through  John  Sherman's  saw  mill, 
southerly  on  the  bare  Hills  towards  Starlings,  shall  be  a  district  for  school- 
ing and  known  as  Toddy  Hill  district." 

When  Toddy  Hill  school  disctrict  was  formed,  it  was  made  up  of 
territory  between  the  district  of  Zoar  on  the  one  side  and  that  of 
Bear  Hills  on  the  other. 

The  layout  as  made  in  1878:  "Beginning  at  the  junction  of  the  old 
L.ebbon  road  with  the  road  leading  from  Monroe  Center  to  Newtown, 
thence  Northerly  along  the  said  Lebbon  road  to  a  pile  of  stones  on  the 
west  side  of  road  near  the  South  East  corner  of  John  Keane,  Jr's  land, 
thence  Westerly  to  the  North  abutment  of  the  Bridge  over  the  West 
Branch  of  Saw  Mill  Brook  to  its  junction  with  the  Pohtatuck  Brook, 
thence  Southwesterly  by  Pohtatuck  Brook  to  the  Housatonic  Railroad, 
thence  Southerly  by  said  Railroad  to  the  Monroe  road  leading  to  New- 
town, thence  South  Easterly  by  said  highway  to  Toddy  Hill  Road  at  its 
junction  with  the  Monroe  road,  thence  South  Easterly  a  straight  line 
to  the  old  Lebbon  Road  as  described  above  to  the  place  of  beginning." 

1794 
HUNTINGTOWN 

The  year  in  which  the  town  gave  Huntingtown  people  the  priv- 
ilege to  put  tip  a  school  house  at  their  own  expense  does  not  appear 
on  record,  but  the  records  do  show  that  the  annual  town  meet- 
ing held  in  Dec,  1794,  Captain  Moses  Shepherd  and  Captain  Solo- 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS  113 

mon  Glover  were  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  into  the  cir- 
cumstances and  limits  of  the  two  school  districts  of  Himtingtown 
and  Bear  Hills  and  make  report  at  the  annual  meeting  in  Dec, 
1795.  At  that  meeting  the  committee  reports  as  follows:  "That 
the  two  above  said  districts  unite  in  one  school  for  the  space  of  three 
years,  to  be  kept  near  the  house  of  John  Brisco,  on  condition  that  the 
children  of  Justus  Sherwood  and  William  Nickerson  Taylor  shall  not  be 
taxed  for  fire  wood  and  boarding  the  schoolmaster  during  that  time.  The 
report  was  accepted  and  voted  in  the  affirmative.  ' 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Town  Clerk." 

The  experiment  was  carried  out  though  not  repeated. 

The  lay  out  in  1878  was  as  follows:  "Beginning  at  the  junction  of  the 
North  and  South  branches  of  Pootatuck  brook  or  river  and  running  north 
westerly  by  the  said  North  branch  to  the  highway  called  Orchard  Hill 
road.  Thence  south  westerly  by  said  road  to  the  Piatt's  Hill  road.  Thence 
westerly  by  said  Piatt's  Hill  road  to  its  junction  with  the  Hog  Swamp 
road  to  the  south  east  corner  of  Mrs  Harmon  Beers'  homestead.  Thence 
west  and  south  in  the  line  of  said  Beers  land  to  Brook.  Thence  south- 
erly by  said  brook  to  the  road  leading  from  J.  H.  Botsford's  to  Hunting- 
town.  Thence  north  westerly  by  said  Highway  to  its  junction  with  the 
Huntingtown  road  at  John  Frank's.  Thence  southerly  by  last  mentioned 
highway  to  Monroe  and  Newtown  line  including  the  homesteads  of  the 
inhabitants  living  on  said  road.  Thence  easterly  by  Monroe  and  New- 
town line  to  the  crossing  of  the  Pine  Hill  road.  Thence  northerly  on  said 
road  to  its  junction  with  road  running  east  and  west.  Thence  northerly 
in  a  straight  line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Nathan  Burr's  dwelling  house. 
Thence  in  a  straight  line  northerly  to  Coger's  mill  on  south  branch  of 
Potatuck  brook.  Thence  north  easterly  by  said  brook  to  its  junction  with 
its  north  branch  the  place  of  its  beginning." 

1866 
WALNUT  TREE  HILL 

The  layout  of  Walnut  Tree  Hill  school  district  was  at  a  later 
date  than  that  of  any  other  and  within  the  recollection  of  New- 
town people  who  have  not  yet  passed  the  meridian  of  life.  It  came 
about  from  the  congestion  of  the  schools  in  Sandy  Hook  and  Poh- 
tatuck,  owing  to  an  increased  population.  The  district's  history 
dates  back  to  1866.  Dennis  C.  Gately,  at  that  time  superintendent 
of  the  New  York  Belting  and  Packing  Co.,  located  in  Pohtatuck 
district,  was  the  leading  spirit  in  the  movement  of  a  new  school 
district.  He  headed  a  petition  calling  the  selectmen  of  the  town 
to  action  and  they,  with  other  interested  parties,  looked  over  the 
ground  and  called  a  special  town  meeting  to  act  upon  the  report 
the  selectmen  were  to  make.  The  warning  read  as  follows  :  "The 
white  male  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newtown,  qualified  to  vote  in  town 
meeting  are  hereby  warned  to  meet  at  the  Town  hall  in  Newtown  on 
Monday,  March  19,  1866,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  said  day  for  the 
purpose  of  forming  and  establishing  a  new  school  district  out  of  Sandy 
Hook,  Hanover  and  Pohtatuck  districts. 

Zerah  Fairman, 
David  Sanford, 
William  L.  Terrill, 
David  Somers, 

Selectmen." 
The  report  of  the  selectmen  :  "Upon  the  application  of  Dennis  C.  Gately, 
George  Botsford  and  others,  residents  of  the  town  of  Newtown,  praying 
for  the  formation  of  a  new  school  district  to  be  composed  mostlj-  from 
Pohtatuck  district  and  partly  from  the  district  of  Sandy  Hook  and  Han- 
over, the  subscribers,  after  giving  notice  according  to  law  to  the  several 


114  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

districts  interested  in  said  petition  and  having  enquired  into  the  facts  set 
forth  by  the  petitioners,  do  find  that  said  petition  should  be  granted  and 
have  therefore  laid  out  a  new  school  district  to  be  called  Walnut  Tree 
Hill  district." 

By  unanimous  vote,  the  meeting  accepted  the  report  and  also  the 
layout  as  made  by  the  selectmen,  assisted  by  others. 

The  accepted  layout  of  the  district  reads  as  follows: 

"Beginning  on  the  Walnut  Tree  Hill  road  at  the  north  west  corner  of 
Charles  Parsons'  land  near  the  house  of  Morris  Leavey,  thence  easterly  in 
a  straight  line  to  the  mouth  of  a  small  stream  emptying  into  the  Poota- 
tuck  river  opposite  the  upper  rubber  factory,  thence  down  said  Pootatuck 
river  to  Lawrence  Mitchell's  saw  mill  dam.  thence  following  said  Mit- 
chell's watering  ditch  to  highway  near  said  Mitchell's  house,  thence  north- 
erly and  easterly  in  line  of  said  highway  to  fording  place  on  Housatonic 
river,  thence  up  said  river  to  the  first  small  stream  emptying  into  said  river 
the  corner  of  Hanover  district,  thence  up  said  stream  a  short  distance  to 
the  old  Union  bridge  road,  now  closed,  thence  a  straight  line  to  the  south- 
east corner  of  Thomas  Cavanaugh's  house  lot,  thence  S  38  degrees  W  to 
an  elbow  in  the  road  leading  from  Hanover  across  Walnut  Tree  Hill, 
thence  southerly  and  easterly  by  said  highway  to  place  of  beginning." 

In  1865,  the  year  before  the  new  district  was  laid  out,  the  num- 
ber of  tax  payers  in  Pohtatuck  district  was  48,  not  including  the 
New  York  Belting  and  Packing  Co.,  the  valuation  of  whose  prop- 
erty in  the  grand  levy  was  $250,420  and  the  amount  invested  in 
business  was  $200,000.  Walnut  Tree  Hill  district  first  appears  in 
the  grand  levy  in  1866  with  699  acres  of  land,  21  houses,  30  resi- 
dent tax  payers  and  a  taxable  valuation  of  $29,783. 

HOPEWELL 

The  names  of  the  districts  Hopewell,  Half  Way  River  and  Poh- 
tatuck of  the  early  days  do  not  appear  in  the  list  for  the  reason 
that  no  record  shows  when  they  were  given  special  school  priv- 
ileges. Their  situation  reminds  one  familiar  with  the  story  "Uncle 
Tom's  Cabin."  where  Miss  Feely  asks  Topsy  when  she  was  born. 
Topsy  replies,  "Never  was  born — I  'spect  I  growd!"  So  we  think 
the  above  three  districts  weren't  born,  only  just  growd! 

Survey  of  1878 

"Beginning  at  an  old  cellar  formerly  called  Bill  Well's,  now  owned  by 
Jerome  H.  Botsford.  Thence  southerly  in  the  lines  of  George  R.  Parma- 
lee  and  George  Short,  Andrew  Northrop's  and  Ralph  Benedict  to  David 
Somers'  land.  Thence  in  said  Somer's  line  to  Gregory's  Orchard  and 
Redding  road,  said  line  being  nearly  straight.  Thence  south  easterly  by 
highway  about  40  rods  to  the  north  west  corner  of  Albert  Edward's 
Meadow  south  east  of  burying  ground.  Thence  southerly  in  the  west 
line  of  said  meadow  to  the  Town  line  between  Easton  and  Newtown. 
Thence  westerly  to  the  south  west  corner  of  the  Town  of  Newtown. 
Thence  northerly  along  Town  line  to  the  north  east  corner  of  the  Town 
of  Redding.  Thence  due  east  to  old  shut  road  running  past  Andrew  Bar- 
num's  residence.  Thence  northerly  along  said  road  to  the  Jangling  Plain 
road.  Thence  easterly  along  said  Jangling  Plain  road  to  the  old  Fair- 
field county  turnpike.  Thence  due  east  to  a  point  on  Monroe  turnpike 
6  rods  south  of  Wanzer  Piatt's  dwelling  house.  Thence  southerly  to  point 
of  beginning." 


NEWTOWN'S    SCHOOL    DISTRICTS  115 

1884 

HALF  WAY  RIVER 

Change  of  South  Eastern  Boundary  in  1884 

"Whereas  the  District  of  Half  W^ay  River  having  applied  to  the  Select- 
men of  Newtown  and  Monroe  to  settle  and  define  the  south  eastern 
boundary  line  of  said  district,  do  therefore  by  virtue  of  the  powers  vested 
in  us,  describe  and  establish  the  southeastern  boundary  line  of  said  dis- 
trict as  follows  (viz.)  :  Commencing  at  the  mouth  of  Half  Way  River 
where  it  empties  into  the  Housatonic  following  the  said  river  to  the 
north  Point  of  Rocks  at  the  great  eddy,  then  running  westerly  to  the 
north  west  corner  of  the  great  eddy  where  the  second  brook  crosses  the 
road  leading  to  Polodore  Stevens,  then  westerly  to  the  stone  bridge  at 
the  junction  of  road  leading  past  Henry  E.  Plumb's  and  the  old  Monroe 
and  Zoar  bridge  turnpike,  then  following  the  said  road  southerly  to  a 
[place  with  a  heap  of  stones  at  the  Bassett's  land  on  said  turnpike,  then 
westerly  following  the  line  of  fence  between  Birdsey  McEwen  and  Albert 
McEwen  and  that  of  land  formerly  owned  by  Orville  McEwen  and  Walter 
Bradley  to  a  point  on  Half  Way  River  to  meet  the  district  line  in  Newtown. 

Eli  B.  Seeley,  Selectman  of  Monroe. 

William  L.  Terrill,  Selectman  of  Newtown. 

Dated  at  Newtown,  January  4,  1884.  Received  for  record  December 
15,  1885. 

C.  H.  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

"The  above  is  a  true  copy  of  the  original  as  recorded  in  Monroe  Rec- 
ords, Vol.  8,  page  767,  as  certified  to  by  David  A.  Nichols,  Town  Clerk  of 
Monroe.     C.  H.  Peck,  Town  Clerk  of  Newtown." 

The  names  of  the  districts  Hopewell,  Half  Way  River  and  Poh- 
tatuck  do  not  appear  in  the  list  for  the  reason  that  no  record 
'shows  when  they  were  given  special  school  privileges,  though  we 
rind  on  record  that  the  first  district  name  of  Half  Way  River  was 
'Ragged  Corner." 

Survey  of  1878 

I 

]    "Beginning  at  an   Oak  tree  opposite  the   Botsford  bounds   directly  op- 

oosite  Patrick  Hartnett's   residence  on   highway    leading  from  Half  Way 

(River   to   Berkshire.     Thence    south    15   degrees    east    in   the   west    line   of 

(Patrick  Lynch's  and  to  the  S.  W.  corner.     Thence  due  south  to  a  pile  of 

(;tones  at  the  foot  of  a  Rock  oak  in  the  east  line  of  Alosia  Porter's  wood- 

'  and  about  30  feet  west  of  a  ledge  of  rocks,  said  bounds  being  the  corner 

pf  Grey's  Plain  and  Walker's  Farms  on  the  line  of  Half  Way  River  dis- 

':rict.     Thence    same   course   to   Half  Way   River,   said   course   being   in    a 

|iirect  line  with  the  church  steeple  at  Monroe  Center.     Thence  easterly  by 

laid  river  to  the  Housatonic  river.     Thence  northerly  by  said  Housatonic 

:o  highway   leading  from   said   Housatonic   to  highway  at   Patrick   Hart- 

lett's.     Thence  westerly  along  said  highway  to  bounds  at  Hartnett's,  the 

,>lace  of  beginning." 


116  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

THE  SOUTHERLY  HIGHWAY 

"The  Southerly  Highway"  was  among  the  first  highways 
laid  out  in  the  town  after  the  lay-out  of  the  four  highways  that 
radiated  from  the  center  of  town,  the  easterly  toward  Woodbury, 
the  westerly  toward  Danbury,  the  northerly  toward  New  Milford 
and  the  southerly  toward  the  Stratford  line.  A  long  time  inter- 
vened in  each  case  before  the  several  lay-outs  were  passable  ex- 
cept on  foot  or  horseback,  the  only  locomotion  in  these  early  days 
of  the  town's  development,  and  for  years  thereafter. 

The  Southerly  Highway  is  the  road  that  intersects  what  has 
been  known  for  the  last  100  years  as  the  Newtown  turnpike,  now 
a  State  road. 

About  two  and  one-half  miles  south  of  the  flag-staff  in  New- 
town Center,  at  a  point  just  below  the  farm  of  H.  N.  Greenman, 
still  remembered  as  the  Jerome  Northrop  farm,  the  road  running 
southwesterly  through  Huntingtown  and  on  toward  the  Monroe 
line  near  Blanket  Meadow  is  the  Southerly  highway.  Any  one 
familiar  with  the  valley  through  which  it  runs  cannot  help  rec- 
ognizing the  streams  alluded  to,  but  the  names  of  settlers  through 
whose  land  the  lay-out  ran  vanished  from  the  memory  of  man  long 
years  gone  by.  The  only  original  names  now  known  there  are 
Gilbert  and  French.  Lay-out  of  the  Southerly  highway  from  its 
intersection  with  the  original  lay-ovit  of  the  road  known  as  the 
road  to  the  Stratford  line  to  Castle  Meadow  brook. 

Whereas,  we  are  well  sensible  that  through  long  delays,  the  publick, 
as  well  as  particular  persons  have  been  greatly  incommoded  and  dam- 
nified with  respect  to  ye  laying  out  of  lands  whereby  necessary  roads 
or  highways  are  prevented  being  provided,  we,  moved  with  such  con- 
sideration, with  an  aim,  not  only  of  ye  good  and  necessity  of  particular 
persons,  but  of  ye  general  and  public  good  of  ye  town  of  Newtown  afore- 
said, have  undertaken  to  lay-out,  and  have  actually  laid  out,  a  highway 
within  ye  township  of  Newtown  aforesaid,  in  manner  following,  (viz.) 
Beginning  at  ye  northwesterly  corner  of  ye  three  acre  pitch  belonging 
to  ye  heirs  of  John  Treadwell  at  ye  place  it  turns  out  of  ye  public  road 
yt  runs  from  Newtown  to  Stratford,  thence  running  southardly  down  a 
narrow  valley  to  ye  northerly  branch  of  ye  Pootatuck  brook  and  over  it, 
thence  running  up  ye  hill  southerly  from  ye  brook  in  a  narrow  valley, 
thence  southerly  as  marked  trees  direct  until  we  come  to  Mr.  Tousey's 
three  score  acre  division  on  ye  southard  branch  of  Pototuck  brook,  thence 
running  for  a  small  space  on  ye  northward  side  of  yt  three  score  acre 
division  until  we  come  to  a  small  brook  running  eastward,  thence  run- 
ning a  few  rods  on  ye  northward  side  of  sd  brook  eight  or  ten  rods,  more 
or  less,  where  sd  road  enters  John  Golet's  fifty  acre  division  with  his 
approbation.  This  road  as  above  described  is  six  rods  in  width,  save  all 
Pototuck  brook  and  in  j'e  low  land  adjacent  to  ye  brook  where  it  is  ten 
rods  in  width  from  ye  place  aforesaid  where  it  enters  sd  John  Golet's 
land,  running  a  few  rods  westerly,  then  southerly  and  within  two  rods 
eastward  of  a  bunch  of  rocks  and  thence  running  southardly  until  it 
comes  to  a  piece  of  springy  land,  running  southwesterly  through  a  leading 
valley  until  we  come  to  ye  northward  side  of  John  Griffin's  fifty  acre 
division,  thence  southardly  to  ye  Elbo  of  a  great  brook  where  there  is 
a  great  rock  in  sd  Elbo  on  ye  southwestward  side  of  ye  sd  highway,  thence 
southardly  to  Castle  Meadow  brook  so-called,  to  ye  place  from  above  sd 
Mr.  Toucey's  sixty  acres. 

This  road  is  to  be  followed  according  to  ye  direction  of  ye  marked 
trees  and  from  sd  Golet's  to  Castle  Meadow  brook  sd  road  is  eight  rods 
wide.     At  ye  brook  we  finished  our  work,  the  road  still  to  be  extended. 

Memorandum — that  by  agreement  with   aforesaid  John   Golet,  in  con- 


THE   SOUTHERLY   HIGHWAY  117 

sideration  of  ye  four  rods  in  width  that  we  have  taken  through  sd  Golet's 
fifty  acres  we  agree  to  give  to  ye  sd  person  three  acres  of  land,  two  acres 
on  ye  west  side  of  his  fifty  acres  and  so  as  to  extend  from  above  sd  road 
to  ye  northwest  corner  of  above  fifty  acres,  and  one  acre  on  ye  north  end 
or  side  of  sd  division  of  land  joining  to  sd  end  on  ye  piece  of  land  on  ye 
westward  side  of  ye  highway.  Ye  above  work  done  on  ye  highway  laid 
out  this  twentieth  day  of  January,  1720,  per  us. 

Thomas  Bennitt, 

Joseph  Peck, 

John   Golet, 

Selectmen. 

I     Recorded  February  3,  1720,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

I  The  lay-out  of  the  Southerly  highway  as  given  was  accepted  by  the 
jtown  according  to  this  recorded  vote:  "At  a  lawful  town  meeting  of 
[the  inhabitants  of  Newtown,  holden  January  25,  1720,  ye  southerly  high- 
way laid  out  by  ye  selectmen  as  appears  of  record  Folio  1,  page  86,  from 
ye  common  road  to  Castle  Meadow  brook  accepted  of  and  established  by 
ye  vote  of  ye  town  and  ordered  to  be  recorded. 

Test,  Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk. 

I     Castle  Meadow  brook,  mentioned  as  the  line  for  the  southern 
end  of  the  lay-out  for  the  Southerly  highway,  is  a  stream  that  has 
lits   source   in  the  southwestern  corner  of   Palestine   district  near 
what  is  still  often  spoken  of  as  the  "Doctor  Bronson"  place.     Its 
course  is  southerly  through  Cranberry  swamp  and  on  down  the  val- 
:ley  imtil,  in  its  winding  course,  it  crosses  the  highway  just  below 
'the  school-house  in  Gregory's  Orchard  district,  turning  southeast- 
erly.    It  starts  as  a  very  small  stream  but,  with   east  and  west 
tributaries  swelling  its  volume  as  it  flows  down  the  valley,  it  be- 
comes a  large  stream,  spreading  out  into  a  broad  sheet  of  water, 
known  as  Morgan's  pond,  whose  surface  is  covered  with  the  white 
'blossoms  of  the  pond  lily  in  their  season  and  whose  waters  breed 
'and  fatten  myriads  of  fish  of  the  carp  and  bullhead  species.     With 
;  nothing  to  impede  the  water's  flow,  it  meanders  on  until,  crossing 
{the  highway  about  a  half  mile  below  Huntingtown  school-house 
I  near  the  home  of  John  Frank,  Sr.,  its  waters  empty  into  Pohta- 
tuck  brook. 
I 

We  know  not  what  the  local  colony  numbered  when  they  called 
jfor  a  highway,  but  it  proved  itself  as  prosperous  as  those  in  other 
parts  of  the  town,  shown  by  a  petition  to  the  town  authorities  "that 
;they  may  build  a  school-house."  The  writer  is  glad  to  note  among 
ithe  names  of  the  petitioners  the  name,  not  only  of  his  great-grand- 
{ father,  John  Johnson,  but  also  the  name  of  his  great-great-grand- 
i  father,  Ichabod  Johnson,  whose  homes  were  in  that  locality.  The 
jpetition : 

I 

I      "We,    the    subscribers    being    destitute    of    a    convenient    school-house, 

(have  agreed  to  build  a  schoolhouse  and  our  desire  is  to  be  set  off  by  ye 

town  as  a  party  for  schooling.  The  subscribers  are  as  followeth  :  Joseph 
.Griffin,  John  Tousey,  Ichabod  Johnson,  Garshom   Sumers,  John    Starling, 

John  Johnson,  Thomas  Sharp,  Junr.,  Samuel  Griffin,  John  Bristol,  Joseph 
I  Bristol,  ye  3rd,  Richard  Nichols,  Gamaliel  French,  Jr.,  Timothy  Treadwell. 

The  number  of  scholars  that  can  attend  upon  the  school  is  32.  At  ye 
I  town  meeting  held  December  24,  1764,  the  above  written  put  to  vote  and 
(allowed  at  said  meeting.  John  Northrop,  Clerk." 


118  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

From  1720  to  1916  we  count  196  years,  nineteen  decades  of 
time  have  passed  and  what,  for  many,  many  years  after  the  lay-out, 
was  only  a  trail  to  be  followed  on  foot  or  by  horseback,  became  at 
last  a  highway,  over  which  wagons,  as  they  came  into  use,  spring- 
less  and  fashionless  though  they  were,  served  their  purpose  for 
convenience  and  usefulness  until  superseded  by  improved  methods 
of  transportation.  A  cosmopolitan  people  on  work  or  pleasure  bent 
are  enjoying  the  fruits  of  those  who  did  the  foundation  work  there 
in  their  respective  spheres  in  years  long  gone  by. 


THOSE  WHO  TOOK   FREEMAN'S  OATH 

1742  TO  1796 

The  fourth  volume  of  Newtown  records  gives  the  names  of  all 
who  took  the  "Freeman's  oath"  from  the  1742  to  1796,  a  period  of 
54  years.  This  volume  being  complete,  there  is  every  reason  to 
believe  that  1742  marks  the  time  when  the  town's  people  became 
interested  enough  to  want  a  representative  in  the  affairs  of  the 
colony  at  the  Cjeneral  Court  that  met  alternately  at  New  Haven 
and  Hartford,  semi-annually,  in  the  months  of  May  and  October. 
Nothing  shows  that  Newtown  had  a  representative  at  the  General 
Court  until  1747,  when  the  town  was  represented  by  Capt.  Thomas 
Toucey  and  Mr.  John  Northrop.  Up  to  the  first  town  election  for 
representation  at  the  General  Court,  there  had  been  two  calls  for 
making  electors,  the  first  in  1742,  when  96  took  the  Freeman's 
oath  ;  five  years  later,  in  1747,  36  took  the  oath,  making  in  all  132 
up  to  1747. 

In  that  year  the  population  of  Newtown  was  1100  and  the  list 
of  polls  and  rateable  estates  returned  to  the  General  Court 
amounted  to  $56,700  in  our  currency.  It  was  the  first  return 
made  by  the  town  to  the  General  Court,  and,  in  so  doing,  Newtown 
was  entitled  to  representation.  Names  of  Freemen  of  this  cor- 
poration of  Newtown,  .A.pril,  1742 — Mr.  Elisha  Kent,  Job  Sherman,  Esq., 
Deacon  John  Botsford,  Mr.  Peter  Hubbell,  John  Gillett,  Henry  Glover, 
Jeremiah  Northrop,  Sergeant  John  Glover,  Captain  Nathan  Baldwin, 
Nathaniel  Nickols,  Lieut  Thomas  Skidmore,  John  Blackman,  Benjamin 
Glover,  John  Sanford,  Lieut.  Obadiah  Wheeler,  John  Shepard,  Joseph 
Botsford,  John  Northrop,  John  Leavenworth,  Captain  Ebenezer  Hubbell, 
Joseph  Bristol,  Abel  Beers,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Donald  Grant,  Moses  Botsford, 
Peter  Hubbell,  Jr.,  Thomas  Leavenworth,  Freegrace  Adams,  John  Hull, 
Joseph  Bristol,  Jr.,  Jeremiah  Turner,  Samuel  Gillet,  John  Beers,  Job 
Northrop,  Moses  Botsford,  Gideon  Botsford,  Thomas  Northrop,  Enos 
Bristol,  John  Peck,  Thomas  Toucey,  Esq.,  Moses  Stilson,  Alexander 
Briant,  Samuel  Beers,  George  Terrill,  Abraham  Bennitt,  Daniel  Booth, 
Thomas  Bennitt,  Abel  Booth,  Ephraim  Bennitt,  Daniel  Beers,  James  Still- 
son.  James  Gifford,  James  Heard,  Jr.,  Samuel  Turner.  Benoni  Sherman, 
Jeremiah  Burch,  Heth  Peck,  Henry  Botsford,  Jr.,  Lemuel  Camp,  William 
Sharp,  Nathaniel  Peck,  Benjamin  Curtis,  James  Heard,  Lieut.  Josephv 
Smith,  Benjamin  Hawley,  Captain  Ephraim  Peck,  John  Lake,  Peter  Ferris, 
Joseph  Prindle,  Joseph  Heard,  John  Bristol,  Nathaniel  Brisco,  Matthew 
Sherman,  Edward  Fairchild,  Ensign  Samuel  Summers,  Moses  Stillson,  Jr., 
Thomas  Sharp,  Ebenezer  Bristol,  Thomas  Tousey,  Esq.,  Doctor  James 
Brisco.  Nathan  Foot,  John  Sherman,  Jonathan  Booth,  Jr.,  Lieut  Samuel 
Griflin,  Stephen  Burritt,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Sr.,  Matthew  Curtis,  Abel  Judson, 
James  Brisco,  Daniel  Foot,  Noah  Parmalee,  David  Dunning,  Joseph  Bots- 
ford, Jr.,  Joseph  Stilson. 

1747  at  the  second  meeting  to  make  electors,  39  took  the  Free- 
man's oath.  From  that  time  to  1796  Freemen's  meetings  were 
held  yearly  and  the  names  of  all  made  electors  are  to  be  found  re- 
corded. 

Electors  made  in  1747 — Abner  Heard,  Nehemiah  Skidmore,  John 
Adams,  Ebenezer  Sanford,  Moses  Piatt,  Amos  Marchant,  James  Baldwin, 
Benjamin  Northrop,  Abraham  Johnson,  Ichabod  Johnson,  Jonathan  Fair- 


120  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

child,  James  Heard,  ye  third,  Benjamin  Stillson,  Moses  Peck,  Jonathan 
Northrop,  John  Foot,  James  Fairchild,  John  Foot,  Jr.,  Benjamin  Dunning, 
Abel  Botsford,  Benjamin  Burritt,  Abel  Dunning,  Abraham  Beers,  Theophil- 
us  Nettleton,  Josiah  Daton,  Moses  Sanford,  John  Moger,  John  Blackman, 
Jr.,  Abraham  Ferris,  John  Dunnings,  Nathan  Sherman,  Thomas  Chambers, 
Abraham  Adams,  Enos  Beardslee,  Nathan  Hubbell,  Jedediah  Hubbell, 
Jeremiah  Johnson,  Ephraim  Peck,  Gideon  Booth. 

For  1747,  we  no  doubt  have  the  names  of  those  who  reached 
their  majority  after  1742  with  perhaps  a  few  hold  overs  when  the 
first  list  was  made  in  1742.     Meetings  held  in  x\pril  of  each  year. 

1748 — Benjamin  Mallory  Ebenezer  Booth,  Richard  Hubbell,  Hezekiah 
Lyon,  Abraham  Kimberly,  Andrew  Wheeler,  Ichabod  Hubbell,  Joseph 
Gunn ;  1749 — Joseph  Peck  Joshua  Northrop;  1750 — Richard  Fairman,  Dr. 
Timothy  Shepherd,  Agur  Fairchild,  Stephen  Parmalee,  John  Lake,  Jr., 
Ephraim  Sherman ;  1751 — Nathan  Lake,  Nathan  Burritt,  George  Terrill, 
John  Skidmore,  Abraham  Bristol,  William  Burch,  Samuel  Summers,  David 
Sherman,  Ephraim  Lake,  Ephraim  Blackman,  Henry  Peck;  1752 — John 
Camp,  Joseph  Bristol,  3d,  John  Griffin,  Daniel  Winton,  Nathan  Baldwin, 
Abraham  Hard,  Joseph  Wheeler,  Benoni  Hendrixson,  Ephraim  Adams, 
Nehemiah  Curtis,  Joel  Sherman;  1753 — Gideon  Baldwin;  1754 — Ebenezer 
Fairchild,  Amos  Northrop,  Daniel  Foot ;  1755 — Samuel  Sanford,  John  Plat, 
Peter  Nichols,  Michael  Dunning;  1756^Amos  Heard,  Obadiah  Wheeler, 
Jr.,  James  Blackman,  Jonathan  Terrill,  John  Febreque,  Joseph  Prindle, 
Cornelius  Bristol,  Aaron  Peck,  John  Glover,  Jr.,  1757 — Ebenezer  Ford; 
1758 — none;  1759 — Dr.  Samuel  Thomas,  Caleb  Baldwin,  3d,  Jabez  Baldwin, 
Stephen  Pierson ;  1760 — none;  1761 — Lieut  Abel  Prindle,  Daniel  Baldwin, 
Henry  Glover,  Jr.;  1762 — Benjamin  Curtis,  Jr.,  Elijah  Botsford,  John  Beach, 
Ezra  Northrop,  Thomas  Roberts,  Thomas  Lake,  Richard  Smith,  Samuel 
Burwell,  William  Hawley,  Zadock  Sherman,  Abel  Hurd,  Jonathan  Sher- 
man, Amos  Smith,  Samuel  Camp,  Mr.  John  Beach,  Obadiah  Wheeler,  Abijah 
Curtis,  Joseph  Blackman,  Miel  Peck,  Jonathan  Prjndle,  Joseph  Smith, 
Arnold  Glover,  Lemuel  Sherman,  Jabez  Botsford,  Jehoshaphat  Prindle, 
Thomas  Ford,  Jr.,  James  Glover,  Abraham  Booth,  Thomas  Skidmur,  Ger- 
shom  Summers,  Ezra  Bryan,  Thomas  Tousey,  Heth  Peck,  Jr.,  Abraham 
Bennett,  Stillman  Hubbell,  Joel  Camp,  Zalmon  Tousey,  Benjamin  Nichols, 
Oliver  Tousey. 

1763 — Abel  Botsford,  Richard  Nichols,  Roger  Terrill,  Isaac  Botsford, 
Joel  Botsford,  Elijah  Stillson,  Zadock  Hard,  Ruben  Booth,  Henry  Peck. 

1764 — Joseph  Griffin,  Samuel  Ferris,  Theophilus  Hard,  Elijah  Nichols, 
Abel  Curtis,  William  Burwell,  Ebenezer  Peck,  Abraham  Kimberly,  Job 
BristoU,  Seth  Fairchild,  Samuel  French. 

1765 — Amos  Botsford,  Benjamin  Stillson,  Jr.,  Zachariah  Clark,  Abner 
Griffiin,  Gamaliel  French,  Eliphalet  Hull,  Joel  Prindle,  Daniel  Foot, 
Thomas  Sanford. 

1766 — Nathan  Woshburn,  William  Wright,  Bailey  Stillson,  Ezra  Peck, 
Nathan  Peck,  Jr.,  Robert  Thompson,  Neiram  Hard,  Abel  Booth,  Jr.,  Daniel 
Glover,  Lemuel  Wheeler. 

1767 — John  Judson,  Ebenezer  Booth,  Samuel  Prindle,  Peter  Dunning, 
Nathaniel  Northrop,  Daniel  Booth.  Jr.,  Daniel  Jackson,  Joel  Bassitt,  An- 
drew Duning,  John  Shepherd,  Jr.,  Neirum  Curtiss,  Daniel  Peck,  Benjamin 
Northrop,  Jr. 

1768 — Ichabod  Fairman,  Abel  Baldwin,  Andrew  Stilson,  Josiah  Lacey, 
Samuel  Peck,  Henry  Peck,  Esq.,  Eleazer  Burritt,  Jeptha  Hubbell,  Matthew 
Curtis,  Eli  Dunning,  Richard  Fairman,  Matthew  Curtis,  Jr.,  Abraham 
Botsford,  Jabez  Botsford,  Esq.,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Esq.,  Lieut.  Amos  Terrill, 
Joshua  Hatch,  Jared  Dunning,  Silas  Hubbell,  Asa  Cogswell,  Fitch  Kim- 
berly, Henry  Wood,  Oliver  Fairchild,  Captain  Joseph  Smith,  Nathan  Sher- 
man. 

1769 — Samuel  Sanford,  Henry  Fairman,  Abel  Bennitt,  John  Peck,  Mat- 
thew Curtis,  Jr.,  William  Hall,  Joseph  Ferris,  Jared  Botsford,  Nathaniel 
Towner. 

1770 — Asa  Chambers,  Abel  Judson,  Jr.,  Joseph  Hatch,  Abial  Booth,  Enos 
Northrop,  Nathan  Norton,  Amos  Burritt,  Amos  Peck,  Elnathan  Skidmur, 


THOSE   WHO    TOOK   THE   OATH    OF    FIDELITY  121 

Peter  Hatch,  Isaiah  Northrop,  Cyrenus  Hard,  Zachariah  Brown,  Jonathan 
Bardslee,  Theophilus   Nichols,  James   Sanford. 

1771— Moses  Plat.  Jr.,  John  Hard,  Asher  Peck,  David  Peck. 

1772 — Zachariah  Ferriss,  Jabez  Peck,  Gershum  Jackson,  Ebenezer  John- 
son, Moses  Botsford,  Jr.,  Nathan  Ferris,  Nathan  Prindle,  John  Beers,  Jr., 
Noah  Parmalee,  Thomas  Stilson. 

From  1772  to  1777,  there  is  no  record  of  any  having  been  made 
electors.  The  years  between  those  dates  marked  the  exciting 
period  that  culminated  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

THOSE  WHO  TOOK  THE  FREEMAN'S  OATH  IN  1776,  ALSO  THOSE 
WHO  TOOK  THE  "OATH  OF  FIDELITY"  FROM  1777  TO  1791. 

"Freemen  admitted  and  taking  the  Freeman's  oath  in  the  town 
of  Newtown  in  the  Independent  State  of  Connecticut  on  Septem- 
ber the  16th,  1777,"  the  number  was  48: 

Deacon  A.   Bennett  Elijah    Botsford,  Asa  Cogswell 

Lieutenant    N.    Brisco         Lieut.   H.   Fairman  Fitch   Kimberly 

Captain    J.    Northrop         Henry    Peck,    Esq.  Enos  Northrop 

Lieutenant  J.  Botsford        Eleazer   Burritt  Silas   Fairchild 

George    Terrill  Jeptha    Hubbell  James    Fairchild,   Jr. 

Joshua  Northrop  Mr.    Matthew  Curtis  Jonathan   Beardslee 

Gideon  Botsford  Eli  Dunning  Henry  Wood 

Abraham    Bennett,   Jr.       Richard    Fairman  Oliver  Fairchild 

Ezra  Peck  Matthew    Curtis,    Jr.        ^  Capt.  Joseph   Smith 

Abel   Baldwin  Abraham   Botsford  Nathan  Sherman 

Captain  J.  Wheeler  Jabez    Botsford,  Jr.  Josiah  Beardslee 

James    Fairchild  Caleb    Baldwin  Ebenezer    Fairchild 

Samuel  Brown  Lieut.  Amos  Terrill  Doctor  James  Sanford 

Matthew  Baldwin  Joshua    Hatch  Ebenezer  Smith 

Lieut.  B.  Summers  Jared  Dunning  Moses  Piatt 

Capt.  B.  Dunning  Silas    Hubbell  Josiah    Piatt 

The  same  year,  1777,  73  Freemen  came  before  a  justice  of  the 
peace  and  took  the  oath  of  fidelity  showing  to  the  world,  and  pos- 
terity, that  they  were  willing  to  sacrifice,  in  defence  of  principles 
set  forth  by  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  November  11,  1913. 

Mr.  E.  L.  Johnson  : 

Dear  Sir  :  Your  articles  on  Newtown  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution  in- 
terest me  very  much.  I  know  that  Newtown  was  a  Tory  town  and  that 
many  if  not  the  most  of  my  ancestors  were  either  pronounced  Tories  or 
luke-warm  patriots.  I  would  like  to  know  whether  any  of  those  who 
bore  the  names  of  were  sufficiently  patriotic  to  come  for- 
ward and  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  between  1776  and  1783.  I  thought  it 
barely  possible  that  my  great-grand-father  might  have  done  so,  as  he  had 
two  .'>ons  in  the  Continental  army,  supposed  to  have  lost  their  lives  dur- 
ing the  Ridgefield-Danbury  troubles,  as  nothing  was  ever  afterwards 
heard  from  them.  I  know  that  my  great-grandfather,  father  of  my  mother's 
mother,  was  a  noted  or  notorious  Tory  and  for  disloyal  speech  was  obliged 
to  sneak  out  of  the  State  for  one  year  to  avoid  arrest.  It  is  possible  there 
was  some  overt  act  of  his  in  connection  with  others  in  striving  to  avoid 
assessment  of  taxes  for  war  purposes,  that  his  speech  in  an  unguarded 
moment  disclosed.  I  presume  naturally  many  of  the  Tories  in  Newtown 
were  members  of  the  Church  of  England,  hence  their  loyalty  to  the  King. 
The  writer  is  glad  that  the  name  of  his  paternal  great-grandfather 
appears  in  the  list  of  those  who  were  first  to  take  the  oath  in  1777. 
His  son,  Ezra,  then  a  boy  five  years  old,  became  in  time  grandfather 
of  the  writer.    The  great-grandfather's  name  was  John  Johnson. 

The  oath  of  fidelity  to  which  freemen  were  obliged  to  subscribe 
before  they  could  exercise  the  rights  that  accrued  to  them  when 
they  had  taken  the  freeman's  oath : 


122  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

"You  do  swear  by  the  ever-living  God  that  you  will  truly  and  faithfully 
adhere  to  and  maintain  the  government  established  in  this  state  under 
the  authority  of  the  people,  agreeable  to  the  laws  in  force  within  the 
same,  and  that  you  believe  in  your  conscience  that  the  King  of  Great 
Britain  hath  not,  nor  of  right  ought  to  have  any  authority  or  dominion 
in  or  over  this  state,  and  that  you  do  not  hold  yourself  bound  to  yield 
any  allegiance  or  obedience  to  him  within  the  same,  and  that  you  will, 
to  the  unmost  of  your  power,  maintain  and  defend  the  freedom,  inde- 
pendance  and  privileges  of  this  state  against  all  open  enemies  or  traitor- 
ous conspiracies  whatsoever,  so  help  you  God.  And  no  person  shall  have 
authority  to  execute  any  of  the  offices  aforesaid  after  the  first  day  of 
January  next,  until  he  hath  taken  said  oath,  and  all  persons  who  hereafter 
shall  be  appointed  to  any  of  said  offices  shall  take  said  oath  before  they 
enter  upon  the  execution  of  their  offices.  And  no  freemen  within  this 
state  shall  be  allowed  to  vote  in  the  election  of  any  of  the  officers  of 
government  until  he  hath  taken  the  aforesaid  oath  in  the  open  freemans' 
meeting  in  the  town  where  he  dwells." 

"Names  of  those  persons  that  have  appeared  to  take  the  oath  of 
fidehty  prescribed  by  the  General  Assembly  of  this  state  at  a  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  holden  at  Hartford  in 
said  state  on  the  second  Thursday  of  May,  A.  D.,  1777." 

Newtown,  Aug.  25,  1777,  personally  appeared  and  took  the  oath  of  fidelity: 

Caleb   Baldwin,  Jr.  Thomas   Sharp  John   Smith 

Jabez  Botsford,  Esq.  David  Jackson  1779 

George  Terrill  Joseph  Gunn  Thomas  Wheeler 

Lieut.  B.  Summers  John  Keeler  Birdsey  Glover 

Richard  Fairman  Abel  Smith  William  Edmond 

James  Fairchild,  Jr.  David  Peck  Theophilus  Nichols 

Fitch  Kimberly  Abraham  Lewis  Liverius  Peck 

Moses  Shepherd  Abel  Gunn  John  Beach 

Elijah    Botsford  Isaac  Hawley  Josiah  Beardslee,  Jr. 

Lieut.  N.  Brisco  Rev.   Thomas    Brooks         Zalmon  Peck 

John   Botsford  Nathan    Burritt  John  Hard 

Lieut.   H.  Fairman  Amos  Northrop  Andrew  Stilson 

Nathaniel   Barnum  Capt.  Abel   Botsford  Joshua  Peck 

Eleazer  Burritt  Gamaliel   French  David   Hinman 

Nathan  Curtis  Thomas  Ford  Matthew  Hall 

Joshua  Northrop  John  Skidmore  1780 

Josiah  Beardslee  Nathan   Washburn  Nehemiah  Strong 

Abel   Baldwin  James  Glover  Lewis   F.   Sherman 

Capt.  J.  Northrop  Eleazer  Lacy  John  Hard 

Amos  Burritt  David  Curtis  George  Foot,  Jr. 

Elijah  Foot  Daniel  Sherman  1781 

Eli  Dunning  ',  Nathaniel  Bunnill  Jotham  Sherman 

Henry  Wood  Daniel  Morris  James  Shepherd 

David  Baldwin  Roger  Hendrix  Joel  Prindle 

Gideon  Botsford  Col.  John  Chandler  Abiel  Booth 

Silas  Hubbell  Reuben  Dunning  1782 

Oliver  Fairchild  Reuben  Taylor  Amos  Bennett 

Abraham  Baldwin  Silas  Hepburn  Abel   Foot 

Capt.  Richard  Smith  John  Johnson  Reuben   Terrill 

Nirum  Summers  Abel  Johnson  Hezekiah   Dayton 

Levy  Bostwick  Joseph  Botsford  John  Summers 

Ephraim  Jackson  Abel  F"oot  John   Blackman,  Jr. 

John   Bunnill  1778  Josiah  Fairchild 

Gershum   Jackson  Daniel  Glover  Abel  Skidmore 

Samuel  Hawley  Capt.  Joseph  Prindle  Amos  Sherman 

David  Jackson,  Jr.  Lazarus  Prindle  Nehemiah  Curtiss 

Ezra  Birch  David  Meeker  Abijah   Curtiss 

James  Prindle  Cyrus  Prindle  Stephen  Crofoot 

Ezra  Dunning  Jabez   Baldwin  1783 

Abraham  Kimberly  Abraham  Baldwin  John  Fabrique 

Clement    Botsford  William  Allen  Jehosephat   Prindle 


THOSE   WHO   TOOK    THE   OATH    OF    FIDELITY 


123 


Ezra  Sherman 
George  Sample 
Hezekiah    Booth 
Capt.  Peter  Nichols 
Capt.  John  Glover 
Daniel  Glover 
Francis   Pierce 
Zalmon   Booth 
Cyrus  Beers 
Cyrennius  Hard 
Amos   Hard 
Nirum  Hard 
Reuben    Booth 
Solomon    Glover 
Ichabod   Fairman 
Joseph  Foot 
Henry  Glover,  Jr. 
Elisha  Wooster 
Zalmon  Tousey,  Jr. 
Salmon  Curtiss 
Stephen  Burwell,  Jr. 
James  Thomas 
Ammon  Hard 
Levi  Peck 
John  Crawf:>rd 
John  Beach,  Jr. 
Truman   Blackman 
Caleb   Bennitt 
Theophilus  Botsford 
Salmon  Glover 
Roger  Terrill 
Nathaniel  Peck 
Daniel  Terrill 
Elijah   Peck 
Alpheus  Fairchild 
Curtis  Hard 
Andrew  Griffin 
Abel  Win  ton 
Abraham  Wheeler 
Truman    Sherman 
Reuben  Curtiss 
James   Foot 
Elias   Beardslee 
Philo   Parmalee 
Timothy   Treadwell 
Eli  Peck 
Nirom  Curtis 
Abraham  Booth 
Nathaniel  Judson 
Amos  Griffin 
Isaac  Tousey 
Samuel   Beers 
Nathaniel  Northrop 
Daniel  C.  Sanford 
Daniel  Humphrey 
Capt.  E.  Kimberly 
William  Hall 
Josiah  Blackman 
Jonathan  Booth 
Capt.  John  Blackman 
Capt.  Henry  Glover 
James  Bennett 

Three  hundred  and 


Zachariah  Clark 
Isaac  Trowbridge 
Abel   Ferris 
Seth   Griffin 
Jonah  Summers 
Clark  Baldwin 
Ammon  H  ird 
Daniel   Baldwin 
Zachariah   Ferry 
Lemuel  Thomas 
Abner  Hard 
Oliver  Beers 
Dr.   Bennett  Perry 
Asher  Peck 
Enoch  Peck 
Joseph  Bristol,  Jr. 
Moses  Peck 
Isaac  Peck 
Joseph   Blackman 
Gideon  Peck 
David   Bristol 
Reuben  Adams 
John  Judson 
Jacob   Stilson 
Abel  Judson 
Luke  Lattin 
Matthew  Peck 
Isaac  Blackman 
John   Fairchild 
Stephen  Shepard 
Truman  Beers 

1784 
Samuel   French 
Amiel  Peck 
Samuel  Peck 
Benjamin   Cook 
Abel  Booth 
Peter  Lake 
Ephraim  Lake 
Joseph  Bristol 
Seth   Fairchild 
Philo   Tousey 
William  Burwell 
Philo  Fairchild 
Abraham   Beers 
Abel  Prindle 
Asa  Chambers 
Abel  Tousey 
John  Walker 
Jabez   Peck 
Philo  Curtiss 
Samuel  Sanford 

1785 
Theophilus  Hurd 
John   Beers.  Jr. 
Benjamin  Stillson,  Jr. 
Elijah  Nichols 
Thomas  Stilson 
Philo  Norton 
George  Peck 
Enos  Johnson 
Obadiah  Wheeler 
Elias  Beers 
nine  in  all  with  good 


Joseph  B.  Wheeler 
Moses  Botsford 
Curtis  Wainwright 
Nathaniel  Brisco,  Jr. 
Peter  Clark  Hull 
John  Bostwick 
Andrew  Northrop 
David  Judson 
Nathan   Camp 
David  Botsford 
Capt.  Joseph  Hepburn 
Samuel  Beardslee,  Jr. 
Elijah  Hard 
John   Bassitt 
Amos  Shepherd 
Dr.  Preserve  Wood 
Ahijah  Hard 
George  Northrop 
Eli  Wheeler 
Gideon   Bostford,  Jr. 
Elijah   Stillson 
Joseph  Hard 
Birdsey  Glover 
Andrew    Beers 
Joseph  Stillson 
Gideon  Dunning 
George  Shepherd 
George    Northrop 
Josiah  Haves 

1786 
Elias  Glover 
William  Northrop 
Ebenezer  Booth 
Luther  Harris 
Wait  Northrop 
Drake  Northrop 
Benjamin    Hawley 
Noadiah  Warner 

1787 
Daniel  Baldwin 
Robert  Summers 
Gold   Curtiss 
Zenas    Washburn 
Daniel  Botsford 
Vine  Botsford 
William  Birch,  Jr. 
Eldad  Tenney 
James  Hendrix 
Jabez  Beers 
Samuel  Trowbridge 

1788 
Donald  Tousey 
David  Tousev 

1789 
Zadock  Fairchild 
Jonathan  Fairchild 
David  Booth 

1790 
John  W  Chandler 
Moses  Kent  Botsford 
Clement  Fairchild 
Ezekiel    Fairchild 

old  Anglo-Saxon  names. 


124 


NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 


THOSE  WHO  TOOK  THE  FREEMAN'S  OATH 


1778 

Capt.  Richard   Smith 

Lieut.  Amos  Northrop 

Amos  Smith 

Abel   Gunn 

David  Peck 

Ezra   Birch 

Mr.  Joseph  Gunn 

Col.  John  Chandler 

Reuben  Taylor 

David  Curtis 

Job   Bunnill 

Moses  Shepherd 

1779 
Amos  Burritt 
Isaac  Hawley 
Joseph  Botsford 
James  Glover 
David  Judson 
Nathan  Camp 
John  Johnson 
Abel  Johnson 
Gershom  Jackson 

1780 
John   Botswick 
Capt.  Joseph  Hepburn 
Abraham  Kimberly 
Benjamin    Burr 
Dr.  Preserve  Wood 

1781 
David  Baldwin 

1782 
Ephraim  Sherman 
Ephraim  Jackson 
Jabez   Gerould 
Gideon  Dunning 
George    Shepherd 
George  Northrop 
Josiah  Hayes 
Gideon   Botsford,  Jr. 
Clement  Botsford 

1783 
David    Meeker 
Hezekiah    Booth 
John   Hard 
Daniel  Glover 
Capt.  Peter  Nichols 
Josiah  Fairchild 
Theophilus   Nichols 
Abraham  Baldwin 
George  Foot,  Jr. 
John   Summers 
Abiel  Booth 
Mr.  Nehemiah  Strong 
Mr.  William  Edmond 
Capt.   Abel    Botsford 
Thomas   Ford 
Capt.  John  Glover,  Jr. 
Amos  Hard 
Henry  Glover,  Jr. 
Hezekiah   Dayton 
Zachariah  Clark 
John  Hard 


Zedekiah   Morgan 
Curtis  Hard 
Cyrenius  Hard 
Andrew   Beers 
John   Beach 
Josiah   Beardslee 
Thomas  Bennitt 
Solomon    Glover 
Abel    Skidmore 
Nirom  Hard 
Abijah  Curtiss 
Zalmon    Peck 
Ebenezer  Beers 
Capt.  John   Blackman 
William  Hall 
John   Peck 
Abram   Booth 
Amos  Skidmur 
Zalmon   Booth 
John   Blackman,  Jr. 
Jonathan  Booth 
Capt.  Henry  Glover 
James  Bennitt 
1784 
Zachariah  Ferris 
Liverius   Peck 
Amos  Hard 
Daniel   Baldwin 
Abel  Booth 
Nehemiah  Curtis 
Lewis   Sherman 
Samuel  Peck 
Clark   Baldwin 
David   Beers 
Auriel  Peck 
Ebenezer  Sherman 
James  Foot 
Capt.   Joseph    Prindle 
Benjamin   Curtis 
Peter  Lake 
Dr.  Bennitt  Perry 
John  Smith 
John   Sanford,  Jr. 
Samuel  Ferris 
Seth    Fairchild 
Ephraim  Lake 
Joseph   Bristol 
John   Fairchild 
John   Beach,  Jr. 
Abel  Bennitt 
Lemuel   Nichols 
Moses  Peck 
Cyrus  Beers 
Solomon  Sanford 
Salmon  Glover 
Salmon  Curtis 
Isaac   Peck 
Philo  Tousey 
Reuben  Booth 
Eli  Wheeler 
Philo    Fairchild 
Amos  Sherman 
Oliver    Beers 


Stephen  Crofut 
Truman  Beers 
William  Burwell 
Abraham    Beers 

1785 
Elijah  Nichols 
David   Hinman 
Philo  Norton 
Thomas  Stilson 
Jotham  Sherman 
Amos  Bennitt 
George    Peck 
Reuben  Curtis 
Isaac  Tousey 
Lemuel  Thomas 
Cyrus   Prindle 
Theophilus  Hard 
Abel   Tousey 
Enos  Peck 
Isaac  Trobridge 
Enos  Johnson 
Joseph  Foot 
John  Judson 
Abel  Judson 
Elijah  Hull 
Nathaniel  Northrop 
Benjamin  Stillson 
Ezra  Sherman 
Asher   Peck 
Joseph  B.  Wheeler 
Reuben  Terill 

1786 
John  Skidmur 
Nathaniel   Judson 
Ezra   Northrop 
Richard  Bennitt 
Asa   Chambers 
Niron   Curtis 
John  Beers,  Junr. 
Jonathan  Prindle 
Abel  Hurd 
Theophilus  Hurd 
Peter  Fairchild 
Zalmon  Tousey,  Junr. 
Julius    Camp 
Josiah  Blackman 
Michael  Parks 
Isaac    Baldwin 
Ephraim  Peck,  Junr. 
Ebenezer  Sanford 

1787 
Noadiah  Warner 
Josiah  Curtis 
Moses   Botsford 
Rev.  Zephaniah  Smith 
Asa  Northrop 
Wait  Northrop 
William  Northrop 
Niron  Botsford 
Luther  Harris 
Ebenezer  Booth 
Elias  Glover 
Drake  Northrop 


THOSE   WHO   TOOK   THE   FREEMAN'S    OATH 


125 


Ebenezer  Mallery 
Benjamin  Hawley 
Robert   Summers 
Abel  Ferris 
Daniel  Croof 
Gold  Curtis 

1788 
Jacob  Stilson 
Donald  Tousey 
David  Tousey 
Daniel  Baldwin 
Lazarus  Prindle 

1789 
Doctor  Philo  Perry 
Captain  Abijah  Hard 
Zadock  P'airchild 
Jonathan  Fairchild 
David  Booth 

1790 
Mr  Ephraim  Sherman 
John  Winthrop 
Moss  Kent   Botsford 
Clement  Fairchild 
Ezekiel  Fairchild 
Joal  Camp 
Oliver  Clark  Hurd 
Philo  Curtis 
Levi  Peck 
Sueton  Baldwin 
Josiah  Tomlinson 
Stephen  Gilbert 
Elias  Glover 
Lockwood  Winton 

1791 
David  Fabrique 
Ezra  Perry 
Dr.  Benjamin  Curtis 
Joal  Booth 
Beeman  Peet  Warner 
Isaac  Sanford 
John  Lott 
Ziba  Blakesly 

1792 
John  Wooster  Camp 
John  Curtis 
Amon  Skidmur 
Caleb  Bennitt 
Abijah  Birdsey  Curtis 
Lazarus  Hard 
Zachariah  Clark,  Junr. 
Moses  Beardslee 
Stephen  Taylor 
Oliver  Bancroft 
Elias  Beardslee 
Joseph  Blackman,    Jr. 
Daniel  Blackman 
Capt.  Vine  Botsford 

1793 
Simeon   Glover 
Daniel  Clark  Sanford 
David  Nichols 
Ransford  Baldwin 
Daniel  Prindle 
Joseph  Ferris 
Hugh  Murphe 


Lewis  Hubbell 
Agur  Beardslee 
Andrew  Wheeler 
John  Hubbell 
Abel  Curtis 
James  Clark 
Truman   Fairchild 

1794 
Peter  Northrop 
Alpheus   Fairchild 
Birdsey  Glover 
Job  Nickerson 
Austin   Beers 
Israel  Botsford 
Elnathan  Skidmur 
Philo  Booth 
Eli  Beers 

Ebenezer  Ford  Bennitt 
Jotham  Hawley 
Lemuel  Hawley 
Roger  Terrill 
Silas  Burton  Judson 
Patten   Murry 
Jacob   Raymond 
David  Starling 
John  Mallery 
Joseph  Nichols 
Isaac  Wells 
John    Starling   Beers 
Leir  Fairchild 
Joseph  Fairchild 
Daniel  Booth 
Stephen   Burv/ell 
Cyrenius  Peck 
Andrew  Hare 
David  Peck,  Junr. 

1795 
Reuben  Hull  Booth 
Ebenezer  Turner 
Lampson  Birch 
John  Walker 
David  Curtis  Deforest 
Daniel  Sherwood 
Elias  Beers 
Joseph  Wheeler,  Junr. 
David  Curtis 

1796 
Elijah  Judson 
Gideon   Baldwin 
Enoch   Peck 
Daniel  Sheperd 
Caleb  Baldwin,  Junr. 
Samuel  Beers,  Junr. 
Amos  Shepard 
Philo  Beardslee 
Benony  Hendrj'x 
Red  Wheeler 
Henry  Botsford 
Richard    Botsford 
Daniel   Perry 
Gideon  Peck 
Mr  Samuel  Beers 
Simeon   Beers 
Simeon  Shepard,  Junr. 
Hermon  Warner 


Joel  Prindle 
Reuben   Griffin 
Collins  Chapman 
Benjamin   Curtis,    3rd 
Isaac  Bennitc 
Stephen   Sanford 
Peter  Finch 
Oliver  Tousey,  Junr. 
William  Nickerson 
Abel  Nichols 
Webb  Tomlinson,  Esq. 
Stephen  Crofut,  Junr. 

1797 
Amos  Hard,  Junr. 
Gideon  Lattin 
Cyrus  Hard 
Cyrenius  Hard,  Junr. 
Asa  Chapman 
Amon  Beers 
Philo  Baldwin 
Isaac   Crofutt 
Bailey  Foot 
Michael  Baldwin,   Esq. 

1798 
Jonathan  Booth 
Samuel  C.  Blackman 
Charles   Burroughs 
Samuel  Booth 
Thomas  B.  Botsford 
Isaac  Wheeler 
Jared  Brace 
Rufus  Peck 
Josiah   Burroughs 
David   Lake 

1799 
Daniel  Beers,  Junr. 
Beach  Tomlinson 
Daniel  Botsford 
Timothy  Shepard 
David  Edmund 
John  Clark 
William  H.  Fairchild 
Lazarus  Stilson 
Richard  Judson 
David   Summers 
Wheeler  Fairchild 
Ezekiel  Bennitt 
Cyrenius  Beers 
Adonirum  Fairchild 
Ezra  Curtis 

Joseph  Stevens  Adams 
Nathaniel  F.  King 
Samuel  Lane  Judson 
Samuel  Northrop 
Daniel  Morris 
Peter  Stilson 
Eli  Crofut 
Capt.  Amos  Morris 
Dan  Chapman 
Nathanial   Dikeman 
Ezra  Lake 
John    Turner 
Zenas   Stilson 
Mark  F.  Hatch 
Joseph  Perry 


126 


NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 


1800 

Edward  Foot 
Jacob  Johnson 
Alanson  Northrop 
Ezra  H.  Johnson 
John  Shepard 
Lemuel   Peck 
Martin   Botsford 
James   Peck 
Andrew  Peck,  Junr. 
Eden   Birchard 
Josirh  Glover 
James  B.  Stilson 
Riverius  Prindle 
John  Northrop,  Junr. 
Ebenezer  Peck,  Junr. 
Nathan   Peck,  Junr. 
Daniel  Ferris 
Dan  Peck 

Daniel  Booth,  Junr. 
Daniel  Nichols 
David   Booth,  Junr. 
Elihu   Crofoot 
Zalmon  Taylor 
Lemuel  Foot 
John  Baldwin 
Abel  Prindle 
Pattern  M.  Blackman 
Eli  Peck 
Jarvis  Piatt 
Seth  Gilbert 
Abel   Beers,  3rd 
John  Turner 
Eliakim  Sharp 
Micajah  Nash 
Benjamin    Hard 
Dennis  Nash 
Linus  Sherman 
Daniel  Comstock 
Daniel  Hawley 
John  Skidmur 
John  Gillett 
Philo  Foot 
Joseph  Hawley 
John   Brisco 
Andrew  Griffin 
Daniel  Peck 

1801 
James  Glover,  Junr. 
Amos  N.  Sanford 
David  Pulford 
Ezia  Glover 
Joseph  Sherman 
Mathew  Sherman 
Ezra  Sherman 
Zardis  Sherman 
Lemuel  Camp 
Elnathan   Peck 
James   Masters 
Fldad   Prindle 
John  Botsford 
Elias  Glover,  Junr. 
David  Wheeler 
David  Edwards 
Henry  Glover 


Elijah   Jennings 
Abner  Judson 
Jotham  B.  Sherman 
Amos  Peclc 

1S02 
Turney  Peck 
Justus  Raymond 
Gould  St  John 

1803 
John  Hall,  Junr. 
Nathan  Shepard 
David   Parmelee 
Elisha   Gilbert 
George  M.  Shepard 
Elijah   Gilbert 
Truman   Peck 
Jonathan  Peck 
Andrew  Shepard,  Junr. 
Zalmon   Beers 
Samuel  Trowbridge 
Amos  Smith 
Hezekiah   Northrop 
John  Botsford,  Junr, 
Richard  D.  Shepard 
Aaron   Beardslee 
Abram  B.  Ferris 
Billy  Hall 
Joshua   Chapin 
Abijah  Merritt 
Eli  Hall 

Isaac   Tomlinson 
Isaac  Piatt 
Peter  Foot,  Junr. 
Thomas   Roberts 
Amos  Parmelee 
Joseph  Tousey 
Jacob  Beers 
David  S.   Blackman 
Ammon  Shepard 
Eliphalet  B.  Bradley 
Isaac  Skidmore 
David  Lyon 
Jabez  Hawley 
John  Raymond 
Justus  Piatt 
Ebenezer  Crofut 
Miles  Johnson 
Jabez  Rowland 
.A.aron  Wheeler 
Ephraim  Piatt 
Isaac  Briscoe 
John  Crofut 
Zalmon  Roberts 
Squire  Knapp 
Zalmon  Lake 
Samuel  Peck,  Junr. 

1804 
Moses  Beardslee,  Junr. 
Abner  Anson  Nettleton 
Hezekiah  Rowland 
Nathaniel  Parmelee 
Isaac   Scudder 
Joseph  Wilkinson 
Elias  B.  Crofut 
Abram  Botsford 


Peter  C.  Hull 
Marcus  B.  Parmelee 
John  Griffin 
Ebenezer  Griffin 
Joseph  Rowland 
John   Northrop 
Thomas  Botsford 
Samuel  Staples 
Daniel  Hard 
Joseph   Griffin 
John  Lake 
Andrew  Clark 
Ichabod  Johnson 
Samuel  Hubbell 
Asahel  Booth,  Junr. 
Timothy  Jordan 
John   Peck,  Junr. 
Jonathan   Goodsell 
Lemuel  Landers 
Amos  Terrill 
Jeremiah   Beers 
Judson  Peck 
David    Beers 
Sherman  Botsford 
Philo   Botsford 
Abiiah  Bradley 
Asa  Dikeman 
Albert  Edwards 
John  Johnson,  Junr. 
John  Underbill 
James  Terrili 
Thomas  Welch 
David    Piatt 
Joseph  B.  Barlow 
Tared  Bradley 
Elihu  Crofut.  Junr. 
Samuel  Watkins 
Lemuel  Sheperd 
Philo  Sherman 
Zalmon    Sanford 

1805 
Nathan  Turner 
Thomas  W.  Peck 
Jacob  Camp 
Nathan  Piatt 
Zalmon  Hall 
Ethiel  Starr 
Samuel  Blackman 
Truman  Blackman 
Charles  Prince 
Agur  Lewis 
Samuel  Camp 
Ichabod   Gilbert 
.A.bel  Beardsley 
Cyrus   Sherman 
Jabez  Sherman 
Elijah  Sherman 
John  Beardsley 
Benjamin  C.  Glover 
Edward  Booth 
Cyrus  Fairchild 
Nathan  Lattin 
Daniel  Morris,  Junr. 
Andrew  Crofut 
Josiah  Piatt 


THOSE    WHO    TOOK    THE    FREEMAN'S    OATH  127 

James  Morris  Thomas    Beers  181S 

Truman    Sherman  William  Botsford  Abiel  K.  Botsford 

John   Bristoll  Daniel  Wells  Zar  Winton 

Isaiah  Northrop  Holbrook  Curtis  Abraham   Peck 

Lyman    Edwards  Ebenezer  Beers,  Junr.         Philo  Beers,  Junr. 

Joseph    Booth  John  Glover  Josiah  Wetmore 

-Thomas  Sanford  Joseph  Dick  Henry  Beers 

Moses  Gillet  David  Jennings  Peter  Perry 

Isaac  Peck,  Junr.  1810  Joseph  Crofut 

Kiah  B.  Fairchild  David  C.  Peck  Jonah  Sanford,  Junr, 

Silas  N.  Glover  Nehemiah    Skidmore  William  Hubbell 

Hawley  Stilson  Marcus  Botsford  Zachariah  Prindle 

Peter  Shepard  Ezra  Gilbert  Abner  Beers 

Alfred  D.  Curtis  Clark  Sherman  Ambrose  Baldwin 

Nichols  Curtis  Eleazer  Hawley  James  B.   Fairchild 

David   Judson  Heber  Foot  1816 

I  Silas  Camp  David  V.  B.  Baldwin  Ziba   Glover 

Anson  Judson  jgU  Zerah  Judson 

Philo  Gilbert  Philo  Baldwin  Beera  P.  Summers 

Job  S.  Terrill  Abel  S   Hawley  Solomon  Timanus 

Philo  Beardslee  Ebenetus  Curtis  Woosler  Peck 

Jonathan    S.    Fairchild  David  Clark  Prosper  A.  Foot 

Ezra  H.  Jennings  Joseph  Bennitt  John   Hendricks 

Lemuel  Fairchild  Stephen  Nichols  Villeroy  Glover 

Roswell  L.  Sherwood  p^^^j.  NJchols  Kli  Piatt 

Ephraim  Hubbell  James  Wheeler  Benjamin  F.  Shelton 

j allies   Mc  Ray  2iba  Fairchild  David  Underbill 

Zalmon  Northrop  g^^^  Fairchiild  Nathan  B.  Sherman 

^  ^  .        .^^^  Edmond  B.  Peck  Oliver  Peck 

Job  Lattin,  Junr.  Amos  G.  Peck 

,  Zechariah  Tomlinson  Thomas  Blackman  J^^n  Curtis.  Junr. 

Joseph  Burritt  r^,T.  '  ri'  .f^.n  Lue  L.  Sherman 

John  B.  Wheeler  mnll  A^ireh^use  Robert   Middlebrook 

Nathaniel  Brisco.  Jr.  Daniel  Morehouse  EU^ha   Mills 

Moss  K.  Botsford.  Jr.  Amason  Washburn  John  Hawlev 
Abner   Beardslee                                     1813  jgl'y 

David  Peck  Thaddeus   Staples  Phjio  Curtis,  Junr. 

'James  Thomas  Samuel   lousey  EHsha  Curtis 

Andrew  Sherman  Amos  Parker  Hurlburt  Cone 

Nathaniel  B.  Nichols  Amos  Wells  Clarke  Fairchild 

'  James  F.  Beardslee  Philo   Sherman,  Junr.         Gideon  B.  Ferris 

*  Obadiah  N.  Wheeler  Ezekial  Peck  Philo   Northrop 

I  Simeon  S.  Blackman  Levi  Jackson  David   French 

'  Gershom  Summers  Abram  Prindle  James  Northrop 

i  1807  Lemuel   Hawley  David    Stilson 

Richard   Peck  Cyrus  B.  Glover  Abraham  Bennitt 

I  Ebenezer  H.  Fairchild  Jabez  B.  Botsford  Samuel  P   Glover 

I  Eli  Winton  1814  Levi  E.  Jordan 

Charles  Hotchkiss  Smith  Wheeler  Cyrenus  Northrop 

Arnold   Foote  Andrew  Northrop  Grandison  Clark 

,  Sueton  Shepard  Orman  Sherman  Hiram  Shepard 

I  Agur   Blackman  Reuben    Shepard  Ziba   Perry 

'  1808  Martin   Judson  Eliel  Crofut 

I  Amos  H.  Wheeler  Philo  ^L  Jordan  Lucius  Clark 

I  Theophiliis  Botsford  Daniel   Botsford,  Junr.       Abel  Bennitt  ,Junr. 

'  Ii't^"  ^-  "^^"'^y  Silas  Fairchild,  Junr.  Thomas  Seely 

Warren   Wallace  Oliver  Northrop  Lawrenus   Shepard 

I  Simeon  Underbill  Ezra  Jennings  Calvin  Hvde 

i  Rhesa  Foot  Walter  Northrop  William  Piatt 

Eh  Bennitt  Gould  Curtis,  Junr.  Samuel  Staples,  Junr. 

I  Jpsiah  Sanford  Henry    Shepard  Abner  Blackman 

Thomas  Dibble  Squire   Dibble  Peter  Lewis 

I  Zachariah  Dunkum  Ira  Fairchild  Wheeler  Bennitt 

tri--   L    o   ^^P'^  James  Staples  Henry  Nichols 

(  Elijah  Sanford  James  Boyer  Philip  A.  Cannon 


128 


NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 


Bailey  Beardslee 
Amariah  Beers 
John   Beers 
David  B.  Botsford 
Elijah  Botsford 
David  Taylor 
Squire  V.  Smith 
Charles  Shepard 
Austin  Booth 
Tyrus  Hawley 
Israel  Peck 
Abner   Peck 
Russell  Tousey 
Philo   Whitney 
John  Skidmore 
Abraham  Beardslee 
James  Bennitt,  Junr. 
Norman  Northrop 
Moses  Beardslee,  3rd. 
John  Judson 
Daniel  Skidmore 
Glover  Skidmore 
Zar  Keeler 

1818 
Harry  Glover 
Winthrop   Fairchild 
Samuel  N.  Sanford 
Eli  Hard 
Josiah  Wheeler 
Charles  Botsford 
Harry  T  Hill 
Wheeler  Cable 
Jabez  Taylor 
William  B.  Warner 
Hezekiah  Curtis 
Ariellus  Hamlin 
Ephraim  P.  Wetmore 
Josiah   Fairchild,  Junr. 
Joseph  Shepard 
Philo  Tousey,  Junr. 
Nathan  J.  Wilcoxon 
Botsford  Terrill 
Hiram  Curtis 
Rufus  L.  Parmalee 
Thomas  S.  Ferris 
Cyrus   Hyde 
Henry  Deane 
David  Sherman 
Charles  Sherman 
Abijah  Rowell 
John  Curtis,  3d. 
Isaac  Drew 
Thomas  O.  Chambers 
Nirom  Shepard 
Joseph  Smith,  3d. 
Philo  Parmelee 
Philo  Sanford 
John  Sherman,  Junr. 
David  A.  Gilbert 
Donald  Baldwin 
Andrew  B.  Glover 
Theophilus  Nichols 
Philo  Bennitt 

1819 
Abijah  Beach  Curtis 


Simeon  Nichols 
Joel  Bassett 
Harry  Sherman 
Ezekiel  Beers 
Eli  Hawley 
Jeremiah  Trowbridge 
Walter  Fairchild 
Joseph  D.  Wheeler 
John  L.  Hubbell 
Eleazer   Dibble 
David  M.  Birch 
Elam  Crofut 
Levi  Parmelee 
Levi  Taylor 
Beeman   Fairchild 
John  Hawley 
Isaac  Underbill 
Rufus  Shepard 
Everitt  Clark 
Philo  U.  Piatt 
.Samuel  Fairchild 
Stephen  L.  Crofut 
Nathaniel  Mallory 
Philo  Lake 

1820 
Abiel  B.  Glover 
David  Curtis 
Henry  Peck 
George  Bradley 
Abijah  Bradley,  Junr. 
Lyman  Lake 
George   Shepard,  Junr. 
Gideon  S.  Beers 
Harry  Piatt 
Hezekiah  Piatt 

1821 
Cyrenius  H.  Booth 
Henry  S.  Hill 
John  Sanford,  Junr. 
David  Nash 
Anson  Hubbell 
Simeon  Shepard 
Jotham  B.  Hawley 
Silas  Jennings 
Seth  Prindle 
Josiah  Botsford 

1822 
Alexander  Hall 
Charles  Chapman 
Rufus  Summers 
Charles  Glover 
Austin  N.  Botsford 
Marcus  B.  Summers 
Levi  Fairchild 
Hiram  Parmelee 
Burtis  Fairchild 
Henry  R.  Lott 
Philo  Fairchild,  Junr. 
Daniel  Curtis 
Truman  Sherman 

1823 
Seth  Rogers 
James  E.  Glover 
Charles  B.  Booth 
MacPherson   Sherman 


Gideon  B.  Botsford 
Simeon  N.  Beers 
Sylvester  N.  Beers 
Sylvester  Beers 
Alben  Hall 
Nelson  Tongue 
Sylvanus  Piatt 
Hart  Shepard 
Isaac  Blackman 
Hiram  Fairchild 
Cyrus  D.  Fairchild 
Davis  S.  Sweet 

1824 
John  Wetmore 
William  Hayes 
Samuel  B.  Peck 
Isaac  Nichols 
Daniel  Baldwin 
John  Nash 

Theodore  B.  Botsford 
Norman  Tuttle 
Ezra  Gray 
Daniel  Brisco 
Joel  T.  Camp 
Edwin  Botsford 
Levi  Drew 
George  Benedict 
Boyle   Fairchild 
John  Wallace 
Abel  Whitney 
Marcus  Fairchild 
Amos  Curtis  Sanford 
Lemuel  Beers 
Edward  Wheeler 
John  Lake,  Junr. 
Cyrus  Camp 

1825 
Horace  M.  Shepard 
Henry  Dutton 
William  P.  Edmonds 
Charles  Johnson 
Walter  Clark 
Nathan  Johnson 
Lucius  Peck 
William  Blakely 
John  B.  Beers 
Dibble  Camp 
Levi  Peck 

Solomon  W.  Stevens 
Agur  Perry 
Beers  Fairchild 
Charles  Clark 
Ziba  Blackman 
Norman  Beers 
Hiram  Baily 
Hermon  Fairchild 
Russell  D.  Smith 
Abel  Dibble 
William  B.  Taylor 
Erastus  Hull 
Charles  Peck 
Ezra  Piatt 
Asa  B.  Beardslee 
Lewis  S.  Brisco 


THOSE  WHO  TOOK  THE  FREEMANS  OATH 


129 


Amos  J.  Hard 
Jesse  Beardslee 
Thomas  B.  Barnum 
Abel  B.  Terrill 
Nichols  B.  Lake 
John  C  Wilkinson 
Orrin  Tongue 
Lauriston  Sherman 
Jared  Botsford,  Junr. 
Burton  E.  Clark 
Ebenezer  Dikeman 
Charles  T.  Chafeen 
Luther  Camp 
Charles   Curtis 
William  M.  Shepard 
Walter  Johnson 
David  W.  Griffin 
Rufus  Skidmore 

1826 

Ives  Glover 
Joseph  B.  Curtis 

I  Eli  S.  Lattin 
Taylor  Judd 
Samuel  B.  Benedict 
Hermon  Parmelee 
Daniel  Shepard 
Abram  Winton 
Luzon  Crofut 

JGeorge  Botsford 
Glover  Hawley 
Oliver  Summers 
Reuben  Northrop 

1827 

Harson  Twitchell 
'Wilton  Beardslee 
iCharles  Blakeslee 
Elnathan  Stillson 
jHermon  Hill 
I  Stephen  M,  Downs 
[Joseph  M.  Hubbell 
1  'Kbel  Tousey 
f|Turney  French 
William   Baldwin 
IRobert  Edmond 
Moss  Fairchild 
iDavid  J.  Glover 
,Hermon   Beers 
I  Wooster  Taylor 
'Samuel  Blakeslee 
iGeorge  Blackman 
jjCharles  Northrop 
ijStephen  Merwin 

1828 

IBeach  Camp 

I  Thomas  D.  Shepard 
5eth  Gilbert 
Fotham  Sherman 
ioseph  Perry 
vVilliam  G.  Smith 
Preston  Durant 

Ifabez  B.  Peck 
Fohn  B.  Nichols 


1829 

David  B.  Beers 
Isaac  Stilson 
Orrin  Raymond 
Joseph  Nettleton 
Joseph  Sherman,  Junr. 
Aledad  Bradley 
Roswell  Lake 
Abel  B.  Skidmore 
William  Stebbins 
Albert  Edwards,  Jr. 
Charles  T.  Hard 
Joshua  H.  Taylor 
Drusus  Nichols 
Starr  Shepard 
Auraunah  Fairchild 
Joseph  Ferris,  Junr. 
Alfred  Blackman 
Daniel  B.  Hawley 
David  T    Taylor 
Alark  E.  Leavenworth 
William  Beard 

1830 

Israel  A.  Beardslee 
Philander  Sharp 
Thomas  Ward 
John  C.  Booth 
Daniel  S.  Bulkley 
Sherman  J.  Sharp 
Delauzan   Peck 
Thomas  Ward 
Herman  Peck 
John  L.  Fairchild 
Ezra  Morgan 
Isaac  Blackman 
Wheeler  Shepard 
Levan  W.  Merritt 

1831 
Isaiah  S.  Tomlinson 
Herman  S.  Thorpe 
Isaac  Beers 
Elias  Johnson 
Sidney  Middlebrook 
Orrin  Shepard 
We.lter  Glover 
Granville  S.  Glover 
John  Glover 
Russell  Wheeler 
Roswell  Glover 
Roswell  Wheeler 
Norman  B.  Glover 
James  A.  Burritt 
Hiram  Camp 
Joseph  Blackman,  Jr. 
Warren  Fairchild 
James  Foot 
Charles  C.  Warner 
Charles  L.  Stillson 
Norman  Tongue 
Jacob   Mayhew 
John  Beers 
Anthony  Mygatt 
Ezra  Patch 
Alonzo  German 


James  G.  Blackman 
Harry  W.  Tucker 
Charles  Brisco 
Jotham  Stilson 
Walter  Blackman 
.A.bijah   Hard 
Carlos  Shepard 
David  Taylor,  Junr. 
Charles  Fairman 
George  C.  Peck 
Isaac  B.  Scudder 
Samuel  B.  Blackman 
Benjamin  Hawley 
John  R.  Skidmore 
Samuel  B.  Hawley 
Samuel  P.  Botsford 
Charles  C.  Beers 
William  H.  Peck 
Abel  F.  Gillett 
Jerome  Middlebrook 
Abram  Jarvis 
Amos  Hard 
Horace  B.  Dibble 
Jacob  Mayhew,  Junr. 

1832 
Justus  Thompson 
Samuel  M.  Turney 
Hanford  Hull 
Thomas  B.  Taylor 
Alonzo  Taylor 
Lucius  Middlebrook 
Alva  B.  Beecher 
Isaac  F.  Holtstander 
Walter  Lake 
William  B.  Glover 
Thaddeus  H.  Nichols 
Sheldon  Blackman 
Ammon  Smith 
Albert  Prindle 
Elizur  Northrop 
Alonzo  Johnson 
Abel  Stilson 
Bronson  Bulkley 
Bennitt  Piatt 
George  Gilbert 
Marcus  H.  Parmelee 
lohn  Johnson,  Junr. 
Tudson  Piatt 
Elizur  W.  Keeler 
Lj-man  Smith 
William  B.  Jennings 
Reuben  B.  Burroughs 
Hezckiah  Peck 
Eli  Higgins 
Zadock  Sherman 
Amos  Foote 
Simeon  B.  Peck 
James  Blackman 
Charles  Dikeman 
Reuben  N.  Griffin 
Isaac  Lake 
David  Northrop 
George  M.  Benedict 
Charles  Skidmore 
Gershom  Dimon 


130  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Sheldon  Northrop  1833  Eli  W.  Blackman 

Joel  Thorp  Andrew  Knapp  William  Scudder 

Charles  Johnson,  Junr.       Tnimrin  Perry  Isaac  Hawley 

Ammon  Williams  Agur  Clark  Joseph  G.  Ferris 

Joseph  B.  Fairchild  Philo  T.  I^latr  I\-.vid  Sanford 

Oliver  Evens  Elijah  B.  Terrill  Gideon  B.  Fairchild 

Thomas  H.  Green  James  A.  Cargill 

NEWTOWN  DURING  THE  REVOLUTION 

We  find  no  allusion  in  the  town  journal  to  the  troubles  brewing 
between  Great  Britain  and  her  New  England  colonies  until  1775, 
when,  at  an  adjourned  town  meeting,  March  6,  1775,  at  the  meeting 
house,  Mr.  Daniel  Botsford  was  chosen  moderator  and  a  memorial 
to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Connecticut  colony  then  in  session 
at  New  Haven  was  laid  before  the  meeting  for  consideration  and 
action.  No  living  soul  of  our  beautiful  town  to-day  can  realize  in 
the  smallest  degree  with  what  dignity  and  solemnity  that  body  of 
electors  who  represented  the  people  of  the  town,  that  then  had  a 
population,  according  to  the  census  of  1774,  of  2,229  souls,  met  to 
express  themselves  upon  the  crisis  they  were  soon  to  be  called  to 
meet.  As  yet  no  shot  had  been  fired,  no  blood  shed,  though  British 
troops  were  not  so  far  away  but  that,  on  the  19th  day  of  April 
following,  the  battle  of  Lexington  was  fought,  when  the  shot  was 
fired  which  was  heard  around  the  world.  Paul  Revere,  a  Boston 
patriot  on  the  watch,  placed  two  signal  lanterns  in  the  belfry  of 
the  old  Boston  North  church  steeple,  and  he  himself  (as  the  story 
goes)  galloped  through  the  country  giving  the  alarm. 

Memorial  sent  to  the  General  Court  at  its  session  in  New  Haven, 
March  2,  1775,  which  shows  a  strong  desire  to  settle  the  diflferences 
between  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country  without  war. 

"To  the  Honorable,  the  General  Assembly  of  ye  Colony  of  Connecticut 
in  New  England  to  be  holden  at  New  Haven  on  the  second  day  of  March, 
1775,  the  memorial  of  us  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  in  Fairfield  County 
humbly  showeth  that  your  honor  memorialists  being  verj^  sensible  and 
deeply  afifected  with  ye  distrest  estate  of  ye  Colonies  in  general  and  this 
Colony  in  particular  respecting  ye  unhappy  differences  that  now  subsists 
between  ye  parent  state  and  her  colonies  and  also  being  very  apprehensive 
that  ye  late  measures  come  into  by  ye  late  General  Congress  will  not  have 
ye  desired  effect  of  working  an  effectual  union  or  reconciliation  between 
said  state  and  her  colonies,  your  inemorialists  humbly  pray  your  honors 
to  take  ye  distrest  estate  of  this  Colony  into  your  wise  consideration  and 
to  adopt  such  measures  as  you  shall  think  proper,  and  to  prefer  a  petition 
to  King  and  Parliament  in  ye  name  of  ye  Assembly  who  only  are  known  to 
be  3'e  representatives  of  ye  people.  We  further  remind  your  Honors  that 
as  General  Congress  or  General  Councils  have  always  been  extremely  ex- 
pensive so  they  have  not  always  answered  ye  expectations  of  their  con- 
stituents and  further  we  have  to  observe  to  your  Honors  yt  as  our 
assemblies  are  ye  only  legal  representatives  of  ye  people  they  cannot  sub- 
stitute any  persons  to  act  in  their  stead  and  that  if  another  Congress 
should  take  place  and  report  yt  we  bind  ourselves  and  our  constituents 
it  would  be  ye  act  and  report,  not  of  a  committee  but  of  Law  makers,  and 
again  we  are  filled  with  amazement  at  ye  dreadful  consequences  yt  must 
take  place  if  ye  resolution  of  ye  Congress  carried  into  execution,  two  large 
towns  or  more  besides  ye  many  thousands,  perhaps  near  one-half  of  this 
colony  who  are  liege  subjects  of  our  Lord  and  King  who  have  violated  no 
law  of  ye  realm,  who  are  deeply  affected  with  ye  distrest  state  of  ye 
Colonies,  grieved  with  these  acts  of  Parliament  which  affect  ye  interests 
of  ye  Colonies  willing  to  take  all  reasonable  or  Constitutional  measures 


NEWTOWN    DURING   THE    REVOLUTION  131 

to  obtain  redress  of  ye  same,  but  diflFering  from  ye  late  Congress  in  mode 
of  proceeding,  only  that  we  should  be  deprived  of  those  privileges  which 
ye  law  of  God,  of  nature  and  of  compact  have  give  us,  we  are  filled  with 
amazement,  your  Honor  petitioners  beg  leave  once  more  to  remind  your 
Honors  yt  eleventh  article  of  the  Continental  Congress  come  into  and  com- 
plied with,  doth  exclude  ye  Representatives  of  those  towns   from  a  seat 
in  ye  house  of  Representatives  for  as  by  ye  best  authority  we  can  have  ye 
town  of  New  Haven  on  ye  27th  day  of  February  last,  voted  that  they,  nor 
inhabitants  of  Newtown  or  Ridgefield  should  have  entertainment  or  sub- 
sistence within  a  town  which  doth  as  effectually  exclude  ye  Representa- 
tives of  those  towns  a  seat  there,  as  if  ye  General  Assembly  had  passed  it 
into  a  law  of  ye  Colony,  and  again  as  ye  Resolutions  of  General  Congress 
in  many  of  their  resolves  are  repugnant  to  ye  charter  of  this  Colony,  so 
ye  late  agreement  of  ye  County  Congress  at  Fairfield  is  directly  in  ye  face  of 
,  Magna  Charter  itself,  where  it  stands  enacted  no  freeman  shall  be  taken 
I  or  imprisoned  or  disseased  of  his   freehold  or  liberties,  or  exiled,  or  any 
I  otherwise  destroyed,  and  we  will  not  pass  sentence  upon  him,  nor  condemn 
him  but  by  lawful  judgment  of  his  peers  or  by  ye  law  of  ye  land.     We  will 
sell  to  no  man,  we  will  not  denj^  or  defer  to  any  man  either  justice  or  right. 
We  beg  once  more,  leave  to  enquire  where  3'e  great  difference  lies  between 
ye  Honorable  upper  House  and  your  Honor's  petitioners.     Your  Honors 
have  not  proceeded  to  act  in  ye  affair,  and  your  Honors  petitioners  have 
jonly   said  they  would  not  act   at   all.     In   ye  course   of  our   enquiries   we 
further  find  yt  ye  very  existence  or  being  of  Congress  in  matters  of  legis- 
lation   is    directly    repugnant    to    English    constitution,    not    only    by    ye 
concessions  of  ye  Congress  themselves,  but   by  their  own   resolves,  as   in 
Page  8:   'Resolved,  yt  it  is  indisputably  necessary  to  good  government  and 
rendered  essential  by  ye  English  Constitution,  yt  ye  constituent  branches 
of  ye  Legislative,  be  independent  of  each  other,  yt  therefore  the  exercise 
of   legislative   power   in    several   Colonies   by   a   council   appointed    during 
'pleasure  by  ye   Crown   is  unconstitutional   dangerous   and   destructive   to 
ye  freedom  of  American  legislation,'  to  which  it  may  be  answered,  yt  ye 
council  or  congress  referred  to  is  a  council  appointed  by  ye  Crown  and  not 
by  a   neighboring  Colony,  which   would   be   a   position   or  construction   so 
absurd,   that   no   worshipper   of   a    Congress    but   would    blush    to    have   it 
mentioned,  and  must  then  your  petitioners  with  ye  many  thousands  be- 
sides,   who    have    long    enjoyed    peace    and    tranquility    under    auspicious 
reign  of  our  Sovereign  and  under  ye  protection  of  this  Assembly  must  we 
be  compelled  to  quit  our  native  country  this  once  fair  and  pleasant  Land 
iwith  all  our  possessions,  our  friends,  and  all  yt  is  near  and  dear  to  us  and 
Iseek  refuge  in  some  gloomy  corner  of  the  earth  darker  than  the  grave,  or 
[must  we  adopt  the  doings  of  ye  Congress  or  is  it  all  a  jest? 

Voted,  at   said  meeting,  that   the  above  memorial  be   presented   to   the 
'Assembly  now  sitting  at  New  Haven. 
'Newtown,  March  6,  1775. 

j  Jotham   Sherman 

I  Zadock  Sherman 

i  Thomas  Skidmore 

Jabez    Baldwin 
Test,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Town  Clerk.  Selectmen. 

In  the  following  year,  1776,  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was 
signed.  The  public  records  of  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  in  its  list 
Df  names  of  representatives  from  the  several  towns,  has  the  name 
bf  Newtown  with  a  blank.  Whether  the  town  did  not  elect,  or,  if 
elected,  they  refused  to  take  the  oath  of  office,  history  does  not 
:ell.  The  General  Court  met  at  New  Haven  in  October,  1776,  and 
;he  first  resolution  passed  by  the  Assembly  was  : 

I  "We  approve  of  the  Declaration  of  Independance  published  by  said 
[Congress,  and  that  this  Colony  is  and  of  right  ought  to  be,  a  free  and 
Independent  state,  and  the  inhabitants  thereof  are  absolved  from  all 
illegiance  to  the  British  Crown,  and  all  political  connections  between 
hem  and  the  King  of  Great  Britian  is,  and  ought  to  totally  dissolved." 


132  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

At  the  session  of  the  General  Court  at  New  Haven  in  May,  1775, 
was  enacted  what  was  known  as  the  Tory  Act,  to  guard  the  colony 
against  Toryism.  At  the  annual  town  meeting  of  Newtown,  Dec. 
5,  1775,  the  town  voted  "that  a  copy  of  the  Tory  Act  shall  be  h-.Iden 
and  continually  kept  in  the  Town  Clerk's  office  and  that  the  other  Tory  Act 
shall  be  kept  at  William  Burwell's." 

At  the  session  of  the  General  Court  at  New  Haven  in  October, 
1776,  an  act  was  passed  prescribing  and  enjoining  an  oath  of  fidelity 
to  the  State,  which  reads:  "Whereas,  the  King  of  Great^Britain 
hath  abdicated  the  government  of  this  and  the  other  United  States  of 
America,  by  putting  them  out  of  his  protection,  and  unjustly  levying  war 
against  them,  and  the  said  United  States  by  their  representatives  in  General 
Congress  assembled  by  a  Declaration  bearing  date  the  fourth  day  of  July, 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-six,  for  the  reasons  therein  men- 
tioned solemnly  declared  that  the  united  Colonies  of  North  America  are, 
and  of  right  ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  states  and  that  they  are 
absolved  from  all  allegiance  to  the  British  Crown,  and  that  all  political 
connection  between  them  and  the  state  of  Great  Britain  is,  and  ought  to 
be,  totally  dissolved,  which  Declaration  is  approved  by  this  Assembly, 
Therefore,  it  is  expedient  for  the  security  of  this  state,  that  an  oath  of 
fidelity  be  taken  by  the  freemen  and  officers  thereof." 

This  preamble  and  resolve  was  followed  by  a  copy  of  the  oath 
of  fidelity,  that  every  freeman  was  obliged  to  take,  before  he  could 
be  received  as  an  elector.  The  oath :  "Be  it  enacted  by  the  Gov- 
ernor, Council  and  Representatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by 
the  authority  of  the  same,  that  all  the  members  of  the  general  Assembly, 
and  other  officers  civil  and  military,  and  freemen  within  the  state  of  Con- 
necticut, shall  take  the  following  oath  :  'You  do  swear  by  the  ever-living 
God,  that  you  will  truly  and  faithfully  adhere  to,  and  maintain  the 
government  established  in  this  state  under  the  authority  of  the  people, 
agreeable  to  the  laws  in  force  within  the  same,  and  that  you  believe  in 
your  conscience  that  the  King  of  Great  Britain  hath  not,  nor  of  right  ought 
to  have,  any  authority  or  dominion  in  or  over  this  state,  and  that  you  do 
not  hold  yourself  bound  to  yield  any  allegiance  or  obedience  to  him  within 
the  same,  and  that  you  will,  to  the  utmost  of  your  power,  maintain  and 
defend  the  freedom,  independence  and  privileges  of  this  state  against  all 
open  enemies  of  traitorous  conspiracies  whatsoever,  so  help  you  God.' 
And  no  person  shall  have  authority  to  execute  any  of  the  offices  aforesaid 
after  the  first  day  of  January  next  until  he  hath  taken  said  oath  before  they 
enter  upon  the  execution  of  their  offices.  No  freeman  within  this  state 
shall  be  allowed  to  vote  in  the  election  of  any  officers  of  government  until 
he  hath  taken  the  aforesaid  oath  in  the  open  freeman's  meeting  in  the 
town  where  he  dwells,  and  the  names  of  all  the  freemen  who  take  said 
oath  shall  be  enrolled  by  the  town  clerk  in  the  records  of  the  town,  which 
oath  shall  be  administered  by  a  magistrate  or  justice  of  the  peace." 

This  went  into  effect  Jan.  1,  1777.  That  year,  the  General  Court 
opened  its  sessions  on  the  second  Thursday  of  Alay  and  August  25, 
and  between  that  year  (1777)  and  1782,  128  names  are  recorded  as 
having  taken  the  oath  of  fidelity.  At  a  special  meeting,  Jan.  6,  1777, 
to  consider  assent  to  the  articles  of  Confederation  drawn  up  and 
sent  by  Congress  to  the  several  States,  agreeable  to  a  requisition  of 
His  Excellency,  the  Governor,  it  was  voted,  "that  in  consequence  of 
the  above  notification  and  having  particularly  considered  every  Article 
by  itself,  unanimously  approve  of  every  article  of  Confederation  as  sent  by 
Congress  to  the  several  States.  Resolved,  that  the  Representatives  of  this 
town  transmit  the  votes  of  this  meeting  to  the  General  Assembly  of  this 
state,  approving  of  every  article  of  Confederation  of  the  United  States  in 
Congress  as  the  sense  of  this  town  that  the  Delegates  of  this  state  be 
empowered  by  the  Assembly  to  Ratify  and  confirm  the  same  in  Congress." 

The  freemen  of  Newtown  were  slow  in  conforming  to  the  law. 


NEWTOWN    DURING    THE    REVOLUTION  133 

and  at  the  May  session  of  the  Legislature,  Newtown  was  not  rep- 
resented in  the  General  Court.  From  the  time  of  the  signing  the 
Declaration  of  Independence  to  the  close  of  the  war,  town  meetings 
were  held  frequently,  and  information  regarding  the  town's  doings 
in  helping  carry  on  the  war  must  be  gathered  from  the  town  rec- 
ords At  a  special  town  meeting,  April  7,  1777,  it  was  "voted  that 
Oliver  Tousey,  William  Burwell  and  Jonathan  Booth  be  appointed  a 
committee  to  take  care  of  the  Excise  money.  Put  to  vote  whether  there 
shall  be  a  committee  appointed  by  this  town  to  take  care  of  such  money  as 
shall  be  remitted  from  time  to  time  by  any  soldier  in  the  Continental  Army 
agreeble  to  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety  bearing  date  March  18, 
1777,  voted  in  the  negative.  Put  to  vote  whether  we  will  adhere  to  the  Act 
of  this  State  respecting  regulating  Trade,  voted  in  the  negative.  Put  to 
vote  that  the  Town  shall  use  their  influence  to  prevent  the  spreading  of 
small-pox  by  inoculation  or  some  other  way  in  this  town,  voted  in  the 
affirmative. 

At  a  special  town  meeting,  Oct.  6,  1777,  Alessrs  Eli  Dunning,  Jabez 
Botsford,  Esq.,  Mathew  Curtis,  Jr.,  and  George  Terrill,  shall  be  committee 
to  provide  according  to  the  Proclamation  of  the  Governor  and  Council  of 
Safety,  September  12,  1777.  Voted,  that  the  Town  Treasurer  shall  pur- 
chase wheat  and  deliver  the  same  to  those  families  belonging  in  the 
Continental  Army,  at  the  prices  stated  by  law." 

"Voted,  that  Capt.  Jabez  Botsford  and  Richard  Fairman  shall  be  a  com- 

i  mittee  to  take  care  of  and  provide  necessaries  of  life  for  the  families  of 
those  soldiers  now  in  the  Continental  Army." 

"Voted,  that  the  salt  belonging  to  this  town  purchased  by  the  state  shall 

,  be  transported  from  Bedford  in  Boston  state  to  this  place  at  the  expense 

I  of  the   town,  and  that   in   a   manner   that   the   selectmen   shall   think   most 

'  expedient  and  safe  either  by  land  or  water." 

"Voted,  that  the  selectmen  shall  take  care  of  the  pig  iron  allowed  to  this 
town  by  the  state  and  that  it  be  forwarded  in  the  best  manner  to  the  most 
convenient  forge." 

August  25,  26  and  27,  these  freemen  went  before  Jabez  Botsford,  justice 

I  of  the   peace   and   complied   with   the   law:     Jabez   Botsford,   Esq.,   George 

;  Terrill,  Lieut.  Benjamin   Summers,  Richard  Fairman,  James   Fairchild,  Jr., 
Fitch  Kimberley,  Moses  Shepherd,  Elijah  Botsford,  Lieut.  Henry  Fairman, 

I  Nathaniel  Brisco,  John  Botsford,  Nathaniel  Barnum.— Caleb   Baldwin,  Jr., 

I  Town  Clerk. 

I      A  noble  example  of  12  of  Newtown's  foremost  men,  who  dared 
to  become  leaders  and,  with  uplifted  hand,  swear  before  the  ever- 

'  living  God  to  uphold  and  defend,  if  need  be  with  their  lives,  the 

j  cause  espoused  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence.     From  August 
25,  1777,  to  1791,  337  freemen  took  the  oath  of  fidelity,  when,  with 

I  the  war  ended  and  peace  restored,  the  observance  of  that  law  was 

\  no  longer  required. 

]      At  the  annual  town  meeting,  Dec.  7,   1777,  the  demands  made 

j  upon  the   town  by  strenuous   efforts   in  prosecution   of   the   war, 

I  made  an  increase  of  the  board  of  selectmen  absolutely  necessary 

j  and  Caleb  Baldwin,  Jr.,  Col.  John  Chandler,  Jabez  Botsford,  Esq., 

,  Mr.  Nathan  Bennett,  Mr.  Matthew  Curtiss,  Mr.  Joshua  Northrop, 

I  and  Mr.  Eli  Dunning  were  chosen  for  selectmen. 

|l      "Voted,  Mr.  Job  Burwell,  Abel  Baldwin,  Josiah  Beardslee,  Capt,  Jonathan 
Northrop,    Jared    Dunning,    George    Terrill,    Jabez    Botsford,    Esq.,    James 

I  Glover  and  Mr.  Matthew  Curtis,  shall  be  a  committee  of  clothing  for  the 
soldiers  for  the  year  ensuing." 

I      "Voted,     Mr    Isaac     Hawley,    Ebenezer     Smith,    Amos    Terrill,    Gideon 
Botsford,  Jabez   Botsford,  Esq.,  and  James   Fairchild,  be  a   committee   to 

\  take  the  care  of  the  families  of  the  soldiers  belonging  to  this  town  in  the 

I  Continental  Army." 


134  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

In  the  year  1778,  a  loan  office  was  established  in  the  several 
colonies  to  receive  such  monies  as  might  be  offered  for  loan,  and 
commissioners  were  appointed  in  each  colony  to  receive  loans,  for 
which  they  were  to  deliver  over  to  the  lenders  loan  certificates 
bearing  4  per  cent  interest  and  payable  in  three  years.  Caleb 
Baldwin,  Esq.,  was  appointed  commissioner  for  Newtown,  and  the 
loan  money  was  to  be  used  to  help  furnish  the  soldiers  with  things 
most  needful.  The  loans  made  were  12:  Aaron  Gregory  $70, 
Thomas  Brooks  £38  lOs,  Josiah  Beardslee  £100,  Mary  Judson  $57  and  two- 
thirds,  Mary  Judson  and  Thomas  Brooks  $300,  Jonathan  Fairchild  $600, 
Sarah  Baldwin  $100,  Caleb  Baldwin  $70,  Thomas  Brooks,  Jr.,  and  Mary 
Judson  £38  10s,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Jr.,  one  Continental  Loan  Office  certificate 
$300  also  $33  and  one-third,  Elizabeth  Robson  $120,  Capt.  Abel  Botsford  $120. 
That  insubordination  existed  in  Newtown  in  1778  is  shown  by 
this  Act  passed  by  the  General  Assembly  in  that  year : 

Upon  a  representation  made  to  this  Assembly,  that  the  three  alarm 
companies  formed  within  the  limits  of  the  first  society  of  Newtown  in  the 
16th  Regiment  having  some  time  since  made  choice  of  persons  inimical  to 
this  and  the  other  United  States  of  America,  who  for  that  reason  were 
refused  commissions,  or  wholly  neglect  and  refuse  to  execute  their  offices 
whereby  all  the  said  companies  are  destitute  of  officers  and  by  that  means 
not  in  a  condition  to  be  called  upon  to  perform  military  duty  for  the 
defence  of  the  country.  Resolved,  by  this  Assembly,  that  the  colonel  or 
chief  officer  of  said  Regiment  be  directed  and  he  is  hereby  ordered  and 
directed  to  cause  legal  warning  to  be  given  said  companies  as  soon  as  may 
be,  to  meet  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  commission  officer  and  lead  or 
order  them  to  be  led  to  such  choice  for  their  respective  companies,  and 
in  case  they  neglect  or  refuse  to  elect  such  persons  as  are  qualified  accord- 
ing to  the  laws  of  this  state,  to  e.xecute  such  offices  that  then,  the  civil 
authority  in,  and  selectmen  of  Newtown,  with  the  advice  of  said  Colonel 
or  chief  officer  are  hereby  empowered  and  directed  forthwith  to  nominate 
such  officers  as  may  be  necessary,  which  choice  or  nomination  shall,  by 
said  Colonel  or  chief  officer  be  returned  to  this  Assembly,  or  in  the  recess 
thereof,  to  his  Excelency  the  Governor,  who  is  desired  to  commissionate 
them  accordingly,  which  officers  shall  immediately  proceed  to  detach  their 
quota  of  men  for  the  Continental  Army  as  soon  as  the  field  officers  of  said 
Regiment  have  proportioned  them  to  the  respective  companies,  which  they 
are  hereby  directed  to  do." 

The  records  show  1778  to  have  been  more  free  from  special  town 
meetings  than  usual.  There  was  routine  work  of  looking  after  the 
needs  of  soldiers'  families  on  the  part  of  the  committees  having 
that  duty  to  perform.  Not  until  July  of  the  following  year,  was 
there  this  call  for  a  special  town  meeting: 

"Advertisement— Notice  is  hereby  given  to  Newtown  inhabitants  that 
there  is  to  be  a  town  meeting  at  the  Town  House  in  said  town  on  Monday 
next  at  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  to  adopt  some  measures  to  raise 
moneys  to  supply  the  family's  of  the  officers  and  soldiers  belonging  to  said 
town  now  in  Continental  service  agreeable  to  a  late  resolve  of  the  General 
Assembly  and  to  do  any  other  business  necessary. 

Jabez    Botsford 
Joshua   Northrop 
John  Chandler 
Eli  Dunning 

Selectmen." 
Newtown,  July  10,  1779. 

Meeting  met  according  to  the  warning.  Henry  Peck,  Esq.,  appointed 
moderator:  "Voted  that  the  committee  supplying  the  officers  and  soldiers' 
families  now  in  Continental  service  agreeable  to  Resolve  of  the  General 
Assembly,  May  1779,  make  and  adjast  each  man's  proper  proportion  (oblig- 
ed by  law  to  pay  rates  in  Newtown^   of  the   sum  of  £108  reckoning  the 


NEWTOWN    DURING    THE    REVOLUTION  135 

addition  of  75  per  cent  on  the  prices  of  grain  of  the  several  kinds,  and  that 
they  call  on  the  inhabitants  of  said  Town  to  return  to  them  immediately  or 
at  a  convenient  season  said  dividend  for  the  use  of  said  families  and  that 
they  make  returns  of  the  sum  allowed  by  the  Committee  of  the  Pay-table 
once  in  six  months  to  the  Authority  and  selectmen  that  a  settlement  may 
be  had  agreeable  to  the  minds  of  this  or  some  future  meeting." 

A  special  town  meeting  was  called  for  Monday,  July  20,  1779,  for  the 
purpose  of  "raising  a  bounty  for  those  who  shall  enlist  into  the  Continental 
service  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  calling  for  the  same. 
Meeting  was  opened  in  accordance  with  the  notification.  Capt.  George 
Terrill  was  chosen  moderator  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  with  out  an 
action  being  taken." 

At  a  special  town  meeting,  August  31,  1779,  it  was  voted,  "that  there 
shall  be  one  shilling  on  the  pound  on  the  list  of  1775  paid  into  the  town 
treasury  to  supplj'  the  committee  for  the  supplying  the  families  of  the 
officers  and  soldiers  belonging  to  this  town  in  the  Continental  army.  The 
meeting  taking  into  consideration  the  circumstances  of  Nathan  Turner  and 
Calvin  Turner,  now  returned  from  the  enemy:  Resolved,  that  the  said 
Turner  be  not  admitted  to  stay  in  this  town."  "Voted,  that  this  meeting 
make  known  to  the  General  Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  either 
by  memorial  or  some  other  manner,  the  circumstances  and  true  situation 
of  this  town  in  regard  to  those  unfriendly  persons  in  said  town  together 
with  the  reasons  of  the  Friends  to  the  Liberties  of  America  in  this  town 
entering  their  protest  against  the  Town  Clerk's  entering  those  unfriendly 
persons  in  the  list  of  those  that  have  taken  oath  of  fidelity.  Voted,  that 
Jabez  Botsford,  Esq.,  Job  Burrill  and  David  Curtis  shall  be  a  committee  of 
cloathing  for  the  soldiers  of  the  Continental  army."  Voted,  "that  the  com- 
mittee of  clothing  shall  draw  orders  on  the  town  treasury  for  such  clothing 
as  they  shall  procure  for  the  soldiers  and  make  return  to  the  committee 
of  the  Pay-table  and  return  such  order  as  they  shall  obtain,  into  the  town 
treasury." 

A  meeting  of  the  Governor  and  Council  of  Safety  at  Hartford  in  October, 
1779:  Resolved,  that  the  selectmen  of  Newtown  receive  from  Joseph 
Hopkin,  Esq.,  of  Waterbury,  ten  fire-arms  belonging  to  this  state,  also 
150  pounds  of  gun-powder  from  the  keeper  of  powder  belonging  to  this 
state  at  Ripton,  and  also  300  flints  of  Captain  George  Smith  of  Hartford, 
they  passing  their  receipts  therefor,  said  selectmen  to  be  responsible.  Per 
order  of  Major  Caleb  Baldwin,  also  upon  the  memorial  of  Samuel  Hazard, 
a  refuge  from  the  city  of  New  York,  now  resident  of  the  town  of  Newtown, 
showing  that  when  he  left  New  York,  he  left  with  some  of  his  friends  on 
Long  Island  considerable  effects  belonging  to  himself  and  family,  and 
praying  to  have  liberty  to  go  onto  said  Island  and  bring  off  said  effects. 
Resolved,  that  the  said  Samuel  Hazard  have  liberty  and  liberty  is  hereby 
granted  to  him  to  go  onto  Long  Island  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  away 
such  effects,  he  conforming  himself  to  the  directions  of  Thaddeus  Betts, 
Esq.,  of  Norwalk,  under  whose  care  and  inspection  he  is  to  conduct  in  the 
affair." 

Voted,  "that  Capt.  Jabez  Botsford  shall  be  collector  of  the  provision  tax." 
Voted,  "that  this  meeting  reconsider  their  former  vote  appointing  Mr 
Ephraim  Sherman,  and  appoint  Capt.  Jabez  Botsford  to  collect  and  put  up 
the  whole  both  flour  and  meat,  except  that  in  the  parish  of  Newberry." 
Voted,  "that  Mr  Eli  Dunning  be  collector  of  that  part  of  the  provision  tax 
in  the  parish  of  Newbury." 

By  order  of  Newtown's  selectmen,  Richard  Smith,  Elijah  Bots- 
ford. Eli  Dtmning,  Abel  Botsford,  a  special  town  meeting  was  held 
March  8,  1780,  in  compliance  with  a  resolve  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  State,  to  appoint  a  board  of  Inspectors  for  better  care  in  the 
inspection  of  food  stipplies  furnished  for  Continental  soldiers  at 
the  front.  The  meeting  was  held  at  the  Center  schoolhouse.  Cap- 
tain Henry  Peck  was  chairman.  "Voted  that  Lieutenant  Amos 
Terrill,  Mr.  Josiah  Beardslee,  Joshua  Hatch,  Richard  Fairman,  Abel 
Baldwin,  Captain  George  Ferris,  Captain  Elijah  Botsford,  Mr.  Job  Bunnill, 
Matthew  Curtiss,  Junr.,  Benjamin  Burr,  Asa  Cogswell,  Amos  Northrop,  Eli 


136  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Dunning,  Captain  Richard  Smith,  Moses  Shepard,  Joshua  Northrop,  Silas 
Fairchild,  Captain  Benjamin  Summers,  Mr.  Nathan  Sherman,  shall  be  a 
committee  of  Inspectors  of  Provisions  the  year  ensuing,  agreeable  to  a 
Resolve  of  the  General  Assembly  passed  in  January,  1780.  Voted,  that  Mr. 
Abraham  Bennitt  shall  be  committee  to  supply  the  family  of  Lieutenant 
Ephraim  Kimberley  the  year  ensuing  as  a  soldier  in  the  Continental 
service."  Also  voted,  "Lieutenant  Amos  Terrill  shall  be  a  committee  to 
supply  the  family  of  Mr.  Elijah  Foot,  a  soldier  in  the  Continental  Army." 
Also  voted,  "in  order  to  raise  the  eight  men  required  for  the  years  service 
to  defend  the  Post  at  Horseneck,  we  proceed  in  the  same  manner  as  is 
directed   for   the   Continental   soldiers." 

Another  special  town  meeting,  July  10,  1780,  to  raise  a  bounty 
for  those  who  enlisted  in  the  Continental  service  agreeable  to  the 
Act  of  the  General  Assembly.  The  meeting  was  regularly  held  at 
6  p.  m.,  July  10,  1780.  Captain  George  Terrill  was  chosen  moder- 
ator, and  the  meeting  was  dissolved  without  taking  action. 

A  special  town  meeting,  Nov.  13,  1780,  to  raise  the  quota  of  pro- 
visions of  said  town,  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly 
in  October,  1780,  voted  "that  Mr.  Ephraim  Sherman  and  Mr.  Eli 
Dunning  be  a  committee  for  the  purpose  of  putting  up  fiour  in  this  town 
for  Continental  use."  Voted,  "that  Capt.  Jabez  Botsford  and  Mr  Eli 
Dunning  be  a  committee  for  the  purpose  of  providing  barrells  and  putting 
up  beef  and  pork  required  by  law  for  Continental  Stores."  Voted,  "that 
this  meeting  has  no  objection  to  the  wives  and  families  of  Ephraim  Betts 
and  Elias  Skidmore  repairing  to  Long  Island  there  to  tarry  with  their 
husbands,  going  under  the  direction  of  the  authority  and  selectmen." 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  December,  1780,  it  was  voted  "that  the 
selectmen  be  a  committee  to  ascertain  the  number  of  soldiers  now  in 
Continental  service  accounted  for  this  town  and  make  returns  of  their 
doings  at  the  next  meeting."  At  the  adjourned  meeting  Dec.  25,  1780,  it 
was  voted  "that  Mr.  Henry  Wood,  David  Judson  and  Eli  Dunning  be  a 
committee  of  clothing  for  the  soldiers  belonging  to  Newtown,  and  that 
Captain  Abel  Botsford  and  Ensign  Clement  Botsford  be  a  committee  to 
supply  the  soldiers'  families  with  provisions  for  the  year  ensuing."  Voted, 
"that  this  town  will  enable  commanding  officers  of  the  several  military 
companies,  and  the  selectmen,  to  procure,  by  hireing  at  the  town's  cost  if 
possible,  the  men  now  requested  by  peremptory  detachment  and  all  other 
peremptory  detachments  from  the  militia  the  year  ensuing."  Voted,  "that 
Captain  Elijah  Botsford,  Captain  Jabez  Botsford,  Captain  Abel  Botsford, 
Captain  Benjamin  Somers,  Captain  George  Terrill,  Captain  Richard  Smith, 
Mr.  Richard  Fairman,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Junr.,  and  Joshua  Northrop  be  a 
committee  to  class  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  for  the  puropse  of  filling 
the  Continental  army." 

At  a  special  town  meeting,  Jan.  22,  1781,  it  was  voted  that  Jabez  Botsford, 
Esq.,  shall  be  collector  and  receiver  of  Flour  and  Grain  required  of 
Newtown  for  the  Continental  Army,  and  that  David  Botsford  be  committee 
of  Clothing  for  the  army  for  the  year.  On  February  14,  1781,  another 
special  meeting  was  held  to  receive  returns  of  the  several  classes  in  the 
town,  for  recruits  for  the  army,  and  it  was  voted  that  Major  Caleb  Baldwin, 
Colonel  John  Chandler,  Mr.  Richard  Fairman  and  Mr.  Amos  Northrop  be 
a  committee  to  receive  the  returns  of  the  several  classes  for  recruits  of 
Continental  soldiers  in  Newtown  by  the  16th  inst.,  and  on  failure  of  any 
class  having  hired,  etc.  Voted,  that  the  committee  be  and  they  are  hereby 
empowered  forthwith  on  such  report  being  made,  or  failure  of  said  report 
by  said  day,  to  pray  out  a  warrant  against  each  and  every  such  neglecting, 
lay  for  such  sum  or  sums  as  shall  be  double  the  sum  necessary  to  hire  a 
man  according  to  the  statute  and  hire  said  man  or  see  one  be  hired  as 
soon  as  may  be,  provided  nevertheless  that  said  committee  shall  have  it  in 
their  power  to  settle  with  any  such  neglecting  class,  so  be  it  they  save  the 
town  harmless  as  they  shall  think  fit.  Voted,  that  where  any  members  of 
a  class  in  this  town  already  classed  shall  neglect  to  pay  his  or  their  pro- 
portion where  a  class  shall  hire  a  man,  the  committee  above  mentioned 


NEWTOWN    DURING    THE    REVOLUTION  137 

shall  proceed  immediately  with  such  individual  according  to  the  statute 
in  such  case  accordingly.  Voted,  this  town  will  indemnify  according  to  the 
above  vote,  and  that  they  the  said  committee  make  report  of  their  pro- 
ceedings at  the  next  town  meeting.  Voted,  that  said  committee  make 
returns  of  the  said  Recruits  to  His  Excellency  the  Governor,  at  the  next 
session  of  the  General  Assembly.  Voted,  that  said  committee  double  the 
classes  already  made  in  order  to  raise  the  eight  men  required  for  the  year 
service  to  defend  the  Post  at  Horse  Neck  and  proceed  in  the  same  manner 
to  procure  said  men  as  is  above  directed  for  the  Continental  soldiers. 

Special  town  meeting,  April  9,  1781  :  Voted,  that  the  selectmen  forthwith 
call  upon  the  eight  classes  made  out  of  the  sixteen  classes,  to  raise  their 
men  for  the  state  guards  within  six  days  and  that  the  head  of  each  deficent 
class  make  report  to  the  said  selectmen  of  the  delinquents  and  that  the 
selectmen  proceed  with  them  according  to  the  statute  respecting  raising 
said  men  and  hire,  furnish  and  forward  said  men  with  the  money  they  so 
collect  so  far  as  it  be  sufficient.  In  July,  1781,  another  special  town  meeting 
was  held  to  agree  upon  some  measures  to  raise  4  pence  on  the  pound  in 
beef  cattle  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  state  and  it 
was  voted,  that  there  be  a  rate  of  two  pence  on  the  pound  on  the  list  of 
1780  in   hard   money   or   beef   cattle   by   the    first    day    of    September   next. 

Voted  that  Mr.  Richard  Fairman  and  Mr.  Eli  Dunning  be  purchasers  of 
said  beef  and  that  the  collector  pay  over  the  money  he  shall  collect  on 
said  rates,  to  the  purchaser  of  said  beef.  Voted  that  the  town  of  Newtown 
stand  in  the  classes  they  now  stand  in  for  supplying  the  guards  at  Horse 
Neck.  Voted,  that  the  committee  appointed  to  class  the  town  for  the 
Continental  Recruits  the  present  year  adjust  the  classes  for  the  state 
service  the  presennt  year  according  to  law. 

Feb.  25,  1782,  it  was  voted  that  the  town  stand  in  the  classes  as  they  now 
stand  for  supplying  the  guards  at  Horse  Neck. 

December,  1783,  it  was  voted  that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  examine 
into  the  matter  of  the  last  classing  of  the  town  to  fill  up  the  Continental 
Army  and  the  state  guards  and  make  report  at  the  next  town  meeting,  and 
that  Gen.  John  Chandler  and  Mr.  Nehemiah  Strong  be  the  committee  for 
that   purpose. 

In  March,  1782,  the  town  voted  that  the  committee  appointed  to 
clas.s  the  town  for  the  Continental  Recruits  the  present  year  shall 
adjust  the  classes  for  the  state  service  according  to  law.  The  last 
classing  of  the  town  to  fill  up  the  Continental  Army  and  the  State 
Guards  was  in  the  Spring  of  1783,  when  General  John  Chandler  and 
Mr.  Nehemiah  Strong  were  appointed  committee  for  that  purpose. 

With  the  surrender  of  Lord  Cornwallis  and  his  army  after  the 
battle  of  Yorktown  in  1781,  the  war  was  practically  ended,  and  no 
further  doings  of  the  town  are  to  be  found  in  the  town  journals 
concerning  town  care  of  its  soldiers  and  their  families. 

This  old  pass  was  found  among  the  papers  of  the  late  Mrs  Sylvia 
E.  Burr  of  Southbury,  whose  grandfather.  Eliakim  Sharp,  was 
administrator  on  the  estate  of  his  brother,  Thomas  Sharp: 

'To  whom  concerned  permit  the  bearer  Thomas  Sharp  of  Newtown  to 
pass  unmolested  to  Stamford  or  Horse  Neck  and  there  joyn  the  Company 
Detached  from  Colol  Bordleys  Regt 

pr  Jabez  Botsford  J  of  Peace  Newtown,  January  ye  9  1781. 

The  name  Bradley  was  often  spelled  Bordley  as  above.  Col  Bradley's 
regiment,  the  Fifth  of  the  "Connecticut  Line,"  Second  Brigade,  served 
from  1777  to  1781,  was  at  White  Plains,  Valley  Forge,  Redding,  Morristown 
and  Horseneck. 

Letter  from  Editor  of  Seymour  Record — 

Seymour,  Conn., 
November  14,  1913. 
Mr  Ezra  L.  Johnson, 

Dear  Sir:     I  have  been  much  interested  in  the  articles  which  you  are 
furnishing  The  Bee  regarding  "Newtown's   Place  and   Doings   during  the 


138  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Revolutionary  War"  and  thinking  you  may  be  publishing  later  a  list  of 
those  who  went  from  Newtown  to  serve  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  I 
enclose  a  copy  of  a  pass  given  to  my  grandfather  to  return  to  his  regiment 
at  Horseneck  in  1781.  It  was  the  late  State  Librarian,  Mr.  Hoadley,  who 
told  me  that  the  name  Bradley  was  frequently  spelled  Bordley  in  the  old 
times,  and  Jabez  Botsford  'J  of  Peace"  who  signed  the  pass  is  doubtless  the 
same  as  is  mentioned  as  Captain  Jabez  Botsford  in  your  article  in  the  Bee." 
Arthur  T.  Nettleton  loaned  me,  after  the  article  in  the  Bee  came 
out,  a  valuable  relic  of  the  past,  though  the  hand  that  penned  it  had 
mingled  with  dust  more  than  100  years  ago  ;  the  paper  itself  was  as 
welcome  to  me  as  must  have  been  the  first  olive  branch  that  Noah's 
dove  brought  to  the  window  of  the  Ark.  This  paper  has  a  list  of 
names  of  men  in  the  army  of  the  Revolution  who  enlisted  from 
Newtown,  for  the  preservation  of  which  we  are  indebted  to  the 
painstaking  care  of  Charles  Henry  Peck,  who,  not  many  years  ago, 
was  Newtown's  town  clerk,  ever  on  the  outlook  to  add  to  a  grow- 
ing cabinet  of  relics,  whatever  he  could  gather  of  things  supersed- 
ed by  improved  machinery  or  improved  methods,  old  manuscripts 
and  papers  with  names  and  doings  of  those  efficient  workers  and 
helpers  in  our  beautiful  town,  100  and  200  years  ago.  Ainong  the 
names  is  that  of  Peter  Fairchild,  ancestor  of  the  wife  of  Charles 
Henry  Peck,  whose  maiden  name  was  Hannah  Fairchild.  We  have 
living  in  town  other  descendants  of  Peter  Fairchild,  who  bear  the 
family  name,  Arthur  Fairchild  and  his  two  sons,  Arthur  and  Robert, 
also  a  daughter,  Mary  Hazen.  All  three  of  the  children  are  grad- 
uates of  the  Newtown  High  School,  still  looking  onward  and 
upward.    The  sons  are  now  with  the  Allies. 

1778 — 1782 — List  of  Continental  soldiers  now  in  service  in  the  Continental 
Army,  that  answer  for  Newtown  : 

Captain   Abel   Botsford's   company — 
Serg'nt  Abel  Baldwin,  Isaac   Baldwin,  Samuel  Farwether,  Nathan  Hubbill, 
Bristol  Ceaser,  Levy  Dcolph,  Baiily  Burritt,  Thomas  James,  Jacob  Parsons. 

Captain  Richard  Smith's  company — 
Samuel  Brooks,  Thomas  Brooks,  Jacob  Pason. 

Captain   Elijah   Botsford's  company — 
ZalnvDn    Prindle,    Weight    Lewis,    Lemuel    Hubbell,    Josiah    Terrill,    Smith 
Tuttle,     Eliphalet    Allen,     Eleazer     Sherman,     Nathan     Ferriss,    Abraham 
Gillette. 

Captain  George  Terrill's  company — 
Nathaniel  Osborn,   Samuel  Anderson,   Benjamin   Gregory,  Abijah   Prindle, 
Samuel  Atwood. 

Newberry  Company — James  Sanford,  Samuel  Lumnus. 

Alarm  Company — 
Peter  Fairchild,  Jack  Botsford,  negro,  John  Kimberly,  Mathew  Marvin. 

During  the  war,  Newtown  was  free  from  all  raids  of  the  enemy. 
Many  of  its  people  were  in  sympathy  with  the  Crown,  and  loath  to 
take  arms  against  it.  The  Probate  records  of  Newtown  of  the 
early  days  show  that  in  some  instances  property  was  confiscated 
and  reverted  to  the  colony.  One  man  was  hung  in  Newtown  as  a 
spy  in  June,  1777,  by  order  of  Brigadier-Gen.  Samuel  H.  Parsons, 
who  made  his  returns  "that  the  execution  had  been  duly  performed." 

The  census,  previous  to  1800,  was  taken  once  in  eight  years,  and 
the  figures  show  the  population  of  Newtown  in  1774  2229,  in  1782 
2404,  and  1790,  2764.  In  1776,  we  had  no  representation  in  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  and  none  in  town  took  the  Freeman's  oath.  That 
was  the  year  when  the  Declaration  of  Independence  was  signed. 


PASSING   OF    FRENCH    SOLDIERS    THROUGH    NEWTOWN    139 


PASSING  OF  FRENCH  SOLDIERS  THROUGH  NEWTOWN  . 

Correspondence  between  the  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  Contin- 
ental army,  Gen.  George  Washington,  and  Count  de  Rochambeau, 
commander  of  the  French  forces  who  marched  across  country  from 
Providence,  R.  I.,  to  Bedford,  N.  Y.,  to  join  Gen.  Washington's  forces 
in  his  operations  against  Lord  Cornwallis.  When  the  army  reached 
Hartford,  Newtown  was  on  the  direct  inland  course  from  Hartford 
to  Peekskill  on  the  Hudson  river. 

Reaching  Hartford,  June  22,  1781,  the  Count  wrote  to  the  Com- 
mander-in-chief, June  23,  1781  :  "I  arrived  here  (Hartford)  yester- 
day with  the  first  regiment,  which  has  been  followed  this  day  by  the 
second  and  will  be  so  to-morrow  by  the  third,  and  the  day  after  by  the 
fourth.  I  shall  stay  here  this  day  and  to-morrow  to  give  time  for  our 
broken  artillery  carriages  to  be  mended  and  our  young  artillery  horses 
and  oxen  to  refresh  themselves.  I  shall  set  off  the  day  after  to-morrow 
with  the  first  regiment  for  Newtown,  the  army  to  march  in  four  divisions 
as  before,  and  I  shall  probably  arrive  there  on  the  28th  and  stay  the  29th 
and  30th  to  assemble  the  brigade  and  march  in  two  divissions  to  the  North 
River.  The  corps  of  Lauzun  will  march  as  far  advanced  as  my  first  division 
through  Middletown,  Wallingford,  North  Haven,  Ripton  and  North  Strat- 
ford, in  which  last  place  it  will  be  on  the  28th.    I  have  the  honor,  etc. 

The  Count  de  Rochambeau." 

His  Excellency, 

George  Washington. 

General  Washington   replied: 

Camps  near  Peekskill, 
27th  of  June,  1781. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  of  receiving  your  Excellency's  favor  of  the  23d 
instant  from  Hartford.  It  would  have  given  me  the  greatest  pleasure  could 
I  have  made  it  convenient  to  meet  you  at  Newtown,  but  independently  of 
many  arrangements  which  are  necessary  at  the  first  taking  of  the  field,  I 
am  detained  by  the  hourly  expectation  of  the  Chevalier  de  la  Lauzun.  I 
am  pleased  to  find  that  your  idea  of  the  position  which  will  be  proper  for 
the  troops  under  your  command  coincides  with  my  own  and  I  shall  be 
happy  in  giving  your  quartermaster-general  every  assistance  in  recon- 
noitering  and  making  out  your  camp.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Cobb  one  of  my 
aids-de-camp  will  have  the  honor  of  delivering  this  letter  and  will  return 
to  me  with  any  dispatch  or  message  your  Excellency  may  wish  to  com- 
municate, or  should  you  rather  incline  to  come  forward  from  Newtown 
before  the  army  Col.  Cobb  will  be  proud  to  attend  you.  I  shall  be  much 
obliged  if  your  Excellency  will  present  to  Count  de  Barras  by  the  next 
occassion  my  sincere  thanks  for  the  readiness  with  which  he  was  pleased 
to  accept  the  proposition  I  had  the  honor  to  make  him,  through  his 
Excellency.     I  am,  etc., 

George  Washington. 

The  Count  de  Rochambeau. 
(Hartford.) 

Headquarters,  Peekskill, 

June  30,  1781. 
Dear  Sir:  The  enclosed  letter  to  Count  de  Rochambeau  is  of  very  great 
importance  and  requires  the  utmost  secrecy  in  its  communication.  This 
idea  you  will  convey  to  the  Count  before  its  delivery,  to  affect  which,  you 
will  first  converse  with  the  chevalier,  Chastelleux,  on  the  mode  of  its 
communication.  Its  object  is  to  inform  the  Count  that  I  have  in  contem- 
plation a  very  sudden  surprise  of  some  part  of  the  army  which  will  be  of 
great  importance  in  our  operations  and  which  we  have  flattering  expec- 
tations of  obtaining,  to  cover  and  support  which,  if  obtained  we  shall  want 


140  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

the  aid  of  the  French  army,  in  which  case  it  will  be  necessary  for  the 
Count  to  push  on  his  troops  with  greater  haste  than  he  at  present  intends, 
and  by  a  different  route  from  that  now  in  view.  The  Duke  de  Lauzun's 
legion  is  to  advance.  The  movements  which  I  would  wish  to  be  made  by 
the  French  army  are  particularized  in  my  letter  to  the  Count,  which  you 
will  see.  It  will  be  for  you  to  impress  the  gentlemen  with  the  importance 
of  their  motions  to  support  our  operations,  as  it  will  be  to  little  purpose 
for  us  to  obtain  advantages  which  we  may  not  be  able  to  maintain.  As  the 
Count  with  his  troops  is  now  in  a  very  disaffected  part  of  the  country  and 
the  Tories  will  be  desirous  to  give  any  information  in  their  power,  the 
most  profound  secrecy  and  dispatch  must  prove  the  soul  of  success  to  the 
enterprise.  This  idea  you  must  impress  with  energy  your  best  discretion 
in  the  mode.     I  am,  etc.,  George  Washington. 

Lieut-col.  David  Cobb. 
(Hartford.) 

Reply. 

Newtown,  June  30,   1781. 

Sir:  I  was  at  Count-de-Rochambeau's,  this  evening,  when  I  recevied 
your  E.xcellency's  dispatches.  General  Chastellux  was  immediately  sent 
for  and  the  heads  of  departments  consulted  on  the  new  intended  route  of 
the  army.  The  Count  inquired  whether  your  Excellency  was  acquainted 
with  the  removal  of  the  Yagers  and  some  other  troops  from  Long  Island 
to  New  York.  I  assured  his  Excellency  was  perfectly  acquainted  with  it 
and  all  the  other  movements  of  the  enemy  at  New  York  and  that  your 
Excellency  would  never  undertake  a  matter  of  this  kind  but  upon  certain 
intelligence  and  the  surest  ground  of  success.  The  Count  was  perfectly 
satisfied  with  the  plan  proposed  and  assured  me  that  duty  as  well  as  in- 
clination prompted  him  to  comply  with  your  Excellency's  wishes. 

Orders  are  accordingly  given  for  the  march  of  the  first  brigade  in  the 
morning,  and  the  Duke's  legion  which  is  now  at  New  Stratford,  will 
undoubtedly  march  at  the  same  time.  It  will  be  at  the  place  of  destination 
at  the  time  proposed,  12  o'clock.  The  rest  of  the  army  will  follow  when 
the  other  division  arrives,  which  comes  up  to-morrow.  The  Count  in  his 
letter  wishes  an  answer  from  your  Excellency  by  to-morrow  night.  It 
would  be  more  agreeable  if  it  came  sooner. 

I  am,  etc., 

David  Cobb. 
His  Excellency 

George  Washington. 

In  the  "History  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  the  New  England 
States"  that  fell  into  the  writer's  hands  in  Newtown's  Bi-Centennial 
year,  1905,  was  the  following  statement:  "In  the  campaign  of  1781, 
Count  Rochambeau  marched  his  army  from  Providence,  R.  I.,  to  Bedford, 
N.  Y.,  in  the  month  of  June.  He  was  on  his  way  to  join  Gen.  Washington 
in  his  operations  against  Lord  Cornwallis.  They  encamped  at  Woodbury 
on  the  night  of  June  27,  and  reached  Newtown  on  the  28th,  and  remained 
until  Sunday,  July  1,  when  they  broke  camp  and,  proceeding  through 
Ridgebury,  reached  Bedford,  N.  Y.,  Monday.  July  2,  ready  to  join  the  army 
at  Phillipsburg.  They  marched  in  regiments  until  reaching  Newtown, 
following  one  another  at  intervals  of  a  day's  march,  or  at  a  distance  of 
about  15  miles.  There  was  no  rest  except  what  was  imperatively  necessary. 
The  officers  wore  coats  of  white  broadcloth  trimmed  with  green,  white 
underdress  and  hats  with  two  corners  instead  of  three  like  the  cocked  hats 
worn  by  the  American  officers,  paid  all  their  expenses  in  hard  money, 
committed  no  depredations  and  treated  the  inhabitants  with  great  civility 
and  propriety." 

The  magazine  of  American  History  says  that  the  army  numbered 
600  artillery,  600  cavalry,  and  3600  infantry,  4800  men  in  all,  and 
that  when  in  Newtown  five  men  deserted  from  the  ranks.  Their 
encampment  was  on  the  plain  that  stretches  westward  from  the 
State  road  south  of  the  Middle  district  school  and  along  the  side 
hill  that  slopes  to  the  eastward  from  what  is  known  as   Ronald 


MRS.  MARY  ANN  BIRCH 

100  Years  of  Age 

She   lived    to   be    102   years 

See    Page    141 


PASSING    OF    FRENCH    SOLDIERS    THROUGH    NEWTOWN     141 

Castle.  Lamson  Birch,  who  was  born  and  always  lived  on  that 
plain  on  the  site  of  the  house  now  owned  by  Michael  Scanlon,  was 
son  of  William  and  Catherine  (Hubbell)  Birch.  They  were  married 
in  September,  1750,  and  had  a  family  of  seven  children.  Lamson, 
the  youngest,  was  born  in  September,  1771,  and  died  in  October, 
1859,  age  88  years.  In  1781,  when  the  French  army  encamped  on 
the  plains  in  front  of  and  all  about  the  home  plot,  Lamson  was  a 
boy  of  10  years  and  so  vividly  was  everything  impressed  upon  his 
memory  that  in  after  years  he  was  considered  authority  on  matters 
that  had  been  familiar  to  him  at  the  time,  to  which  reference  is  now 
made.  His  father  was  a  Tory,  and  his  family  was  regarded  as  a 
Tory  family.  The  son  used  to  tell  in  his  later  years  how  the  father 
was  compelled  to  keep  his  gun  hidden  in  the  brush  or  under  his 
barn  in  order  that  the  "suspicious  and  exasperated  Whigs"  might 
not  find  it,  and  steal  it  from  him.  He  also  held  a  Captain's  com- 
mission in  the  British  army.  His  son  used  to  tell  that  he  had  seen  it 
with  the  great  red  seal  of  King  George  the  Third  attached  and, 
after  the  battle  of  Saratoga,  he  told  his  wife  that  the  Whigs  were 
going  to  be  victorious,  and  the  best  thing  for  him  to  do  would  be  to 
burn  his  commission  at  once,  which  he  did,  evidently,  believing  it 
would  be  policy  for  him  to  be  quit  of  any  of  the  belongings  of 
royalty. 

The  writer,  27  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  Lamson  Birch's  death 
in  1859,  and  24  years  when  his  own  grandfather  died  in  1856  (who 
was  born  in  1772,  nine  years  previous  to  the  French  encampment 
in  Newtown)  often  heard  the  "back-log  stories"  told  before  the 
open  fire  place,  in  those  days  of  long  ago,  and  they  come  in  these 
later  years  with  vividness,  in  striking  contrast  to  recollections  of 
other  stories,  once  listened  to  in  wonderment  and  with  much  boyish 
delight. 

The  French  army  broke  camp  in  Newtown,  July  1  and  proceeded 
westward  to  join  Gen.  Washington's  army  on  July  6,  at  Phillipsburg, 
Westchester  county,  N.  Y.  There  they  met  the  American  forces 
resting  in  two  lines  along  the  Hudson  river.  From  there,  the  allied 
troops  marched  to  King's  Ferry  and  reconnoitered  to  learn  the 
position  of  the  British  works  about  New  York.  The  arrival  of  the 
French  troops  was  a  great  help  to  the  American  commander,  who 
was  not  slow  in  commending  in  the  highest  terms  their  rapid  march 
from  Providence  across  Connecticut  to  give  him  aid,  in  doing 
which,  Newtown  had  so  large  a  share. 

Another  person,  born  in  Newtown  in  the  period  of  the  Revolution, 
lived  to  an  extreme  old  age  (102  years,)  "Aunt  Mary  Ann"  Birch, 
who  was  daughter  of  Solomon  Glover.  She  married  James  Glover 
and  lived  in  the  district  of  Hanover,  where  they  reared  12  children, 
all  of  whom  became  of  age  and  nine  lived  to  celebrate  the  mother's 
90th  birthday.  Her  husband  died  in  1836.  She  lived  a  widow  for 
16  years,  then  married  Lamson  Birch,  to  whom  we  have  referred. 
Her  father,  too,  was  a  Tory.  He,  with  others  of  Tory  proclivites, 
w^ould  hide  in  the  woods,  where  they  were  accustomed  to  retreat 
when  they  expected  to  be  molested,  by  their  more  patriotic  neigh- 
bors.   At  one  call  of  the  Whigs  at  Mr  Glover's  house,  they  found 


142  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

him  in  bed  and  amused  themselves  by  pricking  him  with  bayonets. 
They  also  amused  themselves  by  making  free  with  a  batch  of 
pumpkin  pies  Mrs.  Glover  had  just  taken  from  the  old  brick  oven. 
They  threw  a  piece  to  the  house  dog,  at  which  she  told  them  to 
quit,  as  the  pies  were  good  enough  for  them,  but  not  good  enough 
for  the  dog.  Mrs  Mary  Ann  Birch's  experience  as  a  girl  and  her 
recollection  of  Revolutionary  days  were  extremely  interesting. 
When  Lord  Cornwallis  surrendered  in  1781,  she  was  five  years  old, 
and  distinctly  remembered  when  the  French  army,  returning  from 
the  war,  marching  to  the  coast  to  return  to  France,  again  passed 
through  Newtown.  Their  encampment  on  the  plain  extended  from 
the  foot  of  Church  hill  eastward  to  where  the  railroad  station  is, 
and  northward  and  southward  for  a  half  mile.  She  remembered 
the  breaking  up  of  the  camp  and  the  departure  of  the  troops,  their 
commander  being  no  other  than  Gen.  Lafayette.  At  that  time,  Gen 
Lafayette  spent  a  night  in  Newtown  with  Col  John  Chandler,  a 
Newtown  lawyer,  who  then  lived  in  a  house  on  the  site  of  the 
Grand  Central  hotel.  He  enlisted  at  the  opening  of  the  war  and  soon 
became  Colonel  of  the  8th  Regiment  of  Connecticut  Continental 
troops  In  my  boyhood,  old  people  disputed  whether  Gen  Wash- 
ington once  stayed  in  Newtown  over  night.  That  he  passed  though 
on  his  way  from  Rhode  Island  to  the  Hudson  River,  there  can  be  but 
little  doubt,  but  it  must  have  been  in  advance  of  the  French  forces, 
as  in  his  communication  to  the  French  commander  previously 
quoted,  he  writes:  "It  would  have  given  me  the  greatest  pleasure  could 
I  have  made  it  convenient  to  meet  you  in  Newtown,  but  I  am  detained  by 
the  hourly  expectation  of  the  Chevalier  de  la  Lauzun." 

Correspondence  that  passed  between  officials  in  the  service,  when 
the  writer's  maternal  grandfather,  Jonathan  Sanford,  Jr.,  was 
drafted  in  1779.  His  home  was  in  Hanover  school  district,  where  he 
was  born,  Jan.  5,  1739,  and  at  the  time  referred  to  was  father  of  five 
children.  A  farmer  by  occupation,  but  not  of  robust  health,  he  was 
rejected  from  the  service,  as  the  following  physician's  certificate 
shows : 

"This  may  certify  that  Jonathan  Sanford,  Jr.,  of  Newtown  has  been 
infirm  for  about  nine  or  ten  years  past  by  reason  of  pleurisy,  after  which 
he  fell  into  an  ulcery  state  of  his  lungs  which  left  him  weak,  which  weak- 
ness he  has  never  recovered  from,  nor  never  like  to,  so  as  to  endure 
hardship  and  I  really  believe  he  is  in  a  law  sense  freed  from  all  military 
duty." 

Dated  this  30th  day  of  September,  1779. 

Test,  Andrew  Graham,  physician. 

Letter    from    Jabez    Botsford,    Newtown's    First    Selectman    to    Captain 

Yeats,  stationed  at  Ripton  :  Newtown,  July  ye  3rd,   1779. 

Sir:  I  have  injected  into  the  state  service  in  the  room  of  Jonathan 
Sanford,  Junr.,  a  man  that  I  have  draughted  in  Newtown,  the  bearer 
William  Woolcutt.  I  desire  you  will  direct  him  in  the  matter  and  re-inlist 
him  if  you  think  proper.  From  your  Humble  Servant. 

To  Captain  Yeats  at  Ripton.  Jabez  Botsford. 

Captain  Yeats'  reply: 

This  may  certify  that  I  am  willing  to  take  the  said  Woolcutt  into  my 
company  if  he  should  fail  to  me.  John  Yeats. 

In  meetinng  demands  sure  to  come  upon  its  people  during  the 
Revolutionary  war  in  money,  in  clothing,  in  provision  and  in  men 
Newtown  contributed  all  that  was  demanded  of  her  people. 


THE    ROADSIDE    TAVERN  143 


THE  ROADSIDE  TAVERN. 


Not  until  the  close  of  the  Revolution  did  public  travel  so  increase 
as  to  make  it  practicable  to  keep  a  house  of  entertainment  for  the 
traveling  public.  With  lines  of  travel  by  stage  in  different  direct- 
ions and  for  what  then  were  considered  long  distances,  it  seemed 
expedient  to  establish  the  wayside  inn.  Previous  to  the  stage- 
coach, there  was  no  means  of  reaching  salt  water  save  by  pedes- 
trianism,  or  private  conveyance.  Even  mail  was  carried  on  horse- 
back and  delivered  as  best  it  could,  and  not  until  1800  did  the 
United  States  government  appoint  a  postmaster  for  Newtown. 
The  first  postmaster  was  Caleb  Baldwin,  Jr.,  whose  home  was  in 
Newtown  Street  where  Charles  F.  Beardsley  and  family  live. 
Stratford  was  our  nearest  sea-port  on  the  southeast  and  Norwalk 
nearest  on  the  southwest,  the  parish  of  Stratfield  in  the  town  of 
Stratford,  to  become  in  due  time  the  town  and  later  the  city  of 
Bridgeport,  lying  midway  between ;  with  Danbury  nine  miles  to  the 
westward,  Woodbury  nearly  twice  that  distance  eastward,  Hartford 
50  miles  away,  and  all  of  Litchfield  county  northward.  Newtown 
might  well  have  been  considered  the  central  point  for  cross-country 
travel  and,  in  1790  or  thereabouts,  it  came  to  pass  that  two  men,  in 
pleasant  rivalry  it  may  have  been,  decided  to  start  a  wayside  inn. 
Caleb  Baldwin  was  one  and  Czar  Keeler  the  other.  The  infection 
spreading,  it  was  not  long  after,  that  "Tom"  Seely  opened  an  inn 
on  the  premises  now  occupied  by  George  Northrop  near  the  North 
Center  schoolhouse.  "Uncle  Tom"  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade,  a 
jolly  good  fellow,  but,  a  better  shoemaker  than  landlord,  his  inn 
was  not  of  long  duration.  Czar  Keeler  and  Caleb  Baldwin  were  in 
the  prime  of  life  in  the  early  days  of  the  stagecoach,  and  both  lived 
long  enough,  so  that  the  writer  remembers  them  as  they  were  in 
their  old  age.  They  were  "Uncle  Czar"  and  "Uncle  Kale"  to  all  of 
us  school  children,  and  you  can  put  it  down  as  a  sure  thing  when 
you  hear  children  and  "grown-ups"  calling  an  old  man  or  old 
woman  "uncle"  or  "aunt,"  that  everybody  has  a  certain  kind  of  love 
for  them.  The  writer  well  remembers  "Uncle  Czar,"  for  he  lived  to 
be  past  90,  as  a  jolly,  genial  man,  and  there  was  an  honest  heart- 
iness about  his  laugh  that  made  it  positively  catching.  Keeler's 
Inn  stood  upon  the  open  lot  north  of  the  W.  J.  Beecher  residence, 
it  was  two  stories  in  front,  with  a  long  sloping  back  roof,  that  came 
almost  to  the  ground,  with  monstrous  fireplaces  in  which  blazing 
fires  were  always  kept  in  winter  and  around  the  spacious  hearth 
gathered  friend  and  foe.  It  was  the  rendezvous  on  a  winter  even- 
ing for  politicians  and  male  gossips  of  the  village.  So  cheerful  was 
the  room  and  so  loath  were  the  people  to  leave  that  it  would  some- 
times be  long  after  the  ringing  of  the  9  o'clock  bell  of  the  old 
Episcopal  church,  which  was  the  recognized  signal  for  closing 
stores  and  for  general  retirement  of  all  within  hearing.  Keeler's 
was  called  the  "stage  house"  for  all  stage-coaches  stopped  there. 


144  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

and  on  that  account  it  enjoyed  a  larger  custom  than  either  com- 
petitor. A  large  and  suitable  room  for  balls  was  on  the  second 
floor,  and  my  mother  was  one  of  those  who  danced  there  in  early 
days.  From  her  lips  I  heard  of  the  place  and  of  those  there  who 
tripped  "the  light  fantastic  toe."  May  29,  1820,  Czar  Keeler  was 
appointed  postmaster  for  Newtown  and  held  the  position  until  1839. 
The  appointment  came  to  him  while  he  was  yet  landlord  of  the  Inn, 
and  his  public  room  contained  the  postoffice,  a  small  upright  fixture 
with  a  few  pigeon-holes  for  letters  and  newspapers. 

Caleb  Baldwin's  Inn  had  the  reputation  of  being  the  pattern  of 
neatness,  homelike  in  all  surroundings  and  it  was  also  claimed  that 
there  could  be  had  the  best  broiled  chicken  or  sirloin  steak  to  be 
found  in  Fairfield  county.  The  motherly  reputation  of  the  hostess 
made  it  a  much  sought  place  for  restfulness.  The  public  duties  of 
the  host  so  often  took  him  away  from  home  that  it  became  a  divid- 
ed service  that  he  gave  the  inn.  Appointed  postmaster  in  1800,  he 
held  it  continuously  until  1818.  His  father  was  town  clerk  from 
1800  to  1843,  and  the  son  from  1843  to  1846. 

The  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  turnpike,  incorporated  in  1801,  so 
increased  travel  along  the  line  from  New  Milford  to  Bridgeport, 
that  the  need  of  another  inn  within  Newtown  limits  on  the  south  led 
Robert  Middlebrook  of  Trumbull  to  buy  a  50  acre  farm  on  which 
a  large  house  had  just  been  erected,  that  seemed  just  the  building 
and  the  location  for  a  wayside  inn.  A  spacious  front  yard,  well 
filled  with  young  maple  trees,  added  to  its  attractivenesss,  and  it 
was  not  long  before  the  Middlebrook  inn  became  as  popular  as  any 
hostelry  in  Fairfield  county.  Within  17  miles  of  Bridgeport., 
belated  travelers  from  either  direction  found  it  a  matter  of  conven- 
ience to  stop  over.  Uncle  Robert  was  a  good  story  teller,  "Aunt 
Mary"  was  a  splendid  cook,  the  food  was  always  of  the  best  and  the 
home-made  cider  brandy  carried  a  bead  that  testified  to  its  purity. 
The  great  open  fireplace,  with  its  blazing  logs,  never  lacked  for 
patronage  and  the  treat  was  always  on  the  one  who  was  behind  in 
the  race  of  storytelling.  Nothing  pleased  the  guests  more  than  to 
get  a  joke  on  the  hostess,  who  was  the  best  of  cooks,  and  painfully 
neat  and  particular.  One  time  she  had  a  big  mince  pie  on  the  table 
and  going  from  the  room  for  a  moment,  one  of  her  guests  raised 
the  top  crust,  slipped  a  horse  shoe  in  the  pie  and  laid  back  the  crust, 
just  in  the  nick  of  time.  Taking  her  knife  to  cut  the  pie  and  strik- 
ing some  hard  substance,  she  uttered  an  exclamation  of  surprise 
and  chagrin,  but  when  the  cause  was  ascertained  and  the  guilty 
party  known,  the  treat  for  the  crowd  was  on  the  culprit.  It  was 
still  an  open  house  in  my  early  days  and  I  well  recall  that  when  six 
years  old,  I  was  sent  there  to  get  cigars,  and,  little-boy-like,  I  had 
the  silver  piece  with  which  I  was  to  pay,  in  my  mouth,  when  a  dog 
bouncing  out,  frightened  me  to  "boo-hooing,"  and  I  swallowed  the 
the  silver  piece.  I  was  frightened.  Aunt  Mary  comforted  me  as 
best  she  could  and  I  ran  home  to  my  mother  with  the  pitiful  tale. 
The  house  is  still  standing  and  in  all  respects  the  same  in  architec- 
ture as  when  built,  but  the  maple  trees  of  more  than  a  centviry's 
growth  begin  to   show   decay.     The   blacksmith   shop   that   stood 


WILLIAM  A.  LEONARD 


Proprietor    for   many    years 

of   Newtown   Inn 

Formerly   Dick's  Hotel 

See    Page    146 


THE    ROADSIDE   TAVERN  145 

opposite  is  gone  and  new  forms  and  new   faces  pass  along  the 
streets. 

Another  inn  of  those  early  days  was  that  opened  by  Dr  Gideon 
Shepard  during  the  later  years  of  his  life,  when  he  had  practically 
turned  over  his  medical  practice  to  Dr.  Bennett  Perry.  Dr. 
Shepard's  hostelry  was  on  the  grounds  occupied  by  George  Beers' 
house  on  the  road  to  Sandy  Hook,  near  Newtown  Center.  The 
house  has  still  the  old  frame  work,  though  remodelled,  reconstruct- 
ed and  modernized.  Jolly,  bright,  quick  at  repartee  and  a  good 
story-teller,  the  latch  string  always  out  until  the  wee  small  hours, 
it  was  the  resort  for  sleighing  parties  and  balls  in  the  winter  season. 
Generous  to  a  fault,  he  belonged  to  the  class  of  whom  it  is  said, 
"too  honest  to  get  rich."  It  was  said  of  him  that  he  once  caught  a 
poor  man  in  his  cellar  stealing  from  the  pork  barrel  and,  as  punish- 
ment, he  made  the  man  take  home  half  there  was  left  in  the  pork 
barrel.  In  vain  the  man  pleaded  to  be  let  off,  for  the  doctor  told 
him  that  if  he  didn't  take  the  pork  home,  he  would  prosecute  him 
for  theft.  He  took  the  pork  and  became  a  better  man.  The  quaint 
w^ords  on  the  signboard  that  hung  from  the  arm  of  a  pole  read  on 
one  side :  "A  plain  tavern  for  plain  folks,  kept  by  a  plain  man." 
On  the  reverse,  "Inn:  Call  and  see.  If  not  suited,  the  road  opens 
both  ways."  The  location  of  Dr  Shepard's  Inn,  though  a  little  off 
from  the  main  street,  was  good,  as  it  was  on  the  main  stage  line 
from  Hartford  to  New  York. 

We  give  a  copy  of  an  advertisement  taken  from  the  Hartford 
Courant  of  about  100  years  ago. 

"Hartford  and  New  York;  new  line  express  stage.  Fare  only  $6  through. 
Way  passengers,  six  cents  a  mile.  On  the  turnpike  road  through  Farming- 
ton,  Bristol,  Watertown,  Woodbury,  Newtown,  Danbury,  Mt.  Pleasant, 
down  the  North  River  to  New  York.  Leaves  Hartford  every  Monday, 
Wednesday  and  Friday  at  4  o'clock  a.  m.,  without  fail,  and  arrives  at  Mt. 
Pleasant  same  evening  at  8  o'clock;  lodge  at  Mt  Pleasant;  leave  there 
every  Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday  at  3  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  arrive  at 
New  York  to  dine  the  same  day.  Returning,  leave  New  York  every 
Monday,  Wednesday  and  Friday  at  11  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  arrive  at  Hartford 
next  day  at  8  p.  m.  This  line  of  stages  connects  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  36  miles 
from  New  York,  with  a  packet  expressly  fitted  up  for  the  convenience  and 
comfort  of  passengers  and  no  steamboat  on  the  river  performs  her  trip 
with  such  punctuality.  Passengers  therefore  will  meet  with  no  delay,  but 
will  find  the  best  of  horses,  good  carriages  and  careful  drivers  and  punct- 
uality in  the  arrival  and  departure  of  this  stage  not  to  be  found  in  any 
line  running  at  this  time.  Persons  traveling  through  Hartford  to  New 
York  will  find  this  line  the  cheapest,  most  pleasant  and  expeditious,  with- 
out the  inconvenience  of  riding  nights,  of  any  out  of  this  place." 

Just  think  of  it,  you  who  take  the  7  a.  m.,  train  out  from 
Newtown,  to  have  all  of  the  day's  business  hours  at  your  disposal 
in  New  York  and  home  again  inside  of  12  hours  ;  in  striking  con- 
trast to  32  hours  from  Hartford  to  New  York,  including  a  sleep 
from  9  p.  m.  to  2.30  a.  m.,  with  a  fresh  relay  of  four  horses  at  each 
of  two  points  midway  between  the  two  places. 

Dr  Bennett  Perry's  residence  was  started  as  a  hotel  in  1819, 
changed  ownership  to  Sallu  Pell  Barnum,  then  later  became  Dick's 
Hotel,  still  remembered  by  many.  That  hotel  was  burned  at  mid 
day  in  Sept.  1897  making  way  for  the  large  and  attractive  Newtown 
Inn,  which,  to  the  present  time,  has  been  used  more  particularly  as 


146  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

a  summer  resort.  The  Grand  Central  hotel  is  awaiting  its  golden 
opportunity  to  reopen  as  an  all-the-year-round  hotel.  In  the  early 
40s'  the  house  where  Miss  Ann  Blackman  lives  was  built  by  Ziba 
Blackman  for  a  hotel,  but  it  was  short-lived,  owing  in  a  measure 
to  the  opening  of  the  Housatonic  railroad  about  1842. 


CARE    OF    NEWTOWN'S    DEPENDENTS  147 


CARE  AND  KEEP  OF  NEWTOWN'S  DEPENDENTS. 

In  an  annual  report  of  the  selectmen,  we  read: 

"Those  receiving  aid  from  the  town  we  seem  to  have  with  us  always,  and 
it  seems  hard  to  turn  these  unfortunates  down  and  there  will  always  be 
some  entitled  to  sympathy."  A  statement  as  true  now  as  it  was  years  ago, 
that  needs  no  argument  to  verify 

Nothing  appears  in  the  earliest  town  journal  to  show  that  there 
was  organized  effort  to  place  the  vmfortunates  under  the  care  and 
supervision  of  a  system,  other  than  that  they  were  personally  look- 
ed after  and  provided  for,  being  placed  in  families  where  the  town 
was  willing  to  pay  a  nominal  sum  for  board  and  when  death  came 
give  a  decent  burial.    That  was  the  order  of  things  in  the  town  until 

1809.  when  the  matter  was  brought  up  at  the  annual  meeting, 
resulting  in  a  vote  to  farm  them  out  at  such  place  and  in  such  way 
as  directed  by  vote  of  the  town.     At  the  annual  meeting,  Dec.  10, 

1810,  it  was  voted  that  "the  selectmen  be  authorized  to  contract  for  the 
keeping  of  the  poor  of  this  town  with  the  overseer  of  the  poor  house 
belonging  to  the  town  of  Weston  and  to  transport  the  poor  of  Newtown 
whose  expense  is  75c  a  week  or  upwards,  to  the  poor  house  at  Weston. 

For  some  unknown  reason  that  plan  was  not  adopted,  and  at  the 

annual  meeting  Dec.  1842,  it  was  "voted  that  Col.  Timothy  Shepherd,  Capt. 
Daniel  Meeker  and  Samuel  Beers,  Jr.,  be  a  committee  to  confer  with  a 
committee  from  the  town  of  Danbury  on  the  subject  of  a  poor  house."  At 
an  adjourned  meeting,  Dec.  28,  1812,  it  was  "voted  that  the  sum  of  six 
hundred  dollars  be  appropriated  to  defray  the  expense  of  building  a  house 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  poor  of  this  town  in  connection  with  the 
town  of  Danbury  and  that  the  Newtown  selectmen  be  a  committee  to  carry 
the  same  into  effect." 

The  house  was  located  in  the  west  part  of  town  in  Flat  Swamp 
district  and  stood  on  the  town  line  between  Newtown  and 
Danbury.  Rules  and  by-laws  were  drawn  and  adopted  by  the 
selectmen  of  Newtown  and  Danbury,  regulating  the  inmates. 

Rules  and  by-laws  regulating  the  Danbury  and  Newtown  poor  house  : 

1.  That  there  be  appointed  by  the  selectmen  of  Danbury  and  Newtown 
three  or  more  disinterested  men  as  a  visiting  committee  of  the  poor  house, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  see  that  the  regulations  relative  to  said  poor 
house  be  carried  into  effect. 

2.  That  it  be  the  duty  of  the  respective  towns  to  see  that  there  be  some 
proper  and  discreet  person  employed  as  an  overseer  with  necessary 
attendants  to  superintend  the  domestic  affairs  of  said  poor  house,  which 
overseer  and  attendants  shall  always  be  liable  to  be  removed  by  said 
selectmen  for  just  cause. 

3.  That  it  be  the  duty  of  the  overseer  to  see  that  the  victuals  be  well  and 
seasonably  dressed,  that  the  rooms  be  washed  once  in  each  week  in  sum- 
mer and  as  often  in  winter  as  occasion  requires,  bed  linen  changed  and 
clean  once  in  each  fortnight,  tables,  table  linen,  dishes  and  other  household 
untensils  to  be  daily  cleaned,  beds  and  bedsteads  to  be  often  examined 
and  kept  free  from  vermin,  that  the  poor  be  kept  clean  in  their  person  and 
apparel,  to  have  a  change  of  linen  weekly,  that  each  person  if  practicable 


148  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

be  washed  every  morning,  and  if  unable,  to  see  that  proper  means  be  . 
furnished  for  that  purpose,  that  it  be  the  duty  of  the  overseer  to  see 
that  no  indelicate  behavior  be  committed  either  by  word  or  action,  and  that 
good  and  decent  behavior  be  preserved  among  all,  and  that  it  be  the  duty 
of  said  oversseer  for  a  breach  by  any  of  the  poor,  of  this  article,  to  punish 
the  offender  by  a  confinement  in  the  dark  room,  to  be  kept  on  bread  and 
water  during  a  space  not  exceeding  24  hours,  unless  a  further  time  be 
thought  necessary  by  the  visiting  committee. 

4.  That  it   be  the  duty  of   the   overseer  personally   to   see   all   fires   and 
lights    extinguished,    excepting    what    be    absolutely    required    and    those  . 
under  proper  and  prudent   care  and  also   to  see  that   not   more   than   four  ' 
persons  lodge  in  one  room,  that  distinct  and  separate  rooms  be  appropriat-  | 
ed  for  the  lodging  of  males  and  females  respectively,  except  in  the  case  of  i 
husband  and   wife,  unless  absolute   necessity   require   a   different   arrange-  ! 
ment  on  particular  occasions.    Also  that  all  persons  removing  any  lilthiness  i 
shall  obey  the  directions  of  the  overseer  therein,  whose  duty  it  sh.ill  he  to 
see  the  same  so  removed  as  not  to  offend  or  endanger  the  health  cf  any 
person.     Any  person   disobeying  this  order  last   mentioned  shall  be   liable 
to  the  same  penalty  provided  in  the  third  article. 

5.  That  the  overseer  do  not  permit  any  of  the  paupers  or  any  other  per- 
son confined,  to  beg  money  or  any  other  thing  of  persons  who  may  visit  the  j 
poor  house  and  should  any  person  gratuitously  give  any  thing  for  the  use 
of  the   paupers  or  any  one  in  particular  the   same   shall  be  placed   in   the    ■ 
hands   of   the   overseer   to   be    reasonably   applied   to   answer    fhe   purpose   ' 
intended,  except  to  those  that  commit  a  breach  of  this  ru]e.  ^      ! 

6.  That  no  person  be  permitted  the  use  of  tobacco  in   anyway   while  In    i 
bed,  or  spit  on  the  wall  or  partition,  and  after  being  furnished  with  spitting   ; 
boxes,  not  to  spit  on  the  floor.     Any  person  committing  a  breach   of  this 
article,  he  or  she,  shall  be  deprived  of  the  use  of  tobacco  for  the  space    ; 
of  one  week,  or  until  such  person  will  better  conform. 

7.  That  it  be  the  duty  of  the  overseer  to  furnish  at  least  two  spitting  '. 
boxes  to  each  room,  and  keep  in  each  a  constant  supply  of  sand.  ; 

8.  That  no  person  resident  in  the  house  shall  go  without  the  enclosure  j 
around  the  same,  without  liberty  from  the  overseer,  in  which  case  he  or  i 
she  shall  return  decently  and  soberly  at  the  time  appointed  on  penalty  of  i 
being  denied  going  out  for  one  week  for  the  first  offence,  and  one  month  ^ 
for  every  succeeding  offence.  j 

9.  That  no  article   of   household   furniture   or   clothing  belonging  to   the  ' 
family  of  the  overseer  shall  be  used  by  the  poor,  unless  with  his  approba- 
tion. 1 

10.  All  those  who  are  able  to  meet  at  meal  times,  shall  come  together  ■ 
at  the  time  fixed,  or  when  called  on,  where  all  shall  observe  regularity  and 
decent  behavior,  during  meal  times,  always  giving  sufficient  opportunity  for  1 
the  religious  exercises  that  may  be  performed  on  such  occasions;  and  all  ■' 
those  who  are  unable  to  attend,  to  be  seasonably  furnished  in  the  most  ■■ 
convenient   manner   practicable.  ^ 

11.  All  persons  resident  in  the  house  who  labor  under  sickness  shall  ' 
occupy  a  room  or  rooms  specially  appropriated  for  that  purpose.  $ 

12.  That  no  person  who  is  infected  with  a  contagious  disease  of  any  kind,  jj 
shall  be  permitted  to  reside  as  a  pauper  in  the  poor  house,  and  if  after  | 
being  admitted,  it  shall  be  discovered  that  any  one  is  infected  with  such  i 
disease,  the  overseer  shall  immediatly  give  notice  to  the  selectmen  of  the  |i 
town  bringing  such  disordered  person  who  shall  remove  him  or  her  from  i' 
the  poor  house,  and  otherwise  provide  for  the  same. 

13.  Upon  notice  given,  such  as  are  able  to  work  shall  repair  to  the  several 
places  appointed  for  that  purpose,  and  then  keep  themselves  diligently 
emploj'ed  during  the  time  and  at  such  labor  as  shall  be  assigned  by  the 
overseer.  For  every  breach  of  this  article  the  same  penalty  is  to  be  inflict- 
ed as  is  provided  in  the  third  article. 

14.  That  any  kind  of  wearing  apparel,  when  worn  out,  or  unfit  for  the 
use  intended,  the  same  shall  be  at  the  disposal  of  the  overseer,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  poor  in  such  manner  as  he  shall  think  proper. 

15.  That  if  any  person  shall  attempt  or  commit  actual  violence  on  the 
overseer,  his  family  or  any  resident  paupers  such  person  shall  be  restrained 


CARE    OF    NEWTOWN'S    DEPENDENTS  149 

of  his  liberty  by  being  confined  in  the  dark  room  and  kept  on  bread  and 
water  during  the  space  of  48  hours,  and  as  much  longer  as  the  visiting 
committee  shall  deem  necessary  and  in  case  of  a  second  similar  offence  by 
those  who  are  stubborn  and  perverse,  such  other  reasonable  chastisement 
under  the  direction  of  the  visiting  committee  as  in  their  opinion  shall  be 
judged   expedient. 

16.  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  bylaws  be  handed  to  the  selectmen  of 
Danbury  and  Newtown  respectively  and  also  to  the  overseer  of  the  poor 
house,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  cause  the  same  to  be  read  to  all  the 
residents  in  said  house  at  least  once  in  three  months,  and  also  at  the  time 
of  the  entrance  of  each  pauper  into  said  house,  the  overseer  shall  cause 
him  or  her,  to  be  made  acquainted  with  said  by-laws. 

We  the  subscribers  being  appointed  agents  to  make  and  enact  such  rules 
and  regulations  as  are  necessary  for  the  well  ordering  of  the  poor  house 
for  Danbury  and  Newtown,  have  agreeable  to  our  appointment  on  this  16th 
day  of  December,  1813,  passed  for  the  foregoing  rules  and  by-laws  to  be 
observed  by  all  concerned,  and  we  do  hereby  order  them  to  be  complied 
with  accordingly. 

Samuel   Phillips, 

Daniel   Comstock,  Selectmen 

Phineas  Taylor,  of 

Eliakim   Benedict,  Danbury. 

Eli  Taylor. 

David    Meeker,  Selectmen 

Lamson  Burch,  of 

Zachariah  Clark  Newtown. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  Nov.  4,   1816,  "voted,   that   a   committee   of   tv^ro 

persons  be   appointed   (Ebenezer  Turner  and   Timothy   Shepard,   Esq.,)    in 

behalf  of  the  town  to  visit  the  poor  house  and  take  such  measures  as  they 

judge  proper  to  correct  any  abuse  that  may  occur  in  said  poor  house." 

Two  years  later,  1818,  Abijah  Merritt  and  Caleb  Baldwin  con- 
ferred with  a  committee  from  Danbury  on  the  subject  of  the  poor 
house,  and  Amos  Shepard  was  appointed  agent  to  take  oversight  of 
all  the  poor  taken  from  Newtown  to  the  poor  house  for  the  current 
year.  The  town  also  voted  to  take  counsel  on  the  charge  of  abuse 
of  the  contractors  in  supplying  the  poor  of  Newtown  in  the  poor 
house  and  to  institute  a  suit  at  law  against  them.  The  town  made 
it  optional  with  the  selectmen,  whether  all  who  applied  to  the  town 
for  aid  should  be  obliged  to  go  to  the  copartnership  house,  or  be 
farmed  out  with  families.  In  some  cases,  it  was  the  latter.  The 
writer's  maternal  grandfather,  Abijah  Merritt,  was  one  of  New- 
town's selectmen  for  12  years  at  intervals,  between  the  year  1819 
and  1839  and  to  him  in  particular  was  given  the  oversight  of  the 
town  poor.  After  his  death  in  1845,  a  large  bundle  of  bills  against 
the  town  for  services  rendered  as  selectman,  accepted  and  paid 
during  his  administration,  was  found  among  his  effects,  that  furnish 
material  for  occasional  use  in  recalling  events  of  the  early  days. 
From  that  source,  we  are  able  to  give  the  joint  expense  of  the  poor 
for  the  two  towns  of  Danbury  and  Newtown  in  1819  and,  with  it,  a 
copy  of  the  expenses  of  two,  among  others,  farmed  out  in  families. 
Joint  expenses  of  the  poor  of  the  two  towns  for  1819: 
Whole  expenses  of  the  poor  house  for  the  year  1819,  $966.45 

Deduct  hide  and  tallaw,  62.77 

$903.68 


150  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Net   expenses 
weeks  board : 
Danbury  626 

Newtown  411 

State    paupers  189 

Expenses  for  town  paupers  $764.36 

For  State  paupers  $139.32 


$903.68 
Received  of  the  state  $283.50 


And  it  leaves  for  the  towns                                                                                 $620.18  | 

Which  is  59c  and  8  mills  a  person  per  week.  i 

Allowing  the  same  number  for  the  last  year  as  this,  is  a  saving  of  $266.04,  I 

and  two  mills  for  both  towns  :  I 

Amount  for  last  year                                                                                            $999.19  ■ 

Amount  for  this  year                                                                                        $733.14.8  ' 

In  1819,  William  Jones  became  a  town  charge  and  was  cared  for  ; 

by  Philo  N.  Piatt  of  Hopewell,  until  his  death  in  December,  1839.  \ 

Under  date  of  Dec.  9,  1819,  this  itemized  bill  was  sent  in :  ■ 
Town  of  Newtown,  to  Philo  N.  Piatt,  Dr.     To  going  to   Redding  after  a 
physician,  five  miles,  .ii.     Paid  Philo  Gilbert  20c  for  the  use   of  his  horse 

for  the  same,  .25.    Going  to  Redding  after  bark  for  tea  for  him,  .16.     Going  i 

same,  .35.    Going  after  watchers,  going  after  medicine,  going  to  Umpawaug  ] 

after  shirts  for  him,  seven  miles;  paid  Philo  Gilbert  28c  for  his  horse  for  ' 

the  same,  .50.    A  pint  of  rum  for  medicine  for  him  and  going  to  Redding,  ; 

two  miles  and  a  half  for  the  same,  .25.     By  going  to  Taunton  to  notify  the  \ 

selectmen  of  his  sickness,  4  miles,  paid  Eli  Piatt  16c  for  his  horse  to  ride  ■ 

for  the  same,  .25.    Going  to  Redding  after  bark  for  tea  for  him,  .46.     Going  i 

to  Taunton  to  notify  selectmen  of  his  death,  paid  16c  for  use  of  horse  for  j 

same,  .25.  { 

Funeral  charges  :  j 

To  one  quart  rum  for  attendants  at  his  burial  and  going  after  the  same  .ZZ.  I 

To  a  white  handkerchief,  .iZ,  Paid  one  dollar  to  Mrs.  Olmstead  for  clean-  i 

ing  his   bed,   washing   shirts   and   other   clothes   for   him,   1.00.     A   winding  j 

sheet  2.25.     Preparation  for  burial  .25.     For  my  trouble  in   watching  and  i 

continual  attendance  from  the  iirst  day  of  his  sickness  to  his  death,  $15.00.  \ 

Physician's  bill :  ( 

Six  visits,  advice,  attendance  and  medicine,  $5.80.     Philo  Gilbert's  bill  for  \ 
watching  one  night  and  assisting  at  the  burial,  .75.     Ichabod  Gilbert's  bill 

for  making  coffin   and   assisting  at   the  burial,  $3.00.     Philo   N.   Piatt's   bill  . 

$21.25  physician's  bill,  $5.80.     Philo  Gilbert's  bill,  .75.     Total  $30.80.     To  dig-  \ 

ging  grave  $1.50.  \ 

March  15,  1820:    Thirty  dollars  allowed  on  the  above  bill  by  us.  j 

Abijah   Merritt,  | 

Clement  Fairchild  I 

Selectmen.  | 

Town  of  Newtown,  to  Thaddeus  Bennett,  Dr.  • 

To  boarding  Nancy  Bennett,  a  child  of  Gideon  Bennett,  from  the  10th  of  ? 

April,  1820,  to  the  6th  of  November,  1820,  30  weeks  at  34c  a  week;  10  dollars  ? 

and  20  cents.                                                                                      Thadeus   Bennett,  t 

Abijah    Merritt,  I 

Clement  Fairchild,  Selectmen.  ' 

Here  is  another  bill  against  the  town  for  the  care  of  Adam  Clark's  ' 

wife,  who  was  farmed  out  to  Jotham  B.  Sherman  for  the  short  term  \-. 
of  three  days : 

Town  of  Newtown,  Dr.  J, 

For  clothing  Adam  Clark's  wife:  ^ 

For  one  Petty  coat,  .75;  For  one  skirt,  .50;  For  one  westcoat,  .25;  For  one  i 

pair  of  stockings  .50;  For  one  handkerchief,  .17;  For  three  days  board,  .75;  " 

For  cleaning  Mrs.  Clark  from  lice  which  was  a  great  task,  indeed  $3.00.  '| 

Account  against  town  of  Newtown.  $5.92.  ij 

Paid                                                                                               Abijah  Merritt.  jl 


CARE    OF    NEWTOWN'S    DEPENDENTS  151 

/ 

We  follow  this  with  an  appeal  from  New  Fairfield  to  the  town  of 
Newtown  to  care  for  a  Newtown  charge  who  is  sick  in  an  adjoining 
town : 
Selectmen  of  Newtown,  i 

Gentlemen  :  Although  it  is  painfull  for  me  to  wright,  it  may  be  so  for 
you  to  read.  It  is  disagreeable  for  us  to  hear  of  the  misfortunes  of  our 
friends  and  sitisans,  especially  when  they  are  so  far  from  us  that  we  can- 
not administer  to  their  needs,  but  I  must  go  on  with  my  melloncholy  story. 
Phidima  Ann  Elwood  is  taken  sick  and  continues  to  be  sick,  so  that  she 
cannot  perhaps  safely  be  removed.  We  are  informed  she  is  an  inhabitant 
of  New  Town  and  that  she  has  property  in  the  hands  of  the  selectmen  of 
sd  town.  She  is  at  her  brothers  in  New  Fairfield  and  is  poor  and  needs 
assistance  and  application  has  been  made  to  the  selectmen  of  the  town 
of  New  Fairfield  for  her  support.  This  is  to  notify  you  to  pay  the  expence 
allready  made  and  take  your  own  way  for  her  support  for  the  future. 
Yours,  etc., 

Samuel  T.  Barnum, 
Nathan  A.  Hayes, 

Selectmen. 
Dated  at  New  Fairfield,  the  21st  of  December.  1820. 

From  1818  until  1825,  Newtown  had  its  agents  appointed  from 
year  to  year  to  have  the  oversight  of  town  poor  in  the  co-partner- 
ship with  Danbury.  In  1826,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  meet 
a  Danbury  committtee  to  make  rules  in  regard  to  the  settlement  of 
poor  house  accounts. 

In  1827,  the  town  voted  to  contract  with  any  person  for  keeping  the 
poor  of  the  town  for  any  number  of  years  not  exceeding  five,  at  a  price 
not  exceeding  $800  a  year,  and  also  voted  to  make  sale  of  that  part  of  the 
poor  house  and  the  land  attached  to  it  belonging  to  the  town  of  Newtown. 
In  December,  1828  the  town  voted  to  sell  either  at  public  auction  or  private 
sale  that  part  of  the  poor  house  belonging  to  the  town,  together  with  the 
land  belonging  to  it,  if  they  think  proper. 

At  a  special  town  meeting,  May  1,  1837,  it  was  voted  that  the  town  ap- 
prove the  establishing  of  a  county  poor  house,  and  that  the  selectmen  for 
the  time  being  be  a  committee  to  confer  with  the  other  towns  in  the  county 
on  the  subject,  and  also  a  work  house  for  the  punishment  of  petty  crimes 
in  this  county. 

Many  town  meetings  were  called  to  consider  the  expediency  of 
providing  a  permanent  home  for  the  town  poor,  but  no  definite 
action  was  ever  taken.  After  the  dissolution  of  the  joint  contract 
between  Danbury  and  Newtown,  which  came  about  in  1850,  the 
care  of  Newtown's  poor  was  let  to  some  responsible  man  for  terms 
of  five  years.  Daniel  Botsford,  a  large  land  holder  on  Toddy  Hill, 
was  poor  master  for  many  years  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Eli  J. 
Morris  in  Zoar.  They  two  were  the  longest  in  the  service  and 
during  their  administration  very  few  were  farmed  out  in  families. 
Joseph  Moore  in  Huntingtown  and  Mrs.  Lynch  on  Botsford  Hill 
are  best  remembered  by  the  generations  of  to-day  as  care-takers 
of  the  town's  dependents.  The  consensus  of  opinion  has  long. 
favored  caring  for  them  in  private  families,  except  such  as  for 
good  cause  should  be  cared  for  in  State  institutions.  It  is  unneces- 
sary to  give  statistics,  for  the  town  report  for  the  year  ending  in 
September,  1912,  gave  a  full  and  itemized  report  that  was  carefully 
distributed  to  the  taxpayers  of  the  town  previous  to  the  annual 
town  meeting,  always  holden  on  the  first  Monday  of  October  in 
each  year. 


152  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

BRIDGEPORT  AND  NEWTOWN  TURNPIKE  CO. 

The  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  Turnpike  Co.,  had  a  corporate 
existence  of  about  90  years,  coming  to  a  close  in  1888. 

When  the  early  settlers  of  Newtown  had  prospered  so  that  they 
were  able  to  have  farm  produce  to  spare  in  exchange  for  the  things 
they  needed  to  help  make  home  life  more  comfortable  and  thrifty, 
the  nearest  market  on  the  south  was  Stratford  on  Long  Island 
Sound  southeasterly  and  Norwalk  on  the  Sound  southwesterly  and 
nearer  to  New  York.  Between  these  two  places  lay  the  Housatonic 
valley,  stretching  northward  through  Fairfield  and  Litchfield  coun- 
ties on  into  Massachusetts. 

On  the  shore  lay  the  little  seaport  town  of  Bridgeport,  beginning 
to  send  schooners  and  other  smaller  craft  to  open  a  trade  with 
New  York.  Country  roads  were  poorly  developed  and  the  idea  w^as 
conceived  of  forming  an  incorporated  company  to  build  a  turnpike 
that  should  connect  the  seaboard  at  Bridgeport  with  New  Milford 
and  eventually  extend  to  the  northerly  boundary  of  Connecticut. 
The  towns  most  directly  interested  at  the  start  were  Bridgeport, 
Huntington,  Trumbull,  Newtown,  Brookfield  and  New  Milford. 
In  1798  petitions  were  circulated  through  each  of  these  towns  which 
met  with  hearty  response,  excepting  in  Newtown,  where  the  oppo- 
sition to  it  was  so  strong  at  the  outset  that  a  petition  was  circulated 
for  calling  a  town  meeting  to  remonstrate  against  the  General 
Assembly,  that  was  soon  to  assemble  in  New  Haven,  granting  a 
charter  for  the  incorporation  of  a  turnpike  company. 

The  remonstrance  April  7,  1800: 

"Whereas  the  petition  of  Amos  Hubbell,  John  S.  Cannon  and  others  was 
brought  before  the  Honorable  General  Assembly  at  their  session  at  New 
Haven  in  October,  1799,  praying  for  a  grant  to  enable  the  sd  petitioners  to 
repair  the  great  road  leading  from  Newfield  through  the  towns  of  Trum- 
bull, Huntington,  Newtown  and  Brookfield  to  NewMilford  with  the 
privilege  of  a  turnpike  or  turnpikes  on  said  roads  as  per  petition  on  file. 
Now  we,  the  inhabitants  of  said  Newtown,  beg  leave  to  represent  to  your 
honors  that  the  said  road  passes  through  Newtown  in  its  length  about  nine 
miles  and  that  we  are  sensible  of  the  necessity  of  thorough  repairs  on  said 
road,  that  much  the  greater  part  of  said  road,  within  the  limits  of  said 
Newtown  can  be  made  good  and  put  into  a  state  of  complete  repair  without 
any  great  inconvenience  and  expense,  and  without  the  aid  of  turnpikes  or 
tolls,  and  taking  into  our  consideration  the  advantages  of  a  free  public 
road  and  from  motives  of  pure  public  spiritedness  and  genuine  liberality,  we 
the  inhabitants  of  said  Newtown  are  determined,  unless  prevented  by  a  grant 
in  favor  of  said  petition  or  the  interference  of  the  Honorable  Assembly,  to 
put  said  road  in  good,  ample  and  every  way  sufficient  repair  at  our  own 
charge  and  expense,  and  the  same  keep  and  maintain  in  such  repair  free 
and  clear  from  any  tax  toll  or  duty  to  be  exacted  or  received  from  travel- 
ers on  said  road,  and  to  effectuate  this  our  laudable  purpose  we  have  in 
legal  town  meeting  voted  and  granted  the  sum  of  four  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  to  be  laid  out  and  expended  on  the  said  road  in  repairs  the  present 
season  at  the  rate  or  price  of  75c  for  each  day's  labor  for  a  man  and  a  propor- 
tionate price  for  team,  and  also  we  have  made  a  further  provision  of  sixty 
days  labor  by  voluntary  subscriptions  to  be  expended  and  done  on  said 
road,  all  of  which  we  confidently  assure  ourselves  will,  if  judiciously 
laid  out,  and  expended,  put  the  said  road  within  the  limits  of  our  town 
in  the  most  ample,  complete  and  satisfactory  repair.  We,  the  said  inhab- 
tants  therefore  humbly  remonstrate  before  your  honors  against  the  prayer 
of  the  petition  aforesaid  and  pray  your  honors,  that  the  same  may  not  be 
granted  and  that  our  said  road  may  not  be  obstructed  by  turnpikes  and 


BRIDGEPORT  AND   NEWTOWN   TURNPIKE   CO.  153 

gates,  and  that  we  may  enjoy  the  privilege  of  repairing  and  maintaining 
said  road  within  the  limits  of  said  Newtown  at  our  own  expense  and 
charge,  free  from  toll  or  tax  and  we,  with  submission,  as  in  duty  bound 
will  ever  remonstrate  and  pray." — Dated  at  Newtown,  April  the  7th,  A.  D. 
1800. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newtown  legally  warned  and  held  in 
said  Newtown  on  the  7th  day  of  April,  1800:  "Voted,  that  the  foregoing 
remonstrance  be  offered  and  improved  before  the  Honorable  General 
Assembly  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  to  be  holden  at  Hartford  in  May, 
1801,  in  behalf  of  this  town,  against  the  petition  of  Amos  Hubbell,  John  S. 
Cannon  and  others,  now  pending  before  said  Assembly." — Caleb  Baldwin, 
Jr.,  chairman  pro.  temporary. 

The  matter  did  not  come  up  at  the  May  session  in  Hartford,  1801, 
but  was  carried  over  until  the  Oct.  session  of  the  same  year,  when 
it  met  in  New  Haven. 

In  the  meantime  better  counsels  had  prevailed  in  Newtown.  A 
special  town  meeting  was  held  Oct.  19,  1801,  to  consult  the  interests 
of  the  town  in  regard  to  a  turnpike  road  from  Bridgeport  to  the 
New  Milford  line,  when  it  was  voted  "that  we  will  not  remonstrate  against 
the  petition  now  pending  before  the  General  Assembly  for  the  grant  of  a 
turnpike  road  between   Bridgeport  and  New  Milford." 

On  the  second  Thursday  of  Oct.,  1801  the  General  Assembly  met  in  New 
Haven  and  at  that  session  it  was  voted  "that  said  John  Cannon  and  his 
associates  and  such  persons  as  they  shall  associate  with  them,  their  heirs, 
assigns  and  successors,  be,  and  thej^  are  hereby  constituted  a  corporation 
by  the  name  of  the  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  Turnpike  Company  by  which 
to  sue  and  be  sued  in  all  courts  of  record,  to  appoint  such  officers,  to 
ordain  and  establish  such  by-laws,  ordinances  and  regulations  as  shall  be 
necessary  for  the  government  of  said  Company  and  the  raising  such  sum 
or  sums  of  money  as  may  be  necessary  and  expedient  to  carry  into  effect 
the  object  of  its  institution,  not  contrary  to  law,  subject  however  to  be 
repealed  by  the  Superior  Court  of  this  state.  The  Company  is  authorized 
to  erect  three  turnpike  gates  on  said  road  so  established  at  such  places  as 
said  County  Court  shall  order.  Provided  always  that  the  southmost  gate 
shall  not  be  erected  south  of  the  north  side  of  the  Old  Post  Road,  socalled, 
Stratford  to  Fairfield,  and  further  be  it  enacted  that  at  each  of  said  gates 
said  Company  shall  be  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  collect  the 
following  tolls,  viz  : 

Every  traveling  four-wheeled  pleasure  carriage,  driver  and  passenger, 
shall  pay  .25;  Every  two-wheeled  pleasure  carriage,  passenger  and  driver, 
0.12.5;  Every  loaded  cart,  team  and  the  driver,  0.12.5;  Every  loaded  wagon 
with  two  horses  and  driver,  0.08;  Every  man  and  horse,  0.04;  Every  stage 
including  driver  and  passengers,  0.25;  Every  loaded  sled,  team  and  the 
driver,  0.10;  Every  sleigh  with  two  horses  and  driver,  0.08;  Every  pleasure 
sleigh  with  one  horse  and  driver,  0.06.3;  Every  other  one  horse  sleigh  and 
driver,  0.04;  Every  empty  cart,  wagon,  sled  sleigh  and  driver,  0.04;  Every 
horse,  cart  and  driver,  0.04;  Horses,  mules  and  neat  cattle  each,  0.01. 

Provided,  nevertheless,  that  persons  traveling  to  attend  public  worship, 
funerals  or  society,  town  or  freeman's  meeting  and  persons  obliged  to  do 
military  duty  traveling  to  attend  trainings,  persons  going  to  or  from  grist 
mills  and  persons  passing  though  said  gates  to  attend  or  return  from  their 
ordinary  farming  business  shall  not  be  liable  to  the  payment  of  said  tolls. 
Said  Company  shall  set  up  and  maintain  on  the  post  of  each  gate  or  turnpike 
and  in  open  view  of  the  passengers  an  account  written  in  capitals  of  all 
the  fares  allowed  by  this  resolve  and  payable  at  such  gate  in  the  same 
manner  as  in  by-law  directed  at  the  ferries  within  this  state." 

No  change  was  made  in  toll  rates  until  1839  when  pleasure  wagons 
with  springs  began  to  come  in  use,  and  the  corporation  voted  at 
their  annual  meeting,  Dec.  3,  "That  the  Directors  direct  the  gate- 
keepers to  take  10  cents  toll  for  all  one-horse  wagons  hung  on  springs  of 
iron,  steel  or  leather,  and  generally  used  as  pleasure  wagons." 

It  was  ordered,  too,  by  the  General  Assembly  that  "the  first  meeting  of 


154  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

said  Company  shall  be  held  at  the  house  of  Caleb  Baldwin  in  said  Newtown, 
on  the  third  Tuesday  in  November  next,  and  that  the  members  of  said  J 
company  shall  have  as  many  votes  as  they  hold  shares  in  said  company,  y 
provided  always  that  said  Company  shall  not  be  apportioned  into  a  greater  i 
number  than  Ave  hundred  shares,  nor  into  less  number  than  two  hundred  \ 
and  fifty  shares,  nor  shall  any  member  of  said  company  whatever  may  be  t 
his  number  of  shares  be  entitled  to  more  than  fifty  votes."  | 

The  lay-out  of  the  road  was  commenced  in  April,  1802,  and  finish-  ^ 
ed  in  the  early  Fall  of  that  year.  It  was  laid  ovit  four  and  six  rods  i 
in  width,  with  roadbed  20  feet  in  width,  extending  from  the  south  I 
line  of  New  Milford  to  the  mouth  of  the  Golden  Hill  road  in  the  * 
north  line  of  the  borough  of  Bridgeport.  Oct.  2,  1802,  it  was  re-  il 
ported  that  500  shares  had  been  subscribed.  These  shares  were  to 
be  paid  for  in  four  equal  instalments  at  such  times  as  should  be 
fixed  by  the  directors,  to  be  divided  among  88  shareholders.  The  j 
sum  assessed  in  damages  to  individuals  in  consequence  of  laying  j, 
out  the  turnpike  from  New  Milford  was  $3,975.05.  $857.70  being  jj 
paid  to  land  owners  in  Newtown.  ' 

Those    remunerated   and    to    what    extent:     Nathaniel    Dikemen,   $25.00; 
Daniel    Hawley,    $8.97;    Jotham    Hawley,    $40.00;    Joshua    Hatch,    $100.00;    , 
Jotham  Hawley,  $17.17;  Joseph  Hawley,  $25.00;  Jabez  Hawley,  $0.01  ;  Gideon    i 
Botsford,  $56.64;  Clement  Botsford,  $4.00;  Joseph  Blackman,  $0.50;  Josiah    • 
Blackman,  $40.88;    Isaac   Lewis,   wife,  $0.50;   John    Baldwin,  $90.00;    Moses 
Botsford,  $58.50;  Daniel  Booth,  $2.00;  William  Edmond,  Esq.,  $11.25;  Jabez 
Botsford's  widow,  $21.66;   Samuel   Peck,  63.67;  Amos   Peck's   heirs,  $13.00; 
Josiah    Glover,    $13.87;    Amnion    Hard,    $3.00;    Moses    Peck,    $40.00;    Oliver 
Tousey,  $9.00;   Ashur   Peck,  $3.44;    David    Meeker,  $32.44;    David    Sterling, 
$57.72;  Phineas  Taylor,  $6.50;  Phebe  Summers,  $12.80;  Simeon  Beers,  $9.75;    ' 
Zalmon  Tousey  $65.62;  Lemuel  Nichols,  $0.75;  Moses  Peck,  $11.87;  Ebenezer    ' 
Sherwood,  $2.00;  Stephen  Taylor,  $8.50. 

March,  1804,  it  was  voted  "that  the  Directors  make  such  contracts  as  " 
they  shall  see  fit  with  people  living  on  the  roads  which  meet  the  turnpike 
near  Horse  Tavern  and  also  that  the  Directors  be  authorized  to  make  one 
sleigh  path  by  the  side  of  the  Turnpike  road  where  they  shall  judge  it 
necessary  from  Bridgeport  to  Nathaniel  J.  Burton's."  It  was  also  voted 
"that  any  persons  living  near  any  of  the  gates,  the  directors  have  liberty 
to  contract  with  them  to  pass  the  gate  to  which  they  are  contiguous,  by 
the  quarter  of  a  year,  or  any  toll  less  than  the  toll  affixed  by  law,  at  their 
discretion."  Also  voted,  "the  Directors  be  authorized  to  open  the  Turnpike 
gate  or  any  of  them,  when  in  their  opinion  the  road  is  so  bad  as  not  to 
authorize  the  company  to  collect  toll. 

In  1813,  it  was  voted  that  all  persons  passing  directly  from  Bennett's 
Bridge  to  the  Middle  Gate  and  returning  directly  to  said  Bennett's  Bridge, 
and  all  persons  living  on  the  road  leading  from  the  Middle  Gate  to  said 
Bennett's  Bridge  and  eastward  of  said  road  within  the  limits  of  said  town 
of  Newtown,  and  those  who  enter  on  said  road  at  the  north  end  of  Toddy 
Hill,  shall  pass  and  re-pass  said  Middle  Gate  for  half  the  customary  toll. 
We  do  not  know  when  the  company  began  the  taking  of  toll,  but 
the  first  intimation  comes  from  an  order  from  the  directors  of  the 
company  Dec.  6,  1809,  ordering  Marctis  Botsford,  Esq.,  treasurer  of 
the  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  Turnpike  Co.,  to  pay  the  stockholders 
a  dividend  of  50c  a  share  out  of  the  toll  money  for  the  20th  of  Nov. 
1809,  David  Baldwin,  Elijah  Nichols,  directors. 

It  was  decreed  by  the  General  Assembly  that  the  turnpike  should     j 
have  three  toll  gates.     When  the  road  was  opened  for  travel,  the 
directors  fixed  the  points  where  they  should  be  located.     The  first 
gate  was  placed  near  the  south  line  of  the  town  of  Trumbull  about     ! 
four  miles  north  of  Bridgeport  city  liinits.     The  middle  gate  was 
located  at  the  south  line  of  Newtown,  which  was  then  the  boundary 


BRIDGEPORT   AND   NEWTOWN   TURNPIKE   CO.  155 

line  between  Newtown  and  New  Stratford,  then  part  of  the  town 
of  Huntington,  but  incorporated  as  a  town  in  1823  and  named 
Monroe.  The  north  gate  was  placed  at  the  north  part  of  Newtown, 
about  one  mile  south  of  the  Brookfield  line. 

The  road  was  built  in  five  mile  sections.  The  contractors  met  in 
Newtown  at  the  inn  of  Michael  Parks,  April  4,  1803, 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  company,  Dec.  4,  1804,  Gen.  David 
Baldwin,  Samuel  C.  Blackman  and  Eliakim  Walker  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  see  if  the  road  had  been  built  according  to  contract, 
and  report  defects,  if  any. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  Dec.  3,  1806,  it  was  voted  "to  farm  out  and  let 
either  by  auction  or  otherwise  the  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  Turnpike 
road,  including  bridges  and  sluices  except  Still  River  bridge  near  William 
Meeker's  store,  from  the  first  of  Feb.,  1806,  to  the  10th  of  Oct.  1811,  to  keep 
and  maintain  the  same  in  good  repair  during  that  period  and  that  the 
undertakers  shall  be  paid  in  equal  half  yearly  instalments."  It  was  also 
voted  "to  require  of  the  toll  gatherers  that  they  be  under  some  suitable 
oath  for  a  faithful  discharge  of  their  duties."  Voted  "that  the  people 
living  at  Tashua  and  Chestnut  Hill  and  those  living  the  east  side  of  the 
road  in  that  quarter  to  pass  the  southern  gate  at  half  toll  or  less  than  full 
toll."  It  was  also  voted  "that  anything  over  four  bushels  weight  of  grain 
or  salt  be  considered  as  a  load  for  a  cart  or  wagon." 

It  would  be  almost  impossible  to  follow  in  detail  the  information 
from  the  records  of  the  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  Turnpike  Co. 
pertaining  to  the  construction  of  the  turnpike  and  its  operating 
expenses.  Its  written  history  from  1800  to  1888  would  be  replete 
with  information  concerning  road  building  and  maintaing  roads. 

With  the  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  turnpike  completed,  New 
York  city  by  way  of  Bridgeport  and  Long  Island  Sound  seemed 
brought  very  near  and  though  the  harbor  at  Bridgeport  had  been 
little  developed,  the  sloops,  schooners  and  smaller  craft  could  ply 
in  and  out  of  the  harbor,  opening  traffic  with  the  great  metropolis. 
With  the  northern  terminus  of  the  turnpike  at  New  Milford,  an 
outlet  was  made  for  an  extent  of  country  east,  west  and  north  of 
New  Milford  by  which  either  with  their  own  teams,  or  by  shipping 
through  others,  produce  could  be  delivered  at  greater  advantage 
than  up  to  that  time  had  been  found  possible,  opening  larger  oppor- 
tunities for  increasing  comfort,  pleasure  and  profit.  People  from 
New  Milford  and  adjoining  territory  would  make  Newtown  the 
half-way  resting  place  for  a  midday  or  a  mid-night  feed  and  rest, 
and  the  traffic  all  along  the  line  made  things  lively. 

It  was  a  good  three-days'  work  for  those  living  in  New  Milford' 
and  towns  adjacent  to  collect  their  freight,  deliver  it  in  Bridgeport 
and  make  their  return.  It  was  quite  fortunate  when  teamsters 
could  secure  a  load  for  both  ways.  A  great  deal  of  the  merchants' 
trade  was  in  barter,  taking  in  farm  produce,  paying  in  trade  and 
then  turning  it  into  money,  as  best  they  could.  Much  of  the  trans- 
portation was  with  oxen.  My  grandfather  lived  where  I  now  live, 
so  that  I  learned  many  facts  from  him  as  to  how  he  did  in  the 
earlier  years  of  his  life.  His  motive  power  was  an  ox-team.  He 
would  aim  to  get  his  load  together  so  that  he  could  start  in  the 
middle  of  the  day  for  Bridgeport,  content  if  he  reached  Horse 
Tavern,  as  it  was  called,  early  enough  to  get  his  oxen  fed  and 
himself  into  bed  by  11  o'clock.    Horse  Tavern  stood  on  the  beauti- 


156  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

ful  spot  where  St.  Vincent's  hospital  now  stands.  The  north  city 
line  of  Bridgeport  was  where  Golden  Hill  street  still  is,  near  enough 
the  city  so  that  they  could  get  in,  in  the  early  morning,  dispose  of 
their  load,  get  together  their  return  load,  reaching  Newtown  on 
their  return  trip  in  the  early  morning  of  the  second  day  out. 

The  first  report  of  the  receipts  for  toll  at  the  gates  begins  under 
date  of  October,  1815,  which,  from  that  date  until  Nov.  5,  1816,  was  $2,192.67, 
from  Nov.,  1816  to  Nov.  22,  1817,  it  was  $2,408.75;  from  Nov.  22,  1817,  to  Dec. 
1,  1818,  $2,693.48;  for  1819,  $2,457.11. 

The  writer  does  not  feel  warranted  in  fixing  the  date  of  the  open- 
ing of  the  road  when  toll  began  to  be  taken,  but  the  record  of  the 
doings  of  the  coinpany  indicate  that  the  work,  to  what  might  be 
called  its  completion,  extended  over  a  period  of  at  least  six  years. 
The  books  of  the  company  further  show  that,  from  Nov.  20,  1819, 
when  the  first  dividend  was  declared,  to  January,  1841,  it  paid  the 
stockholders  a  quarterly  dividend  of  95c  on  a  $50  share,  skipping  but 
four  dividends  during  that  time.  From  1841  to  1864,  the  dividends 
were  paid  semi-annually  in  May  and  November.  The  approximate 
yearly  average  of  toll  receipts  from  1830  to  1840  was  $2,540.82. 
Out  of  that  invist  be  paid  the  cost  of  repairs  on  roads  and  salaries  of 
gatekeepers,  before  a  dividend  was  declared.  The  average  yearly 
receipts  for  toll  as  nearly  as  can  be  ascertained  from  the  year  1818 
to  the  year  1840,  was  about  $2,550  a  year.  With  the  completion  of 
the  Housatonic  railroad  in  1842,  business  along  the  turnpike  began 
to  drop  ofif  and  in  1848  what  was  called  the  North  gate,  located  near 
Brookfield  line,  was  thrown  open  and  no  further  toll  collected  at 
that  point. 

Although  the  North  gate  was  abandoned  in  1848,  there  was  no 
lessening  of  the  expenses  to  keep  up  the  turnpike.  A  few  still  live 
who  can  recall  that  there  were  a  goodly  number  of  teams  / 
going  over  the  road  between  New  Milford  and  Newtown,  destined 
for  the  Bridgeport  market,  and  much  that  was  forwarded  from 
there  to  New  York  by  water. 

Of  course,  with  diminishing  receipts,  and  running  expenses  of 
the  company  soinewhat  on  the  increase,  the  dividends  began  to 
show  a  decided  decline  from  what  they  were  previous  to  1860,  but 
the  company  kept  on  its  uniform  course  until  1880. 

Dec.  2,  1873,  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  stockholders  at  the  Central 
House  in  Newtown  it  was  "voted  that  the  stockholders  meet  one  year 
from  this  day  at  this  place  and  that  the  proprietor  of  the  Central  House 
furnish  them  with  a  good  supper. — Attest,  Henry  Sanford,  clerk." 

Aproximate  receipts  for  toll  from  1860  to  1880  inclusive 


1860 

$  960.57 

1867 

$1172.03 

1874 

$1252.03 

1861 

1055.67 

1868 

1290.86 

1875 

1064.11 

1862 

1084.95 

1869 

993.98 

1876 

957.41 

1863 

1077.94 

1870 

1111.43 

1877 

1072.32 

1864 

929.61 

1871 

1145.03 

1878 

1212.11 

1865 

1349.92 

1872 

1015.10 

1879 

1175.00 

1866 

1173.43 

1873 

1166.02 

1880 

1227.40 

In  the  year  1882,  it  was  voted  to  pay  a  dividend  of  55c  on  each 
share  of  stock  for  the  preceding  year,  and  in  1883  to  pay  a  dividend 
of  40c.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  turnpike  company  at  William 
J.  Dick's  hotel  in  Newtown,  Dec.  2,  1884,  it  was  voted  that  the 
company  pay  a  dividend  of  20c  on  a  share  of  $50.     At  a  special 


OLD  DAYS  OF  THE  STAGE  COACH  157 

meeting-  at  the  same  place,  Jan.  19,  1886,  it  was  voted  to  instruct 
the  directors  for  the  turnpike,  to  manage  the  affairs  pertaining  to 
its  discontinuance  to  the  best  of  their  ability  before  the  session  of 
the  General  Assembly  at  Hartford  for  1886, 

Dec.  21,  1886,  voted  that  the  directors  of  the  company  appear 
before  the  committee  appointed  by  the  Superior  Court  for  hearing- 
said  discontinuance.  At  a  meeting  at  Leonard's  hotel,  formerly 
Dick's,  Oct.  18,  1887,  to  hear  and  act  upon  the  report  of  the  doings 
of  the  directors  and  agents  of  the  turnpike  company  in  the  proceed- 
ings to  make  its  turnpike  road  a  free  public  highway,  to  ratify  the 
sale  and  disposition  of  the  property  of  the  company  and  divide  the 
assets  among  the  stockholders,  after  payment  of  its  debt.  Jan.  16, 
1888,  it  was  reported  that  the  treasurer  of  the  company  had  $99.60 
in  his  hands  for  distribution  and  Charles  Henry  Peck,  then  treasur- 
er of  the  company,  was  instructed  to  pay  20-100  dollars  per  share 
as  the  final  dividend  which  was  made  on  the  23d  day  of  Jan.  1888, 
on  which  date  the  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  Turnpike  Co.  became 
a  thing  of  the  past. 

The  toll  received  in  1841  was  $1,009.30  from  1842  to  1843  it  was 
$993,54,  and  in  1881  it  was  reported  to  be  $17.07.  Charles  Henry 
Peck  was  its  clerk  when  the  books  were  closed  and  on  the  inside 
of  the  cover  of  the  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  Turnpike  Co.  records 
is  written  in  a  plain,  bold  hand  this  injunction  :  "I  hope  this  book  will  be 
kept  by  some  one,  many  years  to  come,  as  a  souvenir.' — Charles  Henry 
Peck,  Ex-Clerk  of  sd  Ex-Company. 

Thus  it  is  that,  though  being  dead,  he  yet  speaketh. 

OLD  DAYS  OF  THE  STAGE  COACH. 

BEFORE  THE  COMING  OF  THE  RAILROAD. 

Facilities  afforded  in  early  days  for  carrying  of  passengers  and 
speedy  delivery  of  mails.  In  the  Danbury  Recorder,  June  24,  1829, 
a  one-sheet  weekly  then  in  the  fourth  year  of  its  existence,  and 
printed  every  Wednesday,  several  ads  are  found  relating  to  the 
running  of  stages  for  1829,  intended  more  particularly  for  more 
important  towns  in  Fairfield,  New  Haven  and  Litchfield  counties : 

"Summer  arrangement  for  the  Norwalk,  Bridgeport,  New  Haven,  Wood- 
burj',  Danbury  and  Litchfield  stages  : 

New  Haven  and  Norwalk  stage  :  This  stage  will  leave  the  General  Stage 
office.  New  Haven,  at  7o'clock  in  the  morning  (Sundays  excepted)  and 
arrive  at  Norwalk  in  season  for  the  passengers  to  take  the  steamboat  for 
New  York.  Fare  through,  $3.00.  Returning  will  leave  Norwalk  daily  on 
the  arrival  of  the  steamboat. 

Woodbury  and  Norwalk  stage:  This  stage  will  leave  J.  P.  Marshall's 
stage  house,  Woodbury,  on  Alondays,  Wednesday  and  Friday  at  4  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  arrive  at  Norwalk  by  the  way  of  Newtown  and 
Bridgeport,  in  season  for  passengers  to  take  the  steamboat  for  New  York. 
Fare  through  $3.50.  Returning  will  leave  Norwalk  on  Tuesday.  Thursdays 
and  Saturdays  on  the  arrival  of  the  steamboat.  A  stage  from  NewMilford 
regularly  intersects  this  line  at  Newtown  each  way. 

Litchfield,  Newtown,  Danbury  and  Norwalk  accommodation  and  mail 
stage :  This  stage  leaves  Danbury  daily  at  7  o'clock  in  the  morning. 
Leaves  Litchfield  on  Tuesdays,  Thursdays  and  Saturdays,  at  4  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon  on  the  arrival  of  the  mail  stage  from  Hartford,  lodges  at  New 
Milford,  leaves  New  Milford  on  Mondays,  Wednesdays  and  Fridays  at  4 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  changes  horses  at  Newtown  and  arrives  at  Norwalk 
in  season  for  passengers  to  take  the  steamboat  for  New  York.  Fare  $4.00. 
Returning  leaves  Norwalk  for  Danbury  daily,  for  Newtown,  New  Milford 


158  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

and  Litchfield  Tuesdays,  Thursday's  and  Saturdays  on  the  arrival  of  the 
steamboat  from  New  York." 

S.  Alott,  E.  Hayes,  C.  Patrick  &  Co.,  H.  Barnes,  proprietors. 

May,  1829. 

Danbury  and  Sing-Sing  accomodation  stage;  Union  Line:  This  line 
of  stages  commenced  running  from  Danbury  to  Sing-Sing  on  Wednesday 
the  8th  of  April  as  follows  :  Leaving  G.  Nichols'  hotel,  Danbury  every 
Monday,  W^ednesday  and  Friday  at  7  o'clock  a.  m.,  arriving  at  Sing-Sing  at 
12  o'clock  the  same  day,  by  the  way  of  Mill-Plain,  Sodom  Corner  and 
Summerstown.  Returning  leaves  Sing-Sing  immediately  after  the  arrival 
of  the  steamboat  Gen.  Jackson,  and  arriving  in  Danbury  at  6  o'clock  p.  m., 
Tuesdays,  Thursdays  and  Saturdays.  Baggage  over  30  lbs,  extra  charge, 
and  all  baggage  at  the  risk  of  the  owner.  Fare  from  Danbury  to  Summers- 
town,  75c;  to  Sing-Sing  $1.50;  to  New  York  $2.00.  This  line  of  stages  will 
intersect  with  Hartford,  Litchfield,  Newtown  and  New  Haven  stages,  and 
is  the  quickest  and  shortest  route  from  Danbury  to  New  York,  that  can 
be  traveled. 

N.  B.  The  proprietors  of  this  line  of  stages  will  assure  the  public  that 
they  have  the  first  rate  horses  and  carriages,  and  they  think  honest  and 
capable  drivers,  who  will  spare  no  pains  in  making  the  passage  safe, 
agreeable  and  expeditious.  Gentlemen  and  ladies  of  this  and  neighboring 
town  please  to  patronize  us  with  a  fair  trial  on  this  route  to  New  York, 
and  if  you  should  think  it  not  for  your  interest  and  convenience  to  go  this 
way,  we  will  excuse  you  from  a  further  trial  and  be  your  very  humble 
obedient    servants." 

G.  Nichols,  Danbury,  April  14,  1829. 

Danbury  and  Poughkeepsie  mail  stage  :  The  public  are  hereby  informed 
that  a  stage  for  the  accommodation  of  passengers  will  commence  running  on 
the  21st.  of  April,  between  the  village  of  Danbury  and  Poughkeepsie,  twice  a 
week.  Leaving  Danbury  every  Tuesday  and  Friday  mornings  at  6  o'clock 
a.m.,  passing  Southeast,  Patterson,  Stormville,  Hopewell  and  Hackensack, 
arrives  in  Poughkeepsie  in  time  for  the  steamboat,  either  for  New  York 
or  Albany,  on  the  same  day.  Returning,  leaves  Poughkeepsie  every 
Wednesday  and  Saturday  mornings  at  7  o'clock  a.  m.,  and  arrives  in  Dan- 
bury where  it  meets  all  the  eastern  and  southern  stages.  This  is  the 
easiest  and  most  direct  route  from  Long  Island  Sound  to  the  Hudson  river 
and  persons  traveling  to  the  West  or  North,  will  by  this  stage,  reach 
Albany  one  day  sooner  than  by  any  other  conveyance  and  at  much  less 
expense.  For  seats  apply  to  A.  Seely's  and  G.  Nichols'  hotel  (Danbury  and 
at  Jarvis'  hotel  and  the  steamboat  house,  Poughkeepsie.  Fare  $2.00.  All 
baggage  at  the  risk  of  the  owner.    Joel  Stone,  Danbury,  April  6,  1829. 

Those  were  times  when  the  stage  coach  was  in  the  height  of  its 
glory  regarded  as  a  rapid  means  of  conveyance  for  carrying  both 
passengers  and  mails.  In  the  early  30s  a  line  of  stages  was  estab- 
lished between  New  Milford  and  Bridgeport,  making  daily  trips 
and  meeting  at  Czar  Keeler's  tavern,  which  stood  just  north  of  the 
Beecher  residence. 

Arriving  at  noon-time,  dinner  was  promptly  served  and  fresh 
horses  provided  for  the  rest  of  the  journey.  The  writer,  too  young  to 
remember  the  stirring  events  of  those  early  days,  vividly  recalls 
stories  told  by  his  elders  on  long  winter  evenings  before  the  blaz- 
ing fires  of  the  open  fire-place.  A  cheering  sight  it  must  have  been 
for  the  street  folk  when  these  stage-coaches,  drawn  by  two  pair  of 
horses,  went  rattling  through  the  streets,  loaded  down,  as  they 
sometimes  were,  outside  and  in,  with  passengers,  with  trunks  and 
luggage  piled  on  the  top  overhead,  or  tucked  under  the  great  leather 
boot  covering  in  the  rear.  What  an  aniiuated  and  busy  life  it  must 
have  given  the  village  street  thoroughfare  for  vehicles  of  all  kinds 
plying  between  the  upper  towns  and  Bridgeport,  while  an  occasion- 
al blast  from  the  drivers  horn  apprized  the   whole   town  of  the 


HIGHWAY    RECONSTRUCTION  159 

arrival  and  departure  of  the  daily  stage  coach.  With  the  comple- 
tion of  the  Housatonic  railroad  in  1842,  a  quietus  was  given  not  only 
to  the  stage  line  but  to  the  turnpike  company  itself.  Newtown's 
"Traveler's  Directory"  and  the  time  of  arrival  and  departure  of 
mails  from  the  Newtown  postoffice,  as  advertised  in  July,  1853. 

Housatonic  Railroad,  Newtown   Station. 

Car  go  North  South 

Freight  at  7.25     a.  m.,  12.42  p.  m. 

Mail&pas'ger  11.10  a.m.,  12.42  p.  m. 

Special  at  6.45     p.  m.,  9.00  a.  m. 

Stages  leave  the  Railroad  Depot  for  Woodbury  and  Southbury  daily  at 
12  m.  For  Southville  Tuesdays,  Thursdays  and  Saturdays,  1  p.  m.  Hawley- 
ville  Station,  Danbury  and  Bethel  stages  arrive  at  11  a.  m.,  and  2.30  p.  m. ; 
leave  at  11.40  a.  m.,  and  3  p.  m. 

Newtown  Postoffice  mails  arrive  from  the  south,  via  railroad  at  12.30  p.  m. 
From  the  North  via  Railroad  12.30  p.  m. 

From  Woodbury  and  Southbury,  via  stage,  daily  at  12.30  p.  m. 

From  Southville  by  stage  on  Tuesdays,  Wednesdays  and  Saturdays, 
at  11.00  a.  m. 

Mails  close  for  the  North,  via  railroad  at  10.45  a.  m. 

For  the  South,  via  railroad,  at  10.45  a  .m 

For  Woodbury,  Southbury,  via  stage  daily  at  10.45  a.  m. 

For  Southville  by  stage  on  Tuesdays  Thursdays  and  Saturdays  at  10  45  a.  m. 
Post  office  open  from  7  a.  m.  to  9  p.  m.    Sundays  from  12m.  to  1  p.  m. 

Jerome  Judson,  P.  M. 

HIGHWAY    RECONSTRUCTION— NEWTOWN    STREET    TO 
SANDY  HOOK.— 1834-1912. 

The  first  reference  we  find  to  laying  out  a  highway  from  New- 
town village  to  Sandy  Hook  is  under  date  of  Nov.  18,  1715 : 
"We,  that  are  the  committee  for  to  lay  out  highways,  whose  names  are 
under  written  have  this  18th  day  of  November,  1715,  laid  out  a  highway  or 
country  road  two  miles  from  ye  middle  of  ye  town  down  by  ye  north  side 
of  ye  old  farm  over  Pohtatuck  Brook  and  so  toward  ye  single  pine  to  a 
bunch  of  stones  upon  a  rock  which  is  two  miles.  The  highway  is  20  rods 
wide,  according  as  common  or  undivided  land  will  allow.  We  removed 
Daniel  Foote's  southwest  corner  of  his  four  acre  lot  northwest  six  rods 
and  we  gave  him  seven  rods  at  his  east  corner.  Sd.  Foot  was  present  and 
consented  to  same.  We  lay  out  a  road  to  go  to  Wodbury.  We  began  it 
at  ye  first  meadow  in  ye  above  sd  road  eastward  of  ye  Pohtatuck  Brook, 
turning  of  it  more  north  till  we  come  to  some  pines.  We  lay  it  20  rods 
wide. 

Thomas  Bennitt, 
John  Glover 
Ebenezer  Booth, 

Committee. 

Recorded,  November  28,  1715. 

Joseph  Peck,  Clerk. 

As  there  could  have  been  naught  but  natural  obstructions  in  the 
lay-out  of  the  highway,  we  cannot  account  for  its  serpentine  course 
unless,  in  the  lay  out,  the  Indian  trail  as  it  led  from  the  Pohtatuck 
on  the  banks  of  the  Housatonic  river  over  the  hills  westward  to 
Quanneapague  lake  and  on  to  Danbury  and  the  Hudson,  river,  was 
followed. 

A  century  passed  and  the  primitive  way  of  working  country 
roads  continued.  Men  worked  out  their  road  tax  with  teams  and 
shovels  as  best  they  could,  content  to  share  each  with  the  others 
the  privations  and  discomforts  that  fell  to  their  lot. 

As   water   power   was    more   and   more    developed,    travel   and 


160  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

business  interests  increased  between  the  two  villages  and  better 
roads  were  called  for,  but  we  learn  nothing  more  until  1834,  when, 
upon  complaint  to  the  County  Court  of  Fairfield  county,  from  tax 
payers  living  in  the  easterly  and  southeasterly  part  of  the  town  in 
regard  to  the  condition  of  the  highway  leading  from  the  Newtown 
Church  to  Zoar  Bridge,  the  following  complaint  was  made  : 

Complaint  for  Ragged  Corner  Road. 

To  the  selectmen  of  Newtown,  Gentlemen  :  Complaint  has  been  made  to 
me  that  the  road  leading  from  the  Newtown  church  to  Zoar  Bridge  is  in 
bad  repair  so  much  that  it  is  unsafe  to  pass  over  it  in  carriages  or  wagons. 
This  therefore  is  to  request  you  to  put  said  read  in  good  and  safe  repair 
without  delay  and  spare  me  the  disagreeable  necessity  of  bringing  thi 
subject  before  the  County  Court.  The  complaint  is  signed  by  20  persons 
who  represent  the  road  to  have  been  much  neglected  for  a  long  time  past. 
They  are  desirous  that  I  should  go  immediately  upon  the  road  and  view  it. 
I  have  thought  however  that  it  would  be  reasonable  that  you  should  first 
be  notified,  that  no  unnecessary  expense  should  be  made  to  the  town.  I 
hope  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  attend  to  this  road  soon  and  that  no 
further  proceeding  on  my  part  will  be  necessary.    Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

April  1834.  ^-  ^-   Baldwin,   Sheriff. 

Early  in  Dec.  1834,  a  town  meeting  considered  the  question  of  a 
highway  from  Sandy  Hook  to  connect  with  the  Bridgeport  and 
Newtown  turnpike,  at  some  point  in  South  Center  school  district, 
near  the  house  of  Widow  Lavina  Burritt,  to  near  the  house  of 
Elijah  Sanford  in  Sandy  Hook,  and  by  vote  of  the  tax  payers  it  was 
left  to  the  selectmen  to  look  over  the  ground  and  report  at  an 
adjourned  town  meeting,  Dec.  22,  1834.  At  that  meeting,  it  was 
voted,  "To  accept  the  report  of  the  selectmen  so  far  as  relates  to  the  road 
from  Sandy  Hook  to  intersect  the  Bridgeport  and  Newtown  turnpike  near 
Widow  Lavina  Burritt's  as  reported  by  Silas  Glover  and  others."  It  was 
also  voted  "that  the  selectmen  be  directed  to  lay  out  a  highway  beginning 
at  or  near  the  house  of  Widow  Lavina  Burritt  to  near  the  house  of  Elijah 
Sanford  in  Sandy  Hook." 

As  the  writer  is  perfectly  familiar  with  the  lay-out  of  that  pro- 
posed highway,  though  never  built,  using  it  week  in  and  week  out, 
when  in  1854-55  and  '56  he  was  teaching  the  Sandy  Hook  school 
and  boarding  at  his  childhood  home,  we  give  the  course  it  was 
decided  it  should  take.  Elijah  Sanford's  house  is  what  is  now 
known  as  the  Gibson  place.  The  road  was  to  start  in  at  the  west  of 
the  house  near  the  present  gateway  and  taking  a  southwesterly 
course,  follow  along  the  easterly  side  of  the  ridge  still  covered  by 
the  beautiful  line  of  white  oaks,  crossing  Tom  brook  (that  runs 
through  the  intervale  down  the  open,  to  empty  into  the  Pohtatuck 
not  far  from  the  pond  near  Sandy  Hook  bridge,)  then  up  the  slope 
and  across  the  level  where  the  railroad  now  runs,  following  on 
southwesterly  along  the  north  side  of  Deep  brook,  and  on  between 
the  houses  of  Jerry  Carey  on  the  north  and  Miss  Joanna  Keating 
on  the  south,  to  connect  with  the  road  that  passed  by  the  houf^.e  of 
Mrs.  Ruth  Prindle,  now  the  home  of  Julia  Prindle,  then  to  turn  to 
the  bend  and  follow  the  highway  as  it  led  to  the  house  of  Widow 
Lavina  Burritt,  which  is  still  standing.  There  the  new  highway 
was  to  connect  with  the  turnpike. 

Does  the  reader  wonder  why  Sandy  Hook  and  Bennett's  Bridge 
territorv  should  clamor  for  such  road,  that  would  turn  so  much 


HIGHWAY   RECONSTRUCTION  161 

Hravel  from  Newtown  Street?    The  turnpike  was  an  assured  thing 

and  in  successful  operation.     The  new  lay-out  would  be  an  easy 

■grade  the  whole  distance,  not  much  different  in  measurement  than 

^the  road  from  Sandy  Hook  to  Newtown  Street  and  that  all  the  way 

up  hill. 

Although  the  lay-out  of  the  road  was  accepted,  yet,  for  some 
reason,  not  on  record,  the  project  was  abandoned.  It  did  not  do 
•  away  with  further  effort  to  connect  Sandy  Hook  with  the  Bridge- 
Iport  turnpike  at  some  point  below  the  village  of  Newtown.  For  in 
U837,  another  special  town  meeting  was  called  for  the  express  pur- 
ipose  of  considering  the  same  matter. 

I  Warning  is  hereby  given  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Newtown 
qualified  to  vote  in  town  meeting  that  a  town  meeting  will  be  held  at  the 
Town  hall  in  said  Newtown  on  Saturday,  the  17th  inst.,  June,  at  2  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into  consideration  the  propriety 
,of  repairing  the  middle  turnpike  road  or  such  parts  of  the  same,  as  said 
^meeting  may  think  advisable,  or  to  survey  and  lay  out  a  new  road  from 
ithe  Episcopal  church  to  the  village  of  Sandy  Hook  in  the  most  feasible 
place  and  also  the  necessity  of  laying  an  additional  highway  tax  and  to  do 
other  business  if  necessary.  Abijah   Merritt 

J  James  B.  Fairman 

Israel  A.   Beardsley, 
Newtown,  June  10,  1837.  Selectmen. 

j  For  some  reason  the  meeting  called  for  June  10,  1837,  went  by 
'default  and  an  indignant  contingent  of  tax  payers  quietly  bided  their 
time  until  Nov.,  1838,  when  this  petition  was  circulated.  This  peti- 
tion was  signed  by  20  tax  payers  and  reads  : 

To  James  B.  Fairman,  Abijah  Merritt  and  Isreal  A.  Beardsley,  the  honor- 
able selectmen  of  the  Town  of  Newtown,  We,  the  petitioners  resident 
'electors  of  the  Town  of  Newtown  represent  to  your  body  that  whereas  the 
jroad  known  as  the  road  running  from  the  bridge  situated  at  Sandy  Hook 
ito  the  Episcopal  church,  situated  in  Newtown  Center  is  entirely  out  of 
I  repair,  dangerous  to  travel  and  ridiculously  inconvenient  to  a  very  large 

!  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  of  said  town.  We  therefore,  petition  your 
body  to  call  a  meeting  to  take  into  consideration  the  necessity  and  expedi- 
ency of  repairing  said  road,  or  laying  out  a  new  road  on  or  near  the  line 
of  said  road,  and  we  further  petition  that  said  meeting  be  called  within 
I  two  weeks  from  date  of  this  petition  or  as  soon  as  legal. 
I     Newtown,  November  5,  1838. 

jjohn  Dick,  Charles  Blakeslee,  A.  B.  Beecher,  William  Clark,  Stiles  H. 
iJudson,  George  Curtis,  Samuel  B.  Peck,  David  J.  Glover,  J.  S.  Tomlinson, 
,  H.  W.  Tucker,  Abijah  B.  Curtiss,  Charles  L.  Dick,  S.  N.  Beers,  Warren 
I  Sherman,  David  Sanford,  Royal  O.  Gurley,  Moses  Parsons,  Ezra  Patch, 
(Josiah  Sanford,  Joseph  Dick. 

I  In  response  to  this  petition,  the  selectmen  called  a  special  town  meeting, 
I  Nov.  28,  1838  : 

I  Warning:  Whereas  a  petition  of  a  number  of  inhabitants  of  said  town 
for  a  special  town  meeting  to  be  warned  forthwith  for  the  purpose  of 
I  taking  the  subject  into  consideration  of  the  expediency  of  repairing  the 
I  old  road  leading  from  the  Episcopal  church  in  said  Newtown  to  Sandy 
i' Hook  bridge  or  the  laying  out  of  a  new  road  from  the  Episcopal  church  to 
I  said  Sandy  Hook  bridge. 

j  James   B.   Fairman. 

Abijah    Mirritt, 
Isreal  A.  Beardsley, 
I     Newtown,  November  16,  1838.  Selectmen. 

I  At  this  town  meeting,  Nov.  28,  the  selectmen  were  ordered  to 
1  repair  the  road  from  the  Episcopal  church  to  Sandy  Hook  bridge 
I  and  no  new  lay-out  for  a  road  was  tolerated. 


162  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

At  the  town  meeting,  Nov.  28,  1838,  the  opposition  to  building  a 
new  highway  from  Newtown  Street  to  Sandy  Hook  was  so  strong 
that  no  further  effort  was  made  along  that  line. 

In  1838,  the  Hovisatonic  railroad  was  commenced,  survey  for 
which  had  been  completed.  The  location  for  the  railroad  station 
had  been  decided  and  so  decided  as  to  satisfy  the  people  of  the  two 
villages  of  Newtown  and  Sandy  Hook.  All  the  more  care  was 
given  to  the  upkeep  of  the  highway  between  the  two  villages, 
although  the  idea  of  Sandy  Hook  having  an  outlet  to  the  Newtown 
and  Bridgeport  turnpike  at  some  point  in  a  southwesterly  direction, 
a  mile  or  two  below  Newtown  village,  had  not  all  that  time  been 
given  up  and  was  held  in  abeyance  until  1872.  In  the  early  part  of 
January  of  that  year,  a  petition  having  the  requisite  number  of  sign- 
ers was  placed  in  the  hands  of  Newtown's  selectmen,  asking  for  a 
special  town  meeting,  held  Jan.  27,  1872: 

Warning  is  hereby  given  that  a  special  town  meeting  will  be  held  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  into  consideration  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  survey- 
ing and  laying  out  a  new  highway  commencing  near  the  watering  trough 
and  residence  of  Mrs  Samuel  B.  Peck,  running  southwesterly  and  terminat- 
ing on  the  old  highway  near  the  dwelling  house  of  John  McNamara  (the 
house  where  Thomas  Carey  lives.) 

The  meeting  voted  that  the  selectmen  be  instructed  to  survey  and 
estimate  the  cost  of  said  road  and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting.  At  the 
adjourned  meeting,  the  selectmen's  report  was  read  and  a  resolution  passed 
instructing  the  selectmen  to  lay  out  and  construct  a  new  highway  over  the 
route  proposed.  The  vote  was  by  ballot  and  carried  by  a  majority  of  three. 
Yes  129,  no  126.  Exciteinent  ran  high.  Another  special  meeting 
was  held  to  rescind  the  vote.  Feb.  17,  1872.  A  motion  by  Dr. 
Erastus  Erwin  to  rescind  passed  at  the  special  meeting,  Jan.  17, 
voted  upon  by  ballot.  A  large  number  of  those  who  favored  it 
lived  in  the  south  part  of  town  and  worked  in  the  rubber  factory, 
in  Sandy  Hook.  There  were  381  ballots,  yes  186,  no  195,  and  the 
motion  was  lost.  Another  special  meeting,  Saturday,  May  25,  1872, 
to  lay  out  a  highway  over  practically  the  same  route,  to  run  under 
the  Housatonic  railroad  near  the  dwelling  of  Martin  Keating,  and 
terminating  on  the  old  highway  a  few  rods  south  of  the  dwelling 
of  John  McNamara.  A  vote  passed  without  discussion  that  the 
meeting  adjourn  without  date,  and  attention  was  again  directed  to 
the  improvetnent  of  the  Middle  turnpike,  as  it  was  called,  from 
Newtown  to  Sandy  Hook.  A  special  town  meeting  called  for  May 
10,  1872,  voted  that  the  road  from  Sandy  Hook  bridge  to  Newtown 
Street  be  graded  and  gravelled  and  a  committee  of  three  appointed 
to  contract  and  superintend  the  same  provided  that  the  amount 
expended  do  not  exceed  $3,000.  The  committee  were  instructed  to 
contract  for  the  grading  and  gravelling  and  to  borrow  the  money 
in  the  name  of  the  town,  if  there  were  not  sufficient  funds  in  the 
treasury  to  defray  the  expense.  An  ainendinent  was  carried  that, 
in  the  place  of  $3,000,  $2900  should  be  substituted;  carried  by  accla- 
mation. 

William  J.  Dick,  Jabez  Botsford  and  Henry  L.  Wheeler  were 
appointed  committee  to  contract  and  superintend  the  work  of 
grading  and  gravelling  the  road  from  Sandy  Hook  bridge  to  New- 
town street  and  to  pay  for  the  same.    A  special  meeting,  Aug.  23, 


HIGHWAY    RECONSTRUCTION  163 

1873,  voted  an  additional  tax  of  one  mill  to  defray  in  part  the 
gravelling  of  Sandy  Hook  and  Newtown  road. 

Between  1850  and  1870  public  sentiment  seems  to  have  settled 
to  its  normal  condition.  Then  came  another  wave  of  dissatisfaction 
in  regard  to  the  road  from  Newtown  Street  to  Sandy  Hook. 
Special  town  meetings  were  called  galore,  many  of  which  have  been 
referred  to,  but  further  consideration  of  another  effort  to  get  a 
highway  to  connect  Sandy  Hook  and  points  adjacent  with  the 
Bridgeport  turnpike  southwesterly  was  agitated,  until  it  resulted 
in  a  call  for  a  town  meeting  in  November,  1874. 

'  The  meeting,  Nov.  28,  1874,  voted  that  the  lay-out  of  a  highway 
|to  Martin  Keating's  house  be  indefinitely  postponed.  A  special 
town  meeting  Dec.  26,  1874,  to  act  upon  the  petition  of  Martin 
Keating  and  others  for  a  road  and  two  bridges  from  the  house  of 
Martin  Keating,  meeting  and  connecting  with  the  public  road  near 
the  dwelling  of  Widow  Keating  (now  Mrs  James  Corbett's)  refer- 
ring to  his  old  right  of  way,  the  same  right  of  way  to  continue 
thereafter  a  road  fit  for  public  travel.    The  special  meeting  Dec.  26, 

1874,  voted:  That  the  selectmen  lay  out  and  construct  a  highway  from 
jMartin  Keating's  first  house  to  the  highway  on  the  west  side  of  said  road, 
provided  that  Martin  Keating  and  Widow  Keating  will  deed  all  their  right 

1  of  way  to  the  town  for  public  use. 

j     The  road  was  built  and  is  now  in  use. 

In  1885  a  sidewalk  from  Newtown  to  the  Sandy  Hook  bridge  was 
agitated  and  at  a  special  town  meeting,  March  13,  1886,  the  select- 
men were  instructed  to  lay  a  plank  or  tar  walk  on  the  north  side  of 
the  road  from  Newtown  Street  to  Sandy  Hook,  near  the  Niantic 
,  mills,  should  a  tar  walk  be  laid,  plank  might  be  substituted  where 
;tar  was  impracticable.  The  petition  had  more  than  20  names.  A 
i  resolution  offered  by  William  C.  Wile  that  the  selectmen  be  in- 
.structed  to  lay  a  tar  walk  on  the  north  side  of  the  highway  four  feet, 
six  inches  wide,  not  to  cost  over  $2,000  was  passed. 

At  a  special  town  meeting,  March  20,  1883,  by  petition  to  consider 
'ithe  vote  passed  at  the  special  meeting  of  March  13,  1883,  the 
j  selectmen  were  instructed  by  resolution  to  commence  work  as  soon 
|as  practicable.  As  the  walk  was  never  built,  we  consider  that  the 
iselectmen  never  found  a  time  when  they  thought  it  practicable. 

j  Upon  petition,  a  town  meeting  was  warned  for  the  15th  of  March, 
'1890,  to  macadamize  or  gravel  the  highway  leading  from  Newtown 

Street  to  Sandy  Hook  bridge  and  to  provide  means  for  the  work.  Voted  that 
la  committee  of  five  be  authorized  to  expend  a  sum  not  exceeding  $4,000  in 
jmacadamizing  the  road  from  Samuel  C.  Glover's  house  in  Newtown  Street 
'to  the  Newtown  depot  of  the  Housatonic  railroad,  said  road  not  to  be  less 
jthan  12  feet  wide,  and  to  expend  a  sum  not  to  exceed  $500  in  gravelling  or 
'■macadamizing  the  road  from  the  depot  to  Sandy  Hook  bridge,  and  that  the 
f  selectmen  be  three  of  that  committee  and  L.  B.   Booth  and  D.  G.   Beers 

the  other  two.  The  committee  were  empowered  to  borrow  not  to  exceed 
|M500.  Another  special  meeting,  March  29,  1890,  voted  to  confirm  and 
(ratify  the  doings  of  the  last  town  meeting. 

'    At  a  special  meeting  Feb.  28,  1891,  it  was  voted  that  the  whole  matter  of 
(building  a   sidewalk  from  Newtown  to  Sandy  Hook  be  indefinitely  post- 
poned. 

{ 


164  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

At  a  special  town  meeting,  Aug.  13,  1892,  to  take  action  regarding  the 
macadamized  road  from  the  head  of  Newtown  Street  to  the  Housatonic 
railroad,  and  the  construction  of  a  road  without  side  ditches  from  the 
South  Center  schoolhouse  to  the  intersection  of  the  macadamized  road  in 
Newtown,  it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen  make  such  repairs  as  they 
thought  necessary  on  the  macadamized  road  from  Newtown  Street  to  the 
Housatonic  railroad.  A  special  meeting.  April  24,  1893,  considered  buying  a 
stone  crusher  and  engine  plant  complete  for  said  town  and  to  make  a 
proper  side  walk  between  Newtown  Street  and  Sandy  Hook.  A  resolution 
to  purchase  a  stone  crusher  and  engine  complete  the  cost  not  to  exceed 
$1800,  was  lost  99  to  58. 

Two  htindred  years  have  passed  since  the  lay-out  of  the  road  was 
made  and  the  long  steep  grade  of  Church  hill  had  not  varied  much 
in  all  that  time.  With  the  completion  of  the  State  road  from 
New^town  Street  to  the  Monroe  line  and  with  the  road  to  Sandy 
Hook  included  in  the  State  w^ork,  drastic  measures  have  been  taken 
to  eliminate  the  grade  of  Church  hill  to  a  great  degree,  and  with  the 
improvements  along  the  line  to  the  railroad  station  ,it  w^ould  seem 
that  the  permanency  of  the  work  is  assured  for  many  years  to  come. 
When  further  improvements  on  the  same  line  from  the  station  to 
Sandy  Hook  eliminated  the  abrupt  curve  of  the  road  by  Tom  Brook 
and  widened  the  bridge  that  spans  that  stream,  no  stretch  of  road 
will  be  found  in  the  state  that  will  be  better.  The  work  is  a  credit 
to  Highway  Commissioner  McDonald,  as  well  as  to  C.  M.  Crosby, 
foreman,  in  charge  of  the  work ;  to  the  contractors,  the  B.  D.  Pierce 
Co.  of  Bridgeport  and  Newtown's  First  Selectman  William  C.  John- 
son, inspector  for  the  state.  The  most  drastic  part  of  the  work  was 
cutting  down  and  grading  Church  hill.  From  the  summit  of  the  hill 
and  for  about  half  of  its  length  a  cut  was  made  averaging  in  depth 
from  four  to  hve  feet,  with  the  deepest  cut  about  seven  feet.  From 
the  point  where  the  cut  runs  out  to  the  watering  trough,  a  heavy  fill 
was  made,  the  deepest  part  of  which  may  measure  from  five  to  seven 
feet.  The  road  bed  the  length  of  the  hill  was  laid  out  26  feet  in 
width.  The  hill  is  extremely  wet  and  springy  and  a  rubble  stone 
drain  three  feet  wide  and  three  feet  deep  was  dug  in  the  center  of 
the  roadbed  from  the  top  of  the  hill  for  300  feet,  to  carry  the  water 

that  would  accuinulate  by  seepage  to  an  open  ditch  at  the  bottom 
of  the  hill.  For  surface  drainage,  cobble  gutters  on  either  side  of 
the  road  extended  half  the  length  of  the  hill,  carrying  the  water 
into  catch  basins,  that  empty  into  12-inch  drain  tile  that  carry  the 
water  to  the  outlets  at  the  foot  of  the  hill.  In  front  of  all  drive- 
ways 12-inch  tile  have  been  laid.  The  entire  road  has  been  crowned 
with  gravel  to  the  depth  of  10  inches  and  has  been  thoroughly 
rolled  by  a  heavy  steam  roller.  On  top  of  the  gravel,  several 
hundred  tons  of  crushed  rock  have  been  carted  upon  the  road  and 
that,  too,  has  been  rolled  down  with  the  steam  roller.  In  front  of 
the  High  School  property,  the  plank  bridge  has  been  replaced  with 
24-inch  tile  which  extends  along  the  whole  front  of  the  school 
grounds,  w^hich  will  insure  an  unbroken  front  of  lawn  almost  to  the 
wheel  track.  At  the  junction  of  the  Queen  street  road  with  the 
State  highway,  a  double  15-inch  tiling  takes  the  place  of  the  plank 
bridge. 


BUILDING,  EQUIPMENT,  RUNNING  EXPENSES  AND  NET 

PROCEEDS  IN  THE  EARLIEST  DAYS  OF  THE 

HOUS ATONIC   RAILROAD    1835-1843. 

I  have  a  report  of  the  directors  of  the  Housatonic  Railroad  Co. 
made  to  the  stockholders  at  the  annual  meeting,  Nov.  22,  1842,  and 
report   of   the   investigating   committee   made   at   the    same    time. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  work  of  building  the  road  I  was  a  babe 
in  the  cradle  and  but  10  years  when  the  trains  began  running  on 
schedule  time.  My  father  was  one  of  those  interested  in  the  pro- 
ject of  building  the  road.  When  the  report  for  1842  came  out,  he 
with  others  received  a  copy.  This  report  was  handed  down  from 
father  to  son,  and  has  been  carefully  kept  for  more  than  50  years. 

As  early  as  1835,  the  question  of  connecting  the  seaboard  at 
Bridgeport  with  Albany  by  railroad  began  to  be  agitated  along  the 
Housatonic  valley,  which,  in  due  time,  resulted  in  a  stock  company; 
stock  was  subscribed  to  the  amount  of  $869,500.  So  sanguine  were 
the  projectors  of  the  ultimate  success  of  the  scheme,  they  did  not 
wait  until  the  whole  amount  of  stock  required  for  building  this 
entire  line  was  guaranteed  before  breaking  ground  at  Bridgeport, 
with  New  Milford  as  the  first  objective  point.  When  the  prelim- 
inary work  of  survey,  purchasing  right  of  way,  etc.,  had  been 
completed,  construction  was  soon  under  way.  Commencing  at 
Bridgeport  and  working  slowly  up  the  valley,  it  was  watched  with 
much  curious  interest  and  statements  were  freely  made  that  it 
would  never  be  completed  and  would  be  the  cause  of  bankrupting 
every  one  who  put  money  into  it.  The  work  progressed  but  slowly, 
for  it  was  all  done  with  hand  shovels,  hand  picks,  hand  blasting 
tools,  wheelbarrows  and  one-horse  dump  carts.  The  steam  shovel 
had  not  taken  the  place  of  the  wheelbarrow,  the  steam  drill  had  not 
taken  the  place  of  sledge  hammers,  swung  by  sturdy  arms  of  men 
who  working  in  triplets,  by  alternate  blows  upon  a  drill  held  and 
manipulated  by  a  third  person  slowly  bored  the  way  into  solid  rock 
nor  had  the  lightning  been  harnessed  to  take  the  place  of  the  boy 
depended  on  to  carry  "hurry  messages"  from  one  stand  point  to 
another.  As  the  work  pushed  on  though  Stepney,  Botsford,  New- 
town, and  Hawleyville,  reaching  the  latter  place  through  a  tunnel, 
whose  construction  was  the  wonder  of  all  the  people  far  and  near, 
continuing  its  tortuous  winding  way  along  the  valley  to  New 
Milford,  people  became  less  incredulous  and  an  impetus  was  given 
to  the  sale  of  stock.  The  completion  of  the  roadbed  to  New  IMil- 
ford  had  more  than  kept  pace  with  the  selling  of  stock,  and  it  was 
decided  to  call  a  halt  in  work  on  the  road-bed  further  on,  for  the 
time  being,  and  complete  track-laying  from  tide-water  to  New 
Milford,  so  that  they  could  begin  running  trains.  In  laying  the 
track,  first  was  laid  what  were  called  mud-sills :  timbers  hewed 
from  large  white  oak  and  chestnut  trees  8  inches  thick  and  from 
12  to  16  feet  in  length,  imbedded  in  the  earth,  laid  parallel  with  the 
road-bed,  on  which  were  laid  cross-ties  flattened  on  one  side  to  lie 
firmly  on  the  mud-sills.  The  ties  had  niches  cut  at  either  end,  eight 
inches   wide  and  six  inches   deep,  to   receive   the   Southern  pine 


166  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

timbers  on  which  were  spiked  the  long  strips  of  iron  on  which  the 
wheels  of  the  engines  and  cars  were  run.  These  strips  were  three 
inches  wide  and  an  inch  thick,  fastened  on  the  wooden  rails  by  iron 
spikes,  the  heads  of  which  were  countersunk  into  the  strip.  It  was 
soon  found  that  the  oscillations  of  the  engine  and  cars  caused  the 
ends  of  the  straps  to  spring  up,  making  what  came  to  be  called 
"snake  heads,"  which  would  at  times  be  caught  up  by  the  wheels 
of  the  car  and  thrust  through  the  floor,  endangering  the  lives  of 
passengers.  In  course  of  time,  that  track  gave  way  to  the  all-iron 
rail,  to  be  discarded  at  a  later  period  for  the  heavy  steel  rails  in  use 
to-day,  with  which  all  are  familiar. 

The  first  through  passenger  train  on  the  Housatonic  railroad 
from  New  Milford  to  Bridgeport  was  on  St.  Valentine's  day,  1840. 
That  does  not  mean  that  no  train  was  seen  anywhere  on  the  line 
until  that  date,  for,  as  track-laying  extended  north  of  Bridgeport, 
a  work  train  would  naturally  follow  with  rails  and  other  supplies 
as  the  work  advanced,  so  that  there  was  daily  expectancy  of  seeing 
the  locomotive.  It  was  in  the  early  winter  of  1839-1840,  when  the 
writer,  having  just  passed  his  seventh  birthday,  was  sitting  on  the 
little  bench  at  the  schoolhouse,  close  to  the  box-stove,  looking  at 
the  big  boys  and  girls  on  the  outside  benches  craning  their  necks 
in  great  expectancy.  Some  one  shouted,  "The  locomotive  is  coming," 
whereupon  all  the  children,  without  a  permit  from  the  teacher, 
went  helter-skelter  out  the  door  and  on  to  the  stone  walls  where 
all  stood  in  mute  amazement  to  see  the  first  of  these  work  trains 
as  it  passed. 

Domestic  animals  were  more  excited  than  were  human  beings. 
My  grandfather  had  a  five-year-old  colt  in  his  barnyard  never 
broken  to  harness,  that  scaled  an  eight-board  fence,  and,  from  all 
reports,  did  not  stop  until  it  reached  ZoarBridge,  where  it  was 
found  a  few  days  later.  Ever  after  the  horse  went  by  the  name  of 
Gabriel.  The  Housatonic  was  the  first  railroad  built  in  Connecticut. 
It  was  looked  upon  with  great  interest,  not  only  as  a  business 
proposition,  but  also  as  likely  to  revolutionize  modes  and  speed 
of  travel. 

The  first  engines  were  small  affairs,  wood  burners,  with  no 
protection  from  the  weather,  either  for  engineer  or  fireman.  The 
coaches  were  on  four  wheeled  trucks  ;  also  the  freight  cars,  which 
for  the  most  part  were  openly  exposed  to  all  kinds  of  weather.  By 
the  report  of  the  directors  to  the  stockholders  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing in  Oct.  1838,  it  appears  that  a  contract  had  been  made  for  the 
construction  of  the  entire  road  from  Bridgeport  to  the  Massachu- 
setts State  line  for  $936,000.  The  report  further  says :  "Under 
that  contract  the  road  was  made  from  Bridgeport  to  New  Milford, 
and  the  cars  of  the  company  commenced  running  upon  it,  between 
those  places,  in  1840."  Running  of  the  first  train  from  New  Milford 
to  Bridgeport  told  me  in  my  younger  days  :  On  the  14th  day  of 
Feb.  1840,  an  excursion  train  was  run  to  celebrate  the  completion 
of  the  road  as  far  as  New  Milford.  The  train  reached  Newtown 
from  New  Milford  about  noon,  where  it  was  greeted  by  an  outpour- 


CO 

I. 


X  — 


Oh 


BUILDING  OF   HOUSATONIC   RAILROAD  167 

ing  of  people  from  all  parts  of  town,  a  few  of  whom  boarded  the 
train  for  the  eventful  trip,  among  whom  were  Legrand  Fairchild, 
(Botsford  Fairchild's  father)  and  Zalmon  S.  Peck,  Newtown's  long 
known  and  well-remembered  postmaster  of  later  years.  The  run 
was  made  to  Bridgeport  without  accident.  The  end  of  the  road  was 
at  the  foot  of  Beaver  Street,  now  Fairfield  avenue,  with  a  short 
branch  over  which  to  shunt  cars  to  the  steamboat  dock,  where 
freight  destined  for  New  York  was  transferred  to  the  boat.  On  the 
dock  was  a  big  pile  of  wood.  The  cars  were  cut  off  to  allow  them 
to  run  down  to  the  landing.  Hand  brakes  at  first  were  only  stout 
planks  thrust  through  openings  in  the  floor  of  the  car  and  held 
against  the  wheels  by  the  brakemen.  The  momentum  of  the  train 
was  too  great  for  the  power  applied  and  the  cars  smashed  into  the 
pile  of  wood  at  the  end  of  the  track.  Among  those  badly  injured 
was  Zalmon  S.  Peck  of  Newtown,  whose  right  thigh  was  caught  by 
the  platform  of  the  car  and  badly  broken.  He  was  taken  to  a  hotel, 
corner  of  Wall  and  Water  streets,  where  he  remained  until  some- 
time in  April,  when  he  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  taken  home. 
There  were  four  others  injured  at  the  same  time,  and  in  the  settle- 
ment with  the  railroad,  the  company  paid  Mr.  Peck  $614.11.  He 
was  a  sufferer  from  that  accident  the  rest  of  his  life. 

In  Dec,  1840,  a  settlement  was  made  with  the  contractors  by  the 
directors.  The  sum  of  $459,153.13,  was  allowed  for  the  work  done, 
and  the  contract  was  abandoned,  the  company  reserving  to  itself 
all  claims  which  it  might  have  upon  the  contractors  for  defect  of 
plan,  construction  or  materials  of  the  bridges  over  the  Housatonic 
and  Still  river,  subject  to  future  adjustment.  In  the  autumn  of  1840 
a  new  contract  was  made  with  Alfred  Bishop,  of  Bridgeport  for  the 
construction  of  the  northern  division  of  the  road  from  New  Milford 
to  the  Massachusetts  line  for  $500,000.  This  division  of  the  road 
was  completed  and  opened  to  North  Canaan,  about  a  mile  and  a 
quarter  from  the  Massachusetts  line,  on  the  27th  of  December,  1841, 
For  work  done  under  this  contract,  Air.  Bishop  was  paid  in  March, 
1842.  $492,405.05  and  was  released  from  his  contract  and  the  untin- 
inshed  part  was  completed  at  the  expense  of  the  company.  With 
the  Massachusetts  State  line  once  reached,  the  directors  made 
the  Berkshire  railroad  a  perpetual  lease  to  keep  it  in  repair  and  pay 
for  its  use  a  rent  of  7  per  cent  per  annum  upon  its  cost,  not  exceed- 
ing $250,000.  Its  track,  of  the  same  width  as  that  of  the  Housatonic 
and  of  the  same  material,  could  be  used  in  connection  with  the 
Housatonic  as  one  entire  road,  forming  a  connecting  link  with  what 
was  called  the  western  railroad,  leading  from  Boston  to  z\lbany  and 
the  West,  which  then  meant  as  far  as  Syracuse,  where  passengers 
could  change  to  the  "Canal  Packet-boat,  for  Buffalo."  The  annual 
report  goes  on  to  say  : 

"The  Board  of  Directors  have  at  last  the  pleasure  to  announce  the  final 
completion  of  an  unbroken  communication  from  Bridgeport  to  Albany. 
That  consummation  of  our  efforts  during  fivfe  years  of  constant  struggling 
with  embarrassments  and  difficulties  of  no  ordinary  character,  is  at  length 
accomplished,  and  we  are  now  to  learn  whether  our  anticipations  of  the 
value  of  the  improvement  to  the  community,  and  its  productiveness,  as  an 
investment  to  the  stockholders,  are  to  be  realized  or  disappointed.  In 
conclusion  we  would  offer  to  the  stockholders  our  congratulations  upon 


168  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

the  completion  of  the  great  project  undertaken  by  them,  and  express  the 
opinion,  that,  provided  some  measure  shall  be  adopted  during  the  coming 
winter  to  provide  for  the  payment  of  a  portion  of  the  indebtedness  of  the 
company,  we  may  see  it  relieved  from  its  embarrassments  and  hereafter 
doing  a  successful  business  and  conferring  upon  the  community  important 
benefits  " 

From  the  report  of  the  directors  of  the  Housatonic  Railroad  Co.  made 
to  the  stockholders  at  the  annual  meeting  in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  Nov.  23, 
1842,  statistics  concerning  cost  of  "right  of  way,"  equipment,  earnings  of 
the  road,  expenses  of  the  road,  expenses  of  transportation  department,  etc: 

Right  of  way                            $  56,659.15  Freights  $61,719.14 

Grading  and  superstructure  968,542.48  Passengers  42,541.91 

Turn-rounds                                    1,182.89  Transporting  mails  1,612.94 

Depots  and  engine  houses        13,632.45  

Engineering                                  24,407.23  $105,873.99 

From  April  16  to  October  1,  1842: 

Total  cost  of  Road              $1,064,424.20  Freights  $21,556.51 

Cost  of  Rolling  Stock :                          Passengers  15,065.22 

5  Engines                                  $32,500.00  Transporting  mails  1,375.73 

10  Cars  for  passengers  15,200.00 ~ 

69  Freight  cars                           19,900.00  $37,997.46 

9  hand  cars  660.00  — — 

Amount  of  earnings  $143,870.72 


$68,260.00  Expenses  76,899.55 

Earnings,  from  opening  of  the  Road  Net  proceeds  $66,971.17 

to  16th  of  April,  1842 :  Add  wood  on  hand  1,500.00 

$68,471.17 

Salaries  of  employees  of  the  roads,  depot  agents,  engineers,  conductors, 
track  men,  and  day  laborers : 

Depot  agents,  Bridgeport:  R.  B.  Lacey,  per  month,  $50.00,  C.  A.  Kirkland 
$41.65,  A.  W.  Fox,  $30.00,  E.  F.  Sherwood,  $28.00,  four  laborers,  rate  of  $26.00, 
Stepney— A.  Northrop,  $12.50,  Botsford— E.  Botsford,  $6.00,  Newtown- 
Henry  May,  $10.42,  Hawleyville— D.  B.  Hawley,  $25.00,  Brookfield— $10.42, 
New  Milford— D.  Marsh,  $33.34,  Gaylords'  Bridge— J.  J.  Graves,  $25.00,  Kent, 
R.  H.  Piatt,  $20.00,  Cornwall— $10.42,  Cornwall  Bridge— F.  W.  Pease,  $25.00, 
West  Cornwall— C.  Pratt,  $20.00,  Falls  Village— D.  H.  Hunt,  $25.00,  North 
Canaan—  J.  R.  Fuller,  $33.34.  Shefifield— E.  F.  Ensign,  $25.00,  Great  Barring- 
ton— C.  W.  Hopkins,  $33.34,  West  Stockbridge,  W.  Jones,  $41.66. 

Engineers:  E.  F.  Moore,  $83.33,  R.  Benjamin,  $45.00,  P.  Tait,  $50.00,  H. 
Kimball,  $50.00,  J.  B.  Hawley,  $50.00,  W.  Sterling,  $40.00. 

Nine  others  are  employed  in  engine  department  with  pay  from  $22  to  $30 
per  month. 

Conductors:    T.  P.  Prentice,  $41.66,  A.  D.  Smith,  $60.00,  H.  Edwards,  $35.00, 
J.  Bostwick,  $35.00. 
Five  others  are  employed  on  the  cars,  with  pay  from  $24  to  $26  per  month. 

Expenses  paid  at  the  transportation  department  from  the  opening  of  the 
road  until  Oct.  1,  1842:  Bridgeport,  $7,319.41,  Botsford,  $123.25,  Stepney, 
$571.83,  Newtown,  $789.31,  Hawleyville,  $881.04,  Brookfield,  $387.25,  New 
Milford,  $2,867,  Gaylord's  Bridge,  $377.92,  Kent,  $423.58,  Cornwall  Bridge, 
$283.87,  West  Cornwall  $212.95,  Falls  Village,  $251.83,  North  Canaan,  $1,076.60. 

In  the  smith  shop:  B.  Hotchkiss  $39.50,  S.  Hull  $32.50,  H.  Zabonlinski 
$26.00,  G.  B.  Smith,  carpenter,  $30.00,  E.  Hogan,  Watchman  $24.00. 

21  men,  including  track  walkers  and  spike  men,  are  employed  in  repair- 
ing the  road;  pay  from  $20  to  $37.75  per  month. 

Nine  laborers  at  the  several  depots,  employed  in  sawing  wood,  etc.  pay, 
from  $20  to  $26  per  month. 
The  company  employs  90  persons  besides  its  ofificers.     In  the  foregoing 


BUILDING  OF  HOUSATONIC   RAILROAD  169 

list  of  engineers,  conductors,  mechanics  and  day  laborers,  we  have  what 
may  be  called  the  working  force  of  the  Housatonic,  90  persons  in  all,  be- 
sides its  officers,  as  given  in  the  annual  report  of  the  company  for  1842. 
Up  to  the  18th  of  April,  1842,  the  business  done  upon  the  road  had  been 
much  less  than  anticipated,  amounting  only  to  $9,723.64,  one  reason  given 
for  which  was  that  navigation  of  the  Hudson  river,  by  reason  of  the 
unusual  mildness  of  the  weather,  continued  most  of  the  winter  unobstruct- 
ed,diverting  traffic  from  the  railroad  to  the  river  boats.  Earnings  and 
expenses  of  the  road  from  the  first  of  December,  1841,  to  April  16,  1842, 
a  net  income  of  $882.41,  per  day,  for  118  days: 

Earnings,— Freight  $18,667.24 

Passengers  10,579.56 

Mail  875.00 


Gross  earnings  $30,121.80 

Equal  to  $225.26  per  day.  118  running 

days. 

Expenses  20,398.16 


Net  proceeds  9,723.64 

Equal  to  $82.41  per  day 
Expenses,  including  depot  expenses  and  all  expenses  of  transportation 
department,  salaries  of  officers,  repairs  of  road,  etc.,  $20,398.16.     Equal  to 
$172.86  per  day. 

With  1843,  R.  B.  Mason,  superintendent  of  the  Housatonic,  issued  an  order 
that  on  and  after  Jan.  16,  there  should  be  one  passenger  and  one  freight  train 
each  way,  daily  excepting  Sunday,  between  Bridgeport  and  West  Stock- 
bridge,  and  that  passengers  should  be  at  the  depots  15  minutes  before  time 
for  the  cars  to  leave.  The  train  for  the  north  should  leave  Newtown  at  1  :25 
p.  m.  and,  going  south,  should  leave  Newtown  at  4.50  p.  m.  schedule  time 
between  Newtown  and  Bridgeport,  one  hour  and  15  minutes. 
Leave  Passenger  Freight 

Bridgeport  12.15  a.m.  6.30  a.m. 

Newtown  1.25  p.  m.  8.25  a.  m. 

Hawleyville  1.45  p.  m.  9.00  a.  m. 

New   Milford  2.30  p.  m.  10.15  a.  m. 

Kent  3.30  p.m.  11.15  a.m. 

West  Corwall  4.20  p.  m.  12.10  p.  m. 

North  Canaan  5.15  p.m.  1.05  p.m. 

Great    Barrington  6.00  p.  m.  2.15  p.  m. 

West   Stockbridge  6.45  p.  m.  3.15  p.  m. 

Passenger  and  freight  trains  going  south  : 

Leave  Passenger  Freight 

West    Stockbridge  11.30  a.m.  5.00  a.m. 

Great    Barrington  12.15  p.  m  6.00  a.  m. 

North  Canaan  1.05  p.  m.  7.00  a.  m. 

West  Corwall  1.45  p.  m.  8.00  a.  m. 

Kent  2.35  p.  m.  9.00  a.  m. 

New    Milford  3.35  p.  m.  10.15  a.  m. 

Hawleyville  4.30  p.m.  11.15  a.m. 

Newtown  4.50  p.m.  11.50  p.m. 

Bridgeport  6.00  p.m.  1.50  p.m. 

The  Postmaster  at  Bridgeport  also  gave  this  notice. 
Post  Office  Bridgeport 

Jan.  24,  1843 
A  mail  agent  has  been  appointed  by  the  Postmaster  General  on  the  line 
from  Bridgeport  to  West  Stockbridge  to  accommodate  and  to  take  charge 
of  the  mails  from  the  postoffice  in  Bridgeport  to  the  postoffice  at  West 
Stockbridge  and  from  the  postoffice  at  West  Stockbridge  to  the  post- 
office  at  Bridgeport.  He  is  also  directed  to  act  as  mail  messenger  and  in 
that  capacity  to  receive  letters  written  after  the  mail  is  closed,  and  way 
letters  and  other  mailable  matter,  to  note  on  them  where  received,  if  on 
the  route,  if  not  into  the  office  at  the  end  of  the  route  at  which  they 
should   be   mailed,   and   also   to   the    person    addressed   when    desired   and 


170  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

practicable.  He  is  instructed  to  receive  postage  on  prepaid  letters,  and 
collect  it  on  letters  not  prepaid  when  delivered  him.  The  above  arrange- 
ment will  commence  this  day,  January,  24,  1843. 

J.  Sherman,  Jr.,  P.  M. 
For  the  accommodation  of  the  towns  of  Danbury,  Bethel  and 
the  south  part  of  Brookfield,  it  was  decided  that  the  third  station 
in  Newtown  was  to  be  near  the  extreine  northerly  part  of  town, 
and,  one  inducement  to  have  it  located  at  Hawleyville,  Glover 
Hawley,  then  a  resident,  gave  land  for  depot  buildings,  and  also 
gave  the  right  of  way  of  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile  through  his  farm. 
His  home  was  the  brick  house  at  Hawleyville  and,  when  a  post- 
ofifice  was  established  there.  Glover  Hawley  was  first  postmaster. 
In  return,  the  station  was  named  Hawleyville  for  him  and  the 
nutnerous   Hawleys   in  that   vicinity. 

NEWTOWN'S  POSTOFFICES  AND  POSTMASTERS  1800—1912. 

Names  of  postmasters,  date  of  appointment  and  time  of  service 
of  each  official  from  the  first  incumbent  down  to  1912. 

The  writer  obtained  the  information  from  the  postoffice  depart- 
ment at  Washington,  through  the  First  Assistant  Postmaster 
General.  Down  to  1843,  there  was  but  one  postoffice  in  town, 
which  was,  as  a  matter  of  course,  located  in  the  village.  The  first 
appointinent  was  dated,  Oct.  1,  1800,  Caleb  Baldwin,  postinaster, 
and  the  office  became  permanently  established,  Jan.  1,  1801.  Caleb 
Baldwin  was  one  of  the  town's  leading  business  men :  town  clerk, 
from  1800  to  1840;  the  records  remain  as  a  lasting  monument  to  his 
memory.  Newtown's  second  postmaster  was  Czar  Keeler,  appoint- 
ed. May  29,  1820,  holding  office  17  years.  March  8,  1837,  Thomas 
Blackman  was  appointed  and  held  office  for  four  years.  May  28, 
1841,  D  V.  B.  Baldwin's  appointment  was  announced,  and  he  held 
the  office  about  two  years.  This  brings  us  down  to  1843,  when 
trains  began  running  on  the  Housatonic  railroad,  one  mail  each 
week-day,  being  carried  each  way.  Henry  May  the  company's 
agent  at  Newtown,  obtained  the  appointment  of  postmaster,  and 
tried  the  experiment  of  having  the  postoffice  removed  to  the  depot, 
to  make  it  more  convenient  for  people  living  east  of  the  railroad, 
more  especially  for  the  convenience  of  people  living  in  Sandy  Hook. 
The  change  did  not  work  and  the  department  at  Washington  order- 
ed its  removal  back  to  Newtown  street.  Henry  May  served  as 
postmaster,  for  a  little  more  than  three  years.  Charles  B.  Curtis 
was  appointed,  serving  less  than  two  years,  when  David 
H.  Johnson,  merchant,  trading  in  a  store  just  north  of 
Trinity  Rectory,  was  appointed.  His  was  a  short  term,  his 
successor,  Nathan  W.  Keeler,  being  appointed.  Keeler  was 
son  of  Czar  Keeler,  Newtown's  second  postmaster.  He  was  a 
merchant  tailor,  and  ran  the  office  in  connection  with  his  trade  for 
three  years,  when  his  successor,  A.  S.  Treat,  was  appointed. 
Treat  was  a  young  lawyer,  not  of  Newtown  birth,  and 
received  the  appointment  of  postmaster  under  Millard  Fillmore, 
who  had  succeeded  to  the  presidency  by  the  death  of  Zachary 
Taylor.  His  tenure  of  office  was  brief,  for  in  March,  1843,  Franklin 
Pierce  was  inaugurated  President,  and  as  "to  the  victor  belong  the 


W  1LS(_)X  M.  REYXOLUS 


NEWTOWN'S   POSTOFFICES   AND   POSTMASTERS  171 

spoils,"  Jerome  Judson,  a  born  Democrat  was  appointed  postmaster 
which  office  he  held  for  a  little  more  than  eight  years. 
In  1861,  Abraham  Lincoln  was  inaugurated  President,  and  Zalmon 
S.  Peck  was  appointed  Newtown's  postmaster,  April  27,  1861. 
From  that  time  to  the  present,  the  names  we  are  to  deal  with  are 
those  well  known  to  those  who  have  reached  or  passed  middle  life. 
In  April,  1867,  an  assassin's  bullet  killed  the  President  and  Andrew 
Johnson  became  his  successor.  He  made  radical  changes  in  office, 
some  for  and  others  without  cause,  and,  March  27,  1867,  Charles 
Henry  Peck  was  appointed  postmaster,  holding  office  until  April, 
1869,  when,  under  Grant's  administration,  Zalmon  S.  Peck  was  re- 
appointed, holding  office  until  the  incoming  of  Cleveland,  in  1885. 
Postmaster  Z.  S.  Peck's  record  is  for  a  longer  period  than  that  of 
any  back  to  the  beginning,  covering  approximately  24  years,  less 
two  intervening,  when  Charles  Henry  Peck  was  in  the  office  under 
Andrew  Johnson. 

When  Grover  Cleveland  assumed  the  presidential  office,  he 
appointed  L.  B.  Booth  postmaster,  one  of  Newtown's  later  mer- 
chants, Nov.  17,  1883.  Three  of  the  next  four  are  Newtown  born, 
while  the  last  named  has,  with  his  family,  been  ours  by  adoption 
many,  many  years.  John  B.  Wheeler  received  appointment,  April 
20,  1889,  serving  a  four-year  term.  John  J.  Northrop's  appointment 
came  June  22,  1893,  one  term  under  Cleveland's  second  administra- 
tion. George  F.  Duncombe's  appointment  came  May  21,  1897, 
covering  a  little  more  than  eight  consecutive  years.  Wilson  M. 
Reynolds,  received  appointment  Oct.  13,  1905,  under  the  Roosevelt 
administration. 

Newtown's  postmasters,  as  given  by  the  First  Assistant  Post- 
master General,  Oct.  19,  1912: 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Jan.  1.  1801;  Czar  Keeler,  May  29,  1820;  Thomas  Blackman, 
March  8,  1837;  D.  V.  B.  Baldwin,  May  28,  1841;  Henry  May,  August  15,  1843; 
Charles  B.  Curtis,  October  23,  1846;  David  H.  Johnson,  Jan.  14,  1848;  Nathan 
W.  Keeler,  Feb.  28,  1850;  Amos  S.  Treat,  Jan.  10,  1853;  Jerome  Judson,  June 
2,  1853;  Zalmon  S.  Peck,  April  27,  1861;  Charles  H.  Peck,  March  27,  1867; 
Zalmon  S.  Peck.  April  26 ;  1869 ;  Levi  B.  Booth,  Nov.  17, 1885  ;  John  B.  Wheeler, 
April  20,  1889;  John  J.  Northrop,  June  22,  1893  ;  George  F.,Duncombe,  May  21, 
1897;  Wilson  M.  Reynolds,  Oct.  13,  1905;  Robert  Bradley,  June  1,  1914. 

When  the  Housatonic  railroad  was  finished  so  that  trains  began 
to  run  on  schedule  time,  it  was  plain  that  new  conditions  called  for 
two  more  postoffices  in  Newtown,  one  at  Cold  Spring,  the  other  at 
Hawleyville.  The  stage  coach  must  give  way  to  steam.  The  post- 
office  department  was  appealed  to  and  Nov.  10,  1843,  one  was 
established  at  Cold  Spring.  Edwin  Botsford  was  first  postmaster, 
and  held  office  for  six  years.  His  son,  Oliver  S.  Botsford,  was  his 
successor  in  1849,  and  held  office  until  the  fall  of  1883,  Austin  B. 
Blakeman  being  appointed  Sept.  28,  of  that  year  and  holding  the 
office  until  his  successor,  Lawrence  Taylor,  was  appointed  Nov.  3, 
1910.  The  name  Cold  Spring  was  changed  to  Botsford  in  the 
spring  of  1883.  In  69  years  up  to  Nov.  10,  1912,  the  office  at  Bots- 
ford had  four  postmasters  : 

Edwin  Botsford.  November  10,  1843;  Oliver  S.  Botsford,  January 
19,  1849;  A.  B.  Blakeman,  September  28,  1883;  Lawrence  Taylor, 
November  3,  1910. 


172  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

The  postoffice  at  Hawleyville  was  established,  March  27,  1844, 
with  Glover  Hawley  as  postmaster,  for  two  years.  Levi  C.  Morris, 
running  a  store  for  dry  goods,  groceries,  etc.,  was  appointed,  April 
6,  1846,  the  office  was  kept  open  until  July  16,  1846,  about  100  days, 
then  discontinued  and  re-established,  July  3,  1847,  when  Josiah  B. 
Fairchild  held  the  office  until  succeeded  by  Asa  N.  Hawley,  appoint- 
ed August  16,  1848,  holding  office  for  six  years.  Daniel  Booth 
Hawley  was  appointed  March  31,  1854,  and  held  office  until  January, 
1880,  26  consecutive  years.  Robert  Millions,  appointed  Dec.  9,  held 
office  until  succeeded  by  F.  C.  Sanford,  appointed  Jan.  5,  1883,  he 
was  succeeded  by  Samuel  C.  Blackman,  Sept.  28,  1885,  and  he  by 
Mary  E.  Lancaster,  appointed  July  10,  1889,  continuing  in  office 
until  April  21,  1890.  F.  C.  Sanford  was  re-appointed,  April  21,  1890, 
to  be  replaced  by  Andrew  B.  Fancher.  May  13,  1890,  he  was  suc- 
ceeded bv  Edmond  C.  Piatt,  Sept.  27,  1901,  who  still  holds  the 
office,  1917. 

The  last  of  Newtown  postoffices  in  order  of  establishment  was 
that  for  Sandy  Hook,  April  8,  1862.  William  Hall  was  first  post- 
master, Henry  L.  Wheeler  second  appointee,  June  14,  1865.  He 
held  office  until  April  16,  1867,  when  John  Judson  was  appointed, 
holding  office  for  two  years,  Ezra  Patch,  appointed  April  29,  1869. 
His  was  a  four-year  term,  succeeded  by  William  B.  Snififen,  Sept. 
3,  1883,  but  only  for  two  years,  supplanted  by  George  Winton, 
Nov.  23,  1885,  under  the  administration  of  President  Grover 
Cleveland.  He  served  a  four-year  term,  succeeded  by  W.  B. 
Sniffen,  who  was  re-appointed  April  3,  1889.  Thomas  J.  Bradley 
succeeded  him,  June  27,  1893.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  appoint- 
ment for  the  third  time  of  W.  B.  Sniffen,  April  6,  1897,  who  held 
the  office  until  his  death  in  1907.  Edgar  C.  Page  was  appointed 
postmaster,  Feb.  25,  1907,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  death. 

Sandy  Hook  postmasters : 

William  Hall,  April  8,  1862;  Henry  L.  Wheeler,  June  14,  1865;  John  Judson, 
April  16,  1867;  Ezra  Patch,  April  29,  1869;  William  B.  Sniffen,  September  3, 
1883;  George  Winton,  November  23,  1885;  William  B.  Sniffen,  April  3,  1889; 
Thomas  J.  Bradley,  June  27,  1893;  William  B.  Sniffen,  April  6,  1897;  Edgar  C. 
Page,  February  25,  1907;  Frederick  Reiner  January,  1916. 

Postal  Laws  and  SsJaries,  1800 — 1912. 

It  is  a  far-off  cry  from  the  stage  driver  and  mail  coach,  to  the 
mail  train  and  postman  of  to-day.  With  a  daily  mail  delivery  to 
every  city,  town  and  village  in  Connecticut  and  a  house-to-house 
distribution  daily  (Sundays  excepted)  to  every  family  in  town, 
where,  100  years  ago  people  counted  themselves  lucky  to  have  the 
mail  delivered  once  a  week,  it  is  hardly  possible  to  realize  the 
difference  between  then  and  now.  We  need  to  go  back  only  100 
years  to  find  that  Hartford,  Norwich,  Middletown,  New  Haven, 
Litchfield,  Danbury  and  Bridgeport  were  central  points  radiating 
to  different  points  of  surrounding  country. 

From  musty  files  of  papers  of  a  century  or  more  ago,  there  came 
by  patient  research  information  that  can  be  gained  in  no  other  way. 
From  a  Hartford  Courant  of  a  century  or  so  ago,  we  can  show  how 
a  net  work  of  mail  routes  were  laid  out,  so  that,  before  the  coming 
of  mail  roads,  the  people  throughout  the  State  of  Connecticut  could 


POSTAL    LAWS    AND    SALARIES  173 

feel  quite  sure  of  a  weekly  mail,  and  a  mail  once  a  week  was  con- 
sidered reasonable.  Sixty-nine  hours  were  allowed  for  carrying 
mails  between  Hartford  and  New  York,  48  hours  from  Hartford  to 
New  London,  and  in  like  proportion  between  other  points  within 
the  state,  no  traveling  being  allowed  on  Sunday.  Gideon  Granger, 
a  Connecticut  statesman,  graduate  of  Yale  in  the  class  of  1787,  was 
appointed  by  President  Jefferson,  Postmaster  General  in  1801,  and 
re-appointed  by  President  Madison  in  1809.  He  made  these  stip- 
ulations for  carrying  mails  for  1809  and  1810: 

The  Postmaster  General  may  expedite  the  mails  and  alter  the  times  of 
arrival  and  departure  at  any  time  during  the  continuance  of  the  contracts, 
he  stipulating  what  he  considers  to  be  an  adequate  compensation  for  any 
extra  expense  that  may  be  occasioned  thereby. 

Fifteen  minutes  shall  be  allowed  for  opening  and  closing  the  mails  at 
all  offices  where  no  particular  time  is  specified. 

For  every  thirty  minutes  delay,  unavoidable  accidents  excepted,  in  arriv- 
ing after  the  time  prescribed  in  any  contract,  the  contractor  shall  forfeit 
one  dollar  and  if  the  delay  continues  until  the  departure  of  any  depending 
mail  whereby  the  mails  destined  for  such  depending  mail  lose  a  trip,  an 
additional  forfeiture  of  five  dollars  shall  be  incurred.  And  whenever  a  lost 
trip  ensues  from  whatever  circumstances,  the  amount  to  be  paid  to  the 
contractor  for  a  regular  trip  is  to  be  deducted  from  his  pay. 

Newspapers,  as  well  as  letters,  are  to  be  sent  in  the  mail  and  if  any 
person  making  proposals  desires  to  carry  newspapers  other  than  those 
conveyed  in  the  mail  for  his  own  emolument,  he  must  state  in  his  proposals 
for  what  sum  he  will  carry  with  the  emolument  and  for  what  sum  without 
that  emolument. 

Should  any  person  making  proposals  desire  an  alteration  of  the  times 
of  arrival  and  departure  above  specified,  he  must  state  in  his  proposals 
the  alteration  desired  and  the  difference  they  will  make  in  the  terms  of 
the  contract.  Persons  making  proposals  are  desired  to  state  their  prices 
by  the  year.  Those  who  contract  will  receive  their  pay  quarterly  in  the 
months  of  August,  November,  February  and  May,  in  one  month  after  the 
expiration  of  each  quarter.  No  other  than  a  free  white  person  shall  be 
employed  to  carry  the  mail.  Where  the  proposer  intends  to  carry  the  mail 
in  the  body  of  a  stage  or  carriage,  he  is  desired  to  state  it  in  his  proposals. 

The  Postmaster  General  reserves  to  himself  the  right  of  declaring  any 
contract  at  an  end  whenever  one  failure  happens  which  amounts  to  the 
loss  of  a  trip. 

The  contract  for  the  above  routes  are  to  be  in  operation  on  the  first  day 
of  April  next,  and  are  to  continue  in  force  for  two  years. — [Gideon  Granger, 
Postmaster  General]. 

General  Postoffice,  Washington  City,  October  31,  1808. 

Some  of  the  principal  mail  routes  and  schedules  in  Connecticut  in  1809: 

From  Hartford  by  Farmington,  Harwinton,  Litchfield,  Washington,  New 
Milford,  Danbury,  Ridgefield,  Salem  and  Bedford  to  New  York  once  a 
week.  Leave  Hartford  every  Tuesday  at  2  p.  m.,  arrive  at  Litchfield  on 
Wednesday  by  9  a.m.  and  at  New  York  on  Friday  by  11  a.m.  Returning 
leave  New  York  every  Friday  at  6  p.  m.,  arrive  at  Danbury  on  Saturday  at 
8  p.  m.,  at  New  Milford  on  Monday  by  9  a.m.,  at  Litchfield  by  6  p.m.,  and 
at  Hartford  by  10  a.  m.  on  Tuesday. 

From  Litchfield  by  Cornwall  and  Sharon  to  Poughkeepsie  once  a  week. 
Leave  Litchfield  every  Wednesday  at  2  p.  m.,  arrive  at  Sharon  by  7  p.  m., 
and  at  Poughkeepsie  on  Thursday  by  2  p.  m.  Leave  Poughkeepsie  on 
Thursday  at  5  p.  m.  and  arrive  at  Litchfield  on  Saturday  by  noon. 

From  Middletown  by  Middle  Haddam,  East  Haddam  and  Haddam  to 
Saybrook,  once  a  week.  Leave  Middletown  every  Friday  at  4  a.  m.  and 
arrive  at  Saybrook  by  5  p.  m.  Leave  Saybrook  every  Saturday  at  4  a.  m., 
and  arrive  at  Middletown  by  6  p.  m. 

From  New  Haven  by  Woodbridge,  Waterbury  and  Watertown  to  Litch- 
field once  a  week.     Leave  Litchfield  every  Friday  at  6  a.  m.  and  arrive  at 


174  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

New  Haven   by  3  p.  m.     Leave   New  Haven   every   Friday   at   5   p.  m.   and 
arrive  at  Litchfield  on  Saturday  by  3  p.  m. 

From  Danbury  by  South  East,  Franklin,  Pawling,  Dover,  Kent,  Sharon, 
Salisbury,  Sheffield,  Great  Barrington,  Stockbrige,  Lenox,  Pittsfield,  Lanes- 
boro,  Williamstown  and  Pownal  to  Bennington  once  a  week.  Leave  Danbury 
every  Saturday  at  9  p.  m.  and  arrive  at  Pittsfield  on  Monday  at  7  p.  m.  and 
arrive  at  Bennington  the  next  Tuesday  by  7  p.  m.  Leave  Bennington  on 
Monday  at  5  a.  m  and  arrive  at  Pittsfield  by  8  p.m.  Leave  Pittsfield  on 
Tuesday  at  5  a.  m  and  arrive  at  Danbury  the  next  Wednesday  by  7  p.  m. 

From  Bridgeport  by  Trumbull,  Huntington,  Newtown,  Brookfield  to  New 
Milford  once  a  week.  Leave  Bridgeport  every  Tuesday  at  2  p.m.  and 
arrive  at  New  Milford  every  Wednesday  at  6  a.  m.  and  arrive  at  Bridgeport 
on  Thursday  by  10  a.  m. 

Enough  has  been  given  to  show  the  carrying  out  of  mail  dehvery 
among  the  cities  and  towns  of  a  State,  a  method  that  remained 
intact  until  the  coming  of  the  railroads  and  transportation  of  mail 
by  steain. 

Mrs  Johnson's  maternal  grandfather,  Rhesa  Foote,  born  in  New- 
town in  1781,  had  as  one  of  his  boy  companions,  Lewis  Peck.  In 
school  and  out  of  school,  they  were  boon  companions  and  as  they 
grew  to  man's  estate  they  were  to  each  other  as  Damon  and  Pyth- 
ias, almost  inseparable.  In  seeking  their  life  work,  they  became 
separated,  one  going  to  North  Carolina,  the  other  remaining  in 
Newtown.  A  long  correspondence  was  kept  up  and  we  have  many 
letters  that  passed  between  them,  bearing  dates  of  1801,  1802,  1803, 
letters  written  on  fool's-cap  paper,  bearing  with  the  address,  in 
large  figures  of  red  chalk,  the  numbers,  "25  cts."  "50  cts.,"  as  the 
size  of  the  package  might  be,  one  sheet  25c,  two  sheets,  50c  postage. 
Postage  paid  by  the  receiver  of  the  letter. 

We  will  give  the  rates  of  postage  established  by  Congress  in  1806. 
There  were  two  rates,  one  for  letters  and  newspapers  carried  by 
land  and  the  other  for  the  same  rate  of  postage  when  carried  by 
packet  boat,"  property  of  the  United  States  and  two  cents  extra 
when  carried  by  private  vessels. 

For  letters  conveyed  by  land,  single,  double  and  triple,  not  exceeding  40 
miles,  8c;  over  40  miles  and  not  exceeding  90,  10c;  over  90  and  not  exceed- 
ing 150,  12  l-2c;  over  150  and  not  exceeding  300,  17c;  over  300  and  not 
exceeding  500,  20c;  over  500  miles,  25c.  Double  letters  are  double,  and 
triple  letters  triple,  these  rates.  A  packet  of  the  weight  of  one  ounce,  at 
the  rate  of  four  single  letters  and  in  like  proportion  for  one  of  greater  weight. 
No  allowance  being  made  for  intermediate  mails.  Single  letters  passing  by 
sea  in  packet  boats,  the  property  of  the  United  States,  8c  each;  double 
letters  16c  and  triple  letters,  24c.  All  letters  or  packets  by  private  vessels 
at  two  cents  each  with  the  addition  of  postage,  if  destined  to  any  other 
place  than  where  the  vessel  may  arrive.  No  vessel  can  be  permitted  to  ■ 
report,  make  entry  or  break  bulk,  until  the  master  has  delivered  to  the 
postmater  all-  the  letters  brought  in  his  vessel,  except  those  for  the  owner 
or  consignee. 

Postage  on  Newspapers :  Each  paper  carried  not  over  100  miles,  one 
cent,  and  over  100  miles,  one  and  one-half  cent;  but  if  carried  to  any 
postoffice  in  the  state  in  which  it  is  printed,  whatever  be  the  distance,  the 
postage  is  only  one  cent.  Magazines  and  pamphlets  are  rated  by  the 
sheet;  any  distance  not  exceeding  50  miles,  one  cent;  over  50  and  not  ex- 
ceeding 100  miles,  two  cents." 

No  trouble  in  making  change  for  the  half-cent,  for  half-cents 
were  coined  in  those  days.  Some  will  be  interested  in  being  told 
the  source  from  which  the  writer  found  the  rates  of  postage  in 
force  when  the  postoffice  was  established,  which  has  its  proper 


POSTAL    LAWS    AND    SALARIES  175 

place  in  this  article.  The  writer  has  in  his  possession  a  file  of 
Almanacs,  in  their  completeness  from  the  year  1762  to  the  year 
1884.  From  the  year  1800  to  the  year  1884,  every  change  made  in 
in  the  postal  laws  is  sure  to  be  found  in  the  almanacs  in  use  under 
date  of  the  year  in  which  a  change  came,  and  so  it  is  that  the  copy 
issued  in  the  year  1806  contains  the  postage  laws  as  they  were  first 
issued. 

The  writer  gives  information  from  a  group  of  pamphlets  that  had 
the  beginning  of  growth  with  his  maternal  ancestors,  150  year  ago. 
Rates  of  postage  established  by  Acts  of  Congress  passed  March  3,  1825: 
"For  a  single  letter,  composed  of  one  piece  of  paper  for  any  distance  not 
exceeding  30  miles,  6c;  over  30  miles  and  not  exceeding  80  miles,  10c;  over 
80  and  not  exceeding  150  miles  12  l-2c;  over  ISO  and  not  exceeding  400  miles 
18  3-4  cents;  over  400  miles  25c.  Double  letters,  double  rates;  triple  letters, 
triple  those  rates.  Letters  composed  of  four  pieces  of  paper,  quadruple 
those  rates.  The  net  amount  of  postage  from  the  postoffices  in  Connecticut 
for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1827,  under  the  above  rates  as  reported  in 
the  state  register  for  the  year  1829  vi^as  $30,160.13. —  [Gideon  Granger,  Post- 
master-General.  Washington.] 

Net  amount  of  postage  received  from  the  Newtown  postoffice 
for  the  year  ending  March  31,  1827,  was  $60.80. 

By  act  of  Congress  in  1852,  rates  of  postage  were  changed,  on 
letters  not  exceeding  a  half  ounce  to  5  cents  for  500  miles  and  to 
10  cents  on  letters  over  half  and  not  exceeding  an  ounce.    In  1858, 
rates  of  postage  on  single  letters  weighing  not  over  half  an  ounce 
for  not  exceeding  3000  miles,  3  cents,  prepaid  by  stamps.    Over  3000 
miles  6c.     Double  weight,  double  postage.     Postmasters'  compen- 
sation by  law  of  1854,  on  any  sum  not  exceeding  $100,  60  per  cent, 
and,  in  offices  where  the  mails  arrive  regularly  between  9  o'clock  at 
night  and  5  in  the  morning,  70  per  cent  on  the  first  $100.   On  any  sum 
over  $100  and  not  exceeding  $400,  50  per  cent ;  over  $400  and  not 
exceeding  $2,400,  40  per  cent;  and  on  all  sums  over  $2,400,  15  per 
cent.     In  1864  the  rate  of  postage  on  letters  of  a  half  ounce  was 
changed  to  three  cents  any  distance  w^ithin  the  United  States  pre- 
paid with  stamps,  to  take  efifect,  July  1,  1865.     In  1884  postage  on 
one-half  ounce  letters  was  made  two  cents  and  still  remains  so.* 
j  When  salary  was  based  on  percentage  of  receipts,  salaries  paid  at 
i  different  offices  in  Newtown,  gathered  by  the  writer  from  a  person- 
I  al  study  of  public  documents  in  the  Connecticut  State  Library  at 
I  Hartford. 

I       Salaries  of  postmasters  in  Newtown  Street : 

,  1816  $35.01,  1822  $53.52,  1824,  $61.57,  1828  $65.17.  1830  62.71,  1832  $78.75.  1835 
1  $132.73,  1838  $160.90,  1841  $169.77,  1845  $190.84,  1849  $279.69,  1851  $419.96,  1855 
'  $448.26,  1859  $437.89,  1863  $444.90,  1865  $447.65,  1879  $580.87,  1881  $609.40,  1883 
I  625.71,  1887  $756.17,  1889  $892.92,  1893  $979.69,  1895  $959.82,  1897  $922.43,  1899 
I  $934.86,  1901  $1000.00,  1903  $979.69,  1905  $1000.00. 

j       Business  at  the  postoffice  in  Newtown  Street  so  increased  that 
j  the  postmaster's  salary  is  $1300  and  the  salary  of  each  of  the  two 
I  rural  carriers  $990. 
;       The  postoffice  in  Sandy  Hook  is  a  salaried  office  of  $1000  and 

sends  out  two  rural  delivery  clerks,  $990  each. 
j       Hawleyville  postoffice  has  increased  its  business,  so  that,  from  a 
I  salary  of  $16.95  per  year  in  1845,  its  receipts  at  the  present  time 
warrant  a  salary  of  about  $800,  and  it  sends  out  a  rural  delivery 
clerk  on  a  salary  of  $1100. 

]    'NOTE:    Since  the  Government  has  increased  letter  postage  to  three  cents. 


176  NEWTOWN'  S  HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 


RESTRICTIONS  TO  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS  RUNNING  UPON 

COMMON  LANDS  AND  MANNER  OF  DISPOSAL 

WHEN  UNCLAIMED. 

The  first  100  years  of  the  town  life,  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and 
swine  were  allowed  to  run  at  large  on  the  common  or  undivided 
land,  owners  being  held  for  all  damage  where  they  broke  into  en- 
closures properly  fenced.  Each  owner  must  have  an  ear  mark  for 
cattle,  sheep  and  swine,  by  which  he  could  know  his  own  when 
found  in  a  mixed  herd.  To  mark  horses  in  that  way  would  be  dis- 
figurement of  beauty,  so  a  branding  iron  was  used  and  some  letter 
or  mark   branded  on  the  shoulder  or  body  of  the  horse. 

A  few  recorded  ear  marks  from  the  first  volume  of  Newtown's 
records,  date  of  1715.  It  was  necessary  that  they  should  be  record- 
ed, for  so  disputes  as  to  ownership  could  be  easily  adjusted. 

Daniel  F"oote's  ear  mark  for  his  creatures  is  a  half  penny  on  ye  near 
side  of  ye  upper  side  of  ye  near  ear  and  a  nick  in  ye  same  between  ye  half 
penny  and  ye  top  of  ye  ear. 

Joseph  Peck's  ear  mark  for  his  cattle  and  other  creatures  is  a  half 
penny  on  ye  under  side  of  ye  near  ear. 

Caleb  Dayton's  ear  mark  for  his  creatures  is  two  half  pennies  upon  ye 
for  side  of  each  ear. 

Joseph  Peck's  ear  mark  for  his  cattle  is  two  half  pennies  cut  out  under 
ye  near  ear. 

Ebenezer  Booth's  mark  for  his  creatures  is  one  half  penny  cut  out  of  ye 
fore  side  of  right  ear. 

John  Burn's  ear  mark  for  his  creatures  is  two  slits  down  ye  loop  of  ye 
left  ear. 

Jeremiah  Northrop's  ear  mark  for  his  creatures  is  a  crop  off  ye  right  ear 
and  a  half  penny  the  fore  side  of  ye  same. 

Ebenezer  Johnson's  ear  mark  for  his  chattils  and  other  creatures  is  a 
crop  off  ye  ear  and  two  slits  in  ye  crop. 

Stephen  Parmaley's  ear  mark  for  his  creatures  is  three  nicks  cut  in  ye 
under  side  of  ye  off  ear. 

John  Seeley's  ear  mark  for  his  creatures  is  a  short  slit  in  ye  fore  ear,  a 
slit  ye  under  side  of  ye  near  ear  and  a  half  penny  on  ye  fore  side  ye  same. 

James  Hard's  ear  mark  for  his  creatures  is  two  slits  in  ye  near  ear  and 
a  hole  in  ye  far  ear. 

Abraham  Kimberly  was  chosen  brander  of  horses  and  it  was 
voted,  that  the  brander's  shop  or  yard,  in  which  to  brand  or  mark 
the  animals  of  "horse  kind  of  any  sort"  should  be  on  his  premises. 
Kimberly's  lot  was  the  sixth  lot  south  of  the  cross  highway,  on  the 
easterly  side  of  the  street.  As  those  lots  were  laid  out  16  rods 
wide,  lot  No.  6  was  96  rods  south  of  the  road  leading  toward  Sandy 
Hook,  and  that  highway  was  laid  out  to  be  ten  rods  wide,  each  lot 
being  laid  out  40  rods  in  length  and  16  rods  wide.  Swine  running 
at  large  were  most  troublesome  of  all  domestic  animals  and  fre- 
quent resolutions  were  passed  at  town  meetings. 

Resolution  passed  at  the  annual  meeting  in  Dec,  1715: 


RESTRICTIONS  TO  DOMESTIC  ANIMALS  177 

"At  ye  aforesaid  meeting  agreed  upon  and  voted  by  ye  inhabitants  that 
swine  shall  be  at  large  on  ye  commons  ye  years  ensuing,  that  is  without 
yoaking  and  ringing  and  if  any  damage  is  done  by  such  swine  threw  ye 
insufficientness  of  fence  that  shall  not  be  judged  according  to  law  by  ye 
fence  viewers,  the  owners  of  such  fence  are  to  bare  ye  damage,  but  if  any 
swine  are  taken  damage  feazent  when  ye  fence  is  sufficient  then  ye  owners 
of  all  such  unruly  swine  shall  pay  ye  pondage  and  damage  according  to  the 
law. — Recorded  Dec.  21,  1715.  Joseph  Peck,  Clerk." 

Dec.  8,  1736,  upon  ye  petition  of  ye  farmers  belonging  to  ye  farmers 
belonging  to  ye  farm  called  Zoar  that  they  might  have  liberty  to  build  a 
pound  to  impound  creatures  belonging  to  other  towns  that  should  do  them 
damage  in  their  inclosures.  It  was  voted  to  grant  ye  farmers  liberty  to 
build  themselves  a  pound  upon  their  own  charges  for  ye  end  above  sd 
provided  ye  aforesd  farmers  impound  none  of  ye  creatures  belonging  to  ye 
inhabitants  of  Newtown,  in  their  pound. 

At  a  meeting,  Dec.  19,  1737,  voted  ye  swine  belonging  to  inhabitants  of 
Newtown  shall  be  free  commoners  so  long  as  they  do  no  damage  and  ye 
owners  of  ye  swine  to  pay  damage  where  ye  fence  is  good  and  according 
to  law,  and  where  fence  is  not  good  ye  owners  of  such  fence  are  not  to 
recover  any  damage  or  poundage,  and  if  such  swine  be  not  sufficiently 
yoked  after  ye  first  time  they  do  damage  then  ye  owners  to  pay  all 
damages    after  ye  first  time  they  do  damage. 

By  sufficiently  yoking  to  be  understood  nine  inches  above  ye  neck,  four 
inches  below  ye  neck,  six  inches  long  on  each  side  of  ye  neck  is  a  grown 
swine,  and  proportionally  for  lesser  swine.  Swine  so  yoked  not  to  be 
deemed  damage  feazant.     This  act  to  continue  for  two  years. 

At  a  town  meeting  at  the  south  schoolhouse,  April  16,  1756:  "Voted — 
Whereas  ye  law  cuts  off  swine  from  running  at  large  as  free  commoners 
unless  ye  town  shall  agree  otherwise  and  finding  that  ye  swine  do  dig  up 
commons  so  that  it  is  great  demage  to  ye  flock  of  sheep  feeding  on  sd 
commons,  which  to  prevent  it  is  further  enacted  and  voted  at  ye  sd  meet- 
ing that  all  ye  swine  belonging  to  ye  inhabitants  of  Newtown  from  10 
weeks  old  and  upwards  shall  be  singed  of  running  at  large  on  ye  commons 
by  ye  tenth  day  of  May  next  or  shall  be  liable  to  be  pounded  according  to 
the  law,  nothing  in  this  vote  or  act  to  be  construed  otherwise  than,  that  if 
swine  do  damage  in  any  man's  inclosure  ye  owner  thereof  shall  be  liable 
to  pay  all  damages. 

John  Northrop,  Town  Clerk." 
When  stray  cattle,  sheep,  swine  or  horses,  were  impounded 
(there  were  no  local  newspapers  in  those  days),  the  town  crier 
went  the  round  to  cry  or  announce  the  fact.  After  a  space  of  six 
months  and  no  one  appearing  to  claim  the  animal  or  animals,  they 
were  appraised  and  sold  at  public  auction ;  if  they  sold  for  more 
than  expense  incurred,  the  over-plus  went  into  the  treasury  of  the 
town. 

Newtown,  Feb.  23,  1755.  On  account  of  ye  charges  arising  upon  a  mare 
yt  was  sold  at  public  vandue  at  ye  sign  post.  Sold  for  20  pounds  old  tener, 
ye  above  sd  mare  was  posted  at  several  neighl)oring  towns  as  ye  law 
directs  and  sold  per  me.  Joseph  Bristol,  constable  of  Newtown  at  ye  sum 
above  sd. 

For  crying  sd  mare,  f5;for  keeping  sd  mare,  £2  2s  6d ;  for  damage  £1; 
for  prizing  damage,  15s;  for  pounding,  6s  8d :  for  recording,  3s  4d ;  for 
silling,  10s;  one  quart  of  rum,  12s;  clerk's  fee  for  entry,  6s. 

Newtown,  Nov.  2,  1756,  then  taken  up  damages  feasant  and  impounded  by 
Lieutenant  Nathaniel  Brisco,  a  brown  bayish  mare,  with  a  star  in  her  fore- 
head, branded  with  this  figure,  (9)  on  ye  right  and  left  shoulder,  her  right 
hind  foot  white,  j-e  above  described  mare  was  posted  at  ye  several  neigh- 
boring towns  as  ye  law  directs  and  sold  at  public  vandue  at  one  pound  and 
six  pence  per  me,  William  Birtch,  constable,  ye  charge  as  follows  : 

Damage,  Is  2d;  my  fee  for  travel  and  vandure,  14s  7d ;  keeping  of  mare, 
3s;  to  drummer  and  poundage.  Is  2d;  prizing  damage,  4d ;  clerk's  fee,  6d. 
Total  i\  9d. 
Newtown,  June  7th,  1757,  then  taken  up  by  James  Hard,  a  gray  mare  and 


178  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

impounded  in  Newtown  pound,  branded  on  ye  right  shoulder  with  a  figure 
7.  No  ear  mark  to  be  found.  The  above  sd  mare  was  posted  at  ye  several 
towns  as  ye  law  directs  and  sold  at  a  public  vandue  at  £3,  7s,  lawful  money 
per  me,  William  Bristol,  Newtown  constable. 

My  fee  for  travel  and  posting  and  selling,  8s;  charge  for  vendue,  2s  Id; 
poundage  and  pasture,  5s  lid;  drummer's  fee  for  beating  ye  drum,  9d ;  ye 
clerk's  fee,  6d ;  apprisal,  £3,  7d ;  expenses,  17s  3d;  overplus,  £2,  9s  Id; 
Ye  mare  was  sold  at  ye  post,  June  27,  1757. 

Newtown,  July  ye  12th,  1757,  then  taken  up  by  Jeremiah  Turner,  one  grey 
mare  about  two  or  three  years  old  and  impunded  in  Newtown  pound.  No 
brand  mark  to  be  found  on  her.  A  small  streak  of  white  in  ye  forehead 
and  a  few  gray  hairs  down  ye  nose.  The  above  sd  mare  was  posted  in  ye 
several  towns  as  ye  law  directs  and  sold  at  a  public  vandue  at  3  pounds, 
19  shillings  lawful  money.  Sold  ye  first  day  of  August,  1757,  by  me  William 
Birtsch,  Newtown  constable. 

My  fee  for  travel,  posting  and  selling  sd  mare,  9s  5d  2far. ;  charge  of 
vandue,  2s  4d ;  poundage  and  damage,  4s  2d;  keeping  mare,  prizers  and 
administering  oath,  2s  8d  ;  to  ye  drummer  for  fee  for  beating  ye  drum,  9  far. 
clerk's  fee  for  recording  sd  mare,  £6,  19s,  lOd,  2  far. 

Newtown,  August  17,  1762.  Then  taken  damage  feasant  by  Arnold  Glover 
of  Newtown,  one  grayish  mare  and  impounded  in  ye  Newtown  pound, 
about  two  or  three  year  old,  with  a  white  streak  down  its  face,  branded 
with  these  letters,  II,  on  ye  left  shoulder. 

Ye  above  said  mare  was  posted  in  ye  several  towns  as  ye  law  directs  and 
sold  at  apublic  vandue  to  George  Lemon  of  Stratford,  for  £2,  6s,  6d,  lawful 
money  per  me,  William  Birtch,  Newtown  constable. 

£     s     d 
The  constable's  fee  for  posting 

and  selling  0     10    6 

Damage  0     15     0 

Poundage  and  keeping  sd 

mare  0      4    8 

For  viewing  the  fence  and 

prizing  the  damage.  0      5     0 

Ye  justice's  fee  for  administ- 
ering oath  to  prizers         0      0    8 
Ye  drummers  fee  and  charge 

of  vandue,  0      3    3 

Ye  Town  clerk's  fee  for   re- 
cording, 0      0    9 


1     19    8 
Ye  above  sd  mare  was  sold  on  ye  6th  of  September,  1762. 
Mare  sold  for  2    6  6 

Expense,  1  19  8 


Overplus,  0  6  10 

Found  in  ye  woods  near  Gray's  Plain  in  Newtown  a  two  year  old  steer, 
reddish,  pied  on  ye  back,  marked  with  a  swallow  fork  on  ye  ofif  ear  and  one 
happenny  on  ye  foreside  of  ye  near  ear.  Sd  steer  died  and  was  skinned 
by  Ebenezer  Peck  and  recorded,  June  ye  19th,  A.  D.  1769,  per  me,  Caleb 
Baldwin,  3rd,  Town  Clerk,  on  ye  20th  day  of  December,  1769.  I  appointed 
Jonathan  Prindle  and  Ebenezjsr  Johnson  to  apprize  sd  skins  and  they  were 
sworn  by  me,  Henry  Glover,  Justice  of  ye  Peace,  and  they  apprized  sd 
skins  at  14  shillings  lawful  money,  and  ye  sd  Ebenezer  Peck  is  allowed  for 
his  trouble  and  cost  about  sd  steer  ye  sum  of  seven  shillings  per  me,  Henry 
Glover,  Justice  of  ye  Peace. 

Ebenezer  Peck 
Justice    fees 
Appraisers   fees, 
Clerk's  Fees, 

0  11     0 


£ 

s 

d 

0 

7 

0 

0 

1 

0 

0 

1 

6 

0 

1 

6 

RESTRICTIONS  TO   DOMESTIC  ANIMALS  179 

Value  of  sd  hide,  0  14    0 

Cost,  0  11     0 


Overplus  0    3    0 

Recorded  per  me,  Caleb  Baldwin,  ye  srd  Town  Clerk. 

Newtown,  May  ye  21st,  1756.  Taken  up  by  Lieut.  Joseph  Smith  of  ye 
parish  of  Newberry  in  ye  county  road  from  Newtown  to  New  Milford,  a 
leather  pouch  with  thirty  shillings  of  silver  and  six  coppers  in  sd  leather 
pouch.  Entered  by  me,  John  Northrop,  Town  clerk.  May  ye  28th,  1756. 
The  owners  appeared  February  4th,  1757,  for  ye  above  sd  money  and 
received  ye  same  at  ye  hand  of  Lieut.  Joseph  Smith  before  me,  John 
Northrop,  town  clerk.  Received  by  Ebenezer  Mills  and  John  Mills,  sons 
of  law  to  ye  man  that  lost  sd  money." 

"Newtown,  June  19th,  1754,  fund  in  ye  highway  by  Dina  Nichols,  daughter 
to  Nathaniel  Nichols  a  gold  ring  without  seal  to  it,  with  a  posey  to  it,  etc. 
Ye  owner  appeared  for  sd  ring." 

Newtown,  May  ye  14th,  1767,  then  found  by  a  child  near  ye  house  of 
Aaron  Peck,  a  Spanish  mill  dollar.  The  owner  may  have  ye  same  by  laying 
claim  to  it  as  may  be  thought  reasonable. 

Aaron  Peck. 

Received  for  record,  July  10,  1767.    Caleb  Baldwin,  Town  Clerk. 

Taken  upon  ye  road  that  leads  from  Sanford's  mill  to  Zoar  near  Hard's 
meadow  lot,  a  square  silver  shoe  buckle  with  iron  fluke  and  tongue.  Sd 
buckle  somewhat  worn.  Taken  up  by  Lieut.  Samuel  Griffin,  and  is  in  his 
custody,  recorded  July  4,  1768,  per  me,  Caleb  Baldwin,  3rd  Town  Clerk.  On 
ye  13th  day  of  January,  1769,  I  appointed  William  Burwell  and  Jabez 
Baldwin  to  appraise  sd  buckle  and  they  were  sworn  according  to  law. 
Sd  Burwell  and  Baldwin  appraised  sd  buckle  and  set  ye  value  of  sd  buckle 
at  £0,  s3,  dl.    Sd  Griffin  is  allowed  for  his  trouble  8d. 

Cost  Griffin  for  his  trouble, 
Justice's  fees, 
Appraiser's  fees, 
Clerk's  fees. 

Total  cost,  0    2  10 

Taken  up  as  lost  goods  by  Zadock  Hard  on  ye  26th  day  of  April,  1769, 
a  small  side  of  leather  about  three  or  four  soles  cutout  of  ye  but  of  it,  sd 
leather  supposed  to  be  tanned  with  black  oak  bark. 

Recorded,  May  ye  8th,  1769,  per  me  Caleb  Baldwin,  Register. 

On  ye  8th  of  November,  1769,  I  appointed  William  Burwell  and  Ephriam 
Sherman  to  appraise  sd  side  of  leather.  Sd  Sherman  and  Burwell  were  put 
under  oath  as  ye  law  directs  per  me,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Justice  of  ye  Pece  and 
they  caled  sd  leather  s5,  d,  lawful  money.  The  sd  Hard  is  allowed  for 
his  trouble  about  sd  leather  one  shilling. 

Justice's  fee. 

Two  appraisers'  fees. 

Clerk's    fee, 


£ 

s 

d 

0 

0 

8 

0 

0 

6 

0 

0 

8 

0 

1 

0 

Value  of  leather. 
Cost, 

Overplus  0    2  10 


£ 

s 

d 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

4 

0 

1 

3 

0 

2 

7 

0 

5 

5 

0 

2 

7 

180  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

NEWTOWN'S  SHEEP  INDUSTRY. 

An  abstract  of  the  work  of  the  assessors  in  making  up  the  town's 
grand  levy  for  the  year  ending  Oct.  1,  1911,  stated  "that  in  the 
returns  made  of  taxable  property,  no  sheep  were  returned  as  being 
owned  in  town." 

Although  the  writer  has  been  conscious  of  a  gradual  decline  in  that 
source  of  the  farmer's  income,  he  had  not  thought  to  live  to  see  the 
time  when  there  would  be  no  ownership  of  sheep  in  Newtown.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  report  of  our  town  treasurer  for  the  year  ending 
.Sept.  1,  1911,  showed  that  for  that  year,  407  dogs  were  registered, 
by  which  the  income  of  the  town  was  increased  by  $478.  When  we 
have  a  State  law  compelling  owners  of  dogs  to  keep  them  confined 
or  chained  from  sundown  to  sunrise,  their  havoc  among  sheep  will 
be  less  than  now.  For  with  dogs,  as  with  lawless  bipeds,  the  great 
part  of  their  villainous  and  deadly  work  is  done  under  cover  of 
darkness.  Whether  sheep  came  into  town  along  with  horses  and 
cows,  we  have  no  way  of  knowing.  It  is  natural  to  suppose  that 
at  the  start  all  the  upland  in  its  virgin  loveliness  was  covered  with 
timl:)er  and  underbrush,  and  swamp  land  would  be  no  ground  for 
sheep.  The  inference  is  that,  previous  to  1800,  sheep  were  kept  as 
one  common  flock,  tended  by  a  shepherd"  chosen  by  the  town, 
each  owner  to  pay  towards  the  expense  of  tending  through  the 
season,  according  to  the  number  owned.  The  season  lasted  from 
early  in  May,  to  late  in  October. 

The  records  are  silent  in  regard  to  sheep  until  1800.  Nothing  is 
found  on  the  records  showing  that  they  were  taxed  with  live  stock, 
nor  were  they  allowed  to  go  on  the  commons  except  under  the  care 
of  a  duly  appointed  shepherd.  At  a  town  meeting  held  in  April, 
1732,  it  was  voted  "That  the  Commons  should  be  cleared  for  the  benefit  of 
the  flock  of  sheep  where  it  shall  be  thought  to  be  most  needful  by  those 
who  are  appointed  by  law  to  take  care  of  that  work."  Swine  were  by  vote 
of  the  town  free  commoners  when  they  were  "ringed  or  yoked,"  and  "the 
selectmen  of  ye  town  shall  decide  whether  sd  swine  are  sufficiently  yoked 
or  not  well  yoked."  Swine  were  the  most  troublesome  of  all  pests  to  the 
well-doing  of  sheep,  were  much  in  evidence  at  the  annual  town  meeting. 
In  1752.  "Voted:  Whereas  the  law  cuts  of¥  swine  from  running  at  large 
free  commons  unless  the  town  shall  agree  otherwise  and  finding  that  the 
swine  do  dig  up  the  commons  so  that  it  is  a  great  damage  to  the  flock  of 
sheep  feeding  on  sd  commons  destroying  much  of  the  grass  growing  there- 
on, which  to  prevent  it  is  further  enacted  and  voted  that  all  the  swine 
belonging  to  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newtown,  from  ten  weeks  old 
and  upward  shall  be  ringed  if  running  at  large  on  the  commons  by  the 
tenth  of  May  next,  or  shall  be  liable  to  be  pounded  according  to  'aw." — 
John  Northrop,  clerk. 

The  year  following  the  town  appointed  Vincent  Stillson,  Abiel 
Botsford,  Josiah  Bardslee,  and  Silas  Camp,  they  or  either  of  them 
to  impound  all  swine  above  two  months  old  that  they  find  on  the 
commons  after  the  28th  day  of  March,  except  they  be  well  ringed, 
giving  notice  to  the  owner  of  the  swine,  within  twelve  hours  of 
their  being  impounded,  said  vote  being  for  better  protection  of  the 
sheep.  In  spite  of  all  precautions,  sheep  would  occasionally  stray 
from  the  flock  and  some  time  might  elapse  before  they  would  be 
restored  to  the  owner.  The  laws  of  the  colony  provided  for  such 
a  contingency  and,  when  stray  sheep  were  brought  in,  they  were 


NEWTOWN'S    SHEEP    INDUSTRY  181 

'duly  advertised  and  held  for  a  specified  time.  After  having  been 
duly  appraised,  if  no  owner  appeared,  they  were  sold  at  the  sign 
post,  and  what  the  sheep  brought,  less  expenses  of  keeping,  adver- 
tising and  officers'  fees  went  into  the  town  treasury.  If  expenses 
exceeded  receipts,  the  town  was  so  much  out.  The  process  of 
appraisal,  of  procedure  and  disposal : 

Notice — Taken  damage  feasant  by  Thomas  Skidmore,  Junr.,  of  Newtown, 

on  ye  25th  of  Dec,  1758,  and  impounded  in  Newtown   pound,  four  sheep. 

One  black  sheep,  marked  with  a  crop  on  ye  near  ear  and  a  hole  in  ye  off 

,  ear.    Two  white  sheep  with  a  crop  on  ye  off  ear  and  a  half-penny  under  ye 

I  seide  of  ye  same  ear.    One  white  sheep  with  a  slanting  crop  on  ye  near  ear 

I  and  a  hole  in  ye  off  ear,  and  I  cried  ye  same  in  ye  several  towns  as  ye  law 

directs  and  sold     them  one  ye  second  day  of  January,  1759,  at  four  of  ye 

clock,  afternoon,  at  ye  sign  post  in  Newtown,  for  four  shillings  each,  six- 

[  teen  shillings  for  all  four  by  me,  William  Birch,  constable  of  Newtown. 

Constables  fee  for  crying  and  selling  and  all  his  trouble  is  10  shillings; 
poundage  and  damage,  4  shillings;  the  prizer's  fee  and  oath,  1  shilling  and 
10  pence  ;  charges  for  keeping  sheep,  4  shillings  ;  paid  the  drummer,  9  pence  ; 
cost  of  vandue,  2  shillings;  clerk's  fee  for  recording,  6  pence.  Total 
expense,  £\,  3  shillings,  1  pence.  Amount  from  sale  of  sheep,  16  shillings. 
Expenses  exceeded  the  amount  for  which  the  sheep  sold  by  seven  shill- 
ings and  one  penny. 

We  do  not  know  how  many  sheep  were  numbered  in  the  town  in 
any  year  previous  to  1800. 

From  1800  to  the  present  time,  sheep  appear  upon  the  levy  with 
other  domestic  animals  liable  to  taxation,  so  that  we  find  for  1803 
the  number  of  sheep  listed  in  Newtown  was  4010.  The  industry 
continued  to  be  as  remunerative  as  any  that  farmers  could  turn 
their  hand  to  for  at  least  30  years.  In  90  preceding  years,  the  com- 
mon land  had  been  much  improved,  highways  had  been  cleaned  to 
some  extent  and  the  practice  introdTiced  at  the  outset,  of  having  a 
common  flock  tenti^^'d  l)y  a  shepherd  hired  by  the  season,  was  kept 
up  as  far  down  as  1830,  so  that  farmers,  in  addition  to  sheep  kept 
on  their  farms,  would  avail  themselves  of  turning  some  sheep  into 
the  common  flock,  the  number  any  one  man  could  put  in  being 
limited  to  30.  Shearing  time  came  the  latter  part  of  May  and  at 
that  time  the  early  lambs  could  be  turned  oflF,  so  that  the  starting  of 
the  common  flock  came  early  in  June,  and  the  season  lasted  until 
the  latter  part  of  September,  when  there  came  the  breaking  up  of 
the  flock  and  the  return  of  the  sheep  to  individual  owners. 

We  have  no  dates  to  follow  previous  to  1823.  At  the  opening  of 
each  season,  a  sheep  master  was  appointed,  who  was  expected  to 
hire  a  shepherd  for  the  season,  see  to  collecting  the  sheep  from  the 
various  school  districts  into  one  flock,  make  choice  of  the  most 
desirable  of  the  common  lands  for  feeding  grounds,  and  make 
arrangements  for  yarding  the  sheep  over  night  where  they  could 
have  an  enclosed  field  for  their  night's  rest ;  wherever  they  stopped. 
Saturday  nights,  there  they  remained  over  Sunday.  Farmers  paid 
for  the  privilege  of  keeping  the  flock  over  nights  and  over  Sunday, 
the  privilege  going  to  the  highest  bidder,  which  was  expected  to 
pay  the  expenses  of  tending  the  flock,  including  the  hiring  of  a 
shepherd  and  a  boy  as  a  helper.  Farmers  thought  the  droppings 
from  the  sheep  well  worth  the  price  paid  in  securing  them  to  keep, 
as   the   droppings   made   excellent   fertilizer    for   grain   crops    and 


182  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

especially  for  rye  and  wheat.    Stopping  places  were  arranged  close- 
ly enough  together  to  be  easily  reached  in  a  10-hour  feeding  drift. 

The  late  Charles  H.  Peck,  at  one  time  Newtown's  town  clerk  gave 
much  spare  time  to  making  a  careful  study  of  Newtown's  early 
history.  Among  the  treasures  of  the  early  days  was  an  old  book 
called  the  Sheep  Company's  record  book,  which  contained  the  re- 
corded doings  of  the  company's  work  for  1823,  1824,  1825,  1826  and 
1827.  Entries  have  been  made  from  the  sheep  book,  kindly  loaned 
to  the  writer  by  its  present  owner,  Arthur  T.  Nettleton. 

A  sheep  company  was  organized  in  June  1823,  and  continued 
effective  for  five  succeeding  years.     The  call  of  the  first  meeting: 

"Warning  is  hereby  given  that  a  meeting  of  the  owners  of  sheep  in  the 
town  of  Newtown  will  be  held  at  Mr.  Caleb  Baldwin's  house  in  said 
Newtown  on  Monday,  the  9th  day  of  June,  1823,  at  6  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, for  the  purpose  of  raising  a  public  flock  for  the  ensuing  year, 
appointing  officers  for  said  meeting  and  of  doing  any  business  proper  to  be 
done  at  said  meeting.  Dated  at  Newtown,  June  2,  1823.  Moss  K.  Botsford, 
sheep-master." 

The  meeting  was  duly  held  and  it  was  voted  "That  Mr.  Benjamin  Hard, 
Esq.,  should  be  moderator,  Judge  Samuel  C.  Blackman  clerk,  and  that  a 
public  flock  should  be  raised  for  the  benefit  of  owners  of  sheep,  and  that 
Moss  K.  Botsford  should  be  sheep-master,  and  that  the  shepherd  should 
begin  to  collect  the  flock  on  Monday,  June  17."  It  was  also  voted  "that 
the  articles  and  by  laws  which  were  adopted  by  the  proprietors  of  the  flock 
the  last  year  be  adopted  as  the  rules  and  regulations  for  the  ensuing  year." 
going  to  show  that  the  existence  of  the  common  flock  dates  back  of  1823. 
They  were  also  to  pursue  the  same  route  in  collecting  the  flock  as 
the  shepherd  did  the  last  year,  and  no  person  should  turn  into  the 
flock  more  than  20  sheep.  There  were  83  sheep  owners  who  furn- 
ished sheep  and  the  flock  numbered  in  its  completeness  938.  The 
route  laid  out  for  collecting  the  flock  was  from  Chestnut  Tree  Hill 
through  Zoar  to  Ebenezer  Beers,  thence  through  Toddy  Hill  to 
Caesar's  (the  old  darky)  thence  through  Taunton,  Palestine,  Land's 
End  and  Hanover  to  Wapping,  and  thence  through  Sandy  Hook  to 
Newtown  Street,  which  point  it  was  expected  could  be  reached 
inside  of  eight  days.  Of  course  the  flock  must  feed  along  the  route, 
as  they  were  drifting  toward  their  round-up,  must  also  lie  by  for 
rest  over  Sunday,  besides  being  delayed  more  or  less  by  those  who 
not  living  on  the  direct  line  of  the  drift,  did  not  reach  a  station  on 
time.  The  flock  once  formed,  the  shepherd,  under  the  supervision 
of  the  sheepmaster,  was  ready  to  start  out  on  the  season's  tour.  A 
boy  accompanied  the  shepherd  and  they  had  their  keep  over  night 
and  Sundays  wherever  the  flock  was  yarded.  In  figuring  expenses 
of  the  flock,  it  was  expected  that  farmers  would  pay  enough  for  the 
privilege  of  having  the  flock  yarded  on  some  plot  on  which  they 
wanted  to  raise  rye  or  wheat,  the  following  season,  that  the  amoimt 
received  would  not  only  pay  all  flock  expenses,  but  return  a  small 
dividend  for  the  owners.  The  records  give  the  names  of  sheep 
owners,  the  expenses  of  tending  the  flock  during  the  season,  the 
money  paid  by  farmers  for  the  privilege  of  keeping  the  sheep 
nights  and  over  Sunday,  and  the  net  returns,  if  any,  to  owners  of 
the  sheep.  Also  a  tabulated  account  of  the  nightly  and  over- 
Sunday  receipts,  with  the  names  of  those  who  were  highest  bidders 
for  the  chance  of  securing  the  sheep  when  out  on  the  drift. 


NEWTOWN'S    SHEEP    INDUSTRY  183 

Number  of  sheep  put  into  the  flock  by  each  individual,  June  1823 : 
Caleb  Baldwin  9,  Philo  Baldwin  10  Samuel  C.  Blackman  20,  Alfred  Blackman 
1,  Thomas  B.  Botsford  10,  Moss  K.  Botsford  19,  Henry  Botsford  7,  Clement 
Botsford  10,  Jabez  B.  Botsford  13,  Moses  Botsford  20,  Daniel  Botsford,  Jr., 
20,  Israel  C.  Botsford  20,  Theophilus  Botsford  20,  William  Botsford  3, 
Ebenezer  Beers  Jr.  9,  Abel  Beers  20,  Ester  Beers  4,  Joseph  Booth  6,  James 
G.  Blackman  5,  Joseph  Blackman  20,  Daniel  Blackman  9,  Daniel  Baldwin  7, 
Thaddeous  Bennitt  5,  James  Bennitt  14,  Harry  Glover  2,  David  and  Henry 
Glover  27,  Benjamin  Hard  16,  Cyrus  Hard  10,  Abijah  Hard  5,  Abner  Judson 
Jr.  6,  Peter  Lewis  18,  James  Nichols  &  Co.  29,  Abner  A.  Nettleton  12,  Oliver 
Northrop  14,  Andrew  Northrop  9,  David  C.  Peck  20,  Isaac  Peck  10,  Dan 
Peck  10,  Enos  and  Wooster  Peck  12,  Samuel  Peck  9,  Ephraim  Piatt,  15, 
Marcus  H.  Parmalee  6,  Abel  Stilson  9,  Richard  D.  Shepherd  8,  Ammon 
Shepherd  5,  David  Shipman  17,  Wooster  Sherman  5,  Truman  Sherman  8, 
Brace  Smith  6,  Joseph  Tousey  9,  Abel  Bennitt  7,  James  W.  Bennitt  7,  Simon 
M.  Beers  15,  Abijah  B.  Curtis  20,  Elihue  S.  Curtis  20,  Epinetus  Curtis  20,  Gould 
Curtis  ll.Zachariah  Clark  Jr.  20,  James  Clark  14,  Stephen  Crofut  10,  Squire 
Dibble  13,  Eleazer  Dibble  6,  Kiah  B.  Fairchild  9,  Hawley  Fairchild  6,  Ezra 
Fairchild  9,  Levi  Fairchild  7,  Philo  Fairchild  7,  Clement  Fairchild  11, 
Adoniram  Fairchild  13,  Josiah  Fairchild  9,  Joseph  Fairchiild  7,  Josiah 
Glover  17,  Abiel  B.  Glover  17,  Andrew  Wheeler  6,  Herman  Warner  12,  Amos 
Wells  3,  Ephraim  P.  Wetmore  4,  Jerod  Botsford  12,  Ezra  Sherman  8,  James 
Nichols  10.    Whole  number  of  sheep  in  the  flock,  1823,  938. 

The  privilege  of  keeping  the  flock  over  night  and  over  Sunday  was  sold 
at  auction  by  the  sheepmaster  to  the  highest  bidder.  Names  of  those  in 
the  bidding;  the  demand  for  the  sheep's  keep  was  so  popular  that,  in  some 
instances,  the  same  farmer  secured  several  chances  : 

To  whom  keep  of  sheep  was  sold. 

Abel  Stillson. 

Daniel  Botsford,  Jr. 

Abel  Stillson. 

Adoniram  Fairchild. 
it  <i 

Henry  Glover. 
Zachariah  Clark,  Esq. 
Henry  Botsford. 
Daniel  Blackman,  Esq. 
Zachariah  Clark,  Jr.,  Esq. 
Zachariah  Clark,  Jr.,  Esq. 
Zachariah  Clark,  Jr.,  Esq. 
Joseph  Fairchild. 
Henry  Glover. 
Henry  Botsford. 
Israel  C.  Botsford. 
Capt.  Henry  Glover. 
Capt.  Henry  Glover. 
Henry   Botsford. 
Daniel  Botsford,  Jr. 
Daniel  Blackman,  Esq. 
Joseph   Booth. 
Daniel  Botsford,  Jr. 
Capt.  Philo  Baldwin. 
Capt.  Philo  Baldwin. 
James  Nichols. 
Wooster  Peck. 
Ziba  Glover. 
Wooster  Peck. 
Moss  K.  Botsford. 
James  G.  Blackman. 
James  G.  Blackman. 
Isaac  Peck,  Jr. 
Theophilus  Botsford. 
James  G.  Blackman. 
Benjamin  Hard,  Esq. 


1823 

Price  each  night. 

To  V 

June  18, 

Wednesday, 

$1.07 

19, 

Thursday, 

1.12 

20, 

Friday. 

1.21 

21, 

Saturday, 

22, 

Sunday, 

1.60 

23, 

Monday, 

1.38 

24, 

Tuesday, 

1.10 

25, 

Wednesday, 

1.20 

26, 

Thursdaj', 

1.54 

27, 

Friday, 

1.28 

28, 

Saturday, 

29, 

Sunday, 

2.25 

30, 

Monday 

1.77 

July     1, 

Tuesday, 

1.83 

2, 

Wednesday, 

1.77 

3. 

Thursday, 

1.77 

4. 

Friday, 

1.75 

5. 

Saturd.?y, 

6. 

Sunday, 

2.77 

7, 

Mondaj% 

1.82 

8, 

Tuesday, 

1.76 

9, 

Wednesday, 

1.79 

10. 

Thursday, 

1.8^^ 

11, 

Friday, 

1.83 

12, 

Saturday. 

13. 

Sunday, 

2.74 

14, 

Monday, 

1.80 

15, 

Tuesday, 

1.90 

16, 

Wednesday, 

1.91 

17. 

Thursday, 

1.92 

18. 

Friday, 

1.91 

19, 

Saturday, 

20, 

Sunday, 

2.93 

21, 

Monday, 

1.92 

22, 

Tuesday, 

1.76 

23, 

Wednesday, 

1.75 

184 


NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 


24, 

Thursday, 

1.73 

25, 

Friday. 

1.63 

26, 

Saturday, 

27, 

Sunday. 

2.31 

28, 

Monday, 

1.52 

29. 

Tuesday. 

1.18 

30, 

Wednesday, 

1.18 

31, 

Thursday, 

1.30 

Aug. 

1, 

Friday. 

1.29 

2, 

Saturday, 

3, 

Sunday, 

1.85 

4, 

Monday, 

1.31 

5, 

Tuesday. 

1.34 

6, 

Wednesday, 

1.33 

7, 

Thursday, 

1.33 

8. 

F"riday. 

1.35 

9, 

Saturday, 

10, 

Sunday. 

2.25 

n, 

Monday, 

1.40 

12, 

Tuesday, 

1.38 

13, 

Wednesday, 

1.43 

14, 

Thursday, 

1.44 

15, 

Friday. 

1.45 

16, 

Saturday, 

17. 

Sunday. 

2.26 

18, 

Monday, 

1.49 

19, 

Tuesday, 

1.55 

Aug. 

20. 

Wednesday 

1.58 

21, 

Thursday. 

1.60 

22, 

Friday. 

1.61 

23. 

Saturday, 

24. 

Sunday, 

2.50 

25, 

Monday, 

1.61 

26. 

Tuesday. 

1.94 

27, 

Wednesday, 

2.00 

28, 

Thursday, 

2.01 

29, 

Friday. 

2.04 

20, 

Saturday, 

31, 

Sunday. 

3.03 

Sept. 

1, 

Monday, 

2.00 

2, 

Tuesday. 

2.01 

3, 

Wednesday, 

2.00 

4. 

Thursday, 

1.97 

5, 

Friday, 

1.95 

6. 

Saturday, 

7. 

Sunday, 

2.88 

8, 

Monday, 

1.97 

9. 

Tuesday, 

1.93 

10, 

Wednesday, 

2.06 

11, 

Thursday, 

2.00 

12, 

Friday, 

1.99 

13, 

Saturday, 

14, 

Sunday, 

2.76 

15, 

Monday, 

1.89 

16. 

Tuesday, 

1.36 

17, 

Wednesday, 

1.39 

18. 

Thursday, 

1.35 

19. 

Friday. 

1.40 

20. 

Saturday, 

21. 

Sunday, 

2.42 

22. 

Monday, 

1.46 

23, 

Tuesday, 

1.58 

24. 

Wednesday, 

1.61 

25. 

Thursday, 

1.80 

Abel  Stillson. 
Abel  Stillson. 
Abel  Stillson. 
Cyrus  Hard. 
Cyrus  Hard. 

Zachariah  Clark.  Jr.,  Esq. 
Zachariah  Clark,  Jr..  Esq. 
Charles  Botsford. 
Zachariah  Clark.  Jr.,  Esq. 
Zachariah  Clark.  Jr..  Esq. 
Zachariah  Clark,  Jr..  Esq. 
Daniel  Blackman,  Esq. 
Joseph  Toucey. 
Joseph  Toucey. 
Cyrus  Hard. 

Zachariah  Clark.  Jr..  Esq. 
Israel  C.  Botsford. 
Israel  C.  Botsford. 
James  G.  Blackman. 
Cyrus  Hard. 
John  Beers. 
Jabez  B.  Botsford. 
Abel  Stillson. 
Theophilus  Botsford. 
Theophilus  Botsford. 
Moss  K.  Botsford. 
James  Clark. 
James  Clark. 
Philo  Fairchild. 
Dan  Peck. 
Israel  C.   Botsford. 
Israel  C.  Botsford. 
Abel  Stillson. 
Amariah  Beers 
James  Nichols. 
James   Bennitt. 
Capt.  James  Nichols. 
Theophilus  Botsford. 
Theophilus  Botsford. 
Philo    Fairchild. 
Daniel  Botsford.  Jr. 
Capt.  James  Nichols. 
Jabez  B.  Botsford. 
Capt.  James  Nichols. 
Isaac   Peck.  Jr. 
Isaac   Peck.  Jr. 
Joseph  Booth. 
Abel  Stillson. 
Joseph  Tousey. 
Joseph  Tousey. 
Joseph  Booth. 
Capt.  Henry  Glover. 
Capt.  Henry  Glover. 
David  C    Peck. 
Abel  Stillson. 
Capt.  James  Nichols. 
Andrew  Northrop. 
Andrew  Northrop. 
Andrew  Northrop. 
Andrew  Northrop. 
Abel  Stillson. 
David  C.  Peck. 
Joseph  Turney. 
Israel  C.  Botsford. 


NEWTOWN'S    SHEEP    INDUSTRY  185 

Weekly  amounts  received  from  farmers  for  the  privilege  of  yarding  the 
sheep  nights  and  Sundays  for  1823: 


June  23,  $6.38 

June  30,  9.34 

July   7,  1171 

July    14,  11.76 

July    21,  12.49 

July   28,  10.70 

August    4,  8.00 

August  11,  9.00 

August  18,  9.45 

August  25.  10.45 

September     1.  12.98 

September    8.  12.78 

September  15,  12.63 

September  22,  9.38 

September  25,  4.99 


$152.15 

Expenses  of  keeping  the  flock. 
Baldwin  &  Beers,  bill  for  salt,     $  4.41 
Caleb  Baldwin's  bill  for  salt,  4.93 

Caleb  Baldwin,  for  three  dinners,    .75 
Shepherd's  bill  for  himself  and 

boy,  3  months  and  7  days,  48.75 

Sheep-masler's  bill  for  services,    6.00 
Clerk's   fees,  3.75 

Inspecting  committee,  50c  each,     1.50 
Auditing  committee,  2  shillings 

each.  1.00 

Peter  Lewis'  bill,  1.29 

Committee's  expenses,  .50 

Clerk's  fee.  making  out  dividend,    .36 


$75.24 
Amount  paid  by  farmers  for  the 

privilege  of  yarding  sheep.     $152.15 
Deduct  expenses  75.24 

$  76.91 
No.  of  sheep  938 

Overplus  $76.91 

Dividend  per  head  per  season  .082  each 


In  compliance  with  the  by-laws  of  the  organization,  Capt.  Moss 
K.  Botsford  was  ordered  to  pay  a  dividend  on  sheep  entered  in  the 
public  flock,  conformable  to  the  by-laws  of  said  flock  and  awarded 
by  a  committee  api)ointed  for  that  purpose,  when  the  flock  of  1823 
was  disbanded. 

For  1824,  Daniel  Blackman  was  chosen  sheepmaster  and  any 
sheep  owner  was  allowed  to  put  in  any  nuinber  of  sheep,  not  ex- 
ceeding 30,  all  other  regulations  were  to  be  followed  as  for  the  year 
previous.  The  sheepmaster  was  to  employ  Caesar  to  tend  the 
sheep,  at  $12  a  month,  if  not  to  be  had  at  lower  price.  It  was  voted, 
that  every  school  district  have  their  sheep  collected  with  the  following: 


186  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

James  Clark,  Philo  Beers,  Daniel  Botsford,  Jr.,  Nathan  Johnson,  Jacob 
Beers,  Hezekiah  Northrop,  Zachariah  Clark,  for  the  first  night:  Nirom 
Fairchild,  Esq.,  Zadock  Fairchild,  Baldwin  Botsford,  Henry  Beers,  David  C. 
Peck,  Theophilus  Botsford,  for  the  second  night ;  and  finish  the  third  night 
with  Curtis  Glover,  Abijah  B.  Curtis,  Philo  Curtis.  Then  to  start  from 
Chestnut  Tree  Hill,  on  Wednesday  morning  through  Zoar  to  Ebenezer 
Beers,  thence  through  Toddy  Hill  to  Caesar's  thence  through  Mile  Hill  to 
Dan  Peck's  thence  through  Huntingtown,  Palestine,  Flat  Swamp,  thence 
through  Taunton,  Currituck,  Land's  End  and  Hanover  to  Wapping,  thence 
through  Sandy  Hook  to  the  Street,  Friday  night.  The  season  lasted  from 
June  18,  to  Sept.  26.  At  the  season's  close,  the  finanical  standing  of  the 
flock  was  looked  into  and  found  to  be 


Bills  allowed  by  the  auditing 

committee,  Sept.  23,  1824 
Caleb   Baldwin's  bill,  $  6.89 

Baldwin  &   Beers,  for  salt,  .25 

A.  B.  Glover,  for  salt,  2.54 
Ceasar's  bill  as  shepherd,  for  3 

months  and  8  days,  29.25 

Thomas  Lakes'  son   assistant,  9.75 

Extra  pay,  Zera  Blackman,  1.67 

Inspecting  committee,  1.50 

Auditing  committee,  1.33 

Clerk's  bill.  3.75 

Sheep-master's   bill,  4.75 

Cash  collected,  1.58 


$73.26 
Received  from  farmers  for  yard- 
ing the  sheep,  $96.73 
Expenses  of  flock,  73.26 

$23.47 


Divided  per  head  on  620  sheep  for  the  season  3c,  5mills. 
For  1825,  Daniel  Blackman  was  appointed  sheepmaster.  Ned 
Booth  was  hired  as  shepherd  at  $10  a  month  and  a  shepherd's  boy 
for  $3.00  a  month.  Owners  were  allowed  30  sheep  in  the  flock 
under  the  same  rules  and  regulations  as  in  the  previous  year.  The 
flock  numbered  497. 

Received  from  farmers  for  yarding  sheep,  $72.05.  expense  of  caring  for 
flock,  $55.73,  balance  due  sheep  owners,  $16.32. 

Dividend  per  head  on  497  sheep,  3c  and  2  mills,  which  Daniel  Blackman, 
sheepmaster,  is  ordered  to  pay  to  the  sheep  owners  of  the  flock  of  1825. 

In  1826,  Daniel  Blackman  was  again  chosen  sheepmaster,  and  the  route 
for  collecting  the  flock  was  changed.  It  was  to  commence  in  Newtown 
Street,  thence  through  Slut's  Hill  and  Taunton  and  to  Esquire  Clark's  and 
through  the  lower  part  of  the  town  and  around  through  Mile  Hill  to 
Daniel  Botsford's  Jr.,  thence  through  Zoar,  Wapping,  Sandy  Hook  and 
by  Major  Curtis'  and  through  Hanover  to  Theophilus  Botsford's.  Thomas 
Green  was  hired  for  shepherd  at  $10  a  month,  and  a  Shepherd's  boy  for  $4 
a  month.  Received  from  farmers  for  yarding,  $73.37,  expenses  of  the  flock 
for  the  season.  $67.53,  balance  due  sheep  owners  $5.84. 

The  flock  numbered  740,  and  a  dividend  of  seven  mills  per  head  was  de- 
clared at  the  end  of  the  season. 

For  1827,  David  Blackman  was  chosen  sheepmaster  and  Thomas 
Green  was  hired  as  shepherd  at  $16  a  month  and  furnish  hitnself 
with  a  boy  helper.     It  was  also  voted  that  the  person  who  should 


NEWTOWN'S    SHEEP    INDUSTRY  187 

keep  the  flock  over  Saturday  night  and  Sunday  should  furnish  a 
sufficient  quantity  of  salt,  not  exceeding  12  quarts.  Expense  of  the 
flock  for  season  of  1827,  was  $70.34,  amount  received  from  farmers 
for  yarding,  $70.34.  Expenses  and  receipts  balanced  and  there  were 
no  dividends  to  declare. 

There  is  every  reason  to  presume  that  the  year  1827  marked  the 
disbanding  of  the  common  flocks,  as  the  record  book  contains  no 
further  entries. 

It  was  the  duty  of  the  sheepmaster  to  have  the  managing  of  the 
flock.  It  was  the  shepherd's  part  to  take  care  of  the  flock  from  its 
I  formation  to  the  close  of  the  season,  and  until  the  flock  should  be 
disbanded.  In  forming  the  flock,  each  sheep  owner  had  some  dis- 
j  tinctive  mark  by  which  he  could  identify  his  own,  when  the  time 
for  disbanding  came.  The  usual  way  for  marking  sheep  and  cattle, 
was  by  slits,  notches  or  holes  cut  in  or  out  of  the  ears.  Almost  an 
endless  variety  of  changes  could  be  made  in  making  the  markings 
of  one  sheep  to  dififer  from  those  of  any  other. 

When  orders  went  out  from  the  sheepmaster  for  disbanding  the 

j  flock,  the  shepherd's  orders  were  to  make  the  final  round-up  at 

Caleb  Baldwin's  in  Newtown  Street,  for,  as  the  city  of  Boston  is 

j  still  looked  upon  as  the  Hub  of  the  universe,  Caleb  Baldwin's  place 

!  was  looked  upon  as  the  central  point  around  which  revolved  the 

little  Newtown  world,  with  its  eight  miles  square. 

The  tavern  with  its  ample   surroundings,  was   kept  open  as  a 

I  public  house,  where  north  and  southbound  and  east  and  westbound 

stages  stopped  for  horses  to  rest,  and  passengers  for  mid-day  meals. 

It  was  also  the  central  point  for  the  stopping  of  drovers  with  cattle, 

horses  and  sheep,  on  cross-country  trips  and  brought  much  trade 

I  and  exchange   along  those   lines.     So  it  came   about  that  Caleb 

I   Baldwin's  tavern  was  made  the  gathering  of  sheep  owners  for  the 

I  breaking  up  on  the  season's  flock.     The  house,  in  all  its  old-time 

beauty,  is  now  the  home  of  Charles  F.  Beardsley  and  family. 

After  1800,  sheep  went  on  the  grand  levy  at  a  valuation  of  75c  per 

head.     Though  sheep  were  included  with  other  stock  when  lists 

were  handed  in,  the  sheep  tax  was  abated,  no  doubt  to  encourage 

farmers  to  raise  more  sheep.     Up  to  within  60  years,  dogs  were 

j  very  little  trouble  to  sheep,  nor  were  dogs  half  as  plenty  as  now. 

Our  town  clerk,  says  that  no  sheep  have  been  entered  on  New- 

'  town's  grand  levy  since  1900,  and  from  that  fact  we  assume  that  the 

j  demise  of  Newtown's  sheep  industry  dates  from  that  year.     The 

<  rapid  decline  in  the  number  of  sheep  began  about  1860.    That  was 

about  the  time     that  the  satinet  factory,  run  first  by  Beecher  & 

Tucker,  and  later  by  Alva  B.  Beecher  alone,  closed  out  the  business 

I  and  spoiled  the  home  market  for  wool.    There  can  be  no  doubt  but 

I  what  that  and  the  increasing  destructiveness  of  dogs  among  sheep 

!   had  much  to  do  with  the  discontinuance  of  Newtown's  sheep  in- 

^  dustry. 

Our   good   town   clerk,    Oscar    Pitzschler,   courteously   made    it 
possible  for  me  to  have  access  to  the  grand  levies  from  1802  to  1900, 
a  period  of  98  years  ;  most  surprising  it  is  that,  for  that  long  stretch 
I   of  time,  so  few  of  the  grand  levies  are  missing. 


188  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

Number  of  sheep  returned  to  the  board  of  assessors  yearly  from 
1802  to  1900:  years  not  filled  out  being  because  levies  for  those 
years  have  not  been  found : 


1802 

3800 

1835 

2469 

1868 

757 

1803 

4016 

1836 

2683 

1869 

481 

1804 

3386 

1837 

2584 

1870 

290 

1805 

3264 

1838 

2500 

1871 

255 

1806 

3591 

1839 

2558 

1872 

312 

1807 

3452 

1840 

2790 

1873 

376 

1808 

3458 

1841 

2825 

1874 

397 

1809 

3977 

1842 

2816 

1875 

423 

1810 

4145 

1843 

1876 

417 

1811 

3803 

1844 

2215 

1877 

453 

1812 

3998 

1845 

2102 

1878 

541 

1813 

3871 

1846 

1933 

1&79 

530 

1814 

1847 

1384 

1880 

663 

1815 

1848 

1510 

1881 

650 

1816 

2905 

1849 

1361 

1882 

500 

1817 

2834 

1850 

1419 

1883 

450 

1818 

3162 

1851 

1560 

1884 

436 

1819 

1852 

1659 

1885 

■  465 

1820 

1853 

1504 

1886 

383 

1821 

1854 

1525 

1887 

349 

1822 

3300 

1855 

1634 

1888 

201 

1823 

3250 

1856 

1400 

1889 

264 

1824 

3400 

1857 

1290 

1890 

230 

1825 

3550 

1858 

1158 

1891 

228 

1826 

3684 

1859 

1103 

1892 

189 

1827 

3576 

1860 

820 

1893 

162 

1828 

3104 

1861 

731 

1894 

153 

1829 

2551 

1862 

658 

1895 

170 

1830 

2379 

1863 

810 

1896 

116 

1831 

2489 

1864 

845 

1897 

116 

1832 

2685 

1865 

840 

1898 

89 

1833 

2376 

1866 

830 

1899 

117 

1834 

1867 

835 

1900 

50 

GOD'S  ACRE 


In  our  town  are  13  cemeteries,  all,  except  one  or  two,  still  in  use, 
and  may  be  spoken  of  as  well  kept.  The  oldest  of  all  is  that  part  of 
the  village  cemetery  known  as  the  "town  plot"  at  the  southerly 
end,  containing  one  and  a  half  acres,  which  was  set  apart  March  24, 
1711,  by  a  vote  of  the  townsmen  as  a  place  in  which  to  bury  their 
dead,  it  lay  in  its  virgin  condition  until  the  following  year,  when 
by  action  of  the  town,  Dec.  9,  1712,  it  was  voted  that  "Stephen 
Parmely  shall  have  the  use  of  one  acre  and  a  half  of  land  which  is  the 
burying  place  for  our  dead,  provided  he  clear  the  land  of  brush  and  sow 
it  with  English  grass  seed."  The  plot  lay  open  to  the  commons  until 
March,  1769,  when  the  town  voted  that  "Mr.  John  Chandler  shall  have  the 
liberty  to  fence  the  burying  ground  for  pasture  so  long  as  he  will  keep  it 
in  good  fence. 

The  plot  alluded  to  is  the  south  part  of  the  village  cemetery.  In 
"the  old  plot"  the  dust  of  ancestors  of  some  of  us  has  lain  undis- 
turbed for  nearly  2C0  years.  As  we  wander  among  the  graves  of 
those  removed,  long  years  gone  by,  from  life's  tempestuous  sea, 
we  instinctively  step  lightly  and  walk  softly  among  the  old  head- 
stones, or  tread  on  turf  that  covers  scores  of  unmarked  graves, 
wherein,  with  brain  no  longer  busy  and  hands  that  long  since  rested 
from  labor,  they  lie  unmindful  of  the  tide  of  human  life  that  ebbs 
and  flows  about  them. 

The  many  inscriptions  to  be  foimd  are  interesting,  not  only  in 
device,  but  in  composition  and  expression.  Newtown's  first  physic- 
ian lies  buried  here.  Lemuel  Thomas,  "a  skillful  and  useful  prac- 
tioner  of  surgery  and  physics,  who  departed  this  Hfe  September  30, 
A.  D.  1775,  aged  48  years."  The  four  ministers  who  officiated  in 
Newtown  during  the  first  century  of  the  town's  history  lie  buried 
near  each  other.  Each  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  college  and  with 
each,  Newtown  was  their  lirst  and  only  charge.  First  was  Rev. 
Thomas  Toucey,  born  in  Wethersiield  in  1688,  resigning  his  charge 
in  1724  and  died  in  1761.  Rev.  John  Beach,  immediate  successor  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Toucey,  was  born  in  1700,  was  in  charge  of  the  Presbyter- 
ian body  until  1732,  then  resigned  and  was  admitted  to  Holy  Orders 
in  the  Church  of  England,  appointed  missionary  at  Newtown  and 
Redding,  and  was  such  until  in  1782  he  died.  Rev.  John  Beach's  co- 
laborer  in  Newtown  from  1743  to  1776,  was  Rev.  David  Judson, 
minister  over  the  Presbyterian  body.  He  was  born  in  1715,  served 
the  people  until  September,  1776,  and  in  that  month  he  died.    Rev. 


190  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Philo  Perry,  successor  of  Rev.  John  Beach,  was  born  in  W^oodbury 
in  1752,  settled  over  Trinity  in  1787  ;  died  in  1798  and  was  also  buried 
in  the  old  plot.  These  four  men,  who  served  in  the  office  of  the 
sacred  ministry  during  the  first  century  of  the  town's  history,  were 
all  buried  among  those  whom  they  loved  and  served  so  well. 

Though  surrounded  in  God's  Acre  by  scores  of  graves  containing 
the  dust  of  those  to  whom  they  ministered,  there  is  a  bit  of  pathos 
to  think  that  none  of  their  kindred  are  buried  beside  them,  save  in 
the  case  of  Rev.  Mr.  Judson  where  a  little  headstone  marks  the 
grave  of  his  son  David,  who  died  in  1749,  age  one  year,  six  months 
and  20  days  and  a  little  daughter,  Mary,  age  seven  years  and  20 
days.  Newtown's  first  physician  and  its  first  four  ministers  were 
from  among  the  early  graduates  of  Yale  college  and  must  have 
been  men  of  more  than  ordinary  ability.  We  have  spoken  of  the 
"old  plot."  A  few  w^ords  of  the  village  cemetery  as  it  is  to-day. 
The  old  plot  served  its  purpose  for  about  130  years  ;  then  came  en- 
largement on  the  north  and  later  two  other  accessions  of  land  by 
purchase.  A  cemetery  association  was  formed,  under  whose  faith- 
ful services,  gratuitously  rendered,  its  well  kept  grounds  will 
compare  favorably  with  those  of  any  country  town. 

In  1748  the  people  in  the  north  part  of  the  town  petitioned  to  have 
a  plot  of  ground  laid  out  for  a  burying  ground  and  the  town  voted, 
"that  the  people  living  in  ye  northwest  part  of  ye  township  of  Newtown, 
upon  their  desire  should  have  60  rods  of  land  for  a  burying  place  to  bury 
their  dead  in,  at  a  place  northerly  or  from  Benjamin  Hawley's  dwelling 
house,  first  bounds  is  heap  of  stones  in  the  line  of  Caleb  Baldwin's  land, 
then  run  southerly  six  rods  to  a  heap  of  stones,  then  westerly  11  rods, 
joing  to  the  main  highway  thenr  un  northerly  five  rods  to  first  bounds 
laid  out  by  us. — Joseph  Bristol  Lemuel  Camp,  committee." 

In  that  burying  place.  Land's  End,  stands  a  headstone  that  marks 
the  grave  of  Jeremiah  Turner,  the  first  white  child  born  in  New- 
town, says  the  inscription.  With  this  cemetery,  as  with  all  in 
constant  use,  the  grounds  have  been  enlarged  and  in  the  care  every- 
thing is  done  with  excellent  taste. 

Next  in  order  to  the  cemetery  at  Land's  End  came  that  at  "Zoar  Farm" 
so  called.  "On  May  6,  1767,  Samuel  Adams  of  Newtown  sold  a  half  acre  of 
land  for  one  pound,  sixteen  shillings  and  nine  pence  to  Benjamin  Curtis. 
Zachariah  Clark,  John  Adams,  Moses  Piatt,  Abel  Botsford,  Abner  Hard, 
Theophilus  Nettleton,  John  Beach,  Benjamin  Curtis,  Jr.,  Nehemiah  Curtis, 
Henry  Glover,  Ja.,  Nathaniel  Mallory,  John  Sherman,  Josiah  Piatt,  Abijah 
Curtis  and  Josiah  Beardsley,  for  a  burying  place  in  the  farm  called  Zoar." 
In  1770,  the  town  of  Newtown  generously  voted,  in  town  meeting  assem- 
bled, "that  the  farm  called  Zoar,  shall  have  the  old  burying  cloth,  and 
that  the  town  shall  proceed  to  procure  a  new  one  for  the  use  of  the  town, 
and  the  selectmen  shall  procure  a  new  burying  cloth  as  they  shall  have 
opportunity." 

The  cemetery  has  been  twice  enlarged  and  in  neatness  and  artis- 
tic adornment  shows  well  for  the  loving  care  of  those  whose  loved 
ones  are  there.  (Now  called  Berkshire) 

In  1787  the  people  at  Taunton  farms  wanted  one  for  their  neigh- 


GOD'S  ACRE  191 

borhood  and  the  town  records  show  that  on  "November  24,  1787, 
Joseph  Foote  sold  24  square  rods  of  ground,  which  with  the  40  square  rods 
sold  two  days  previously  by  Hezekiah  Daton  to  the  same  parties  for  30 
shillings  formed  the  nucleus  for  Taunton  Cemetery." 

Dec.  28,  1787.  Joseph  Griffin  sold  to  Samuel  Griffin,  Gamaliel 
French  and  others  48  square  rods  of  ground  "for  the  sole  purpose 
of  a  burying  ground  so  long  as  it  should  be  used  for  that  purpose." 
and  that  is  the  Huntingtown  cemetery,  since  twice  enlarged. 

The  land  for  the  Sandy  Hook  cemetery  was  sold  by  Abijah 
]\Ierritt  to  David  Meeker,  Abijah  B.  Curtis  and  Marcus  Botsford, 
selectmenof  Newtown, for  $60.00,  containinga  half  acre,  more  or  less, 
and  to  be  used  as  a  public  burying  ground  and  for  no  other  purpose. 

There  are  two  cemetery  plots  in  Flat  Swamp  district,  near  the 
school  house.  One  on  an  open  knoll  was  given  by  Philo  Toucey 
abuot  1800.  He  lived  nearby  and  intended  it  for  a  family  burying 
ground,  and  it  so  remained  for  a  term  of  years.  Later,  the  bodies 
were  removed  to  our  village  cemetery.  A  few  head  stones  still 
remain,  but  there  is  now  but  one  body  which  bore  the  Toucey 
name.  The  older  plot  nearby,  on  a  triangular  piece  of  ground  be- 
tween three  roads,  dates  back  of  1800,  but  we  gather  no  facts  as  to 
its  history  and  it  is  no  longer  in  use. 

In  Half  Way  River  district,  there  is  what  is  known  as  the 
Bradleyville   cemetery. 

In  Hopewell  is  a  cemetery,  an  acre  or  so  in  extent,  that  joins  the 
Redding  line. 

A  small  cemetery,  too,  in  Palestine,  near  Morgan's  Four  Corners, 
for  the  family  of  Piatt  of  which  there  were  many  in  the  early  days. 

There  used  to  be  a  few  graves  marked  by  headstones  beside  the 
highway  on  a  cross  road  leading  from  Hopewell  to  Gregory's 
Orchard,  but,  w^hile  on  a  prospecting  tour  along  that  way,  I  found 
that  brush  had  been  cut,  a  stone  wall  built,  the  headstones  had  all 
disappeared,  and  I  was  told  they  had  been  put  in  the  renovated 
stone  wall.  It  came  at  once  to  my  mind,  "Cursed  be  he  that  remov- 
eth  his  neighbor's  landmark  and  all  the  people  shall  say  Amen." 

The  burying  ground  at  Cold  Spring  was  enclosed  about  1825,  by 
Capt.  Henry  Botsford  for  family  use,  the  first  burial  in  which  was 
his  own  son,  who  died  in  1829.  Later,  by  free  will  of  Capt.  Botsford 
it  was  opened  for  a  public  burial  place. 

In  the  order  of  organization  of  the  several  cemeteries  in  New- 
town, St.  Rose's  cemetery  comes  last.  In  September,  1860,  Peter 
Nash  sold  to  Rev.  Frances  J.  Lenihan  two  acres  of  land  in  Pootatuck 
district  for  $200.  It  was  at  once  consecrated  for  use.  In  1892  soon 
after  the  coming  of  Rev.  Patrick  Fox,  another  purchase  was  made 
by  St.  Rose  by  which  the  ground  has  been  much  enlarged.  It  is 
beautifully  located  in  the  Glen,  the  part  of  town  most  noted  for 
scenic  beauty  and  grandeur,  where  mountain,  river,  hill  and  valley 
blend  in  one  harmonious  whole,  and  where  the  evergreen  in  its 
profusion  speaks  of  immortality  and  the  never-ending  life.  In  the 
cemetery  is  a  marble  slab  that  marks  the  burial  place  of  Mary  Cain, 
who  died  Sept.  7,  1860,  and  on  the  back  of  the  slab  is  inscribed  "she 
was  the  first  one  buried  in  this  cemetery."  The  location  of  the 
cemetery  is  fine  and  its  natural  surroundings  most  beautiful. 


192  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

We  anticipate  the  question,  "What  was  the  burying  cloth  and  , 
what  was  its  use?"  In  my  early  childhood,  it  was  the  custom  in 
the  several  towns  to  depend  upon  some  one  person  skilled  in  hand- 
icraft, to  make  coffins.  No  stock  of  coffins  was  kept,  but  as  deaths  j 
occurred,  dimensions  were  obtained  and  the  coffin  made.  Lumber 
obtained  from  our  native  woods  was  i<srd.  Willow,  poplar  or 
chestnut  was  preferred.  In  shape,  tapering^  at  each  end,  but  wider 
at  the  proper  place  to  accommodate  the  elbows,  stained  and  varn- 
ished, the  initials  of  the  name  and  years  of  age,  madfe  with  round 
headed  brass  tacks.  The  maker  of  the  coffin  was  expected  to  attend 
at  the  burial.  Before  the  advent  of  the  hearse  the  coffin  was  carried 
in  a  straight  box  farm  wagon,  with  the  "burying  cloth"  of  black 
broadcloth,  furnished  by  the  town,  spread  over  the  coffin.  No 
handlt^s  were  used  at  the  time,  and,  from  the  entrance  to  the 
cemetery,  the  coffin  was  carried  to  the  grave  on  a  hand  bier.  No 
box  for  cofrins  had  then  come  in  use.  The  coffin  was  lowered  into 
the  grave,  a  bundle  of  straw'  spread  over  it  and  the  earth  then 
shoveled  upon  it.  The  expenses  for ''burial,  including  coffin  and 
everything,  would  be  from  $3  to  $15. 

"' 
INSCRIPTIONS  AND  FP!TA?HS 

From  Old  Heads'ones  on  the  "Town  Plot  of  Newtown  Cemetery. 

Some  effort  has  been  made  to  make  choice  of  particular  cases, 
and  to  take  inscriptions  from  those  that  date  up  to  1800.  It  is  a 
matter  of  surprise  that  the  number  of  headstones  that  date  back  of 
1800  is  comparatively  snfall,jind  that  none,  have  as  yet  been  found 
that  date  back  of  1741,  as  the  plot  was  set  apart  for  a  burying 
ground  in  1711.  Some  of  the  earliest  burials  might  have  been  at 
Milford,  Derby  or  Stratford,  jVlaces  from  which  the  settlers  came, 
and  some  graves  might  not  have  had  headstones,  yet  for  all  that 
it  does  seem  though  tliere  might  have  been  a  number  that  would 
date  back  of  1741.  One  dislikes  to  believe  it  due  to  vandalism, 
although  from  the  writer's  personal  knowledge,  there  was  time 
when  a  certain  stone  mason  ('now  dead)  was  caught  leveling  up  a 
foundation  for  a  monument,  by  taking  an  old  headstone  from  its 
place  and  breaking  it  up.  Caught  in  the  act,  he  was  told  that  if 
ever  caught  at  it  again  , he  would  be  prosecuted.  Being  one  to 
whom  a  penny  seemed  as  large  as  a  cart  wheel,  we  presume  the 
threat  had  the  desired  effect.  Those  moss-covered  headstones, 
standing,  as  most  of  them  have,  for  more  than  150  years,  are  still  a 
silent  reminder  of  those  who  long  since  preceded  us  and,  as  we  are 
doing,  generations  now  unborn  will  pause  at  your  headstone  and 
mine,  and  wander  still  farther  among  these  same  old  headstones 
with  the  quaint  inscriptions  that  interest  us  so  much  to-day. 

Beneath,  the  dust  "Loud  speaks  the  Grave 

of   Sueton   Grant  My  Goal  unnerves  the  Strong, 

who  died  October  7,  1760,  My  shades  deform  the  gay, 

aged  15  years,  10  months  and  13  ^.^g   Fair,  the   Young 

d^ys>        ,  T^        ,  ,  ^  Ye  Youth,  awaken.     Catch  the 

the  son  of  Donald  Grant  .u^^^-i;,,^^  A^.r 

r  ^1             •  L     r  ^-^   i-u   1  •     4-u„  shortliveu  day 

of  the  parish  of  Duthel  m  the  _.            ■'.  ^  , 

County  of  Inverness  in  Scotland  Improve  your  Time  and  Talents 

and  of  Arminal  his  wife.  while  ye  may." 


INSCRIPTIONS   AND    EPITAPHS 


193 


Here  lies  the  body  of 

Elizabeth   Grant,  daughter 

of  Mr.  Donald  Grant 

of  the  Parish  of  Duthel, 

in  ye  County  of  Inverness 

in    Scotland, 

and  Mrs  Arminal,  his  wife, 

died  May  ye  5,  1762, 

Aged  16  years 

and  12  days. 

Here   lies  the  body  of 

Mr.  Donald  Grant 

of  the  Parish  of  Duthel 

in  ye  Countj^  of  Inverness, 

in  Scotland 

Died  January   10,   1763, 

in  ye  55th  year 

of  his  age 

Beneath,  the  Dust  of 

Donald  Grant,  who  Died 

October  18,  1767,  aged  20  years, 

1  month  and  3  days, 

son  of  Donald  Grant  of  the 

Parish   of   Duthel, 

in  the  County  of  Inverness, 

Scotland,    and 

Arminal,    his    wife. 

Here   lies    buried 

the  body  of 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Esq., 

who  departed  this  life 

March  9,  A.  D.  1771,  in  ye 

70th  year  of  his  age. 

In  memory  of 

Mrs  Alehitable,  wife  of 

Caleb    Baldwin,   Esq. 

She  died 
Sept.  ye  28,  A.  D.  1758, 
aged  61  years. 

Mrs.  Betty  Baldwin 

late  widow  of 

Col.  Caleb  Baldwin 

departed  this  life 

June  8,  1787 

aged  56  years. 

This  monument  is  erected  in 

remembrance  of  an  affectionate 

mother,  by  her  youngest  son. 

Sacred   to   the 

memory  of  Mr. 

Lemuel  Thomas 

for  man}'^  years  a  skilled 

and  useful  practioner  of 

surgery    and    physics 

who   departed   this 

Life  September  30,  A.  D. 

•    1775.     AE  48. 


In    memory    of 

Rev'd  Mr.  David  Judson, 

pastor  of  the  First 

Church   of    Christ    in 

Newtown,  who  departed 

this   life  Sept.  ye  24, 

A.  D.  1776,  in  ye  61 

year  of  his  life. 

Here   lies   ye   body 

of    Mary   Judson 

Daughter  of  the  Rev. 

David  Judson  and  his 

wife  Mary  who  died 

July  the  23,  17— 

Aged  7  years  and  20  days 

David,  son  of  Rev.  Mr. 

David  Judson  and  Mary  Judson 

Died  Dec.  11,  1749,  Aged  1  year  6 

Months  and  20  days. 

Here  lyeth  interred 
the  earthly  remains  of 
the  Rev'd  John  Beach, 
A.M.,  late  missionary 

from  the 

venerable   society   for 

the  propagation  of  the 

Gospel  in  foreign   parts, 

who  exchanged  this  life 

for  mortality 

on  the  19th  day  of  March, 

1782, 

in  the  52nd  year  of  his 

ministry. 

"The    sweet    remembrance    of    the 

just 

Shall  flourish  when  he  sleeps  in 

dust." 

Reader  let  this  tablet  abide. 

In    memory    of 

Rev.  Philo  Perry, 

Pastor  of  the   Episcopal 

Society  in  Newtown, 

Who  died  Oct.  26,  1798, 

in  the  46th  year  of  his  age, 

and  the  thirteenth  of  his  ministry. 

"I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven 

saying  unto   me,  write 

From  henceforth  blessed  are  the 

dead  who  die   in  the  Lord." 

Here  lies  interred  the  Body  of 

Thomas  Tousey  Esq. 

who  Died  March  14,  1761 

in  the  74th  Year  of  his  age. 

Down  to  an  impartial  Grave's 

devouring   shade 
Sink  Human  Honors  and  the 
Hoary  Head 
Protract  your  years  acquire 
what  mortals  can 
Here   see  with   deep  Concern  the 
End  of  Man. 


194  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Here  Lyes  ye  Body  of  Here  lies  hurried  ye  body  of  Ezra 

Mrs.   Johannah   Wheeler  son   of  Obadiah  Wheeler  who 

wife  to  Capt.  Obadiah  Wheeler  departed  this  life  Maye  ye  10th 

Who  Died  Febu'ry  ye  15  A.  D.  1768  in  ye  12  Year  of  his  age. 

A.  D.  1758  in  ye  62  ^       , 

Year  of  her  Age.  To  the  memory  of 

Alice   Camp, 

TT         1-        u      •   J  widow  of 

Here    lies    buried  Lemuel  Camp, 

l^u   f°J^  ?JrS^?-  Who  died  Dec.  5,  1796 

.xru^^^"^""^.  ^  .f       T  -f  in   the  87th   year 

Who   departed   this   Life  r  i.^ 

February  ye  24,  A.  D.  1770  °*   ^^^  ''^^■ 

in  ye  76  year  of  'The    sweet    remembrance    of    the 

his  age.  just 

Shall  flourish  when  they  sleep  in 

The  once  well  respected  "Why     do     we     mourn     departing 

Mr.  David  Booth  friends 

Here  rested  from  the  hurry  Qr  shake  at  Death's  alarms? 

of  life  the  8th  of  April   A.  D.  1777,  .jjg  but  the  voice  that  Jesus  sends 

aged    LXXllI,  j^  call  them  to  his  arms." 

"Could     a     virtuous,     honest     and  in    memory    of 

amiable    character,   could   bless-  Miss  Currence  Camp 

ings  of  the  poor  echoing  from  who  departed  this  life 

his  gate,  with    Christian   fortitude 

Could  ye  sympathetick  April  30,   1799, 

Grief  of  an  aged  partner  or  the  A.  E.  22. 

Soft'ning  tears  of  a  numerous  off-  "As  I  am  so  you  must  be 

spring  Lean  on  Christ  and  follow  me." 
Disarm  the  King  of  Terrors, 

He  had  not  died.    What  is  Life?  Here  lies  ye  Body  of  Mrs. 

to  answer  Life's  great  aim,  Ann  Peck,  wife  of  Mr. 

From  Earth's  low  prison  from  this  Henry  Peck  who  died 

vale  of   tears  April  ye—  1741,  in  ye— 

with  age  incumbered  and  oppres-  Year  of  her  age. 

sed  with  fears            ^u  ■  .  u   a  Here   lies    buried 

Death  set  him  free,  his  Christ  had  ^j^^  g^^     ^j  ^^^^  j^^^^^y 

T       ""^^^c  t'^/^^K^  1   .      •              .  Peck,  wife  of  Mr.  Henry  Peck 

Let  grief  be  dumb;  let  pious  sor-  ^^^  ^.^^  ^     -^  ^^  17^1^ 

rows    cease.  175^^  j^^  y^  27th 

year  of   her  age. 

To  the  memory  of  j^    memory    of 

Mr.  Lemuel   Camp,  -^      Henrv   Peck 

Who,  on  the  30th  Day  of  Jan'ry,  who  deoar^ed  thh  life 

''T.r  T  T'r'''  ^°  d'^rh^risHan "  "   MarTh  1o?h''l796    ' 

With  Meekness  and  Christian  77^j^  Year 

Fortitude  resigned  his  Life  to  the  ^  ^.^^ 

Almighty   Giver,  ^ 

and  quietly  fell  asleep.  Here  lies  interred,  the 

This  monument  is  inscribed.  body  of  Mrs.  Jane,  the 

"The  marble  monument  may  yield  dear  wife  of  Richard 

To  time;  Time  to  Eternity,  Fairman,  Esq.,  who  dw 

But  the  remembrance  of  the  just  git  together  in  the  mar 

shall  flourish  ried  state  30  ye 

When   Time    shall   cease     _  ars,  wanting  23  days. 

And  Death  is   swallowed  up  with  And  was  in  his  opinion  a 

Victory."  woman  of  the  best  sense  and 

judgement  that  he  was  e 

Here  Lyes  ye  body  of  ver  acquainted  with,  a 

Mrs   Betty  Ferris  wife  to  Mr.  nd  he  believes  truly  pious, 

Abraham  Ferris,  who  died  who  dep'r'd  this  hie  in  the 

August  ye  28th,  1759,  in  ye  36  58th  yr  of  her  age.  May  16, 

Year   of   her  age  1775. 


INSCRIPTIONS   AND    EPITAPHS 


195 


In    memory    of 

Richard  Fairman,  Esq., 

who  departed  this  life 

Sept.  the  22,  A.  D.  1775, 

in   the  64th   year 

of  his  age 

Here  lies  the 

remains  of 

Mrs  Rebekah  Nichols 

The  amiable  and 

virtuous  consort 

of  Captain  Peter  Nichols 

who  departed   this  life 

October  12,  1793. 

In  ye  61st  yr.  of  her  age. 

In  memory  of 

Mr.  Abraham  Ferris 

who  died  April  ye  4th  A.  D.  1789 

in  ye  68th  year  of  his  age 

"No  Gift  of  Nature,  Art  or  Grace 

Exempted  from  ye  Burying  Place. 

All  must  obey  death's  solemn  call 

Before  that  tyrant  all  must  fall." 

Lies   intome'd   the 
Remains   of   Mrs.   Zilpha 
wife  to  Zalmon  Peck  who 
departed  this  life  Dec. 
the  31st  A.  D.  and  we  de- 
posited on  New  Year's  day 
1797  in  the  40th  year  of  her  age 
"Faiewell,    my    loving    sons,    my 
friends. 
Bear  well  in  mind  death  is  your 
ends 
For  God  has  called  you  when  he 

pleased. 
Happy  are  they  whose  hopes  rely 
On  Israel's  God  who  built  thesky 

In    memory    of 

Mr.  Epphriam  Bennitt 

who  died 

of  a  cancer  in  his  breast 

October  7,  1779 

In   the  65   year 

of  his  life. 

"Many  are  the  afflictions 

Alloted  in  this  life 

And  few  have  endured  trial 

More  severe." 

In    memory    of 

Mr.  Vincent   Stillson 

Who  died  Jany  2,  1797 

In  ye  73rd  Year  of  his  age 

also  of 

Mrs.    Sarah    Stillson 

Who   died  Jan.  3,   1797 

In  ye  35th  year  of  her  age 

They   are   both   inter'd 

in   one   Grave. 


To  the  memory  of 

Mr.  David  Curtis, 

the  agreeable  companion  &  the 

generous    friend    who    was 

suddenly   arrested   by   remorseless 

Death,  July  29th,  A.  D.  1783 

in  the  42nd  year  of  his  age, 

this  monument  is  inscribed  : 

"Of  this  man  may  it  with  propriety 

be  said 
His    friends    were    many,    his    en- 
emies few. 
The    partial     friend    may    virtues 

magnify. 
The  flattering  marble  may  record 

a  lye, 
But  God,  who  judgeth  righteously 

and  just 
Will   raise   his   children    from    the 

sleeping  dust 
Proclaim  their  worth  in  Earth,  in 

air  and  heaven 
Their     pardon     seal'd     and     write 
their    sins    forgiven." 

Safely  inter'd  here  lies 
the  remains  of  Mrs.  Mary, 
the  amiable  consort 
of  Mr.  Jabs.  Baldwine, 
who  made  her  exit  Jan- 
uary ye  1770,  in  the 
36th  year  of  her  age  leav- 
ing behind  her,  5  children. 
"When  a  fond  mother's  care 
has  nursed  her 
Babes  to  manly  size,  she 
Must   with   us'ry  pay 
the   grave." 

In    memory    of 

Mrs  Sally  Cooke 

2nd  wife  of  Daniel  B.  Cook 

who  departed  this  Life 

December  12  A.  D.  1794 

Aged   20  Years 

this  stone  is  erected. 

"Could  the  Piety  which  adorns 

or  Benevolence  which  endears 

human    nature 

Could  tenderest  friendship 

or  the  Purest  Love 

Disarme  the  King  of  terrors 

She  had  not  died." 

In    Memory   of 
Reuben   H.   Booth 
who  was  drowned 

Nov.  24,   1814 

aged   43    years. 

"How  in  an  instant  he  was  called 

Eternity  to   view 

Not  time  to  regulate  his  house 

Nor  bid  ye  world  adieu." 


196 


NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 


In  memory  of  Mr>    Jo 

nathan  Booth.     He  died  February 

ye  8,  A.   D.   1755, 

aged  TZ  years. 

Here  Lies  ye  Body 

of    Lieut.    John 

Griffin  who  departed 

this  Life  May  5 

A.  D.  1777  in  ye  51 

Year  of  his  age 

"Who  has  Gone  to  Rest 

For   Immortality." 

In    memory    of 

Mrs  Jerusha  ye  Amiable  Consort 

of    Zalmon   Tousey 

who  departed  this  life 

February  11,  1785 


In  memory  of 

Oliver    Tousey,    Esq'r 

who  departed  this  life 

Jan.  27,  1799. 

in  ye  73rd  year  of  his  Age 

"Stop,  reader,  shed  a  mournful  tear 

Upon  the  dust  that  slumbers  here 

And  while  you  read  the  fate  of  me 

Think  on  the  glass  that  runs  for 

thee." 


To  the  memory  of 

Mrs   Deborah  Tousey  late 

Consort  of  Oliver  Tousey  Esq'r 

who  departed  this  life 

March  15  1801  in  the  70th  year 

of  her  age 


In    memory    of 

Gideon    Botsford 

who   died   Sept.  22,   1791, 

Aged    70   years 

4  months. 


In  memory  of  Isaac  Tousey 

who  departed  this  life 

Dec.  5th,  1794  aged  39  years 

11  mos.  and  10  days 


In  memory  of  Mrs 

Meriam,    widow    and 

relict  to  Mr.  Gide 

on  Botsford,  Dic'st. 

She  died  Nev.   16,  1795 

Aged  66  years. 

the    grave." 

In    Memory    of 

Mr.   James   Bald 

win  Junr.,  who  departed  this 

Life   Tune   the  9th 

A.  D.  1773  in  the  56th  Year 

of   his    age. 


In  memory  of  Zalmon  Tousey 

who  died  June  26,  1810 

In  ye  7 — year 

of  his  age. 


In  memory  of 

Gideon   Bennitt    son 

Gideon  and  Pulchrea 

Botsford 

Who  Died  December  the  18 

A.   D.   1774 

Aged  4  months  12  days. 


Here  Lies  ye  Body  of 

Mrs    Thankful 

Baldwin    wife    to 

Mr   Nathan    Baldwin 

Died  October  ye  25 

1741 

In  ye  79  year  of 

her  age. 

In    memory    of 
Mr.    Abraham 
Botsford,    who    de- 
parted this   life   March  ye 
25th,  A.  D.  1791,  in  ye  64th 
year   of    his    age. 


Here  lyes  ye  body 

of  Mr  John  Glover 

He  died  in  ye  faith 

and  communion  of 

ye   church   of   England 

June  ye  2,  A.  D.  1752 

and  in  ye  78th  year 

of    his    age. 

in  the  40th  year  of  Her  Age. 

"Man  is  dom'd  to  die 

A  sentence  of  ye  Judge  on  high 

No  ransom  can  give  but  in  ye 

ransom  paid,  he  yet  shall  live." 


In    memory    of 
Mrs  Nancy  Botsford 

relict  of 
Abraham  Botsford. 
who  died  Oct.  24,  1795 
in  ye  64th  year  of  her  age. 


David  Son  of 

Mr.    Jonathan    and 

Mrs.    Pheobe 

Booth.    Died 

Sept.  ye  22nd,  1753,  aged 

4  years,  and  11  days. 


INSCRIPTIONS   AND    EPITAPHS 


197 


Joseph,   son    of 

Mr.  Jonathan 

and   Mrs   Pheobe 

Booth.    Died 

August  ye  11,  1751, 

Aged  3  years  &  1  month. 

This  monument  is 

Erected  in   Memory  of 

Capt'n  Peter  Nichols 

Who  exchanged  this  Life 

for  Immortality  June  15, 

1799  in  ye  67  Year  of  his 

Age. 

Here  lies  the  body 

of  Sarah  Booth. 

dau.    of    Mr.    Jonathan 

&  Mrs.  Pheobe  Booth. 

Died   Febry    15,   1759, 

in   the    15th   year 

of  her  age. 

Here  lies  ye 

body  of 

Hester,  wife  of 

Jonathan    Booth. 

In    Memory    of 

Moses    Wheeler 

son  to  Mr  Abiel  and  Mary 

Booth.  He  died  Feby  15 

A.  D.  1770  in  ye  7 

Year  of  his  age. 

In    memory    of 

Andrew    Booth 

son  of 

Mr.  Abel  and  Mary  Booth 

Who  died  Jan.  17,  1775, 

Aged   14  years. 

In    memory    of 
Moses  Wheeler  Booth 

second    son    of    Mr 
Abiel  and  Mary  Booth 
Who  died  Jan.  21,  1795 

Here  lies  ye  Body  of 

Mr.  Samuel   Starling  son  of 

Mr.   John    Starling 

who  departed  this  Life  June  ye  6th 

1764  in  ye  27  Year 

of   His   age 


To  the  memory  of  Mrs. 

Elizabeth  Jennings  Edmond, 

eldest  daughter  of  the  late 

Hon  John  Chandler  and  Mrs  Mary 

Chandler,  who  departed  this 

life  February  17, 1795,  aged  29  years 

8  months  and  17  days 

this  monument  is  erected  by  her 

sorrowing  husband 

William  Edmond. 


Here  lies  ye  body  of 

Mr  John  Starling  son  of 

Mr  John  Starling  and  Mrs 

Sarah    Starling 

Who  Departed  this  Life  August 

ye  6th  1767  in  ye  25th  Year 

of  his  Age 

Here  lies  buried  the  Body  of 

Mr    John    Sterling 

who  departed  this  Life 

July  ye  19th  1780  in  ye  72nd 

Year  of  his   age. 

In    Memory    of 

Mr.  Jacob  Starling 

who  departed  this  Life 

October  9,  1796 

in  ye  57th  Year  of  His  Life. 

In  memory  of  Mrs.  Sarah 

Starling    Relict    of 

Mr.    John    Starling 

who  departed  this  Life 

Dec.    13th    1797 

In  ye  87th  year 

of  her  Age 


Here  Lyes  buried  ye 

Body  of  Mrs  Bethiah 

Botsford,   wife   to    Mr. 

Gideon  Botsford,  who 

died    November   ye  26, 

1754,  about  38  years 

of  her  age. 


NEWTOWN'S    LAWYERS 

Judge  William  Edmond  was  born  Sept.  28,  1755,  in  Woodbury, 
Conn.  He  was  graduated  from  Yale  College  in  1777;  took  part  in 
an  engagement  with  the  British  in  Ridgefield,  was  severely  wound- 
ed in  the  leg,  April  27,  1777,  and  lay  on  the  field  over  night.  He 
never  recovered  from  the  effects  of  that  wound.  In  May,  1782,  he 
established  himself  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Newtown  and  there 
resided  until  his  death,  Aug.  1,  1858,  aged  83.  In  1797,  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  Congress,  serving  4  years.  He  was  appointed 
judge  of  the  Superior  Court  in  1805,  which  ofifice  he  held  until  1819. 
He  was  a  remarkable  man,  plain  and  unassuming  in  manners,  mild 
and  amiable  in  deportment,  just  and  honest  in  dealing,  honorable 
and  magnanimous  in  feeling. 

It  is  told  that  a  man  went  to  engage  him  in  a  suit  against  a  neigh- 
bor who  had  borrowed  a  wash-tub  and  had  allowed  it,  through 
neglect,  to  fall  to  pieces.  After  hearing  the  story,  the  Judge  asked 
how  much  the  tub  was  worth.  Being  told  "about  a  dollar,"  the 
Judge  gave  the  man  a  dollar  and  told  him  to  go  home  and  live  in 
peace  with  his  neighbor. 

He  married,  Nov.  30,  1784,  Elizabeth  J.,  daughter  of  Col.  John 
and  Mary  Chandler.  She  died  Feb.  17,  1795,  and  he  married,  Feb. 
14,  1796,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Payne  of  Hartford.  His 
children:  Mary  E.,  born  1785;  Elizabeth  P.,  1798;  Sarah,  June  24, 
1800,  (married  Dr.  Cyrenius  Booth  in  1820)  ;  William  P.,  1802;  Ann, 
1804 ;  Robert  1805. 

Samuel  Curtis  Blackman,  born  in  Monroe,  Conn.,  March  22,  1768, 
graduated  from  Yale  in  1793,  continued  in  practice  more  than  50 
years.  When  the  Probate  district  was  established,  he  was  chosen 
Judge  and  held  the  office  for  17  years,  until,  at  70  years,  the  law 
rendered  him  inelligible. 

He  was  for  many  years  a  school-visitor.  His  late  home  was  the 
first  house  south  of  the  Congregational  Church,  now  the  Grand 
Central,  where  he  died,  Nov.  17,  1858,  in  his  91st  year.  He  married 
Sarah  Toucey  of  Newtown,  born,  April  23,  1777,  who  died,  Dec.  6, 
1835.  Their  children :  Caroline,  Sarah,  George,  Alfred,  William 
and  Samuel. 

Asa  Chapman,  born  at  Saybrook,  Sept.  2,  1770,  graduated  at  Yale 
in  1792 ;  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1795 ;  settled  in  practice  in  Newtown, 
"was  repeatedly  elected  the  representative  of  that  town  to  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  State  and,  in  1817,  was  elected  member  of 
the  Governor's  Council,  comprising  at  that  time  12  members;" 
elected  Judge  of  Superior  Court  and  Court  of  Errors  in  1818,  hold- 
ing this  office  until  his  death  in  New  Haven,  Sept.  25,  1825. 

He  married  at  Newtown,  Mary  daughter  of  Bennett  Perry,  M.  D. 
Had  five  children,  the  eldest  Charles. 

Holbrook  Curtis,  born  in  Newtown,  July  14,  1787,  studied  with 
Dr.  Burhans  and  with  Judge  Asa  Chapman ;  graduated  from  Yale 
1807;  admitted  to  Fairfield  County  bar  in  1809,  was  in  Newtown  the 
next  4  years.  Later  moved  to  Watertown,  Conn.,  elected  Judge  of 
Probate  in  Watertown  and  was  judge  of  the  County  Court  for 
Litchfield    County. 


GOVERXOR  ISAAC  TOUCEY 

See  Page  199 


NEWTOWN'S    LAWYERS  199 

In  1821,  was  sent  to  the  General  Assembly  and  returned  in  1822, 
'33,  '17,  '39,  '43,  and  '45.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Hon.  William 
Edmond  of  Newtown.    Died,  Feb.  21,  1858. 

Reuben  Booth,  born  in  Newtown,  Nov.  26,  1794,  graduated  at 
Yale.  1816;  entered  the  law-office  of  David  S.  Boardman  at  New 
Milford,  for  about  a  year,  then  moved  to  Danbury  and  continued 
his  studies  with  Moses  Hatch  ;  was  instructor  in  Danbury  Academy  ; 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1818.  In  1822,  he  represented  Danbury  in 
the  General  Assembly  and,  the  same  year,  was  Judge  of  Probate 
for  Danbury  ;  held  probate  office  till  1835.  Elected  State  Senator 
in  1830;  was  Lieutenant-Governor  of  this  State  in  1844 — 5.  Died  in 
Danbury,  Aug.  14,  1848. 

Henry  Dutton,  born  Feb.  12,  1796,  grduated  at  Yale  with  honor 
in  1818;  tutor  in  the  college  from  1821  to  1823  ;  attorney  and  coun- 
selor-at  law  in  Newtown,  Bridgeport  and  New  Haven ;  author  of 
Dutton's  Conn.  Digest ;  commissioner  for  the  revision  of  the  State 
Statutes  and  of  Swifts  Digest;  Professor  of  law  in  Yale;  member, 
clerk  and  Speaker  of  Connecticut  House  of  Representatives ;  State 
Senator ;  Governor  of  Connecticut  in  1854  and  Judge  of  the  Super- 
ior Court  of  Errors,  1861.  In  1847,  he  became  Kent  professor  of 
law  in  Yale  Law  School.  For  a  year  he  acted  as  Judge  of  the  New 
Haven  Countv  Court.  Was  married  to  Eliza  Elliott  Joy  of  Fairfield 
County.    He  died  April  26,  1869. 

Hon.  Isaac  Toucey,  born  in  Newtown,  Nov.  5,  1796,,  studied  law 
with  Hon.  Asa  Chapman  of  Newtown ;  Admitted  to  the  bar  in  1818, 
settled  in  practice  at  Hartford ;  was  State's  Attorney  for  Hartford 
county  from  1822  to  1835.  when  he  was  elected  representative  in 
Congress  and  continued  there  four  years ;  elected  Governor  of 
State,  1846.  During  latter  part  of  President  Polk's  term  ,Governor 
Toucey  was  Attorney  general  of  the  United  States.  In  1850,  he 
was  in  the  Connecticut  Senate ;  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate 
in  1851,  for  the  term  of  six  years;  was  in  President  Buchanan's 
Cabinet  as  Secretary  of  the  Navy.  He  was  offered  a  seat  on  the 
bench  of  the  Supreme  Court,  but  declined  it. 

He  was  a  devout  member  of  the  Episcopal  Church  and,  in  his  will 
left  Trinity  College,  Hartford,  a  sum  whose  interest  is  to  pay  for 
the  education  of  a  candidate  for  the  ministry  in  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

He  married  Catharine  Burrill,  but  left  no  children.  His  last  years 
were  spent  in  retirement  at  his  pleasant  home  in  Hartford  where 
he  died,  July  30,  1869. 

David  Hull  Belden,  born  in  1798,  was  son  of  Rev.  David  Belden 
of  Wilton.  Conn.  He  early  located  in  Newtown,  and  most  of  his  life 
was  spent  there.  At  his  death.  May  7,  1872,  was  the  eldest  member 
of  the  Fairfield  County  Bar,  having  been  associated  with  it  for 
more  than  50  years.  He  was  a  successful  lawyer  and  served  as 
State's  Attorney.  In  1829,  he  represented  the  town  in  the  Legisla- 
ture and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Newtown  Academy.  Oct.  20, 
1824  he  married  Cornelia,  eldest  daughter  of  John  and  Clarissa 
Peck  Johnson,  who  died  in  1828.  He  later  married  her  sister. 
Susan  Jane,  who  died  in  1835,  leaving  Cornelia,  Clarissa,  David  and 


200  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

John.  His  third  wife  was  Miss  Ann  Clarke,  who  died  in  1862, 
leaving  four  children:  Mary,  who  died  in  1862;  Fred,  who  died  a 
few  years  later ;  Howard  and  Reuben.  There  were  no  children  by 
the  fourth  wife,  Miss  Sarah  J.  Peck. 

Charles  Chapman,  born  in  Newtown,  June  21,  1799  son  of  Asa 
Chapman  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Connecticut.  He  com- 
menced his  law  studies  with  his  father,  later  studied  at  Litchfield 
Law  School  and  completed  them  with  the  late  Chief  Justice 
Williams  in  Hartford.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1820,  began 
practice  in  New  Haven  and  in  1832  removed  to  Hartford,  where  he 
spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  Six  times  he  represented  Hartford  in  the 
State  Legislature;  was  elected  to  Congress  in  1851  by  the  Whigs; 
was  also  U.  S.  Attorney  for  the  district  of  Connecticut,  from  the 
Spring  of  1841  to  the  close  of  1844.  Had  a  very  large  practice, 
especially  in  criminal  cases.    He  died  in  Hartford  in  1870. 

David  B.  Beers,  born  in  Newtown,  Feb.  18,  1805,  studied  law  at 
Litchfield  Law  School ;  practiced  law  to  some  extent ;  resided  in 
Newtown  most  of  his  life,  dying  July  28,  1885  in  the  same  house  in 
which  he  was  born.  April  12,  1835,  he  married  Margaret  Pray 
Of  their  four  children,  Emma  E.  died  young;  George  in  1859,  aged 
17;  Emma  S.  several  years  later;  John  Samuel,  born  April,  1836, 
was  for  many  years  a  successful  business  man  in  Bridgeport,  stud- 
ied for  the  ministry,  was  ordained  in  1871  and  became  a  very  useful 
clergyman  in  the  Episcopal  Church.  Died  at  Natick,  Mass.,  Nov. 
20,  1886. 

A  grandson,  George  Emerson  Beers,  graduate  of  Yale,  also  of 
Yale  Law  School,  is  professor  of  Law,  also  Compensation  Commis- 
sioner at  Yale  University. 

Isaac  M.  Sturges,  born  at  Wilton,  July  6,  1807,  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  January  8,  1837  and  at  once  commenced  practice  in  Newtown 
removing  to  Bridgeport  in  1848.  Elected  Representative  from 
Wilton  in  1837,  from  Newtown  in  1844,  and  again  in  Wilton  in  1876. 
Was  Judge  of  Probate  for  Newtown  in  1844  and  judge  of  Bridge- 
port City  Court  in  1860-1.    He  died  at  Wilton,  Oct.  30,  1877. 

Alfred  Blackman,  son  of  Judge  Samual  Curtis  Blackman,  born  at 
Newtown,  Dec.  28,  1807,  graduated  at  Yale  in  1828;  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1830;  practiced  law  in  Seymour  until  1842,  when  he  moved  to 
Waterbury  and,  a  year  later,  to  New  Haven,  where  he  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life.  In  1842,  elected  to  the  State  Senate  from  the  5th 
Senatorial  district.  In  1855,  represented  New  Haven  in  the  General 
Assembly.  Was  Judge  of  Probate,  Judge  of  the  County  Court, 
Mayor  of  the  city  and  Clerk  of  the  U.  S.  District  Court  from  1853 
to  1868.    He  died  in  New  Haven,  April  20,  1880. 

Hon.  Amos  Sherman  Treat,  born  Feb.  5,  1816,  in  Bridgewater, 
Conn,  prepared  for  college  at  Hudson,  Ohio,  and  entered  Yale  in  the 
in  the  class  of  1838  remaining  only  two  years;  was  admitted  to 
Litchfield  County  bar  in  1843 ;  practiced  in  Newtown  for  10  years, 
where  he  was  postmaster  and  member  of  the  Board  of  Education; 
also  judge  of  Probate.  In  July,  1854,  he  removed  to  Bridgeport; 
was  Clerk  of  Fairfield  County  Court  from  1854  to  1859,  member  of 
the  Peace  Congress  in  1862,  and  one  of  the  managers  of  the  Sani- 


'0^ 


'i'ld. 


^=^^UX^:Z.C~-H^    ^6     ^ lAytcn^-y^ 


NEWTOWN'S    LAWYERS  201 

tary  Commission  during  the  Rebellion;  was  member  of  the  Conn, 
legislature  from  Bridgeport  in  1858,  '62,  '69,  and  '79,  and  from 
Woodbridge  from  1871  to  1873;  was  Speaker  of  the  House  in  1872; 
was  connected  with  various  business  enterprises  relating  to  the 
growth  of  the  city. 

Lineal  descendant  of  Robert  Treat,  former  Governor  of  the  State. 
He  died,  April  24,  1886. 

Judge  Daniel  Blackman,  son  of  Col.  Reuben  Blackman,  was  born 
in  Newtown,  Dec.  31,  1822,  where  his  elementary  education  was 
received.  Taught  in  Newtown  Academy,  then  went  to  Southbury, 
where  he  studied  law  under  Joel  Hinman  and  taught  school.  Was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Fairfield  when  quite  young  and  located  in 
Danbury,  where  he  remained  seven  years.  From  there,  he  went  to 
Cassopolis,  Mich.,  where  he  edited  the  Cassopolis  Democrat  for 
two  years.  He  was  elected  Circuit  Judge,  later  went  to  Chicago 
and  practiced  law  until  his  death,  Jan.  11,  1896. 

Julius  B.  Curtis,  born  at  Newtown,  Dec.  10,  1825,  son  of  Nichols 
and  Sarah  A.  Curtis,  descendant  of  Capt.  Wm.  Curtis,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Stratford.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  in  Newtown  Academy ;  read  law  with  Hon.  Edward  Hinman  of 
Southbury,  with  Isaac  N.  Sturges,  and  Amos  S.  Treat,  of  Newtown 
and  further  studied  at  the  State  and  National  Law  School  at  Balls- 
ton  Springs,  N.  Y. ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Fairfield,  Dec,  27. 
1850;  member  of  State  Senate  from  12th  district  in  1858  and  1860; 
judge  of  Court  of  Probate  for  Stamford  in  1867,  '68,  '69,  and  Judge 
of  City  Court  of  Stamford  from  1889  to  1893.  Commenced  law 
practice  at  Greenwich  in  1851  and  removed  to  Stamford  in  Novem- 
ber, 1864. 

Luzon  B.  Morris,  son  of  Eli  Gould  and  Lydia  Bennett  Morris, 
was  born  at  Newtown,  April  16,  1827.  Attended  Conn.  Literary 
Institute  at  Suffield ;  was  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1854;  studied 
law  at  Yale  Law  School,  also  in  private  office  work  ;  admitted  to 
bar  in  1856.  Began  practice  in  Seymour,  but  afterward  moved  to 
New  Haven.  Represented  town  of  Seymour  in  General  Assembly 
two  sessions,  1855-6.  Judge  of  Probate  for  New  Haven  District  for 
six  successive  terms,  1857-'63.  In  1870,  '76,  '80  and  '81,  represented 
New  Haven  in  General  Assembly,  and,  in  1874,  was  member  of 
State  Senate.  Was  member  of  committee  formed  in  1880  to  settle 
controversy  over  boundary  line  between  New  York  and  Connec- 
ticut. In  1884,  was  chairman  of  committee  to  revise  Probate  laws 
of  Conn.  Candidate  for  Governor  in  1888,  elected  Governor  in  1892; 
took  office  January,  1893.  In  1856,  married  Miss  Eugenia  Tuttle  of 
Seymour.  Their  children:  Charles  G.  Morris  and  Mrs  Arthur 
Hadley  of  New  Haven,  Dr.  Robert  T.  Morris  and  Roy  Morris  of 
New  York,  Mrs.  Charles  Pratt  of  Brooklyn,  New  York. 

Richard  Botsford,  son  of  Austin  N.  and  Volucia  Glover  Botsford, 

born  in  Newtown,  Oct.  28,  1830,  attended  district  school  and  private 

school  of  Harry   Peck  in  Taunton ;   studied  at   Hobart  Academy, 

Hobart,  N.  Y.   for  three  years  ;  studied  at  State  Normal   School, 

'    New  Britian;  taught  school  at  St.  Charles.  Ill,  also  in  Wisconsin 

I    and  Missouri.     While  teaching  he  read  law,  and  in  1856  entered  a 


202  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

law  office  at  Rlack  Rock  Falls.  Wisconsin,  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1857  and  began  practicing  his  profession  at  Elgin,  111.,  was  Attor- 
ney for  Illinois  Central  R.  R.  more  than  25  years  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  April  5,  1908,  at  Elgin,  111.  He  was  Judge  of  King  County 
Court,  four  years.    He  had  two  children. 

James  Nichols,  born  in  Newtown,  Dec.  25,  1830,  admitted  to  bar 
of  Hartford  County,  1854;  settled  in  practice  in  Hartford,  was  at 
one  time  Assistant  Clerk  of  Superior  Court.  In  1861,  was  elected 
Judge  of  Probate  for  Hartford.  In  1867,  he  abandoned  law  and, 
later,  became  president  of  the  National  Fire  Insurance  Co.  Died  in 
Hartford  in  1916.    IMarried  Miss  Isabella  Starkweather. 

Hon.  Charles  H.  Brisco,  son  of  Charles  and  Mary  Brisco,  was 
born  in  Newtown,  Dec.  20,  1831  ;  studied  law  with  Amos  S.  Treat; 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1854;  began  practice  in  Enfield  in  1854.  In 
1868,  he  moved  his  office  to  Hartford,  practiced  alone  until  1877, 
when  he  associated  with  J.  M.  Maltbie  until  about  October,  1881. 
Represented  Enfield  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1857,  '64  and  '78, 
the  latter  year  Speaker  of  the  House.  Member  of  State  Senate, 
1861,  serving  as  chairman  of  Committee  on  Military  Afifairs.  Was 
first  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Hartford  County 
serving  from  1869  to  1875.  Was  married  in  1855  to  Anna  J.  Travers 
of  Newark,  N.  J.,  who  died  in  1875.  Second  marriage  to  Alice  E. 
Bradley  of  Newtown,  1878.  Children  by  first  marriage,  Willis  A., 
AnnieT.  and  Alice  A. 

Judge  David  Belden,  son  of  David  H.  and  Susan  Johnson  Belden, 
was  born  in  Newtown,  Aug.  14,  1832.  As  a  boy,  worked  with 
Hiram  Parmalee  of  Hattertown  to  learn  carpenter's  trade.  In  1853, 
went  to  California  and  studied  law.  Began  practice  at  Nevada  City 
in  1855;  elected  County  Judge  of  Nevada  County  in  1858;  sent  to 
State  Senate  in  1864;  was  Judge  of  20th  judicial  district  of  Californ- 
ia from  1871  to  1880  and  of  Superior  Court  of  Santa  Clara  County 
from  1880  to  his  death,  May  14,  1888,  at  San  Jose,  California. 
Married  Miss.  Elizabeth  Farrell  in  1861.  "Newtown  was  honored 
to  have  been  the  birthplace  of  such  a  man." 

Austin  N.  Botsford,  son  of  Austin  N.  and  Volucia  Glover  Botsford 
born  at  Newtown,  April  21,  1842;  attended  district  school  and 
Newtown  Academy ;  graduated  from  Yale  Law  School  and  went  to 
Fort  Dodge,  Iowa,  whrere  he  still  resides  ;  has  retired  from  active 
law  practice,  but  still  has  a  few  retainers.    He  has  three  children. 

Johnson  Tuttle  Piatt,  son  of  Philo  Toucey  and  Jeanette  Tuttle 
Piatt,  born  at  Newtown,  Jan.  12,  1844;  graduated  from  Harvard 
Law  School,  1865  ;  admitted  to  bar  in  Boston  same  year ;  commen- 
ced pratice  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.  but  soon  removed  to  New  Haven, 
became  instructor  in  Yale  Law  School  in  1869;  full  professor  in 
1872;  member  of  Court  of  Common  Council  many  years,  and,  in 
1874,  was  made  Corporation  Council.  For  a  number  of  years  was 
Master  of  Chancery  for  State  of  Connecticut,  and,  at  time  of  death, 
Jan.  23,  1890,  was  serving  as  United  States  Commossioner. 

"During  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  at  the  bar  and  20  years  at 
Yale  Law  School,  he  had  been  honorably  known  as  a  learned  law- 
yer, an  independent  thinker,  a  public-spirited  citizen,  and  a  kind- 


WILLIAM  J.  BEEl'Ul'.R 

See  Page  203 


FREDERICK  P.  MARBLE 

See  Page  203 


NEWTOWN'S    LAWYERS  203 

hearted  and  high-minded  man." 

Juhus  C.  Cable,  born  at  Newtown,  Oct.  11.  1849,  son  of  Nathaniel 
J.  and  Phebe  Cable  ;  studied  in  Newtown  and  at  Cornell  University; 
graduated  from  Yale  Law  School  in  1873;  admitted  to  bar  at  New 
Haven,  June,  1873  ;  member  of  Common  Council  of  New  Kaven, 
Clerk  of  City  Court  and,  from  1883  to  1887,  City  Attorney  of  New 
Haven.    In  1893  appointed  Judge  of  City  Courts. 

William  J.  Beecher  was  born  in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  March  5,  1859. 
His  parents  removed  to  Easton,  where  he  was  educated  at  the 
district  school  and  Staples  Academy ;  graduated  fr<»m  Yale  Law 
School  in  1880.  In  July  of  that  year  was  admitted  tc  bar  at  New 
Haven  to  practice  in  all  the  Courts  of  the  State  and,  in  August  of 
that  year,  opened  an  office  in  Bridgeport,  removing  to  Newtown 
in  1881.  In  November,  1886,  was  elected  Judge  of  Probate  for  the 
District  of  Newtown  and  served  four  years.  In  1894,  he  again 
opened  an  office  in  Bridgeport  with  Frank  M.  Canfield  as  partner, 
retaining  his  office  at  Newtown.  In  1901,  he  was  chosen  director 
of  Newtown  Savings  bank ;  was  also  attorney  for  the  Bank,  the 
last  two  years  serving  on  loaning  committee ;  was  again  elected 
Judge  of  Probate  in  1906,  which  office  he  retained  until  his  death, 
Dec.  3,  1915.  Two  daughters,  the  Misses  Florence  Glover  and 
Marguerite  Katharine  Beecher,  survive  him. 

Charles  N.  Northrop,  son  of  William  and  Julia  Lamberton  North- 
rop, born,  Nov.  21,  1859.  Attended  Newtown  Academy  and  entered 
Yale,  but  did  not  graduate  owing  to  ill-health  ;  later  studied  law  and 
was  graduated  from  Yale  Law  School,  1880;  commenced  practice 
in  Lincoln,  Neb.,  returning  soon  to  Newtown.  In  1882  was  Secre- 
tary of  Board  of  School  Visitors  ;  in  1885  was  again  elected,  but 
declined  when  re-nominated  in  1888.  In  1887  was  chosen  Town 
Clerk  and  about  that  time  was  elected  secretary  of  Newtown 
Savings  Bank;  in  1891,  was  elected  Town  Treasurer,  which  office 
he  held  until  his  death  in  May,  1908.  In  1887,  he  married  Mary 
Grace  Hammond.  Their  children  are  Eleanor  Louise  and  Nelson 
W^illiam  Northrop. 

Frederick  Parker  Marble,  lawyer.  Born  Newtown  Conn.,  July 
14,  1859,  son  of  Rev.  Newton  E.  Marble,  D.  D.  and  Mary  Gillis 
Marble.  Great,  great  grandson  of  Gen.  John  Stark,  Educated  at 
Newtown  Academy  and  Trinity  College,  Hartford.  Left  college  at 
the  end  of  sophomore  year  and  tutored  for  year  in  the  Bermuda 
Islands.  Studied  law  with  the  Hon.  George  Stevens,  Ex-District 
Attorney,  at  Lowell,  Mass.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Massachu- 
setts Bar  in  1882,  and  to  practice  in  the  U.  S.  Courts  in  1888. 
Married  Fannie  Isabelle  Talbot  of  Lowell,  Mass.,  April  17,  1894. 
Practice  has  been  largely  concerned  with  banking  and  trust  estates. 
Director  and  Counsel  for  Union  National  Bank  of  Lowell,  Presi- 
dent of  the  Lyon  Carpet  Company  of  Lowell,  formerly  director  of 
the  Talbot  Mills,  North  Billerica,  Mass.,  and  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Lowell,  President  of  the  Lowell  Humane  Society,  member 
of  the  American  and  Massachusetts  Bar  Associations,  member  of 
the  Sons  of  the  Revolution,  member  of  Kilwining  Lodge,  F.  &  A.  M. 
of  Lowell,  Republican,  Vestryman  of  St.  Anne's  Church,  Lowell, 


204  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

President  of  the  Vesper-Country  Club,  Tyngsborough,  Mass.,  mem- 
ber of  the  Yorick  Club,  Lowell  and  of  the  Engineers'  Club,  Boston. 
Home,  15  Fairview  Street,  Lowell.  Office,  Sun  Building,  Lowell, 
Mass. 

Nichols  Curtis  Downs,  son  of  Monroe  D.  and  Charlotte  N.  Downs 
born  in  Newtown,  Dec.  12,  1861  ;  educated  in  public  schools  and 
Newtown  Academy;  studied  law  with  Julius  B.  Curtis  of  Stamford, 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  Fairfield  County,  Alay  15,  1884;  was  deputy 
judge  of  Borough  Court  of  Stamford  1887-93,  judge  of  City  Court 
of  Stamford  from  1893.  Borough  Attorney  1887-91  and  in  1895 
was  Corporation  Counsel  for  City  of  Stamford. 

James  M.  Betts,  son  of  Dr.  Ralph  N.  and  Mary  Hough  Betts  was 
born  at  Sandy  Hook,  April  9,  1878.  Attended  private  school  of  Mrs. 
Emily  Bennett,  Sandy  Hook,  school  at  St.  Johnsbury,  Vt.  Bridge- 
port High  School,  and  the  last  year  of  the  class  of  1902  at  Newtown 
Academy.  Took  a  course  at  Yale,  graduating  in  1906;  took  three 
years  course  in  two  years  at  Yale  Law  School,  for  Connecticut 
courts,  passing  six  months  later  for  practice  in  New  York  Courts. 
Is  associated  with  Armitage  and  Douglas  in  Woolworth  Building, 
New  York. 


NEWTOWN'S  DOCTORS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL 

All  who  have  given  thought  to  the  matter,  will  agree  with  the 
writer  that  there  are  no  two  classes  of  professional  men  who  come 
into  so  close  touch  with  individual  and  family  life  as  clergymen  and 
physicians — the  one  who  comes  when  there  may  be  greatest  suffer- 
ing of  mind,  the  other  when  the  body  is  racked  with  pain  or  burn- 
ing with  fever.  Then,  too,  if  they  are  men  actuated  by  pure  motives 
and  by  high  Christian  principle  they  can  be  a  great  power  for  good 
in  any  community. 

The  first  disciple  of  Esculapius  Newtown  ever  had,  who  com- 
menced practice  in  Newtown  in  1756,  was  Dr.  Lemuel  Thomas. 
From  whence  he  came  and  where  he  received  his  education,  we  know 
not.  Newtown  records  show  that  he  was  born  in  1727  and  was 
married  by  Rev.  David  Judson,  the  Presbyterian  minister  in  New- 
town, to  Mary  Foote,  Sept.  15,  1756.  Three  children  were  born  to 
them,  Lucy,  born  July  17,  1757;  James,  born  Jan.  29,  1759;  Lemuel, 
born  Jan.  5,  1767.  The  records  also  show  that  his  announcement  to 
settle  in  Newtown  for  practice  was  well  received  by  landed  pro- 
prietors, for,  at  a  town  meeting  held  at  the  north  schoolhouse  six 
months  after  his  marriage,  it  was  "voted  that  Dr.  Lemuel  Thomas 
may  have  liberty  to  take  up  two  acres  and  a  half  of  land  in  ye  town 
street  for  a  horse  pasture  between  ye  school  house  at  ye  south  end 
of  ye  town  and  Mr.  Fabrique's  house  leaving  an  eight  rod  highway 
on  ye  east  side  thereof  and  sd  Dr.  Thomas  shall  possess  sd  two 
acres  and  a  half  of  land  and  improve  ye  same  so  long  as  he  shall 
continue  in  this  town  and  practice  doctering  among  us  and  if  he 
should  lay  aside  doctering  as  aforesaid  or  remove  out  of  ye  town  ye 
sd  land  to  return  to  ye  town  again,  he  taking  away  ye  fence." 

Dr.  Thomas  practiced  "doctering"  in  Newtown  until  his  death. 
At  the  extreme  south  end  of  Newtown  cemetery  (old  part)  is  a  slab 
of  red  sandstone  that  marks  the  grave  where  his  remains  were 
buried  and  on  it  this  inscription: 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  Lemuel  Thomas,  for  many  years  a  skillful 
practitioner  of  surgery  and  physic  who  departed  this  life,  September  30, 
A.  D.  1775,  aged  45  years.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  self  educated  physician 
and  possessed  of  considerable  ability." 

Dr.  Gideon  Shepherd,  who  was  born  in  Newtown  and  had  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Thomas,  his  professional  predecessor,  became,  at 
Dr.  Thomas'  death,  his  immediate  successor,  and  was  practising 
physician  in  Newtown  for  over  40  years. 

It  seems  no  more  than  just  and  right  to  lay  before  this  genera- 
tion the  estimate  of  one  who  knew  Dr.  Shepherd's  worth  as  a 
physician  and  citizen.  The  occasional  finding  of  choice  bit  of  biog- 
raphy seems  to  him  who  delves  in  lonely  surroundings  as  a  vo'ce 
from  the  almost  forgotten  past. 

Dr.  Rufus  Blakeman,  who  was  born  in  Monroe  in  1795  and  prac- 
ticed medicine  in  Greenfield  Hill  from  1822  to  his  death  in  1870, 
says  of  Dr.  Shepherd  in  an  address  delivered  before  the  State 
Medical  Society  in  1853,  that: 

"His  professional  coevals  in  neighboring  towns  generally  conceded  to 
him  a  precedence  as  a  consulting  physician  and  that  he  was  one  of  the 
most  prominent  of  the  originators  and  supporters  of  the  Fairfield  County 
Medical  Society  and  the  records  show  him  to  have  been  one  of  the  most 


206  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

active  and  frequent  members."  Of  Dr.  Shepherd's  personal  character  Dr. 
Blakeman  further  says:  "He  was  eccentric,  but  social,  instructive  and 
agreeable  in  his  intercourse  with  society.  He  ever  sustained  a  reputation 
of  great  moral  purity  and  while  he  was  highly  esteemed  by  his  friends,  his 
enemies  or  traducers  were  rarely  found.  What  few  physicians  can  boast 
he  was  the  father  of  17  children,  thereby  refuting  the  charge  that  while 
enjoying  the  profits  of  a  special  branch  of  his  profession  as  a  prompt 
accessory  in  the  accumlation  of  responsiblites  on  his  friends,  he  was 
cautious  in  the  assumption  of  similar  burdens  on  himself.  In  his  religious 
sentiments  he  was  a  zealous  Sandemanian."  Right  here  we  will  pick  a  few 
plums  from  Dr.  Shepherd's  genealogical  tree. 

Dr.  Gideon  Shephard,  married  Sarah  Watkins,  March  20,  1776.  Their  first 
Mary,  born  Feb.  25,  1777;  Abijah,  born  Nov.  28,  1778:  Lucy,  born  Oct.  2Z,  1780 
Betsy,  born  Feb.  11,  1782:  Silas  Munson,  born  Oct.  27.  1783;  Sarah  Ann,  born 
Sept".  3,  1786;  Eunice,  born  Jan..  1790;  Maria,  born  March  10,  1794. 

The  above  named  Eunice,  my  7th  child,  departed  this  life,  Oct.  16,  1793. 

The  above  said  Sarah,  my  wife,  departed  this  life,  March  10,  1794,  at 
birth  of  8th  child 

Dr.  Gideon  Shephard  and  Lucinda  Peck  joined  in  marriage  covenant, 
November  6,  1794. 

Fanny  Shephard,  born  Feb.  19,  1797;  Maria  Shepard,  Aug.  23,  1798; 
William  Peck,  Feb.  16,  1800;  Sally,  April  6,  1802;  Thomas  Darwin  Shepard. 
April  30,  1804;  Charles  Sydenham  and  Harriett  Shepard,  twins,  born  March 
2,  1806;  Lewis  Parsons  Shepard,  Dec.  14,  1807;  Harriet  Shephard,  born 
Oct.  20,  1809;  Martin  Hebrinden  Shepard,  born  Jan.  17,  1814. 

The  following  vote  from  the  records  of  Fairfield  Medical  Society 
sufficiently  evinces  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  his 
brethern : 

"Voted,  that  Dr.  Gideon  Shepherd  receive  the  patronage  of  this  society 
in  consumption  and  chronic  cases  of  disease  and  that  it  be  the  duty  of  all 
members  of  this  society  to  recommend  him  when  counsel  is  deemed  ex- 
pedient, etc.,  and  that  it  be  his  duty  to  report  all  cases  of  that  description 
to  which  he  may  be  called  to  attend,  with  their  particular  symptoms,  the 
particular  medicines  and  the  constitution  of  the  several  patients  together 
with  the  predisposition  of  their  ancestry."  Then  Dr.  Blakeman  goes  on  to 
say:  "Although  the  existing  generation  of  physicians  may  smile  at  such 
blending  of  professional  opinion  with  popular  belief,  regarding  excellence 
of  the  skill  of  individuals  in  special  classes  of  disease,  yet  the  fact  is  un- 
doubted that  such  were  professional  concessions  as  late  as  the  close  of 
the  last  and  commencement  of  the  present  century.  His  mode  of  treat- 
ment of  consumption,  as  I  learn  from  his  statement  of  cases  left  on  the 
records  of  the  society  was  not  peculiar,  being  in  general  mildly  antiphlog- 
istic and  similar  to  the  present  treament  of  phthisis.  To  meet  occurring 
symptoms,  local  bleeding  counterirritants  with  anodyne  and  demulcent 
expectorants  were  his  general  prescriptions.  His  devotion  to  the  science 
of  medicine  and  its  observant  application  to  the  diseases  which  he  treated 
was  strongly  developed.  My  early  impressions  of  the  doctor  are  that  he 
devoted  greater  attention  to  the  occurring  impro  v'ements  m  medical  science 
than  most  of  his  contemi>orary  brethren 

Although  not  endowed  with  extraordinary  intellectual  powers,  his  talents 
were  respectable  and  of  a  character  calculated  for  usefulness  rather  than 
display  or  striking  originality.  If  he  did  not  attain  eminence  as  a  profes- 
sional scholar  he  was  diligent  in  his  efforts  to  acquire  such  portions  of 
existing  medical  literature  as  were  more  immediately  adapted  to  the 
emergencies  of  practice  ordinarily  presented  to  the  notice  of  physicians. 
To  the  juniors  in  the  profession  his  counsels  were  parental  and  he  took 
the  preference  as  a  consulting  physician." 

Though  a  disinterested  reader  may  tire  of  this  long  sketch  given 
one  long  since  dead,  is  it  any  more  than  is  due  to  the  memory  of 
him  who  was  Newtown's  family  physician  for  more  than  40  years, 
when  testimony  of  one  who  spoke  of  what  he  knew  can  be  found, 
to  be  reiterated  after  a  lapse  of  more  than  50  years,  to  remind  the 


DOCTORS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL  207 

children's  children  what  he  was  to  those  who  were  ever  glad  to 
w^elcome  him  to  their  homes  in  hours  of  joy  or  sorrow. 

1  have  heard  said  by  those  who  were  intimately  aquainted  with 
Dr.  Shepherd  that  when  asked  to  sit  at  the  table  when  calling  at 
meal  time  his  reply  would  often  come,  "Xo  nt*,  1  never  eat  poor 
folkses  victuals."  He  was  full  to  overflowing  with  quaint  retorts, 
and  beaming  with  stories  and  jokes.  In  Taunton  in  his  day  the 
name  Fairchild  predominated  and  at  times  when  meeting  some  man 
on  the  road  his  salutation  would  be,  "Good  morning.  Mister  Nirum 
Fairchild,  sah  !  if  'taint  you  it  must  be  your  brother,  sah !  and  if  it 
aint  your  brother  sah  I  ask  your  pardon,  sah  !" 

When  he  became  incapacitated  by  age  for  practice,  he  removed 
to  Hunter,  N.Y.,  wdiere  he  resided  with  one  of  his  daughters  until 
he  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  89. 

Two  bills  copied  from  originals  in  my  possession  that  Dr.  Shep- 
herd sent  in  against  the  town  of  Newtown  for  attendance  upon 
persons  who  were  town  charges  show  the  customary  charges  for 
medical  services  in  the  earliest  years  of  the  tow^n  life. 

Newtown  to  Dr.  Gideon  Shepherd  attending  Henry  Murry: 
May  11,  1818,  to  one  visit  and  tincture  of  digitilis  and  vial 
May   12,   one   visit   and  blister   salve. 
May  14,  one  visit  and  cream  tartar. 
May  15,  three  visits  and  spirits  niter. 
May,  16,  juniper  senica  root,  vial  and  visit 
May  19,  three  visits. 

May  22,  one  visit,  elixier  vitnol,  one  vial, 
May  23,  to  two  visits. 
May  26,  part  of  a  visit,  spirits  nitre, 
May,  21 ,  part  of  a  visit  and  medicine. 
May  28,  part  of  a  visit  and  pills, 
May  29,  part  of  a  visit, 

£2    0      8 

In  dollars  $6.78. 
Thirteen  visits  and  four  half  visits 
1820,  Newtown,  to  Dr.  Gideon  Shepherd  Dr. 
Feb.  2,    To  one  visit,  5  medicines,  10,  for  Daniel  Prindle. 
March  20,  To   1   visit,  medicines   for   Daniel   Prindle, 
April  5,  To  visit,  2.6,  bittres  for  Hannah  Parmalee, 
May  24,  one  visit  to  the  poor  house. 
May  25,  one  visit  in  part,  for  negro  girl  named  Mary, 
June  12,  delivering  a  black  girl  at  Dick's  called  Sook, 
On  the  20th  of  May,  1  visit  to  see  Polly  Ann  Foot, 

Dr.  Gideon  Shepherd  stood  by  when  the  writer's  father  and 
mother  first  saw  light  and  looked  after  them  in  their  younger  days 
here.  So  beloved  was  he  by  everyone  that  his  name  was  a  house- 
hold word  for  long  years  after  his  death.  He  was  one  of  those  men 
looked  up  to  as  father.  He  was  w^as  of  an  extremely  charitable 
disposition  and  indulgent  in  his  pecuniary  claims  upon  poorer 
patients.  This  with  the  necessary  demands  for  the  support  of  his 
numerous  family,  kept  him  poor,  though  not  indigent  as  to  respect- 
able living. 

Bennett  Perry  was  a  contemporary  of  Dr.  Gideon  Shepherd, 
practicing  with  him  and  thus  a  relief  but  no  hindrance  to  him  who 
was  beginning  to  bend  and  totter  under  the  weight  of  years. 


0 

3 

4 

0 

2 

3 

0 

3 

0 

0 

6 

3 

0 

3 

4 

0 

7 

3 

0 

2 

11 

0 

5 

0 

0 

2 

8 

0 

2 

11 

0 

2 

0 

0 

1 

9 

0 

10 

0 

0 

4 

0 

0 

0 

7 

0 

4 

0 

0 

18 

0 

0 

3 

0 

208  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Dr.  Perry  was  son  of  Dr.  Nathaniel  Perry  of  Woodbury.  He 
studied  medicine  with  his  father  and  located  in  Newtown,  where 
he  practiced  medicine  until  his  death,  in  1821,  at  the  age  of  66. 
His  home  was  what  in  later  years  was  known  as  Dick's  hotel, 
where  Newtown  Inn  now  stands.  His  reputation  was  that  of  a 
physician  of  superior  talents,  well  developed  by  education.  His 
medical  practice  covered  a  period  of  over  40  years. 

Dr.  Perry  belonged  to  Hiram  lodge,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  previous  to 
the  year  1797;  the  lodge  room  was  in  his  own  dwelling,  from  1797 
to  1818.  Unfortunately,  we  can  find  no  record  as  to  his  history  and 
his  ability  as  a  physician.  The  young  people  of  his  day  were  the 
town's  maturer  people  of  the  writer's  early  manhood  and  he  well 
remembers  that  the  name  of  Dr.  Perry,  too,  was  a  household  word 
in  every  family  life.  What  were  his  political  affiliations,  the  writer 
knows  not,  but  he  served  on  the  board  of  Newtown's  selectmen  in 
1793.  That  he  had  some  of  the  medical  practice  townwise,  the  fol- 
lowing bill,  copied  from  the  original  in  the  writer's  possession, 
goes  to  show : 

Town  of  Newtown  to  Dr.  Bennett  Perry,  Dr. 
February,  1819,  For  Molly  Brisco  to  2  visits,  medicine  and  directions.  0    6    0 
March  7,  4  visits  and  medicine,  for  a  child  of  Sherwood  Peck  0  15     0 

April,  To  23  visits,  medicine  and  directions  for  Air.  Daniel  Baldwin     4     5     6 
May,  To  a  visit,  medicine  and  directions  in  consultation  to  Mr. 
Downs  at  Ragged  Corner,  so-called,  0  15    0 

September,  To  4  visits  and  part  of  a  visit,  medicine  and  directions 
Seth  Hill's  child,  2    5    0 

To  medicine  for  Pihlo  Parmalee's  wife  and  directions,  0     16 

November,  To  a  visit,  medicine  and  directions,  0    9    0 

£8  17    0 

The  Town  of  Newtown  to  Bennett  Perry,  Dr. 

Jan.,  1820,  to  visit  and  medicine  and  directions  for  Ebenezer  $1.50 

Sherwood  at  the  Poor  House, 

To  advice,  medicine  and  dirtceions  for  Parmalee's  wife,  0.34 

To  advice  and  medicine  for  Mr.  Bradley  and  Mrs.  Bradley,  0.50 

To  advice  for  Sherwood  Peck's  wife,  0.50 

$2.84 
November,  1820,  to  visits  ad  medicines  for  Ammon  Prindle,  $9.00 

Polly  Ann  Prindle,  daughter  of  Ammon,  to  24  visits  and  directions,  6.00 

Morgan  Banks,  a  visit  and  directions,  1.00 

$16.00 
2.84 


Newtown,  November  23,  1829.  Same  allowed,  $18.84 

My  mother,  born  in  1804,  was  fifteen  at  the  time  of  the  incident 
I  am  about  to  relate,  and  used  to  tell  me  the  story,  which  made  a 
lasting  impression  on  my  memory.  Dr.  Perry  had  a  daughter  who 
married  Elisha  Mills,  a  lawyer  who  practiced  in  the  town  of  Hunt- 
ington. In  the  Spring  of  1819,  he  decided  to  remove  with  his  family 
to  Illinois  which  only  the  year  before,  had  been  admitted  into  the 
Union.  The  journey  was  to  be  made  by  horses  with  a  large  covered 
wagon,  loaded  down  with  luggage  and  household  efifects  generally, 
and  particularly  such  necessities  for  domestic  use  as  could  not 
possibly  be  procured  en  route.  There  were  eight  persons  in  all, 
Mr.  Mills,  his  young  wife,  two  little  boys,  the  youngest  not  six 


DOCTORS    OF    THE    OLD    SCHOOL  209 

years,  a  nephew,  two  helpers  and  a  hired  girl.  The  young  wife  and 
mother  bravely  yielded  to  the  husband's  judgment  without  a  mur- 
mur. Kind-hearted  friends  and  neighbors  from  far  and  near 
gathered  at  Dr.  Perry's  to  see  them  start  on  their  long  journey 
and  watched  them  as  the  heavy  vehicle  made  its  slow  descent  of  the 
hill  to  the  plain  below,  when  it  turned  to  the  westward  and  disap- 
peared in  the  distance.  After  a  journey  of  55  days,  they  reached  a 
place  called  Shawneetown,  near  where  Cairo  stands.  The  noble 
wife,  whose  powers  of  endurance  had  been  severely  overtaxed, 
attacked  with  malarial  fever,  soon  breathed  her  last  and  was  buried 
in  a  land  of  strangers,  leaving  the  bereaved  husband  and  two 
motherless  children  to  continue  their  journey  to  the  new  home, 
now  to  be  made  desolate  without  her.  In  this  illustration  is  em- 
bodied trials  and  privations  to  which  the  early  ancestors  were 
subjected,  when  they  left  their  comfortable  Connecticut  homes  to 
build  for  themselves  homes  in  the  new  and  wild  West. 

Doctor  Oliver  Bancroft,  was  a  physician  in  Newtown  with  Dr. 
Perry  The  house  in  which  he  lived  stood  on  ground  just  north  of 
what  is  still  known  as  the  Belden  house.  When  the  house  now 
owned  by  William  Homer  Hubbell  was  built,  the  Bancroft  lot  was 
bought,  the  house  torn  away  and  the  lot  became  part  of  the  enlarg- 
ed grounds  of  David  H.  Johnson's  building  lot. 

Bill  of  Dr.  Oliver  Bancroft  against  the  State  of  Connecticut,  as 
copied  from  the  original : 

The  State  of  Connecticut  to  Oliver  Bancroft,  Dr.,  for  William  Maerabe, 
1819. 

February  19,  to  visit  and  medicine,  $1.25 

February  19,  to  laudanum,  .17 

1.42 

For  Elizabeth  Manse  : 

October  22,  to  calling  and  medicine,  $0.34 

October  23,  To  visit  and  medicines,  .67 

October  25,  To  visit  and  medicine,  0.60 

October  26,  To  visit  and  medicine,  .62 

October  28,  To  visit  and  medicine,  .75 

November  3,  to  laudanum,  25 

Nov.  12,  to  one  ounce  laudanum,  .25 


3.48 
For  Bettsy  Brennan  : 
October  25,  to  directions  and  medicine,  0.50 

December  23,  To  directions  and  medicine,  .25 


0.75 
Amount,  $5.65 

Dr.  Rufus  Skidmore,  son  of  Dr.  James  and  Polly  Sherman 
Skidmore  was  born  in  Newtown,  1793,  was  graduated  from  medical 
department  of  University  of  V^ermont  in  1817.  and  soon  after  went 
west,  settling  in  Kentucky.  Here  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of 
Henry  Clay  in  the  early  period  of  his  brilliant  political  career  and 
a  warm  friendship  grew  up  between  them.  When  Dr.  Skidmore 
decided  to  go  to  Havana,  Cuba,  w^ith  the  desire  to  make  a  study  of 
yellow  fever,  Clay  tried  to  dissuade  him  from  going,  but  failing  in 
that,  presented  him  with  a  gold  ring  as  a  parting  remembrance. 
This  ring  came  into  the  possession  of  the  oldest  daughter,  Mrs, 


210  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Jane  A.  Burr,  who  presented  it  to  the  Bridgeport  Historical  Society 
in  whose  possession  it  now  remains. 

Dr.  Skidmore  contracted  the  disease  he  went  to  study  and  com- 
bat, but  recovered  and  returned  to  Newtown,  married  Jerusha 
Ferris,  grand-daughter  of  Joseph  Ferris  of  Palestine  district,  and 
practiced  his  profession  until  his  death  in  1828.  The  widow  with 
the  three  daughters,  lived  on  the  Ferris-Skidmore  homestead  in 
Palestine  until  after  the  marriage  of  the  daughters,  Jane  A.  to 
Barak  Burr,  of  Easton,  Marietta  to  Alanson  Lyon  of  Redding  and 
Martha  Elizabeth  to  James  Johnson  of  Bridgeport.  The  old  house 
was  burned  while  the  property  of  Oliver  Turney  Northrop. 

Dr.  John  Judson  was  born  in  Newtown,  Feb.  11,  1789.  He  studied 
medicine  at  Yale  college,  receiving  a  diploma  and  was  licensed  to 
practice  medicine  in  October,  1812,  at  the  age  of  23.  In  1814,  he 
located  in  Newtown  and  became  famous  as  the  leading  physician 
of  his  section.  The  advantage  he  had  of  being  in  touch  with  the 
mature  minds  of  Dr.  Shepherd  and  Dr.  Bennett  Perry,  must  have 
been  of  great  assistance  to  him  in  his  extensive  practice.  He  died 
in  July,  1839.    He  was  one  of  a  family  of  15  children. 

Dr.  Cyrenius  H.  Booth  was  born  in  Newtown,  May,  25,  1797. 
He  studied  medicine  under  Dr.  Bennett  Perry,  and  attended  a  long 
course  of  medical  lectures  delivered  by  Dr.  Hosack  of  New  York, 
who  then  stood  at  the  head  of  his  profession.  About  1820,  he  com- 
menced practice  in  his  native  town,  which  he  followed  until  his 
death  in  September,  1871.  His  wife,  Sarah  Edmond,  was  daughter 
of  Hon.  Judge  William  Edmond.  For  a  half  a  century  practically, 
the  doctor  was  a  familiar  figure,  driving  over  the  hills  and  along  the 
valleys  in  answer  to  the  beck  and  call  of  his  town's  people,  his 
saddle  bags  filled  with  pills  and  nostrums  for  ills  to  which  flesh  is 
heir.  The  writer  remembers  him  as  a  man  of  infinite  mirth,  a  famous 
story  teller  and  a  great  favorite  with  children  and  young  people. 

Copy  of  an  original  bill  of  Dr.  Booth,  showing  rate  of  charges  by 
him : 

Newtown,  November  27,  1820. 

Amon  Prindle  to  Cyrenus  H.  Booth,  Dr. 
To  18  visits,  attendance  and  medicine  and  directions,  $14.     Paid. 
To  18  visits,  attendance  and  medicine  and  directons,  $14.  Paid.     Polly  Ann 
Polly  Ann  Prindle  to  C.  H.  Booth,  Dr.,  November  27,  1820, 
To  attendance,  medicine  and  directions  and  23  visits,  $10,  Paid. 

Dr.  Booth  had  one  son,  William  Edmond  Booth,  born  April.,  1821. 
A  graduate  of  Yale,  who  at  a  very  early  age  began  the  practice  of 
medicine  in  Danbury,  where  he  continued  until  his  death  in  Feb., 
1859,  aged  ?i7  years  and  10  months. 

In  the  interim  between  1830  and  1848,  while  Drs.  George  Judson, 
Cyrenius  H.  Booth,  Erastus  Erwin  and  Monroe  Judson  were  the 
medical  practitioners  of  Newtown,  Dr.  Thomas  Dutton  came  in 
from  the  outside  world.  He  was  well  received  and  lived  in  the 
house  remodeled,  by  H.  N.  Tiemann.  He  was  a  stranger  to  the 
people,  his  coming  into  Newtown  to  practice  being  due  to  the  fact 
that  he  was  a  younger  brother  of  Henry  Dutton,  attorney  at  law, 
who  commenced  the  practice  of  law  in  Newtown  and  later  went 
from  Newtown  and  became  Governor  of  Connecticut.  Dr.  Dutton 
built  up  a  good  practice,  but,  with  four  well  established  practioners 


DR.  MONROE  JUDSON 


See  I'age  211 


DOCTORS    OF    THE    OLD    SCHOOL  211 

in  the  home  field,  with  the  fact  that  a  great  grief  came  into  the 
home  life,  he  withdrew  to  a  new  field.  In  the  extreme  northeast 
corner  of  the  old  part  of  Newtown  village  cemetery,  now  so  deeply 
shaded  by  evergreens  that  no  ray  of  sunshine  can  penetrate,  stands 
a  headstone  that  marks  the  grave  where  the  fond  mother's  hopes 
were  buried  long  years  ago.    The  inscription  reads : 


Sacred  to  the  Memorj'- 

of   Eliza   Maria, 

Daughter  of  Thomas  and  Lucinda  Dutton 

Who   died   September  28,   1846, 

Aged  15  years  and  10  months 

My  faith  looks  up  to  Thee 

Thou  Lamb  of  Calvary 

Saviour  Divine. 


Dr.  Russell  B.  Botsford  was  born  at  Newtown,  May  7,  1794,  and 

commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Gideon  Shepherd  during 
two  years  of  his  medical  course.  In  New  Haven,  he  was  in  Dr. 
Gilberts  office.  He  received  his  diploma,  Sept.,  1816.  In  the  Spring 
of  1817,  he  commenced  the  pratice  of  medicine  in  Danbury.  In  1820 
he  was  married.  Being  of  a  very  depressed  temperament  and  dys- 
peptic habit,  from  too  intense  application  to  study,  and  a  very 
laborious  practice,  in  1832,  he  was  afBicted  with  a  rush  of  blood  to 
the  head,  which  resulted  in  attacks  of  an  epileptic  character,  which 
continued  with  more  or  less  frequency  and  severity  until  Dec.  20, 
1855,  they  terminated  his  life  at  the  age  of  sixty-two. 

Dr.  George  Judson  was  son  of  Dr.  John  Judson  and  was  born  in 
Newtown  in  1814.  He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  his 
father,  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  Bellevue  Medical  College 
in  New  York,  graduating  in  1837,  and  was  a  successful  physician  in 
his  native  town  until  his  death  in  1853.  Dr.  Monroe  Judson,  broth- 
er of  Doctor  George  Judson  was  born  in  Newtown  in  January,  1820, 
and  he,  too,  commenced  his  studies  w^ith  his  father,  after  whose 
death,  continuing  his  studies  with  his  brother,  he  entered  Yale 
Medical  College  in  1841,  graduated  in  1843,  and  followed  the  prac- 
tice of  medicine  until  1888.  His  death  occurred  ten  years  later,  in 
1898. 

Erastus  Erwin,  M.  D.,  was  born  in  Roxbury,  Conn.,  in  1805.  He 
was  graduated  from  Yale  college  in  the  class  with  Dr.  Jewett 
and  Knight  of  New  Haven.  For  a  short  time,  he  practiced  in  New 
Jersey,  but  finally  settled  in  Sandy  Hook,  Newtown.  He  moved 
from  Sandy  Hook  to  Newtown  Street  in  1841,  where  for  35  years 
he  had  a  large  practice  in  Newtown  and  towns  adjoining.  He  was  a 
contemporary  with  Dr.  Cyrenius  H.  Booth,  outliving  him  two  years 
dying  in  Oct.,  1873.  A  man  of  strong  and  positive  convictions,  he 
made  bitter  enemies,  but  he  also  made  hosts  of  warm  and  true 
friends. 


212  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

Dr.  Moses  Botsford  Beers,  son  of  Ebenezer  and  Phebe  Botsford 
Beers,  was  born  Jan.  7,  1819  in  Newtown.  He  left  Newtown  in 
early  life  studied  for  his  profession  in  some  western  town,  probably 
in  Michigan,  as  he  lived  in  Portland,  Mich,  later  removing  to 
Hersey,  Mich,  where  he  died  July  9,  1877.  He  married  Loraine 
Curtis  and  had  one  daughter  who  married  J.  Selwyn  Newland. 
She  died  in  1870,  leaving  a  son  Albert  Newland. 

Dr.  Henry  Hawley  Foote  son  of  Rhesa  and  Polly  Hawley  Foote, 
was  born  in  Newtown,  Jan.  6,  1823 ;  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  Newtown  Academy.  Studied  medicine  at  Durham, 
Greene  Co.  N.  Y.,  graduated  from  Yale  Medical  College.  Practiced 
medicine  at  Bradford,  N.  Y.  and  at  Roxbury,  Conn;  died  Dec.  24, 
1859,  at  the  house  of  his  sister,  Mrs.  Beach  Camp,  Newtown,  Conn. 

William  Camp  son  of  Beach  and  Catharine  Foote  Camp  was  born 
at  Newtown,  May  23,  1832;  received  his  education  at  public  school, 
Newtown  Academy,  school  of  Rev.  Geo.  L.  Foote  at  Roxbury,  Conn, 
and  of  F.  W.  Foote,  Elizabeth  N.  J.  Was  assistant  to  J.  Homer 
French  at  Newtown  x^cademy,  1853.  While  teaching,  studied  med- 
icine with  Dr.  Erastus  Erwin,  completing  his  medical  studies  at 
Yale.  Was  assistant  resident  physician  at  Hartford  Insane  Retreat, 
in  1855,  practiced  at  Kent,  Conn.,  from  1857  to  1863  when  he  went 
to  Minnesota  in  search  of  health,  coming  the  same  year  to  his 
childhood  home  where  he  died,  March  20,  1864.  He  married 
Ophelia,  daughter  of  Legrand  and  Delia  Beers  Randall.  Their  only 
son  William  H.  was  many  years  druggist  at  Canaan,  Conn. 

Dr.  James  W.  Gordon,  son  of  John  and  Margaret  Colgan  Gordon, 
was  born  in  St.  Louis,  Mo.  Dec.  22,  1862.  His  mother  brought  him 
to  Newtown  when  very  young.  He  attended  the  public  school  until 
16  years  of  age.  He  entered  St.  Charles  College,  Ellicot  City,  Md. 
1877.  After  a  three  years  course  he  enterd  St.  John's  College, 
Fordham,  N.  Y.  He  studied  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  Robert 
Hubbard,  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  and  in  medical  department  of  Univer- 
sity of  New  York,  where  he  attended  lectures  three  winters,  spend- 
ing his  vacations  in  study  with  Dr.  Hubbard.  Graduated  in  1888. 
Became  first  assistant  on  staff  of  physicians  attached  to  Asylums  of 
N.  Y.  City.  Later  opened  an  office  in  Bridgeport.  July  15,  1895,  he 
came  to  Sandy  Hook,  where  he  built  up  a  large  practice.  He  was 
member  of  the  Board  of  Education,  member  of  Bridgeport  Medical 
Society,  Fairfield  County  Medical  Society  and  State  Medical  Soci- 
ety. In  1890  he  married  Miss.  Louise  Telgman  of  Kingston, 
Ontario.  One  daughter,  Margaret  Doretta  Leonardi  blessed  the 
union.    He  died  Jan.  26,  1904. 

Ralph  N.  Betts  Jr.  son  of  Ralph  N.  and  Anna  Plowman  Betts  was 
born  in  Woodbury  Sept.  25,  1841 ;  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  the  Academy,  studied  for  the  practice  of  dentis- 
try with  his  uncle  at  Mount  Kisco,  N.  Y.  At  the  completion  of  his 
studies  he  located  in  Sandy  Hook,  where  he  practiced  his  profession 
for  thirty  years. 

His  death  Oct.  19th,  1906,  brought  keen  sorrow  to  the  members 
of  St.  John's  Church  Sandy  Hook  of  which  he  had  been  for  many 
years  an  honored  member. 


DR.  CHARLES  H.  PECK 


See  Page  213 
See   Genealogical   Section    Page   118 


DOCTORS  OF  THE  OLD  SCHOOL  213 

Dr.  Andrew  Egan  son  of  Andrew  and  Mary  Clark  Egan,  born  in 
Newtown,  June  7 ,  1856,  was  educated  in  public  schools,  Newtown 
Academy  and  by  private  tutors.  Taught  in  Sandy  Hook  school 
three  years,  and  one  term  in  Middle  district.  Attended  one  term 
at  Yale,  then  entered  University  of  New  York,  and  graduated  from 
Medical  department,  1879.  Just  before  graduation,  by  competitive 
examination  was  appointed  Assistant  physician  in  Hospital  for 
Insane  on  Ward's  Island  N.  Y.  remaining  four  years  ;  the  last  year 
occupying  position  of  Assistant  Medical  Superintendant.  Early  in 
1883,  was  promoted  to  be  Medical  Superintendent  of  the  Hart's 
Island  Hospital  and  Work  House  Hospital  on  Hart's  Island,  N.  Y. 
Occupied  that  position  ten  years,  when  he  resigned  to  accept  posi- 
tion in  Health  Department  of  N.  Y.  City  and  to  engage  in  private 
practice.    For  the  last  twenty  years  practiced  as  a  specialist. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Peck  son  of  Captain  Albert  and  Louisa  Booth 
Peck  was  born  in  Newtown,  Conn.  June  18,  1870.  He  received  his 
preliminary  education  at  the  Newtown  Academy,  and  entered  the 
College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  The  Medical  Dept.  of  Colum- 
bia University,  in  1889,  graduating  in  1892,  at  the  head  of  his  class, 
being  awarded  the  first  Harsen  Prize  of  $500.  He  was  appointed 
on  the  House  Staff  of  the  New  York  Hospital  in  July  1892,  serving 
through  both  the  medical  and  surgical  services,  two  complete 
periods  of  18  months  each,  a  term  of  three  years  in  all.  On  leaving 
the  Hospital,  he  commenced  private  practice,  July  1895  and  has 
continued  in  New  York  City  to  the  present  time.  He  was  appoint- 
ed Assistant  Surgeon  to  the  Hudson  Hospital,  Out  Patient  Dep't., 
in  July  1895  and  served  in  this  capacity  for  three  years.  Pie  was 
appointed  Surgeon  to  the  French  Hospital  in  Jan.  1897,  serving 
until  Dec.  1909,  a  period  of  12  years ;  during  the  latter  8  years  of 
this  time  he  was  President  of  the  Medical  Board. 

Since  his  resignation,  he  has  been  consulting  surgeon  to  the 
French  Hospital,  and  in  addition  has  held  the  position  of  consulting 
Surgeon  to  many  other  hospitals,  viz;  The  General  Memorial 
Hospital,  N.  Y.  City;  Hospital  for  Ruptured  and  Crippled,  N.  Y. 
City;  Stamford  Hospital,  Stamford,  Conn.;  United  Hospital  of 
Portchester  and  Rye,  N.  Y. ;  White  Plains  Hospital,  White  Plains, 
N.  Y. ;  The  Hackensack  Hospital,  Hackensack,  N.  J.;  The  Green- 
wich Hospital,  Greenwich,  Conn. ;  Vassar  Brothers  Hospital, 
Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y.,  and  the  Nyack  Hospital,  Nyack,  N.  Y.,  all  of 
which  positions  he  holds  at  the  present  time. 

In  Jan.,  1904  he  was  appointed  Assistant  Surgeon  to  the  Roose- 
velt Hospital,  advanced  to  the  position  of  Junior  Surgeon  two  years 
later,  and  Senior  Surgeon  in  1909,  continuing  as  Senior  Surgeon  to 
the  present  time ;  this  latter  position  is  one  of  the  most  important 
in  New  York  City. 

He  has  held  teaching  positions  in  the  Medical  Dep't.  of  Columbia 
University,  first  as  an  assistant  instructor  of  Operative  Surgery 
from  1900  to  1904;  as  Instructor  in  Surgery  from  1904  to  1909;  as 
Professor  of  Clinical  Surgery  from  1909  to  the  present  time.  He 
was  decorated  by  the  French  Government  in  1909,  with  the  Order 
of  Officer  of  Public  Instruction. 


214  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

He  has  made  many  important  contributions  to  Medical  Litera- 
ture, and  is  a  member  of  many  Medical  Societies.  The  N.  Y. 
Academy  of  Medicine,  of  which  he  has  been  Secretary  and  Chair- 
man of  the  Surgical  Section ;  of  the  N.  Y.  Surgical  Society,  having 
held  the  positions  of  Secretary  and  Vice  President,  and  of  which  he 
is  at  present  the  President  being  elected  in  1917.  He  has  been  2nd 
Vice  President  and  at  present  First  Vice  President  to  the  N.  Y. 
County  Medical  Society.  A  member  of  the  American  Medical 
Association  since  1903,  and  Chairman  of  its  Surgical  Section 
in  1915,  at  the  San  Francisco  meeting  at  the  time  of  the 
Exposition.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Society  of  Clinical 
Surgery  in  1909;  a  Fellow  of  the  American  College  of  Surgeons  in 
1913;  a  member  of  the  American  Surgical  Association,  and  is  now 
Treasurer ;  Elected  member  of  Southern  Surgical  Association  in 
of  1917.  A  member  of  the  Medical  Advisory  Board  of  Council  of 
National  Defense,  being  appointed  by  Secretary  of  War  on  April  3, 
1917.  Chairman  of  Auxiliary  Committee  of  National  Defense  of  N. 
Y.  City,  appointed  by  the  Council  of  National  Defense  in  Feb.  1917. 

*He  was  appointed  Director  of  Base  Hospital  No.  15  (The  Mackay 
Unit)  of  the  Roosevelt  Hospital  on  March  16,  1917,  by  the  Surgeon 
General  of  the  U.  S.  Army  and  received  his  commission  as  Major 
on  May  9,  1917.  The  Hospital  Unit  was  ordered  for  active  duty  to 
be  sent  to  France  early  in  June,  1917.  Accompanied  by  his  oldest 
son,  Charles  Howard  Jr.  a  medical  student,  and  his  youngest 
brother  Albert  W.  Jr. 

Dr.  Earle  Peck,  son  of  Elliot  M.  and  Annie  Curtis  Peck  was  born 
at  Newtown  Aug.  22,  1891.  He  attended  public  school  at  home, 
graduated  from  Newtown  High  School  in  class  of  1910,  graduated 
from  Jefferson  Medical  College  in  1914;  was  six  months  in  Munici- 
pal Hospital  and  fifteen  months  at  Germantown  Hospital.  Was 
appointed  first  assistant  Resident  Physician  at  Municipal  Hospital 
July,  1916.  During  the  Infantile  Paralysis  epidemic  he  devoted 
himself  with  indefatigable  zeal  to  those  committed  to  his  care, 
contracted  the  disease  and  died  Sept.  5,  1916. 

NEWTOWN'S  GRAND  LEVY  FOR  1739. 
Listers,  John  Beers,  Alexander  Bryan,  John  Peck. 

Taxpayers  in  the  town  as  far  back  as  1739,  28  years  only  since 
the  incorporation  of  the  town  in  1711.  On  the  desk  before  me  lies 
a  homemade  book,  12  inches  long  and  five  inches  wide,  made  from 
eight  sheets  of  foolscap  paper,  imported  from  England.  It  is  the 
grand  levy  of  Newtown  for  1739,  dating  farther  back  than  any  levy 
yet  found.  One  hundred  and  seventy  years  have  passed.  It  shows 
the  impress  of  time,  but  the  ink  is  not  faded,  the  penmanship  is 
clear,  though  the  orthography  dififers  somewhat  from  that  of  to- 
day. At  that  early  day,  in  the  valuation  the  house  went  in,  with 
three  acres  of  land,  at  £3  invariably,  no  discrimination  being  made 
in  houses.  Horses,  cattle  and  swine  were  included,  but  no  sheep. 
Land  was  designated  as  meadow,  boggy  meadow,  pasture  land, 
brush  pasture,  plow  land,  good  pasture,  improved  land.  Man  or 
women  owning  real  estate  was  assessed  for  one  poll,  £18,.  A  valua- 
tion was  also  placed  upon  a  man's  trade. 

•Since  the  foregoing  was  written  Dr.  Peck  has  returned  from  France  commissioned  as 
Lieut.  Col.  with  headquarters  at  Washington,  D.  C.  The  body  of  the  son  who  gave  his 
life  for  his  country,  now  rests   on   the   soil  of   France. 


GRAND    LEVY    FOR    1739 


215 


30  acres  of  brush  pasture     3    0    0 

4  acres  of  boggy  meadow    10    0 

Trade  12    4    0 


We  copy  five  individual  assessments  as  they  stand  recorded,  and 
for  the  balance  we  give  the  names  of  the  property  holders  and  the 
total  of  his  assessments  : 

Lemuel  Camp,  his  list : 

i     s  d 

2  heads — 2  horse  kind         42    0  0 
12  j'ear  old.  5  cows                17    0  0 

3  three  year  old  4  oxen      25    0  0 
1  two  year  old-3  one  year 

old  5    0  0 

3  swine — 3  acres  hum  lot      8    0  0 

3  acres  plow  land  1  10  0 

8  acres  of  meadow  5  04  0 

44  acres  of  pasture  land         5  12  0 

30  acres  of  brush  pasture      3    0  0 

His  mill  and  trade  23    0  0 


138    6 

0 

Thomas  Northrop,  his  list: 

£     s 

d 

Head                                     18    0 

0 

Trade                                  18    0 

0 

36  0 

Widdo  Mary  Bennitt,  her  list 

£  s 

1  Head                                   18  0 
3  acres  hum  lot                       3  0 

2  horses,  3  oxen,  6  cows      36  0 
2  one  year  old,  7swine          9  0 


6  acres  and  half  of  meadow2  12 


1   horse  more 
10  acres  and  a  half  of 

pasture 
16  acres  of  plow  land 

Jeremiah  Northrop 
John   Botsford,  Sen., 
Eleazer  Hubbell 
Andrew    Wheeler 
George  Terrill 
Mathew   Sherman 
Benjamin   Hawley 
Benjamin  Dunning 
John  Glover 
Job  Sherman 
Thomas  Skidmore 
Abraham  Bennett 
Amos    Botsford 
Stephen  Burrill 
Benjamin    Glover 
Robert  Seeley 
Robert  Seeley,  Jr. 
Capt.  Nathan   Baldwin 
Henry   Botsford,  Jr. 
Jeremiah  Johnson 
Samuel   Moger 
James   Baldwin 
Josiah    Burritt 
Henry  Botsford 
Moses  Botsford 
Caleb   Baldwin 
Edward  Fairchild 


3  0 

4  4 
8    0 


d 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 

0 
0 

i 

109 

101 
79 
55 
95 
60 
86 
64 

143 

130 

104 
94 
54 

116 
86 
27 
29 

132 
45 
39 
25 

119 
12> 

107 
52 
87 

109 


100 

0 

0 

Samuel  Sherman,  his  1 

ist : 

£ 

s 

d 

One  head 

18 

0 

0 

Three  acres  hum  lot 

3 

0 

0 

10  acres  good  pature 

4 

0 

0 

6  acres  brushy  pasture 

0 

12 

0 

2  acres  meddo 

0 

16 

0 

2  oxen,  2  cows,  1  horse 

17 

0 

0 

1  sow 

1 

0 

0 

Trade  for  selling  brooms 

30 

0 

0 

74 

8 

0 

Widdo  Sarah  Beers,  her  list : 

£ 

s 

d 

3  acres  house  lot 

3 

0 

0 

13  acres  good  pasture 

5 

14 

0 

10  acres  improved  land 

5 

0 

0 

4  acres  boggy  medow 

1 

0 

0 

7  acres  good  meddo 

2  25 

0 

8  acres  brush  pasture 

0 

16 

0 

4  oxen,  5  cows 

31 

0 

0 

4  two  year  olds 

8 

0 

0 

3  one  year  olds 

3 

0 

0 

4  horses,  6  swine 

18 

0 

0 

For  her  trade 

10 

0 

0 

Moses  Lyon 
Samuel  Sherman 
Benjamin   Burritt 
John   Foote,  Jr., 
David   Fairchild 
Mary  Bennitt 
John  Blackman 
Peter  Hubbell 
Joseph  Stilson 
John  Fabrique 
David   Dunning 
Peter  Hubbell,  Jr., 
Ezra   Hubell 
Stephen    Burral 
Benjamin  Northrop 
Lemuel   Camp 
John  Botsford,  Jr., 
Daniel  Foot 
Josiah    Daton 
Samuel  Turner 
Alexander  Bryan 
Donald  Grant 
Jeremiah  Seeley 
Thommus  Northrop 
Samuel  Bailey 
Samuel  Stillson 
Benjamin  Stillson 


142  16  0 

£ 
77 
91 
57 
30 
21 
100 
126 
159 
48 
49 
35 
43 
21 
32 
59 
138 
64 
93 
58 
Z7 
64 
52 
31 
30 
24 
32 
46 


216 


NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 


£ 

John  Piatt,  Jr.,  43 

Benjamin    Curtis  82 

Joseph  Hard  25 

Joseph  Prindle  48 

Moses    Stillson  94 

James    Stillson  35 

John   Foot  70 

Wilmont  Turner  ZZ 

John  Shepard  89 

John    Bristol  44 

Stephen     Parmaly  42 

Samuel  Griffin  74 

William   Sharp  ZZ 

Moses   Stillson  91 

Jonathan   Stillson  43 

Noah  Parmaly  89 

Joseph  Botsford  132 

Peter  Ferris  44 

John  Lake  96 

Francis   Harrison  30 

David  Henrixson  22 

Samuel    Henrixson,  30 

Benoni   Henrixson,  27 

Buckland  Williams  38 

Jehoshaphat   Prindle  51 

Ephriam  Peck  145 

Samuel  Sherman  74 

John  Gillette  72 

John  Beers  49 

Sarah  Beers,  widow,  142 

Joseph    Bristol  86 

Timothy  Shepherd  19 

Jedediah  Parmelee  25 

John   Ferris  21 

Nathaniel  Parmelee  27 

Samuel    Parmelee  30 
Lieut  Johnson 

Lieut.  John  Northrop  111 

Moses  Johnson  32) 

Samuel  Sanford  51 

Abiel  Beers  64 

Samuel  Brown  10 

Abraham  Kimberley  66 

164 


John  Hull 
Nathaniel  Brisco 
Joseph  Bristoll,  Jr., 
Abner   Booth 
Widow  Mary  Booth 
Ebenezer  Johnson 
Jeremiah  Turner 
Samuel  Ferris 
Stephen  Hawley 
Jonathan  Booth 
John  Adams 
Elizabeth   Dunning 
Mr.  Jonathan  Booth 
Daniel  Booth 
Ebenezer  Sanford 
John  Piatt 
Job  Northrop 
Henry   Glover 
James  Brisco 
Abel  Booth 
Nathaniel  Nickols 
Jonathan  Hubbell 
Ebenezer  Piatt 
James  Fordes 
Job  Sanford 
Thomas  Leavenworth 
Thomas  Bennitt 
William  Lyon 
Thomas   Sharp 
John  Leavenworth 
Rubin  Adams 
James  Hard 
Obadiah  Wheeler 
Deacon  Joseph  Peck 
Joseph  Peck 
Capt.  Thomas  Tousey 
Ephraim  Prindle 

irf^ant   Eherman 
Daniel  Sherman 
iiuel  Johnson 
John  Reed 
Nathaniel  Lyons 
James  Brisco 
Peter  Hubbell 


i 
65 

57 
31 
44 
41 
77 
40 

108 

128 
43 
42 
Z7 
85 

150 
46 

132 
46 
64 
18 
84 

127 
61 
69 
73 
60 
57 
64 
30 
44 
58 
29 

107 

163 

168 
78 

142 
32 
47 
25 
21 
5 
4 
60 

159 


Freegrace  Adams 

The  last  person  on  the  list  is  Peter  Hubbell,  Newtown's  first 
town  clerk,  and  on  the  second  page  of  the  first  volume  of  Newtown 
records  we  find  that  he  appropriated  space  for  his  family  record, 
which,  for  precise  diction  and  complete  detail,  we  copy. 

With  the  increase  of  worldly  possessions,  he  and  his  good  wife 
were  duly  mindful  of  the  Bible  injunction  to  increase  and  multiply 
upon  the  earth.  In  addittion  to  Peter  Hubbell's  official  duties,  he 
was  a  tiller  of  the  soil  and,  with  the  good  wife  and  mother,  became 
possessed  of  a  small  farm,  so  that  in  1739,  we  find  that  their  worldly 
goods  liable  to  taxation  had  a  valuation  of  ^159  and  distributed  as 
follows : 

d 
0 


£ 
3  heads,  4  oxen,  4  cows,  82 
3  one  year  olds,  5  horses 

kind  18    0    0 

23  swine  23    0    0 

3  acres  of  home  lot  3    0    0 


61  acres  of  plow  land 
4  acres  of  pasture  land 
3  acres  of  meadow 

Sum   total 


i     s 

d 

30  10 

0 

1  12 

0 

1  04 

0 

159  06    0 


GRAND    LEVY    FOR    1739  217 

Peter  Hubbell  was  marryed  to  Katherine  Wheeler  his  wife,  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Charles  Chauncey,  minister  in  Stratfield,  both  of  Stratfield,  on  January 
ye    19th,    1709. 

Ephraim  Hubbell,  his  eldest  son,  was  born  in  Newtown  on  December  ye 
ye  21,  1711. 

Peter  Hubbell,  son  of  Peter  Hubbell  by  Katherine  his  wife,  born  April 
ye  5th,  1715. 

Ezra  Hubbell,  son  of  Peter  Hubbell,  by  Katherine  his  wife,  was  born 
February  ye  28th,  Anno  Domini  1717. 

Sarah  Hubbell,  daughter  of  Peter  Hubbell  by  Katherine  his  wife,  was 
born  in  Newtown,  February  27,  1719,  being  ye  fifth  year  of  ye  reign  of  our 
most  Greatious  Sovereign  Lord  King  George  which  began  August  ye  first, 
1714. 

Jedediah  Hubbell,  son  of  Peter  Hubbell  by  Katherine  his  wife,  was  born  in 
Newtown,  August  ye  22,  1720. 

Matthew  Hubbell,  son  of  Peter  Hubbell  by  Katherine  his  wife,  was  born 
in  Newtown,  September  ye  5th,  A.  D.  1723. 

Gideon  Hubbell,  son  of  Peter  Hubbell  by  Catherine  his  wife,  was  born  in 
Newtown,  April  ye  28,  1726. 

Newtown,  November  ye  10th,  1729,  about  2  of  ye  clock  afternoon,  Comfort 
Hubbell,  son  of  Peter  Hubbell  was  born  of  Katherine  his  wife. 

Enock  Hubbell,  son  to  Peter  Hubbell,  born  of  Katherine  his  wife,  in 
Newtown,  August  ye  10th,  1735,  about  five  of  ye  clock  in  the  afternoon. 

The  number  of  property  holders  in  the  town  in  1739,  was  152 
and  the  amount  of  taxable  property  laid  down  by  the  listers  or 
assessors  was  £9,289  sterling.  At  the  annual  town  meeting  in 
December,  1739,  it  was  voted  that  the  town  rate  for  defraying  the 
town  charges  the  year  past  should  be  two  pence  half  penny  on  the 
pound,  to  be  levied  on  the  list  of  polls  and  rateable  estate  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  that  one  penny  on  the  pound  should  be  levied  for 
the  schools  and  be  laid  out  in  the  winter  season  and  be  gathered 
with  the  town  rate  and  be  taken  out  of  the  town  treasury  for  the 
schools,  known  as  the  North  and  South  schools,  and  that  John  Lake 
and  Nathaniel  Nickols  shall  be  school  committee  for  the  south 
school  and  Ensign  John  Glover  and  Abel  Booth  Committee  for  the 
north  school.  Back  in  1739,  our  schools  were  under  town  manage- 
ment. 

GRAND  LEVY  OF  1767 

In  any  staid  old  agricultural  town,  the  number  of  taxpayers 
would  correspond  nearly  to  the  number  of  families,  upon  whom 
devolved  the  duty  of  meeting  the  current  town  expenses,  and  also 
their  share  of  the  expenses  of  the  Common  wealth.  The  grand  levy 
of  1739,  showed  the  names  of  147  tax-payers  for  that  year.  The 
grand  levy  for  1767,  shows  the  number  of  tax-payers  to  have  in- 
creased to  341.  It  is  interesting  to  note  the  great  increase  in  those 
of  the  same  family  name,  and  to  see  how  great  an  increase  had 
been  made  in  28  years.    There  were  457  tax-payers  in  1786. 

There  is  one  word  "Faculty"  between  some  names  that,  to  some, 
needs  explanation.  The  word  is  used  as  representing  some  trade 
or  profession,  which  was  included  with  other  property  at  an  esti- 
mated valuation  and  upon  which  a  tax  was  laid.  Some  assessments 
ran  as  high  as  £30,  and  from  that  down  to  £3.  If  the  writer  has 
been  correctly  informed,  the  three  of  the  surname  of  "Nichols," 
Nathaniel,  assessed  £30  for  "faculty,"  Peter  assessed  £10,  Richard 
£16,  10s,  each  follow  wool  carding  in  the  southerly  part  of  town. 


218                     NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

A  list  of  the  Polls  and  Rateable  Estate  of  the  inhabitants  of  New- 
town for  the  year  1767,  as  possessed  for  the  20th  of  August : 

Adams,  John  109  18  0  Bristol,   Ebenezer  51  17  6 

Adams,  Ephraim  28  14  6                    Faculty  10  8  0 

Adams,    Samuel  48  2  0  Bryan,   Ezra  36  0  0 

Baldwin,   Caleb,    Esq,  138  7  6                    Faculty  12  0  0 

Faculty  10  0  0  Beardslee,  Josiah  187  5  0 

Baldwin,  Caleb,  Capt.  10  0  0  Beardslee,  Isreal  80  15  0 

Baldwin,  Caleb,  Sec  94  16  0                    Faculty  8  0  0 

Baldwin,  Nathan,  Capt.  33  14  3  Beardslee,   lames  21  0  0 

Baldwin,  Nathan,  Jr,  64  15  0  Brisco,  Nathaniel,  Lieut.  154    5  0 

Baldwin,  Daniel  126  14  6  Brisco,  James  25  0  0 

Baldwin,    Tames  107  08  0  Beach,  John  78  2  6 

Baldwin,  Gideon  90  10  0  Burwell,  Stephen  47  17  0 

Baldwin,  Jabez  91  15  6  Burwell,  William  24  2  0 

Booth,  Daniel  424  1  0                    Faculty  18  0  0 

Faculty  15  0  0  Burwell,  Rebecca,  Widow   7  0  0 

Booth,  Abel  176  9  0  Burritt,  Benjamin  69  0  3 

Booth,  Jonathan  189  0  0  Burritt,  Eleazer  60  2  6 

Faculty  25  0  0  Burritt,   Nathan  68  6  6 

Booth,  Abraham  91  0  0  Bulkly  Jabez  26  0  0 

Booth,  Hezekiah  76  14  6  Barnum,   Francis  3  0  0 

Booth.  Reuben  54  14  0  Barnum,  Nathaniel  18  0  0 

Booth,  Ebenezer  78  12  6  Brinsmade,  Zechariah  26  0  0 

Faculty  18  0  0  Burr,    James  3  8  0 

Bassit,  Thomas  30  0  0  Camp,  Joel  71  0  0 

Bassit,  John  30  2  9  Camp,    Lemuel  145  0  0 

Bassit,  Joel  49  18  6  Camp,    Samuel  62  14  0 

Bennitt,  Abraham  126  13  0  Camp,    Silas  82  5  6 

Bennitt    Ephraim  75  15  0  Cadey,  Nathaniel  24  0  0 

Beers,  Daniel  100  5  6  Coggswell,    Asa  52  18  1 

Beers,  lohn  146  15  0  Clark,  Zerchariah,  Jr  59  18  0 

Beers,  Samuel  134  5  6  Clark,  James  1  8  0 


109 

18 

0 

28 

14 

6 

48 

2 

0 

138 

7 

6 

10 

0 

0 

10 

0 

0 

94 

16 

0 

33 

14 

3 

64 

15 

0 

126 

14 

6 

107 

08 

0 

90 

10 

0 

91 

15 

6 

424 

1 

0 

15 

0 

0 

176 

9 

0 

189 

0 

0 

25 

0 

0 

91 

0 

0 

76 

14 

6 

54 

14 

0 

78 

12 

6 

18 

0 

0 

30 

0 

0 

30 

2 

9 

49 

18 

6 

126 

13 

0 

75 

15 

0 

100 

5 

6 

146 

15 

0 

134 

5 

6 

29 

1 

4 

67 

17 

6 

9 

0 

0 

20 

0 

0 

50 

0 

0 

72 

12 

0 

58 

10 

0 

10 

0 

0 

67 

10 

0 

141 

5 

0 

37 

18 

0 

87 

1 

0 

10 

0 

0 

95 

10 

0 

24 

5 

6 

60 

5 

0 

24 

16 

0 

23 

10 

0 

34 

0 

0 

18 

0 

0 

36 

15 

0 

6 

0 

0 

142 

10 

0 

67 

0 

0 

82 

11 

6 

84 

15 

0 

30 

11 

6 

58 

13 

0 

3 

0 

0 

39 

10 

2 

11 

12 

0 

Birtch,  Jeremiah  29  1  4  Curtiss,  Benjamin  106  13  6 

Birtch,  Wiliam  67  17  6  Curtiss,    Matthew  94  8  6 

Faculty  9  0  0  Curtis,    Benjamin,   Jr.  90  2  6 

Botsford,   Amos,  Jr.,  20  0  0  Curtiss,  Nehemiah  84  4  0 

Faculty  50  0  0  Curtiss,   Abijah  74  7  0 

Botsford,  Abel  72  12  0  Curtis,  Nirom  27  4  0 

Botsford,  Abel  Jr.,  58  10  0  Chambers,  Thomas  41  0  0 

Faculty  10  0  0  Chambers,    Asa  21  0  0 

Botsford,  Abraham  67  10  0  Crowfoot,  Daniel  77  5  0 

Botsford,  Gideon  141  5  0  Dunning,  Benjamin  Capt.   79  6  0 

Botsford.  Jabez  37  18  0  Dunning,  Peter  1  0  0 

Botsford.  John  87  1  0  Dunning.  Dayid  86  6  0 

Faculty  10  0  0  Dunning,  Dayid,  Jr.  45  6  0 

Botsford,  Moses  95  10  0  Dunning,  Eli  68  16  0 

Botsford,  Joseph  24  5  6                    Faculty  10  0  0 

Botsford,  Elijah  60  5  0  Dunning,   Ezra  40  14  0 

Botsford,  Henry  24  16  0  Dunning,  Abijah  26  4  0 

Botsford,  Isaac  23  10  0  Dunning.  Andrew  21  0  0 

Botsford,  Ezra  34  0  0  Dnnnirg.   Tared  50  6  6 

Botsford.  Jared  18  0  0  Dibble.  Tohn  1  5  0 

Birtch.  George  36  15  0  Dibble.  Eleazer  1  0  0 

Faculty  6  0  0  Fairman.  Richard,  Esq.,  126  10  0 

Blackman,  John,  Capt.      142  10  0                    Faculty  25  0  0 

Blackman,  James  67  0  0  Fairchild.  Agur  76  3  6 

Blackman,  Joseph  82  11  6  Fairchild.  Jonathan  120  15  0 

Blackman,  Ebenezer  84  15  0  Fairchild,  Ebenezer          43     18     V/z 

Blackman,  Nathaniel  30  11  6  Fairchild,   James  129  17  6 

Bristol,  Joseph,  2nd  58  13  0                    Faculty  8  0  0 

Bristol.  Joseph  3  0  0  Fairchild,  Seth  57  16  0 

Bristol.  Job  39  10  2  Fairchild,    Dayid  34  3  6 

Bristoll,   Enos  11  12  0  Fairchild,  John  24  0  0 


GRAND    LEVY    FOR    1767 


219 


Fairchild,  Oliver  57  13  6 

Ford,  Ebenezer  131  6  6 

Ford,   Thomas  60  5  0 

Fabrique,   John  19  5  0 

Fabrique,  John,  Jr.,  29  0  0 

Ferris,  Abraham  95  2  6 

Ferris,  Peter  76  5  0 

Ferris,  Samuel,  Jr.  56  5  6 

Foot,  Daniel!  21  10  0 

Foot,  Daniel  (Taunton)      28  6  0 

Foot,  George  28  12  0 

Foot,  Peter  24  5  0 

French,  Gamaliel  53  14  0 

French,  Samuel  28  10  0 

Glover,  John,  Capt.  127  5  0 

Glover,  Henry,  Capt.  154  11  0 

Glover,  Henry,  Jr.  65  14  6 

Glover,  John,  Jr.  127  14  6 

Glover,  James  100  10  6 

Glover,  Daniel  54  4  6 

Glover,  Arnold  44  8  6 

Grant,  Arminel  45  9  9 

Faculty  30  0  0 

Griffin,  Samuel,  Lieut.        Zl  14  0 

Griffin,  John  Lieut.  45  10  0 

Griffin,  Joseph  61  6  6 

Griffin,  Samuel,  Jr.  58  16  6 

Griffin,  Abner  36  6  0 

Gray,  James  24  10  0 

Gillett,  Samuel  108  12  0 

Gunn,  Joseph  52  0  0 

Gunn,  Joseph,  Jr.  107  13  0 

Hall,  William  43  0  0 


Faculty 
Hall,  Asa 
Harris,   Jabez 
Hard,   Abner 
Hard,  Amos 
Hard,  Ammon 
Hard,  Joseph 


4  0  0 

39  0  0 

34  13  6 

139  15  0 

141  14  2 

18  0  0 

21  0  0 


Hard,  Hannah,  Widow        7  15  6 

Hard,  Nirom  54  15  6 

Hard,  Zadok  75  6  6 

Hawley,  Abel  60  16  6 

Faculty  6  0  0 

Hawley,  William  89  5  6 

Hawley,   Benjamin  77  8  0 

Hawley,  Benjamin,  Esq.     71  0  0 

Hatch,   Toshua  40  3  0 

Hatch,  Peter  46  4  0 

Hendricks,  Roger  22  0  0 

Hendricks,  Zadock  18  0  0 

Hull,  John  45  15  0 

Hull,  Eliphalet  57  5  0 

Hull,  Elijah  64  9  6 

Hubbell,  Peter  54  0  0 

Hubbell,  Enoch  38  2  6 

Hubbell,  Jeptha  36  10  0 

Hvde,  Joseph  34  0  0 

Hurd,  Abel  IZ  12  0 

Hurd,  Theophilus  39  5  0 

Faculty  15  0  0 

Faculty  3  0  0 

Jackson,  David  69  0  0 


Jackson,  David,  Jr 
Jackson,   Daniel 
Jackson,   Ephraim 
Jackson,  Gershom 
Johnson,  Ichabod 
Johnson,  John 
Johnson,  Ebenezer 


18  0  0 

43  1  0 

24  0  0 

23  0  0 

69  1  6 

52  10  0 

18  0  0 


Judson,  Abel,  Lieut.  144  10  0 

Judson,  John  40  5  6 

Kimberley,  Abraham  61  12  0 

Kimberley,  Abraham,  Jr.,  51  14  0 

Kimberley,  Fitch  21  0  0 

Lake,  John  27  8  6 

Lake,  John,  Jr.,  35  10  0 

Lake,   Nathan  58  14  0 

Lake,  Ephraim  52  0  9 

Lake,    Thomas  69  0  6 

Lattin,  Benjamin  18  0  0 

Lattin,  Job  27  0  0 

Lattin.  Jacob  18  0  0 

Lane,  James  52  0  0 

Merchant,  Amos  53  15  0 

Faculty  15  0  0 

Mallory,  Nathaniel  20  8  0 

More,  John  27  0  0 

Morehouse,   Abel  15  0  0 

Morehouse,   Stephen  2  10  0 

Morehouse,  Daniel  8  14  0 

Nichols,  Nathaniel  210  5  0 

Faculty  30  0  0 

Nichols,  Peter  112  1  6 

Faculty  10  0  0 

Nichols,  Richmond  87  19  0 

Faculty  16  8  0 

Northrop,  Amos  95  18  0 

Northrop,  Joshua  79  3  0 

Northrop,  Jeremiah,  Jr  18  0 

Northrop,  Ezra  42  10  0 

Northrop,  John  140  0  0 

Nichols,  Caleb  52  0  0 

Northrop,  William  18  4  0 

Northrop,  William,  Jr  57  19  0 

Northrop,  Wait  81  3  0 

Northrop,  Nehemiah  39  16  0 

Faculty  9  0  0 

Northrop,  Abel  14  7  6 

Northrop,  Isiah  4  17  0 

Northrop,  Benjamin  82  16  0 

Northrop,  Benjamin,  Jr.,    44  19  6 

Northrop,   Enos  69  7  0 

Northrop,  Jonathan,  C'p.  118  19  0 

Northiop,  Gideon  35  11  0 

Nettleton,  Theophilus  72  10  0 

Ogden,  Ebenezer  45  11  3 

Faculty  20  0  0 

Parmelee,  Jedediah  47  10  0 

Parmalee,  Noah  56  4  6 

Parmalee,  Noah,  Jr.,  33  6  0 

Peck,  Henry  73  0  0 

Peck,  Henry,  Jr.,  84  15  6 

Peck,  Heth  111  6  0 

Peck,  Heth,  Jr.,  60  12  6 

Peck,  Benajah  18  0  0 

Peck,  Ameiel  56  17  0 


220 


NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 


Faculty 
Peck,  Daniel 
Peck,  John, 
Peck,  Jabez 
Peck,  Nathaniel 
Peck,  Nathaniel,  Jr., 
Peck,   Ebenezer 
Peck,  Ezra 
Peck,  Joseph 
Peck,  Ephraim 
Peck,  Samuel 
Peck,  Aaron 
Peck,  Gideon 
Peck,  Moss 
Peck,  Enoch 
Peck,  Elihu 
Peck,  John,  Jr., 
Prindle,  Joseph 
Prindle,  Joseph,  Jr., 

Faculty 
Prindle,  Jonathan 

Faculty 
Prindle,  Abel,  Lieut. 
Prindle,  Jehoshaphat 
Prindle,  William 
Prindle,  Abijah 
Prindle,  James 
Prindle,  Eliadah 
Prindle,  Joel 
Prindle,   Ephraim 
Piatt,  Moses 
Piatt,  Josiah 
Pearce,  Francis 
Rugg,  Oliver 
Roberts,  Joel 
Roberts,  Thomas 
Sanford,  Jonathan 
Sanford,  Jonas 
Sanford,  John 

Faculty 
Sanford,   Hezekiah 
Sanford,  James 
Sanford,  Thomas 
Sanford,  Thomas 
Sanford,  Hannah,  Wi 
Sanford,  Samuel 

Faculty 
Sanford,  Nathaniel 
Sanford,  Ebenezer 

Faculty 
Sherman,  Zadock 
Sherman,   Nathan 
Sherman,  David, 
Sherman,  Lemuel 
Sherman,  Jotham 

Faculty 
Sherman    John 
Sherman,   Ephraim 
Sharp,  Thomas 
Stilson,  Andrew 
Stilson,  Vincent 


5 

0  0 

68 

7  6 

148 

9  0 

51 

16  0 

51 

18  6 

Zl 

11  0 

83 

8  0 

41 

1  0 

75 

8  6 

104 

8  0 

24 

0  0 

29 

4  0 

11 

5  0 

113 

7  0 

31 

12  0 

19 

15  0 

28 

8  0 

5 

0  0 

91 

12  0 

15 

0  0 

69 

7  6 

5 

0  0 

28 

7  6 

26 

12  0 

34 

15  0 

18 

0  0 

36 

0  0 

23 

0  0 

29 

4  6 

34 

13  6 

152 

12  6 

53 

12  6 

18 

0  0 

18 

0  0 

20 

0  0 

25 

16  0 

169 

10  0 

57 

5  0 

41 

9  0 

10 

0  0 

50 

0  6 

32 

7  6 

62 

14  0 

62 

14  0 

ddo  17 

0  0 

59 

15  0 

8 

0  0 

19 

13  0 

63 

18  6 

5 

0  0 

74 

6  6 

41 

1  9 

81 

19  0 

87 

15  0 

81 

7  6 

10 

0  0 

79 

4  0 

62 

14  0 

18 

0  0 

90 

11  6 

58 

6  0 

Stilson,  Benjamin,  Jr., 
Stilson,   Israel 
Stilson,  Elijah 
Stilson,  Jonathan 
Stilson,  Jacob 
Stilson,  Daniel 
Stilson,  Bailey 
Stilson,  Thomas 
Skidmore,  Thomas 
Skidmore,  John 
Skidmore,  Nehemiah 
Smith,  Amos 
Smith,  George 
Smith,  Joseph,  Dea 
Smith,  Joseph,  Lieut. 
Smith,  Richard 

Faculty 
Starling,  John 
Summers,  Gershom 
Summers,  Samuel 
Summers,  Robert 
Summers,  Benjamin 
Summers,  Ebenezer 
Shepherd,   John   Jr. 
Shepherd,  John 

Faculty 
Shepherd,  Abraham 
Shepherd,  Timothy 
Shepherd,  Simeon 
Seeley,  Nehemiah 
Seeley,  Robert 
Seeley,   Ottmiel 
Sherwood,  John 
Sherv^'ood,  John  Parrick 
Taylor,  Abner 
Taylor,  Ebenezer 
Thomas,  Lemuel,  Dr. 

Faculty 
Turrell,   George 

Faculty 
Turrell,  Roger 
Turrell,  Amos,  Lieut. 
Turrell,  Jared 
Turner,  Jeremiah 
Tousey,  John 
Turner,  Jeremiah,  Jr 
Tousey,  Oliver 
Tousey,  Zalmon 
Thompson,  Robert 
Treadwell,  Timothy 
Turner,  Miller 
Wheeler,  Joseph,  Capt. 
Wheeler,  Obadiah,  Jr. 
Wheeler,   Andrew 
Wheeler,  Josiah 
Wheeler,  Lemuel 
Wheeler,  Thomas 
Winton,  Daniel 
Wright,  William 
Washburn,  Nathan,  Dr. 
Wheeler,  Obadiah,  Capt 


48 

5 

9 

37 

0 

0 

47 

13 

6 

n 

0 

0 

18 

0 

0 

30 

4 

0 

49 

12 

0 

67 

13 

6 

63 

18 

6 

100 

17 

0 

80 

7 

0 

83 

6 

0 

52 

13 

6 

75 

4 

0 

102 

15 

0 

10 

0 

0 

156 

5 

0 

57 

10 

0 

74 

10 

0 

49 

11 

6 

2>2 

12 

0 

28 

8 

6 

48 

11 

0 

63 

3 

0 

3 

0 

0 

27 

13 

6 

161 

3 

0 

61 

11 

6 

46 

0 

0 

27 

3 

0 

40 

4 

0 

56 

6 

0 

58 

6 

6 

11 

19 

3 

63 

18 

6 

40 

6 

0 

10 

0 

0 

50 

9 

6 

3 

0 

0 

66 

2 

0 

80 

4 

6 

31 

14 

0 

145 

5 

0 

148 

10 

0 

59 

12 

6 

110 

10 

0 

84 

9 

0 

18 

0 

0 

23 

0 

0 

46 

18 

6 

82 

2 

0 

74 

13 

6 

57 

12 

6 

70 

2 

6 

54 

16 

6 

90 

6 

0 

68 

4 

0 

45 

12 

0 

24 

0 

0 

29 

2 

6 

GRAND    LEVY    FOR    1767  221 

To  the  Honorable  General  Assembly  the  foregoing  is  a  true  list  of  the 
polls  and  rateable  estates  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newtown  as  possessed  the 
20th  day  of  August,  A.  D.  1767. 

Certified  by  us, 

Abel  Booth, 
Amos  Northrop, 
Bailey    Stillson, 
John   Fabrique, 
Henry  Glover,  Jr. 
Zadock  Sherman, 
Jonathan  Prindle 
Listers. 
The  above  persons  were  sworn  to  a  faithful  discharge  of  their  office  as 
listers  before  me, 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Town  Clerk. 

RATABLE  ESTATES  FOR  1809. 

The  statute  laws  of  the  State  of  Connecticut  make  it  obHgatory 
upon  its  citizens  to  prepare  a  list  of  taxable  property,  that  shall  be 
handed  into  the  Board  of  Assessors  on  or  before  the  first  of  Novem- 
ber of  each  year,  the  law  leaving  it  to  the  Assessors  to  fix  the 
valuation  subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Board  of  Relief. 

An  act  was  passed  by  the  Connecticut  Legislature  at  its  annual 
session  in  1808,  by  which  printed  forms  were  sent  out  showing 
what  kinds  of  property  were  liable  to  taxation  and  also  placing  a 
sum  at  which  the  property  should  be  valued,  and  on  which  the  tax 
should  be  levied.  It  was  my  good  fortune  to  have  come  into  my 
possession  from  my  grandfather,  60  years  ago  or  more,  a  printed 
copy  of  a  list  of  ratable  estates,  showing  what  property  must  be 
listed  for  that  year  and  what  valuation  must  be  placed  upon  it. 

Copy  of  the  perfected  list  for  1809,  compiled  in  compliance  with  the  act 
passed  by  the  Assembly  at  its  session  in  1808: 

Poll,  from  21-70  years  of  age    $60.00      Acres  of  uninclosed  land,  2d. 
Poll,  from  18-21  years  of  age    30.00  rate  0.17 

Oxen  and  bulls,  4  years  old  Acres  of  uninclosed  land,  3d 

and  upward  10.00  rate  0.09 

Cows,  steers  and  heifers,  with  Coach  168  00 

bulls  of  3  years  old  7.00       Chariot  13400 

Heifers,  steers  or  bulls,  of  2  Phaeton  100  00 

years    old  3.34       Coachee  75  00 

Stallion  or  seed  horse,  more  Carricole  68  00 

than  3  years  old  67.00       Chaise,  riding  chair  or  sulky     00.00 

Horse  kmd   3  years  old,  and  Other  four-wheel  carriage. 

Horse  kmd,  of  2  years  o  d  7.00       Lumber  box  wagon  and  no 


Horse  kind,  of  1  years  old  3.34 


sprmgs  00.00 


Mules  of  3  years  old  and  Gold  Watch  3400 

upward                                      10.00  ^-^^^^  ^^  ^^1^^^.  ^^.^^^j^  j^qq 

Mules  of  2  years  old  7.00  Cf^^i  ^    u              u     i   j     i     i 

AT.,i^o  ^f  1  .^^^  ^1^  1-iA  Steel  or  brass-wheeled  c  ock 

Mules  ot  1  year  old  O.J4  (.;^^^;„.,„                            nr,  nn 

Acres  of  rough  land  1.67  „,    ^J  timepiece                           20.00 

Acres  of  upland,  meadow  and  Wooden-wheeled  clock  or 

clear   pasture  134  time-piece                                  7.00 

Acres  of  boggy  meadow,               '  ?""^^'  °^  ?'^^^'"  P'^^^  ^-^ 

mowed  0.84  Money  at  interest                         0.00 

Acres  of  Boggy  meadow,  not  House  fire-places,  whether 

mowed  0.34  used  or  not                               5.00 

Acres  of  other  meadow  1.25  House  fire-places,  depreciated 

Acres  of  bush  pasture  0.34  one-quarter,  used  or  not      3.75 

Acres  of  uninclosed  land,  1st  House  fire-places,  depreciated 

rate  0.34  one-half,  used  or  not                    2.50 


222  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

House  fire-places,  depreciated  or  not,  two  stories  20.00 

three  quarters,  used  or  not  1.25       Store  or  warehouse,  whether 
Store  or  ware-house,  whether  part   of  a   dwelling  house 

part  of  a  dwelling  house  or  not,  three  stories  30.00 

or  not,  one  story  10.00       Bank  stock  00.00 

Store  or  warehouse,  whether  Sheep  one  year  old  00.00 

part  of  a  dwelling  house 
The  listers  desire  to  have  the  above  list  filled  up.    Each  person  is  requir- 
ed to  insert  the  name  of  the  religious  society  to  which  he  belongs,  and 
return  the  list,  completed,  on  or  before  the  10th  day  of  September,  next. 
August  20,  1808 

Particular  attention  is  called  to  the  segregation  by  which  land 
was  entered,  and  also  to  the  varying  prices  per  acre,  according  to 
quality,  also  the  varying  prices  of  stock  according  to  age,  of  fire- 
places according  to  usage,  and  of  vehicles  according  to  style. 

During  all  the  years  preceding  and  down  to  this  time,  no  dwelling 
house  had  appeared  on  a  levy. 

NEWTOWN  BOROUGH. 

Proceedings  of  the  General  Assembly  of  our  State,  by  which,  at 
its  May  session,  1824,  the  Borough  of  Newtown  was  incorporated. 
The  borough,  still  intact,  numbers  yet  a  few  of  the  second,  third 
and  fourth  generation  of  families  of  those  days.  With  the  domain 
very  much  enlarged,  with  its  scenic  beauty  much  improved;  with 
its  wide  main  street,  its  beautiful,  well-kept  lawns  ;  its  commodious 
sanitary  public  buildings,  its  abundant  spring  water  supply  from  a 
lake  not  more  than  a  half  mile  away,  a  Beach  Memorial  Library  of 
volumes  in  the  thousands ;  a  trunk  line  of  State  highway  from 
Newtown  to  Bridgeport,  in  the  near  future  to  run  from  Newtown 
to  the  Berkshire  Hills;  the  Berkshire  division  of  the  New  York, 
New  Haven  and  Hartford  railroad  with  three  stations  in  Newtown, 
the  main  station  within  10  minutes  walk  of  Newtown  Village,  with 
the  Federal  express  to  and  from  Boston  and  Washington,  D.  C, 
daily;  a  township  48  square  miles  in  extent,  with  400  miles  of  high- 
ways and  by-ways  that  one  can  travel  enough  to  cause  pleasure 
seekers  to  increase  in  numbers  as  time  goes  on.  It  will  not  do  to 
close  without  including  Sandy  Hook,  a  village  by  itself  in  Newtown, 
and  the  scenic  beauty  of  Mt.  Pisgah,  with  its  base  washed  by  the 
sparkling  waters  of  the  Pootatuck  as  it  leaps  and  dashes  along 
through  the  Glen,  one  of  the  Switzerlands  of  America,  for  their 
rightful  share  of  admiration.  To  know  all  that  there  is  to  know 
about  the  scenic  beauty  of  Newtown,  one  needs  to  come  and  dwell 
among  us. 

An  act  incorporating  the  Borough  of  Newtown,  passed  by  the  General 
Assembly  of  Connecticut,  at  its  May  session,  1824: 

Section  1.  Resolved  by  this  Assembly,  that  all  the  electors  of  this  state, 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Newtown,  in  the  County  of  Fairfield,  being 
within  the  following  bounds,  to  wit,  beginning  at  the  foot  of  Newtown 
Street  at  the  road  leading  to  Redding  and  running  easterly  to  Queen  Street 
so  called,  thence  northerly  through  the  center  of  said  Queen  Street  to  the 
east  and  west  turnpike,  thence  westerly  on  said  turnpike  to  Carcass  Lane, 
so-called,  thence  northerly  the  whole  length  of  said  lane  to  the  road  lead- 
ing to  Walnut  Tree  Hill  so-called,  thence  northerly  in  a  direct  line  from 
said  lane  to  the  junction  of  Hall  Lane  so-called,  and  the  road  leading  to 
Hawley's  Bridge,  thence  westerly  through  the  center  of  said  Hall  Lane  to 
the  Bridgeport  and   Newtown   turnpike,  thence  westerly  in   a   direct   line 


NEWTOWN   BOROUGH  223 

from  said  lane  SO  rods  from  the  west  side  of  ssid  turnpike,  thence  souther- 
ly m  a  hne  parallel  with  said  turnpike  and  the  aforesaid  Newtown  street 
to  the  center  of  the  aforesaid  road  leading  to  Redding  near  Daniel  Beers' 
dwelling  house,  thence  easterly  to  the  place  began  at,  be,  and  the  same  are 
hereby  ordained,  constituted  and  declared  to  be,  from  time  to  time  and 
forever  hereafter,  one  body  corporate  and  politic,  in  fact  and  in  name,  bv 
the  name  of  "The  Warden,  Burgesses,  and  Freemen  of  the  Borough  of 
Newtown,"  and  by  that  name  they  and  their  successors,  forever,  shall  have 
perpetual  succession,  and  shall  be  persons  in  law,  capable  of  sueing  and 
being  sued,  pleading  and  being  impleaded,  in  all  suits  of  what  nature 
soever,  and  also  to  purchase,  hold  and  convey  any  estate  real  or  personal, 
and  may  have  a  common  seal,  and  may  change  and  alter  the  same  at 
pleasure,  and  shall  be  freemen  of  said   Borough. 

Section  2.  And  for  the  better  government  of  said  Borough,  be  it  further 
resolved  that  there  shall  be  a  meeting  of  said  Bourough,  holden  annually 
m  the  month  of  May,  at  such  time  and  place  as  by  the  by-laws  of  said 
Borough  shall  be  directed,  for  the  purpose  of  choosing  all  the  officers  of 
said  Borough,  and  the  officers  chosen  at  such  meeting  shall  continue  in 
office  for  and  during  the  term  of  one  year  from  said  annual  meeting 
unless  others  shall  be  sooner  chosen  and  qualified  in  their  stead. 

Section  3.  And  said  borough  of  Newtown  shall  have  all  the  powers  and 
privileges  conferred  on  other  inland  Boroughs  with  this  State,  and  be 
subject  to  the  same  restrictions  and  liabilities  to  which  said  other  inland 
Boroughs  are  by  law  subjected.  And  all  the  officers  of  said  Borough  shall 
be  qualified  in  the  same  manner,  and  have  the  same  powers,  as  the  officers 
of  other  inland  boroughs  so  far  as  the  local  situation  thereof  will  permit 

Section  4.  The  first  meeting  of  said  Borough  shall  be  holden  at  the 
house  of  Czar  Keeler  in  said  Borough,  on  the  second  Monday  of  June,  A.  D. 
1824,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  said  day,  for  the  choice  of  a  warden 
burgesses,  clerk,  treasurer  and  bailiflf,  and  to  transact  such  other  business 
as  shall  be  necessary,  which  may  be,  from  time  to  time  adjourned,  and  a 
copy  of  this  paragraph  of  this  resolve,  certified  under  the  hand  of  the 
Secretary  of  this  State,  and  posted  upon  the  public  sign-post  in  said 
Borough  at  least  three  days  before  said  second  Monday  of  June,  shall  be 
legal  warning  to  the  freemen  of  said  borough  to  attend  said  first  meeting 
and  tne  officers  chosen  at  such  meeting  shall  continue  in  office  until  the 
expiration  of  the  annual  meeting  in  the  month  of  May,  A.  D.  1825,  unless 
others  are  sooner  chosen  and  qualified  in  their  stead,  and  that  said 
Borough  shall  at  such  meetings  first  choose  a  clerk  of  said  Borough,  who 
shall  immediately  be  sworn,  and  shall  forthwith  make  a  record  of  his  being 
chosen  and  sworn,  and  the  record  thus  by  him  made,  in  such  case,  shall 
be  good  and  eflfectual  in  law.  Such  records  may  be  made  by  clerks  there- 
after, and  shall  be  valid,  anything  in  this  resolve  notwithstanding.  And 
said  Borough  shall  thereupon  proceed  to  choose  a  warden  and  other 
officers  of  said  Borough  mentioned  in  this  paragraph  of  this  resolve,  and 
that  Benjamin  F.  Shelton  shall  have  as  to  the  first  election  of  the  warden 
burgesses,  clerk,  treasurer  and  bailifif  of  said  Borough,  the  same  powers' 
and  proceed  in  the  same  manner,  as  the  warden,  burgesses  and  bailiff  of  said 
Borough  are  by  this  resolve  to  have  and  proceed  in  at  the  future  elections 
in  said  Borough,  and  shall  be  moderator  of  said  meeting,  till  a  warden  be 
chosen  and  qualified  according  to  this  resolve. 

Said  Borough  shall  at  first  said  meeting,  appoint  a  time  and  place  for 
holding  said  meeting  of  said  warden  and  burgesses,  which  meeting  shall 
have  power  to  adjourn  from  time  to  time,  always  provided  that  anything 
in  this  resolve  notwithstanding,  the  inhabitants  living  within  the  limits  of 
said  Borough,  shall  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  be  and  remain  a  part  of  the 
town  of  Newtown,  entitled  to  all  its  privileges  and  subject  to  all  its 
burdens,  as  if  this  resolve  had  not  been  passed.  Provided,  nevertheless, 
that  if  this  resolve,  or  any  provision  therein  contained,  shall  be  found  in- 
convenient, or  in  any  way  inadequate,  the  same  may  be  repealed  altered 
or  revoked,  by  the  General  Assembly. 

Section  5.  All  charges  and  expenses  that  shall  have  been  and  may  be 
incurred  in  consequence  of  this  act  of  incorporation  shall  be  borne  and 
defrayed  by  said  Borough,  by  taxes  on  the  polls  and  rateable  estate  of  said 
Borough  within  said  limits. 


224  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY   AND    HISTORIAN 

NEWTOWN'S  FIRE  COMPANIES,  1803—1913. 

Dodgingtown  is  the  name  of  a  hamlet  in  Flat  Swamp  school  dis- 
trict about  mid-way  between  the  village  of  Newtown  and  that  of 
Bethel,  made  up  for  the  most  part  of  families  living  on  their  own 
farms,  and  a  few  mechanics  busied  with  their  several  trades.  A  little 
community  within  itself,  with  many  social  qualities  and  interests  in 
common.  Among  other  things,  they  have  a  well-organized  fire 
department  of  about  40  inembers  and,  although  they  have  no  fire 
engine  as  yet,  so  well  equipped  otherwise  and  so  systematic  in 
drill  that,  wdien  they  take  part  in  an  out-of-town  drill,  the  lookers- 
on  sit  up  and  take  notice.  They  took  part  in  a  firemen's  parade  in 
West  Haven,  where,  in  competition  with  64  other  companies,  they 
were  awarded  a  silver  cup,  as  best  in  drill  of  any  company  on  the 
grounds.  The  village  of  Newtown  also  has  a  fire  company  of  about 
45  members  that  has  been  an  organized  company  for  25  years. 
They,  too,  have  no  fire  engine,  but  in  other  respects  and  appliances 
are  well  up  to  date  and  have  done  valient  work  in  many  cases  of  fire 
in  the  past  in  Newtown,  in  Sandy  Hook  and  near-by  vicinities. 
Both  companies  are  voluntary,  independent  companies,  never  hav- 
ing been  aided  by  town  appropriations. 

The  building  that  furnishes  accommodation  for  appliances  neces- 
sary for  the  demand  of  a  hook  and  ladder  company  is  a  neatly  con 
structed,  commodious  structure  on  town  property,  near  the  town 
hall,  which,  with  the  town  hall,  adds  much  to  the  attractiveness  of 
the  borough,  as  well  as  to  that  of  the  beautiful  village  street,  with 
its  well-kept  lawns,  beautiful  shade  trees  and  residential  buildings. 
The  town  hall  and  fire  company  building,  under  the  care  and  super- 
vision of  the  janitor,  Patrick  Gannon,  speak  well  for  the  janitor 
and  the  town  officials  responsible  for  its  care. 

Turning  now  to  the  town  records  we  find  that,  in  the  matter  of 
town  protection  from  fire,  in  1803,  a  special  town  meeting  was 
called  by  petition  to  determine  what  the  town  should  do  to  guard 
against  the  ravages  of  an  outbreak  of  fire. 

At  a  lawful  town  meeting  Dec.  19,  1803,  the  first  movement  was 
made  to  provide  the  town  with  protection  from  fire,  when  a  vote 
was  passed"that  the  town  treasurer  be  directed  to  pay  to  William  Edmond, 
Esq.,  one  hundred  dollars  toward  purchasing  a  fire  engine  for  the  use  of 
the  town,"  On  the  6th  day  of  Feb.,  following,  a  special  meeting,  called  by 
petition  to  reconsider  the  vote  appropriating  $100,  for  a  fire  engine,  the 
vote  of  the  previous  meeting  was  rescinded,  and  Elijah  Nichols  was  ap- 
pointed  chimney  viewer   instead. 

No  future  doings,  townwise,  in  regard  to  fire  engines  until  1807. 
In  the  meantime,  while  the  matter  had  been  held  in  abeyance,  a 
subscription  paper  had  been  circulated  and  $450  subscribed  toward 
the  expense  of  a  fire  engine,  and  a  house  in  which  to  store  it. 

Another  petition,  drawn  by  Hon.  William  Edmond,  a  citizen  of 
Newtown,  a  lawyer  of  high  repute  and  member  of  Congress  at  a 
time  when  the  office  sought  the  man  and  not  the  man  the  office,  was 
circulated,  Nov.  21,  1807,  and  on  the  23d,  of  Nov.  they  were  able  to 
report  $450  subscribed.  At  the  annual  town  meeting,  on  the  7th 
day  of  December,  1807,  the  petition  was  read  in  open  town  meeting: 

"To  the  inhabitants  of  Newtown  in  legal  Town  meeting  convened:  The 
inhabitants  of  sd  town  street  and  its  vicinity  beg  leave  to  represent  that 


FIRE  COMPANIES   1803—1913  225 

seriously  alarmed  at  a  recent  event  which  threatened  for  a  time  to  lay 
their  dwellings  in  ashes,  to  unhouse  their  families,  to  sweep  away  their 
public  buildings  and  produce  a  scene  of  destruction  and  distress  awful  to 
contemplate  and  too  painful  to  describe,  they  met  at  the  house  of  Caleb 
Baldwin  on  the  21st  of  Nov.,  1807,  to  take  into  consideration  their  exposed 
and  dangerous  situation,  and  to  devise  the  best  practicable  means  of 
guarding  themselves  in  future  against  destruction  by  fire.  At  this  meeting 
the  opinion  was  unanimous  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  house-holders  to 
see  that  their  chimneys  were  swept  or  cleaned  by  burning  without  loss  of 
time  and  to  provide  themselves  with  ladders  as  expeditiously  as  possible. 
It  was  also  thought  advisable  to  procure  a  fire  engine  if  possible  as  the 
best  instrument  properly  served  with  which  to  contend  against  so  unruly 
and  dangerous  an  element  and  indeed  as  the  only  one  in  which  any  just 
confidence  of  success  might  be  placed  in  the  hour  of  danger.  To  effect  this 
so  desirable  an  object  a  subscription  was  immediately  opened  and  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  wait  upon  the  inhabitants  in  the  street  (not  then 
present)  and  the  meeting  was  adjourned  to  the  23d  of  Nov.  to  receive  the 
report  of  the  committee  that  the  sum  of  $450  had  been  subscribed  for  the 
purpose  with  a  liberality  evincive  of  a  strong  sense  of  danger  and  of  the 
expediency  and  necessitj^  of  the  measure.  Having  proceeded  thus  far 
and  accomplished  so  much  by  their  individual  exertions,  it  was  thought 
advisable  by  the  meeting  to  state  their  proceedings  to  the  town  at  their 
annual  meeting  and  to  solicit  that  aid  without  which  all  their  efforts  to 
accomplish  so  important  an  object  must  prove  inefifectual,  especially  as  it 
appeared  from  the  best  information  to  be  procured  that  the  probable 
expense  of  a  good  and  effectual  engine  delivered  at  Newtown  with  the 
cost  of  a  house  to  shelter  it  would  amount  to  about  $700,  that  about  $200 
would  be  needed  in  addition  to  the  subscription  to  carry  the  object  of  it 
into  effect  and  without  which  their  utmost  exertion  must  prove  fruitless. 
Thus  circumstanced  they  came  before  the  Town  to  solicit  their  approbation 
and  encouragement  confiding  in  their  wisdom,  their  justice  and  their 
generosity  and  trusting  that  their  enlightened  and  liberal  fellow  citizens 
on  a  subject  interesting  to  all  will  be  ready  to  discard  a  narrow  policy,  to 
sacrifice  the  pride  of  opinion,  and  the  spirit  of  party  to  the  general  good 
and  viewing  the  subject  in  the  same  light  with  the  petitioners  will  cheer- 
fully grant  from  the  Town  a  sum  equal  to  the  deficiency  of  the  subscription 
or  in  such  way  as  their  wisdom  shall  desire  to  enable  the  petitioners  to 
accomplish  the  proposed  object,  and  the  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  will 
ever  pray.     William  Edmond  for  and  in  behalf  of  the  petitioners." 

After  the  reading  of  the  petition,  the  meeting  voted  that  the  petition  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Newtown  Street  and  vicinity  for  a  grant  of  money  from 
the  town  towards  purchasing  a  fire  engine  be  recorded.  Caleb  Baldwin, 
Town  clerk. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  reading  of  the  petition,  the  town  voted  : 

That  the  selectmen  of  Newtown  be,  and  they  are  hereby  authorized, 
empowered  and  directed  to  draw  orders  in  favor  of  Joseph  Nichols,  upon 
the  Town  treasurer  of  Newtown  for  the  sum  of  $200  to  be  applied  to  the 
purchase  of  a  fire  engine  and  a  house  to  shelter  the  same,  provided  that 
nothing  in  this  vote  shall  be  construed  to  subject  the  town  hereafter  to 
the  payment  of  any  other  or  further  sum  than  is  herein  before  granted 
either  for  said  fire  engine,  a  house  to  shelter  it,  or  for  cisterns,  ladders, 
fire  hooks,  ropes,  buckets,  working  the  engine,  or  any  expense  whatever, 
respecting  the  same,  but  said  town  shall  be  exempted  therefrom  in  the 
same  manner  as  though  this  vote  had  not  been  passed."  "Voted  that  the 
petition  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  street  and  its  vicinity  for  a  grant 
of  money  from  the  town  towards  purchasing  fire  engine  be  recorded. 
Attest,  Caleb  Baldwin,  town  clerk. 

No  further  records  are  to  be  found  in  regard  to  subsequent  action 
on  the  part  of  the  town,  though  for  years,  among  offices  provided 
for  at  the  annual  town  meeting,  was  that  of  chimney  viewer,  given 
EHjah  Nichols,  for  which  no  pay  was  given. 


226  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

NEWTOWN  ACADEMY. 

The  following  letter  was  written  by  Mr.  George  L.  Foote.  eldest 
son  of  Rhesa  and  Polly  Foote,  a  short  time  before  his  graduation 
from  Washington  (now  Trinity)  College,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Washington   College,  Hartford,   Conn. 
Jan.  24,  1837. 
To  Messrs.  Henry  Beers,  Samuel  C.  Blackman, 

Henry  Dutton,  D.  H.  Belden  and  David  V.  B.  Baldwin. 
Sirs  : 

The  subject  upon  which  I  am  about  to  address  you  at  this  time  may  be 
one  in  which  j'ou  feel  no  concern  and  about  which  you  would  not  like  to  be 
troubled.  If  so,  pardon  the  trouble  this  may  give  you.  But  should  you  feel 
any  interest  in  the  subject,  I  ask  of  you  a  careful  examination  of  my  plans 
and  a  frank  communication  of  your  opinion.  The  subject  of  public  educa- 
tion has  for  a  long  time  occupied  my  attention  and,  in  examining  the 
various  means  presented  for  usefulness,  this  stands  among  the  most  prom- 
inent in  my  estimation.  I  have  accordingly  concluded  to  direct  my  attention 
to  the  subject  and  use  my  exertions  for  the  promotion  of  this  object  for 
two  or  three  years  after  I  shall  finish  my  studies,  and.  thinking  of  my 
native  town,  I  have  concluded  to  propose  to  you  a  plan  that  I  have  formed 
and  ask  your  advice  and  co-operation.  I  wish  to  establish  somewhere  an 
Academy  in  which  boys  and  girls  may  pursue  their  studies  after  leaving 
the  primary  schools  and  be  fitted  either  for  business,  for  teachers  or  for 
college.  I  wish  such  a  school  to  be  select — that  is,  to  have  certain  quali- 
fications requisite  for  admission  ;  to  have  not  "all  branches"  taught  in  it, 
but  such  as  shall  be  most  useful,  and  to  have  such  taught  on  a  thorough 
plan  ;  and  to  have  the  school  established  on  the  principles  of  the  Bible, 
believing  that  the  best  class-book  for  every  institution,  though  I  would 
not  have  any  sectarian  principles  inculcated,  nor  would  I  hesitate  to 
declare  my  preference  for  the  church  of  my  affections  and  the  nursery  of 
my  childhood  and  youth.  I  would  have  it  emphatically  a  Christian  school, 
such  a  school  as  every  well-wisher  of  his  country  would  desire  to  see 
established  in  every  town.  In  examining  the  various  situations  for  the 
location  of  such  a  school,  my  preference  has  been  given  to  Newtown  for 
various  reasons  :  It  is  my  native  town  and  there  are  attachments  that  bind 
me  there,  which  I  find  nowhere  else.  It  is  a  quiet  place  and  very  free  from 
evil  influence  calculated  to  draw  oflf  boys  who  might  be  boarding  from 
home.  There  is  no  school  of  this  kind  established  there,  though  I  have 
felt  the  need  of  such  a  one  for  many  years.  There  are  many  boys  and  girls 
who,  I  think,  would  attend  such  a  school,  living  in  the  town.  My  mother 
lives  there,  with  whom  I  could  board  and  receive  boarders  and  be  at 
home,  and  I  could  then  be  in  a  situation  to  assist  the  younger  members  of 
the  family.  And  lastly,  I  should  have  some  pride,  whether  censurable  or 
not,  to  see  such  a  school  started  in  my  native  town,  and  started  bj^  my 
exertions.  These  are  some  of  the  reasons  that  have  led  me  to  select  that 
as  the  place  of  location,  and  of  the  weight  of  ihese  reasons  you  can  each 
judge. 

Now,  gentlemen,  do  you  think  such  a  school  would  succeed  in  Newtown? 
Are  there  moneyed  men  who  would  feel  interested  in  such  a  plan,  enough 
to  put  a  building  in  some  eligible  situation  and,  after  fitting  it  to  my  mind, 
rent  at  a  reasonable  per  cent  so  that  I  could  make  it  an  object  worthy  of  my 
employment?  Do  you  think  pupils  enough  could  be  obtained,  and  would 
you  give  me  your  influence  in  obtaining  pupils?  Knowing,  as  you  do,  the 
circumstances  in  which  I  am  placed;  the  character  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Newtown;  the  proverb  that  "a  prophet  hath  no  honor  in  his  own  country," 
your  own  feeling  on  the  subject  and  the  situation  of  Miss  Sarah  Black- 
man's  school,  would  you  advise  me  to  persevere  in  this  plan  or  to  relinquish 
it  altogether? 

My  object  in  writing  at  this  time  is,  that  having  obtained  your  opinion,  I 
may  make  some  calculation  on  the  subject  the  coming  Spring,  and  have 
everything  ready  to  bdgin  in  the  fall  when  I  shall  have  finished  my  studies 
in  this  place.  It  is,  gentlemen,  with  some  experimental  knowledge  of  your 
character  and  good  feelings  that  I  make  this  communication,  and  I  earnest- 


NEWTOWN   ACADEMY  227 

ly   hope  that  you  will  do   me   the   favor   of   answering   me   immediately,   if 
you  think  the  subject  worthy  of  an  answer. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  great  esteem  for  you, 

Your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

George  L.  Foote. 

This  communication  evidently  met  with  the  hearty  approval  of  the 
gentlemen  to  whom  it  was  addressed,  who  immediately  went  to 
work  to  create  a  public  interest  in  its  favor,  which  resulted  in  call- 
ing an  informal  meeting  at  Mr.  Caleb  Baldwin's,  Feb.  8,  1837, 
"to  form  an  association  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  a  location,  and  build- 
ing a  suitable  house  in  the  borough  of  Newtown  to  be  occupied  as  an 
Academy  for  the  education  of  the  young  in  the  various  branches  of  science, 
and  to  raise  a  sum  of  money  sufficient  for  said  purpose." 

The  subscription  was  to  be  binding,  provided  the  sum  of  $1000, 
should  be  raised ;  $1475  was  pledged  at  once. 

The  original  list  of  subscribers  may  be  interesting  to  their  child- 
ren and  grand  children : 

Harry  Beers  $100  Joseph  Dick  $25  Jabez  B.  Peck  $25 

David  H.  Belden  100  Charles  C.  Warner  25  Lemuel  Beers  25 

Rev.  Samuel  C.   Strat-  Abel  B.  Skidmore  25  Charles  Blakeslee  25 

ton  IOC  Boyle  Fairchild  25  Botsford  Tcrrill  25 

Josiah  Glover  50  Josiah  B.  Fairchild  25  Samuel  Fairchild  25 

John  Judson  25  Amariah  Beers  25  James  Nichols  25 

Ebenezer  Turner  25  Wooster  Peck  25  fohn  Johnson  25 

Thomas  Blackman     25  Caleb  Baldwin  50  Charles  B.  Booth  25 

Wm.  Blakeslee  25  Charles  Brisco  25  Simeon  N.  Beers  25 

Charles   Fairman  25  Charles  Noble  25  Gould  Curtis  25 

Henry    Dutton  25  Daniel  Skidmore  25  Robert  S.  Peck  25 

Moses  Parsons  25  David  V.  B.  Baldwin    50  George  M.  Benedict  25 

David   Curtis  25  Amos  G.  Peck  25  Charles  Johnson  25 

Charles  Clark  25  Jabez  B.  Botsford  25  Philo  Clarke  25 

Samuel  A.  Peck  25  Abel  Botsford  25  Beach  Camp  25 

Josiah  Sanford  25  Thomas  O.  Chambers  25 

A  sufficient  amount  being  subscribed,  a  constitution  and  articles 
of  association  were  adopted,  March  2,  1837.  The  officers  appointed : 
Rev.  Samuel  C.  Stratton,  David  V.  B.  Baldwin,  David  H.  Belden, 
Josiah  Sanford,  Samuel  Beers,  trustees;  Charles  Clark,  secretary; 
David  V.  B.  Baldwin,  Charles  Brisco,  Samuel  Fairchild,  building 
committee.  The  building  committee  were  instructed  to  erect  a 
building  not  to  exceed  36  x  26  feet.  It  was  completed  during  the 
summer,  and  in  the  fall  of  1837  the  school  was  opened  in  charge  of 
Mr.  George  L.  Foote,  who,  fresh  from  college  with  his  heart  full 
of  love  for  the  work,  entered  upon  his  duties  with  all  the  enthusi- 
asm, energy  and  self-devotion  with  which  he  was  possessed,  and 
which  he  exhibited  to  such  a  remarkable  degree  through  his  min- 
isterial life.  He  was  ably  assisted  in  both  male  and  female  depart- 
ments, two  of  his  assistants  being  his  sisters.  Misses  Mary  and 
Harriet  Foote.  At  the  May  session  of  the  Legislature,  1838,  the 
Association  petitioned  for  an  act  of  incorporation  and  a  resolution 
granting  it  passed  the  General  Assembly. 

The  year  1839  was  a  prosperous  one  for  the  institution.  The 
number  of  pupils  ranged  from  100  to  150.  Mr.  Foote  continued 
principal  of  the  Academy  until  the  Spring  of  1840.  He  resigned, 
much  to  the  regret  of  a  host  of  patrons,  to  enter  upon  the  work  of 
the  ministry  in   Roxbury,   Conn.,   where   he   remained   ten   years. 


228  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

rcniovinp:  to  the  diocese  of  New  York  where  he  died  at  JMorris, 
Otsego  Co.,  Oct.,  1863. 

In  the  Spring  of  1840,  Rev.  Levi  Corson  succeeded  as  principal. 
He  also  supplied  the  i)ulpit  of  Trinity  Church.  Miss  Mary  Foote 
was  teacher  of  the  female  department.  He  was  principal  only  one 
year,  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  Thomas  T.  Guion.  He  also,  though 
an  excellent  and  devoted  teacher,  was  in  charge  only  one  year, 
being  succeeded,  the  spring  of  1842,  by  Mr.  Charles  W.  Wooster, 
who  was  in  charge  only  a  year.  Amos  S.  Treat  was  a  good  teacher, 
but  his  preference  was  for  the  law,  and  he  left  teaching  to  devote 
himself  to  tiie  practice  of  his  profession. 

Jilr.  Elizur  Kceler  was  next  in  charge.  He  was  Newtown  born 
and  had  experience  in  some  of  the  public  schools  of  the  town. 
He  taught  several  years,  maintaining  a  well-deserved  popularity, 
both  as  boarding  and  day  school,  and  was  much  beloved  by  his 
pupils.  When  he  left  Newtown  for  a  position  with  a  Waterbury 
firm.  Newtown  lost  a  good  teacher,  a  valued  citizen,  and  the  Con- 
gregational Church  a  consistent  member. 

In  1852,  after  a  lapse  of  two  years,  during  which  the  building  was 
closed,  the  trustees  secured  Mr.  J.  Homer  French,  who  came  from 
Clyde,  N.  Y.  He  was  an  excellent  disciplinarian,  a  superior  teacher, 
and  excelled,  as  a  mathematician.  He  was  associate  author  of 
Adam's  series  of  arithmetics,  and,  later,  author  of  French's  Arith- 
metic, which  was  used  in  the  Academy  in  later  years. 

Before  the  close  of  the  first  year,  the  building  was  repaired,  the 
old  time  benches  giving  way  to  revolving  chairs  and  modern  desks. 
An  able  corps  of  assistants  helped  make  the  school  popular,  a  large 
number  of  pupils  coming  from  other  towns.  In  Jan.,  1853,  the 
Academician,  a  monthly  paper  printed  in  Bridgeport  and  conducted 
by  the  pupils,  was  started.  It  was  popular,  but  a  failure  financially 
and  did  not  finish  the  second  year.  Mr.  French  resigned  during  the 
summer  of  1855. 

Names  of  teachers  and  pupils,  who  made  up  the  coterie  at  New- 
town Academy,  60  years  ago,  helping  make  things  lively  on  the 
village  street  and  looking  forward  to  the  time  when,  in  maturer 
life,  they  might  become  a  part  of  the  great  army  of  home  and 
nation  builders,  to  take  up  and  carr}^  on  the  work  as  their  ancestors 
should  lay  it  down. 

The  names  that  follow  were  copied  from  the  pupils'  paper,  the 
Academician : 

Instructors :  J.  Homer  French,  principal ;  Rev.  William  L. 
Bostwick,  teacher  of  classics  ;  Miss  Cornelia  L.  Hubbard,  precept- 
ress;  Miss  Fanny  Easton,  assistant;  Mrs  Mary  E.  French,  teacher 
of  French;  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Sanford,  teacher  of  music. 

Female  Department:  Delia   Fairchild,  Newtown 

Jane   Banks,  Newtown        Sarah  Grace  Blakeslee,     Newtown 

Sarah  E.  Beecher,         Sandy  Hook       Alosia  S.  Botsford,  Newtown 

Ann  S.  Beers,  Newtown        Emma    J.    Boroughs,  Newtown 

Charlotte  B.  Beers,  Newtown        Elizabeth  Clarke,  Newtown 

Harriet  B.  Blackman,         Newtown       Lydia  Jane  Camp,  Newtown 

Julia  Esther  Blackman,     Newtown        Jane  Eliza  Camp,  Newtown 

Mary  J.  Blakeslee,  Newtown       Juliette    Curtis,  Newtown 

Catherine    E.    Fairchilri     Newtown       Alartha    Dikeman,  Newtown 


NEWTOWN   ACADEMY 


229 


Harriet  F.  Fairchild,  Bethel 

Lucy  A.  Fairchild,  Newtown 

Susan  A  Fairchild,  Newtown 

Mary  Jane  Foote,  Hobart,  N.  Y. 
Betsey  Glover,  Newtown 

Esther    A.    Hawley,  Newtown 

Harriette  M.  Lake,  Sandy  Hook 
Wihlelmina  B.  Norman,  Bridgeport 
Sarah   M.   Prindle,  Newtown 

Augusta  Sanford,  Newtown 

Mary  Jane  Sherman  Newtown 

Mary  Caroline  Skidmore, 

Newtown 
Male   Department : 
David  Banks,  Newtown 

Booth  G.  Beers,  Newtown 

Daniel   G.    Beers,  Newtown 

George    Beers,  Newtown 

Isaac  Beach  Beers,  Newtown 

John  Hobart  Beers,  Newtown 

Julius  A.  Beers,  Newtown 

Silas  N.  Beers,  Newtown 

Benjamin  C.  Benedict,  Newtown 
George  B.  Blakeslee,  Newtown 
William  Blakeslee,  Newtown 

Daniel  Theodore  Booth,  Newtown 

Milford 
George  A.  Bradley.  Newtown 

John   Huntington   Brewster, 

Newtown 
George   Bulkley, 
Edward  Burroughs, 
George   B.  Camp, 
Hobart  B.  Camp, 
Frederick   Chambers, 
Lemuel   B.   Clark, 
George   Clark, 
David    Curtis, 
Frederick  L.  Curtis, 


F.  Mortimer  Fairchild,  Newtown 

Daniel   B.  Fairman,  Newtown 

Martin  V.  B.  Glover,  Newtown 

William  Henry  Glover,  Newtown 

Andrew  W.  Grey,  Jr.,  Newtown 

Edson  N.  Hawley,  Newtown 
Nathan  Harrison,  North   Branford 


William  G.  Hard, 
Elmer  B.  Hawley, 
William  G.  Hawley, 
William  B.  Hurd, 
D.  Jackson  Lake, 
Walter  Baldwin  Lake, 


Newtown 
Newtown 
Newtown 
Jersey  City 
Newtown 
Newtown 


Frederick  H.  Lyon,  Redding  Ridge 
Charles  S.  Midldebrook, Bridgeport 
Franklin  Middlebrook, Sandy  Hook 
George  Arthur  Mott,  Bridgeport 
Joseph  G.  Ivlunson,  Sandy  Hook 
Henry   Nichols, 


Albert  W.  Peck, 
Edward  B.  Peck, 
George  B.  Peck, 
Henry  S.  Peck, 
Nelson  J.  Peck, 


Newtown 
Newtown 
Newtown 
Sandy  Hook 
Newtown 
Newtown 


William  Arthur  Porter,  Bridgeport 


Elias  F.  Sanford, 
Edward  M.  Sherman, 
Edwin  M.  Sherman, 
Norris  Sherman, 
Philo  B.  Sherman, 
Eugene  R.  Silliman, 
Robert  R.  Skidmore, 
Charles  E.  Smith, 
Frederick  B.  Terrill, 
Franklin  W.  Tucker, 
Augustus  Warner, 
lames  Wheeler, 
John  B.  Wheeler. 


Sandy  Hook 
Newtown 
Newtown 

Sandy  Hook 
Newtown 
Bridgeport 
Newtown 
Newtown 
Newtown 

Sandy  Hook 
Newtown 
Newtown 
Newtown 


John  Henry  Woolsey,     Bridgeport 


Newtown 
Trumbull 
Newtown 
Newtown 
Newtown 
Danbury 
Newtown 
Newtown 
Bridgeport 

More  than  three-score  years  have  passed  since  that  happy  band 
of  pupils  gathered  as  a  school  and,  at  the  morning-  roll  call,  answer- 
ed "Here  !"  As  we  call  the  roll  to-day.  the  silent  ones  are  in  the 
majority.  Here  and  there  is  one  remaining,  but  each  beyond  the 
allotted  time  of  life,  three  score  and  ten.  and.  as  those  who  have 
gone  before  have  done,  will  soon  answer  the  roll  call  for  the  last 
time. 

September,  1855,  Mr.  J.  E.  Goodhue,  native  of  New  Hampshire 
and  a  Yale  graduate,  succeeded  Mr.  French.  Though  the  attend- 
ance was  less  than  during  Mr.  French's  administration,  the  time 
was  one  of  marked  prosperity  for  the  school,  and  Mr.  Goodhue  won 
the  good-will  of  his  pupils  and  the  lasting  regard  of  his  patrons. 

When,  at  the  end  of  three  years,  he  resigned  to  enter  Berkeley 
Divinity  School,  in  preparation  for  the  ministry  in  the  Episcopal 
Church,  it  was  with  real  regret  that  his  resignation  was  accepted. 
From  1858  to  1874,  the  changes  were  frequent.  Miss  Susan  Walker, 
who  had  been  Mr.  Goodhue's  assistant,  continued  in  charge,  with 
Miss  Mary  J-  Sherman  as  associate  principal.  When  Miss  Walker 
retired  to  work  among  the  freedmen  at  Washington.  D.  C,  Miss 
Martha  J.  Morris,  sister  of  ex-Gov.  Luzon  B.  Morris,  a  talented 


230  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

teacher  and  congenial  friend  of  Miss  Sherman,  took  her  place.  The 
school  prospered  under  their  guidance,  until  Miss  Morris  accepted 
a  position  at  Westville,  Conn.,  and  Miss  Sherman  became  the  wife 
of  Franklin  Fairman  of  Chicago,  one  of  Newtown's  sons. 

Henry  K.  Lever,  Sidney  B.  Frost,  J.  R.  Fairman  and  John  Betts 
each  had  short  terms.  Beach  Hill,  a  superior  teacher,  opened  a 
private  school  in  Bridgeport,  of  which  he  remained  principal  until 
his  death.  Henry  Beard  became  a  Congregational  minister  and 
removed  to  Minnesota.  His  popular  assistant  was  Miss  Arabella 
Fitch,  who  became  the  wife  of  Daniel  G.  Beers. 

Miss  Frances  Marble  was  a  successful  teacher,  but  found  greater 
scope  for  her  abilities  in  Bridgeport  High  School,  and,  later,  as 
founder  of  the  Courtland  School,  of  which  she  was  the  beloved 
principal  until  her  death.  Miss  Alice  Bradley,  became  the  wife  of 
Hon.  Charles  Brisco,  of  Enfield,  Conn. 

In  the  Autumn  of  1874,  Rev,  J.  P.  Hoyt,  pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church,  took  charge.  As  a  teacher  of  the  classics  he  excelled 
and  so  thorough  was  his  teaching,  that  his  pupils  became  his  assis- 
tants in  dififercnt  branches.  John  M.  Otis,  George  Judd,  J.  Frank 
Gillette,  among  the  young  men,  and  Misses  Adella  Botsford,  Esther 
Camp,  Carrie  Lake,  Nellie  Judson  and  Effie  Glover,  acted  as  assist- 
ants. At  the  close  of  the  Spring  term  of  1880,  Mr.  Hoyt  tendered 
his  resignation,  at  which  time  he  made  the  statement  that  "the 
school  commenced  with  12  pupils ;  the  number  increased  to  63 ; 
200  pupils  have  been  connected  with  the  Academy  from  9  different 
towns  ;  100  have  finished  a  course  of  study ;  11  have  entered  college 
or  are  nearly  prepared,  and  40  have  become  teachers."  The  trustees 
prevailed  upon  him  to  re-consider  his  resignation,  and  he  remained 
another  year,  having  as  associate,  Mr.  George  H.  Cummings,  who 
continued  in  charge  the  following  year.  In  Alarch,  1882,  Mr.  D.  B. 
Plummer  became  principal.  He  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Effie 
Glover,  who  remained  in  charge  until  the  old  building  was  sold  to 
L.  B.  Booth  and  moved  to  its  present  position  and  became  the 
Post  Office. 

Prof.  Francis  M.  Wilson  became  principal,  Oct.  1,  1885,  teaching 
in  the  old  ball-room  in  Miss  Ann  Blackman's  house,  until  the  new 
building  on  Sunset  Hill  was  completed,  the  summer  of  1886.  He 
remained  in  charge  until  the  close  of  the  school-year,  1886-87, 
assisted  by  Miss  Florence  Keep.  Prof.  Schultz  was  principal  in 
1888  and  until  the  coming  of  Prof.  E.  Pennington  Cliff  in  1891. 
In  1892,  the  building  was  moved  from  Sunset  Hill  nearly  a  mile  and  a 
quarter  across  the  fields  to  its  present  position.  Prof.  Cliff,  opened 
school  in  September,  in  St.  Patrick's  Hall,  pending  the  moving  and 
repairing  of  the  building,  with  Miss  Sarah  IBeers  in  charge  of  inter- 
mediate department,  Mrs.  M.  C.  Rogers,  the  primary,  Mrs.  Charles 
S.  Piatt  teacher  of  music  and  Miss  Mary  Bacon  of  drawing  and 
painting.  Prof.  Cliff  remained  in  charge  until  the  close  of  1894-5 
having  as  assistants  at  different  periods  Miss  Lillian  French,  Miss 
Grace  Goodsell,  Miss  Jessie  Sanford.  and  Miss  Sample.  Prof.  W. 
H.  Hoyt,  became  principal  in  1895,  Miss  Mabel  Cummings  assist- 
ant, remaining  until  1898,  when  it  was  announced  that  the  sixty- 


AilSS  SUSAX    i.  SCL'DDKR 


First    Woman    to    I>e    F.leclcil 
School     Hoard 


MRS.  EDITH  G.  MITCHELL 


Second   Woman    to   be    Elected   on 
School   Board 


NEWTOWN  ACADEMY  231 

second  year  of  Newtown  Academy  would  be  opened  by  Prof.  H.  B. 
Mac  Farland,  with  Mrs.  Mac  Farland,  assistant.  Miss  Jennie 
Briscoe  assisted  one  term  with  Prof.  Mac  Farland  in  1898,  contin- 
uing during  his  term  of  service  until  1901,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Prof.  Gardner,  with  Miss  Briscoe  as  assistant.  Prof.  Gardner 
remained  until  the  town  made  it  a  Free  High  School. 

Miss  Briscoe  in  upper  room  as  a  private  school  in  1902.  Prof. 
Tibbetts  first  High  School  Principal. 

In  closing  this  record  of  Newtown  Academy,  it  should  be  stated 
that  owing  to  the  difficulty  in  obtaining  correct  information  some 
names  may  have  been  unintentionally  omitted. 

Newtown  Academy  with  its  principal,  five  assistants  and  88  pupils 
with  a  reputation  that  drew  from  cities,  as  well  as  from  adjoining 
towns,  was  well  patronized,  although  the  whole  expense  of  keeping 
it  up  came  upon  those  who  patronized  it,  each  pupil  obliged  to  furn- 
ish books  and  stationery  for  individual  use.  Now,  with  expenses 
paid  by  a  tax  levied  on  the  taxable  property  of  the  town,  every 
incentive  is  placed  before  our  children  to  make  the  best  improve- 
ment of  present-day  advantages.  In  numbers  enrolled,  the  school 
of  60  years  ago  compares  favorably  with  the  number  enrolled  in  our 
High  School. 

The  High  School  building,  originally  the  Newtown  Academy, 
built  on  Sunset  Hill  in  1886,  was  moved  in  1892,  to  its  present 
position.     In  1902  it  was  sold  to  the  town  for  a  free  High  School. 

Its  Principals  Miss  Bessie  Mitchell  1909-11 

Prof.  A.  M.  Tibbetts,  1902-03  Miss  Sue  Short  1910-13 

Ross  Jewell  1903-07  Miss  Dorothy  Curtis  1911-12 

Curtis  Cook  1907-10  Miss  Bessie  Olson  1912-13 

W.  L.  Carpenter  1910-12  Miss  Ethel  Salmon  1913-14 

"        Leonard  Johnson  1912-16  Miss  Irene  Warren  1914-16 

"        Leo  Hickson        1916  to  date  Miss  Helen  Houlihan  1913- 

Assistant    Teachers  Miss  Doris  Downs  1916- 

Miss  Elizabeth  Goodwin  1903-05  Sub  Freshmen  Teachers 

Miss  Daisy  Kemble  1905-06  Private   School 

Miss   Blanche  Welch  1905-07  Miss  Jennie  Briscoe  1902-03 

Miss  Edith  Ganong  1906-07  Mrs.  Ross  Jewell  1903-06 

Miss  Marguerite  Lawton  1907-08  Mrs.  Charles  H.  Northrop     1907-08 

Miss   Ruth  Snow  1907-08  Miss  Mary  Lester  1909-10 

Miss  Lula  Roberts  1908-10  Miss  Lillian  Troy  1910-to  date 

HIGH  SCHOOL  GRADUATES 

High  School  opened,  1902.     First  class  graduated,  1905. 

F.  Loretta  Houlihan  Augusta  Campbell 

Mary  Hoyt  Francis  J.  Carmody 

Eleanore  L.  Northrop  Eleanor  S.  Cavanaugh 

Pearl  F.  Parsons  j^jay  J.  Egan 

Ethel  M^  Peck  Helen  F.  Hawley 

Harley  T.  Peck  j^^^j^,  ^   ^^^^^ 

Class  of  1906  John  G.  Houlihan 

Anna  May  Betts  Margaret  L.  Keating 

Edward  J.  Egan  /^ja  J.  Lake 

Katherme  Honan  jVJary  M.  Lester 

Anna  V.  Keane  May  F.  McNamara 

Margaret  L.  Keane  Catherine  Murphy 

Jennie  M.  Ruffles  Carlton  S.  Smith 

Elizabeth  Egan  Lillian  M.  Troy 

Class   of   1907  Alma  L.  Williams 

Harold  E.  Botsford  Randolph  B.  Williams 


232 


NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 


Class    of   1908 

Lottie    M.    Behn 
Helen  M.  Blakeman 
Nonie  A.  Brennan 
Marguerite   Cavanaugh 
Elsie  C.  Ferris 
Annie  Murphy 
Crossley  Wallace 
Vivian  R.  Wetmore 

Class   of   1909 
Florence  G.   Beecher 
Helen  F.  Houlihan 
M.  May  Houlihan 
Thomas  F.  Lynch 
Earle  Taber 
Benj.  D.  Smith 
Anna  H.  Ruffles 
Lena  Blake 
Gertrude  Bradley 
Anna  L.  Keane 
Mary  T.  Kelly 
C.  Agnes   Lynch 
Marv  Lynch 

Class    of   1910 
Nora  C.  Blake 
Ruth   E.   Ruffles 
Clarice  E.  Botsford 
Mary  Hazen  Fairchild 
Mary  W.  Lynch 
Catherine  V.   Lynch 
Percy  C.  Piatt 
Earle  Peck 
Rychie  E.  Veness 
Jennie  L.  Lynch 
Catherine  F.  Farrell 
Anna  M.  Houlihan 
Catherine  A.  James 

Class    of    1911 
Lillian  M.  Beers 
Mayla  A.  Botsford 
Anna  L.  Carlson 
William    E.    Driscoll 
Arthur  W.  Fairchild 
Herbert  C.  Ferris 
Lucie  F.  Wright 
Marv  A.  Northrop 

Class    of   1912 
Jesse  M.  Bailey 
Marguerite  K.  Beecher 
Michael  J.  Blake 
George  M.  Ferris 
Helen  M.  Keane 
Catherine  A.  Lester 
Joseph  D.  Keane 
L.  Phillips  Morris 
Annie  G.  Murphy 
Edith  N.  Northrop 
James  A.  Peck 
S.  Bessie  Ruffles 
Horace  A.  Smith 

Class    of   1913 
Elizabeth  H.  Blake 
Charles  W.   Botsford 
Annie  C.  Brenner 
George  G.  Canfield 
Robert  D.  Fairchild 


Gordon  J.  Gale 
C.  Frances  Griffin 
Frank  L.  Johnson 
Helen  A.  Kilbride 
Mary  C.  Kilbride 
Viola  P.  Kutscher 

Class    of    1914 
H.  Sanford  Beers 
Sarah  A.  Beers 
Mildred  Christopher 
G.  Herbert  Beers 
Jessie  M.  Beers 
Arthur  J.  Ferris 
Florence  N.  Gaffney 
Israel  Goldstein 
Thomas  F.  Keane 
Catherine  C.  Mayers 
Evelyn  B.  Read 
Alice  C.  Smith 

E.  Marion  Summers 

F.  Leonard  Wright 
Charlesina    E.    Driscoll 
Jennie   R.  Honan 

Class    of    1915 
Amy  M.  Bantle 
Esther  M.  Beck 
Marion  N.  Curtis 
Walter  L.  Glover 
Marv  V.  Houlihan 
Wilbur  E.  Olmstead 
Francis  H.  Piatt 
Grace  E.  Ruffles 
George   M.   Stuart 
Russell  H.  Wheeler 

Class    of    1916 
Bertha  Summers 
Alaude  Summers 
Hazel  Hopkins 
Herman  Oppe 
Earle  Wentsch 
Anna  Corbett 
j\Iary  Keane 
Catherine  Scanlon 
Dorothy  Harris 
Mollie   Goldstein 
Mae  Jordan 
Frank  Corbett 
Charles  Ferris 
John  Kelly 
Charles  Piatt 
Paul  Cavanaugh 
Philo   Botsford 

Class    of   1917 
Daniel  Christopher 
Charles  Olmstead 
Harold  Raj^ 
Anna   Lang 
Mary  Murphy 
Blanche  Gilbert 
Ruth  Tilson 
Mildred  Stevens 
Clarence   Skiff 
Mae  Fairchild 
Dora  Strisik 
Agnes  Leavy 
Aileen  Houlihan 


JOHN    BEACH    MEMORIAL    LIBRARY  233 

THE  JOHN   BEACH   MEMORIAL  LIBRARY. 

About  1874,  it  was  made  known  thit  a  contribution  of  100  volumes  would 
be  made  by  some  one  to  form  the  foundation  of  a  town  library,  provided 
other  books  should  be  purchased  and  a  library  association  organized  with- 
in a  year  from  the  date  of  the  gift.  The  donor  proved  to  be  Mrs  Caleb 
Baldwin,  whose  home  was  the  house  now  owned  by  Charles  F.  Beardsley. 
Sufficient  money  was  obtained  to  purchase  a  suitable  book-case  and  the 
fevv?  other  things  necessary,  and  the  Newtown  Library  Association  was 
organized,  Dec.  11,  1875,  in  the  post  office  building,  north  of  the  store  of 
R.  H.  Beers  &  Co. 

Its  history  up  to  July  23,  1900,  was  given  by  Mrs  Charles  S.  Piatt,  at  the 
laying  of  the  corner  stone  of  the  John  Beach  Memorial  Library: 

"It  was  organized  b}^  a  little  band  of  men  who  must  have  felt  and  known 
what  good  reading  means  to  a  place  like  this.  These  men,  Ezra  L.  Johnson, 
Abel  Stilson,  Douglas  Fairchild.  Edwin  Clarke,  Zalmon  S.  Peck,  Edgar  F. 
Hawlej',  Charles  Fairman  and  Elmer  Fairchild.  The  charter  was  received 
and  recorded  by  Charles  H.  Peck,  town  clerk,  Jan.  15,  1877;  also  recorded 
in  the  secretary's  office  at  Hartford,  Jan.  16,  1877.  It  was  soon  removed  to 
the  residence  of  Theophilus  Nichols.  It  started  with  100  books  and  Miss 
Charlotte  Nichols  librarian. 

The  Dramatic  Club  gave  the  proceeds  of  one  of  their  entertainments 
and  books  were  added  from  time  to  time  in  small  numbers.  In  1885,  the 
Association  was  in  a  critical  condition.  A  few,  realizing  this,  called  a 
meeting  and  elected  new  officers.  Prof.  Charles  S.  Piatt  was  made  presi- 
dent, a  room  was  hired  in  the  Brick  building  and  the  books  removed. 
Prof.  Piatt  and  wife  commenced  a  series  of  entertainments,  their  efforts 
were  abetted  by  a  few  faithful  workers,  the  public  responded  and,  at  the 
end  of  his  term  of  office,  $1360.00  had  been  raised  by  entertainments  alone, 
and  the  books  numbered  over  3000.  Again  the  life  of  the  Association 
seemed  threatened.  The  few  who  had  labored  so  hard  to  supply  the  funds 
of  the  institution  were  discouraged.  The  town  demanded  rent  for  the 
small  room  in  which  it  existed.  What  could  a  library  do  without  a  home 
in  which  to  exist?  It  was  then  put  into  the  heart  of  Rebecca  D.  Beach  to 
furnish  the  beautiful  home  for  which  we  are  now  assembled  to  laj^  the 
corner-stone,  which  will  commemorate  the  good  her  ancestors  labored  so 
nobly  to  impart  in  our  midst,  and  aid  in  carrying  on  this  institution  of 
which  we  may  justly  be  proud." 

The  following  have  at  this  time,  1900,  been  officially  connected 
with  the  Association : 

Presidents — Ezra  L.  Johnson,  Daniel  G.  Beers,  Marcus  C.  Hawley,  Rev. 
J.  A.  Crockett,  Charles  S.  Piatt,  Arthur  S.  Hawley,  Samuel  J.  Botsford, 
Rev.  George  T.  Linsley. 

Vice-presidents — Charles  M.  Beresford,  Rev.  G.  M.  Wilkins,  Edgar  F. 
Hawlej',  Reuben  H.  Smith,  William  A.  Leonard,  Rev.  George  T.  Linsley, 
Rev.  O.  W.  Barker 

Secretaries — Mary  F.  Peck,  J.  F.  Gillette,  Mary  E.  Beers,  Eflfie  M.  Glover, 
Emma  F.  Terrill,  Ella  E.  Piatt. 

Librarians — Charlotte  E.  Nichols,  Mrs.  John  Gay,  Miss  Abbie  L.  Peck. 

Treasurers — Miss.  Mary  C.  Morgan,  C.  H.  Northrop,  Arthur  T.  Nettleton. 

Trustees — Abel  Stilson,  Marcus  C.  Hawley,  E.  F.  Hawley,  D.  G.  Beers, 
A.  F.  Clark,  Charles  M.  Beresford,  Charles  H.  Gay,  George  P.  Sanford, 
C.  F.  Beardsley,  Prof.  Shultz,  Rev.  O.  W.  Barker. 

The  corner-stone  was  laid  by  John  Francis  Beach,  seventh  in 
descent  from  Rev.  John  Beach,  assisted  by  John  Kimberly  Beach, 
sixth  in  descent.    The  box  deposited  in  the  corner-stone  contained 

Newtown  Bee,  July  13,  1900;  eight  clippings  from  copies  of  the  Bee 
relating  to  the  library;  the  Newtown  Courier  published  by  R.  H.  Beers 
&  Co;  the  New  York  Times,  July  23.  1900;  Pathfinder,  June  10,  1850;  cata- 
logue of  Newtown  Library;  historical  sketch  of  library  by  Mrs.  C.  S.  Piatt; 
list  of  present  officers;  autographs  of  present  officers;  list  of  present 
subscribers  and  honorary  members;  autograph  of  Miss  Rebecca  D.  Beach, 
John  Francis  Beach  and  John  Kimberly  Beach;  Columbian  half-dollar  from 
Rev.  George  T.  Linsley;  minor  coins  of  years  1899  and  1900  from  Arthur  T. 


234  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Nettleton;  paper  stating  that  box  was  sealed  by  Daniel  Camp,  July  23 
1900;  paper  stating  that  corner-stone  was  laid  by  John  Francis  Beach, 
assisted  by  John  Kimberly  Beach;  copy  of  Ulster  County  Gazette,  Jan.  4, 
1800;    Newtown  Academician,  April,  1874. 

The  corner-stone  was  formally  laid  by  John  Francis  Beach,  who 
said:  "I  lay  the  corner-stone  of  this  Library  to  the  memory  of  John 
Beach.'"     He  was  assisted  by  his  uncle,  John  Kimberly  Beach. 

The  building  was  completed  and  formall}'  opened,  Dec.  11,  1900, 
at  which  time  it  was  presented  to  the  Library  Association  by  Miss 
Rebecca  Beach.  Ladies  assisting  at  the  reception :  Mrs  G.  T. 
Linsley,  I\Irs  G.  P.  Sanford,  Mrs  L.  C.  Morris,  Mrs.  W.  J.  Beecher, 
Mrs.  6.  \V.  Barker,  Mrs.  Grace  Glover.  In  1903,  the  Association 
failed  in  its  attempt  to  have  the  town  make  it  a  free  library.  In 
1907,  the  library  was  catalogued  by  High  School  pupils  under  the 
direction  of  Prof.  Ross  Jewell.  The  Dewey  Decimal  Classification 
and  Cutter's  Order  mark  was  used,  and  index  was  made  upon  a 
typewriter. 

Officers  since  the  opening  of  the  new  library:  President,  Rev.  George  T. 
Linsley,  1899-1901;  Vice-president,  Rev.  Otis  W.  Barker._President,  1902-05; 
Rev.  James  H.  George  (A'ice-president).  President  1905  until  his  decease, 
January  1,  1917:  Dr.  F.  J.  Gale,  (Vice-president,)  now  acting  President. 
Treasurer,  Air.  A.  T.  Nettleton,  1900-1908.     Mr.  A.  J.  Smith,  1909-1917. 

Secretaries — Mrs.  Chas.  S.  Piatt.  Mrs.  William  S.  Hawley,  Mrs.  Austin 
B.  Blakeman. 

Trustees — A.  P.  Smith,  C.  F.  Beardslev.     Librarian — Miss  Abbie  Peck. 


MEMORIALS  GIVEN  SINCE  1900: 

Alemorial  shelf  in  memorv  of  Herbert  Skidmore,  by  Mrs.  Estella  Skid- 
more  Beard.  1900. 

Memorial  shelf  in  memory  of  Henry  Botsford  Dikeman,  bv  Mrs.  Oscar 
Dikeman,  1901. 

Memorial  shelf  in  memorv  of  Mrs.  Helen  M.  Laflin,  by  Mrs.  Grace 
Allen,  1903. 

Memorial  shelf  in  memorv  of  Henrv  Glover  Beecher,  bj'  W.  J.  Beecher 
and  family,  1904. 

Memorial  shelf  in  memory  of  Marv  Carter  Booth,  by  Rev.  Robert  C. 
Booth,  1904. 

Memorial  shelf  in  mem.ory  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  D.  Gardner,  by  Mrs.  Wm. 
Gardner,  1907. 

Alemorialshelf  in  memory  of  Prof.  Charles  S  Piatt,  by  Mrs  Ella  E.  Piatt,  1909. 

Alemorial  shelf  in  memorv  of  Abel  French  Clarke,  by  Airs.  Abel  F. 
Clarke,    1914. 

S300  from  Air.  and  Airs  Austin  B.  Blakeman  for  the  Helen  Alac  Gregor 
Blakeman  fund  for  books  for  girls,  1910.  , 

$500  from  estate  of  Abel  French  Clarke,  1914. 

Airs.  Julia  Chase  who  died  at  Sharon,  Conn.,  Sept.  13,  1904,  presented  to 
Newtown  Library  through  her  executor  Dr.  Wm.  W.  Knight,  a  cup  and 
saucer  belonging  to  a  set  used  in  the  family  of  her  great,  great  grand- 
father. Rev.  John  Beach;  also  one  of  his  sermons  and  a  Alasonic  apron  of 
her  grandfather's,  Isaac  Beach,  son  of  Lazarus  Beach,  born  Alay  19,  1773, 
died  July  20,  1822,  aged  49  years  and  2  months,  1  day. 


PROF.  CHARLES  L.  PLATT 


See  Pages  88  and  232 


MAIN   STREET   EOOKING   SOUTH 

Residence  Mrs.   S.   G.   Glover 
Opposite    Beach    Meiiioria!    Library 

See  Page  232 


BEACH  MEMORIAL  LIBRARY 

See  Page  233 


JOHN    BEACH    MEMORIAL    LIBRARY  235 

A  sword  presented  to  Capt.  Julius  Sanford  in  October  1862,  by  Newtown 
friends,  taken  from  him  when  prisoner  in  1863,  was  returned  to  his  daugh- 
ters, Mrs.  Sherwood  Thompson  and  Mrs.  Gertrude  Bolmer  of  New  Haven, 
in  1910,  and  by  the  mpresented  to  Newtown  Library. 

The  sword  presented  by  Newtown  friends  bears  this  inscription: 

"Capt.  Julius   Sanford,  Co.   C,  23rd  Regt.   C.  V.      Presented  Oct.   1862,  by 
many  friends  of  Newtown,  Conn.,  as  a  token  of  respect." 

Capt.  Sanford  was  a  prisoner  at  Camp  Ford.  Tyler,  Texas,  for 
14  months  and  died  November  1,  1879,  as  a'result  of  this  imprison- 
ment, leaving  a  widow  and  two  daughters,  Mrs.  Sherwood  S. 
Thompson  and  Mrs.  Clarence  B.  Bolmar.  Through  the  postmasters 
of  New^town,  Conn.,  and  Leadbetter,  Texas,  Mrs.  Thompson  was 
placed  in  communication  with  Dan  Hensley  of  Leadbetter,  Texas, 
who  had  the  sword  in  his  possession.  In  his  letter  he  says,  "My 
brother,  Mount  Hensley,  was  a  Confederate  soldier  in  Co.  2,  Texas 
Cavalry,  Queen's  Brigade,  and  was  stationed  in  Louisiana  in  1863. 
My  brother  while  scouting  took  some  Federal  soldiers  prisoners, 
among  them,  Capt.  Sanford.  Shortly  after  he  came  home  on  fur- 
lough, and  brought  the  sword  with  him.  My  brother  was  killed  in 
March,  1864.  The  sword  has  been  hanging  in  our  house  nearly  47 
years,  and  is  a  bad  specimen  of  its  former  beauty." 

The  sword  is  placed  in  a  handsome  case  and  hangs  in  the  New- 
town Library. 

The  sword  was  taken  from  Capt.  Sanford  when  he  was  taken 
prisoner  in  Bayou  Beouz  La.,  June  24,  1863. 


SANDY  HOOK  FREE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY. 

The  Sandy  Hook  Free  Public  Library  Association  was  incorpor- 
ated June  25,  1906,  on  application  of  Otis  Olney  Wright,  Smith  P. 
Glover,  George  F.  Taylor,  Daniel  J.  Keane,  Albert  W.  Bassett,  and 
H.  Birdsey  Sniffen.  It  is  located  in  the  Glover  Block  in  a  room 
generously  donated  by  S.  P.  Glover.  Rev.  O.  O.  Wright  was  the 
first  chairman  of  the  board  of  directors  and  served  continuously 
until  his  removal  from  Sandy  Hook  in  1912.  The  organization  of 
the  library  and  its  maintainence  during  those  years  was  in  large 
measure  due  to  his  efforts.  The  library  was  incorporated  as  a  free 
library  and  it  has  always  been  so  maintained.  It  is  open  to  all 
inhabitants  of  the  town,  free  of  charge,  and  money  for  its  support 
is  raised  entirely  by  voluntary  subscription  and  public  entertain- 
ments. The  present  number  of  books  in  circulation  is  2458  and  the 
number  of  takers  of  books  149. 

Miss  May  McNamara,  now  the  librarian,  receives  no  salary,  and 
those  who  have  served  in  this  capacity  are  Mrs.  Arthur  Kennedy, 
Mrs.  W.  H.  Stevens  and  Mrs.  H.  Birdsey  Sniffen. 

Contributed  by  Mrs.  Edith  W.  Mitchell,  Secretary. 


236  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 


NEWTOWN  SAVINGS  BANK. 

The  Newtown  Savings  Bank  was  incorporated  in  June,  1855,  by 
the  Legislature  of  Connecticut.  The  incorporators  were  Henry 
Beers,  Henry  Beers  Glover,  Edward  Starr,  Theophilus  Nichols, 
Henry  Sanford,  Samuel  Curtis,  S.  P.  Barnum,  Henry  Baldwin,  D.  B. 
Beers,  Jerome  Tudson,  Monroe  Judson,  Moses  Parsons,  James  B. 
Blakeslee.  Charles  F.  Blakeslee.  Alva  B.  Beecher,  Samuel  B.  Peck, 
William  Beard,  Zerah  Fairman,  David  H.  Johnson  and  Walter 
Clarke. 

None  of  these  corporators  are  now  living,the  last  one  Charles  F. 
Blakeslee,  died  in  Franklin,  Pa.  July  8,  1913. 

In  a  pass-book  issued  by  the  bank  in  September,  1855,  the  depos- 
itor was  informed  that  the  bank  had  "been  established  for  the 
purpose  of  affording  a  secure  investment  to  persons  who  have  not 
the  facilities  of  safely  putting  their  income  otherwise  to  use."  That 
this  principle  has  been  maintained  is  borne  out  by  the  steady 
growth  and  financial  strength  of  this  excellent  institution. 

Sixty-four  years  ago,  the  favored  spot  in  which  we  now  dwell  was 
the  same  as  it  is  to-day,  in  this  one  respect ;  it  possessed  men  who 
believed  in  uprightness  and  moral  integrity,  and  they  also  believed 
that  it  was  a  good  thing  to  plant  in  this  neighborhood  an  institu- 
tion that  should  stand  for  these  principles,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
afford  to  men  and  women  of  humble  means  an  opportunity  to  lay 
by  little  by  little,  such  sums  as  they  could  spare  from  their  neces- 
sary expenses,  as  might  ,  in  the  future,  be  of  help  to  them  in  pro- 
curing a  home  or  enabling  them  to  provide  for  themselves,  or  those 
depending  upon  them,  some  substantial  support,  which  stress  of 
circumstances  that  might  overtake  them  should  demand. 

The  early  incorporators  of  the  Newtown  Savings  Bank  were  men 
of  sterling  worth  and,  whether  they  builded  better  than  they  knew 
or  not,  they  builded  well,  and  the  principles  they  laid  down  in  the 
original  by-laws,  and  in  the  first  books  they  issued  to  depositors, 
show  wisdom  and  foresightedness. 

Pursuant  to  notice  given  by  Henr}^  Beers  Glover,  committee 
appointed  by  the  Legislature,  the  first  meeting  to  organize  the 
Newtown  Savings  Bank  was  held  at  the  office  of  David  B.  Beers 
in  Newtown,  July  14,  1855. 

After  hearing  the  charter  read,  the  meeting  adjourned  to  August 
25,  1855,  to  meet  at  the  same  place.  At  this  meeting,  the  by-laws 
proposed  by  Mr.  Glover  were  adopted  and  officers  elected  as 
follows : 

President,  Henry  Beers.  Vice-presidents,  David  H.  Johnson,  Edward  Starr 
and  Samuel  B.  Peck.  Secretary  and  Treasurer  Henry  Beers  Glover. 
Trustees,  Walter  Clarke,  Henry  Beers  Glover,  David  B.  Beers,  Theophilus 
Nichols,  Jerome  Judson,  Henry  Baldwin,  Alva  B.  Beecher,  Henry  Sanford, 
Moses  Parsons,  Zerah  Fairman,  Samuel  Curtis,  James  B.  Blakeslee,  Sallu 
P.  Barnum,  Monroe  Judson,  Charles  F.  Blakeslee  and  William  Beard. 

The  bank  commenced  business,  September  15,  1855,  in  the  office 
of  Henry  Beers  Glover.  The  first  depositors  that  day  were  Mr. 
Glover,  Charles  Henry  Peck  and  his  wife,  Hannah  D.  F.  Peck. 


SIMEON  B.  PECK 

See    Page    2.37 


NEWTOWN  SAVINGS  BANK  237 

November  15,  1858,  Theophilus  Nichols  was  elected  president  for 
the  ensuing  year.  November  5,  1859,  Charles  Warner  was  elected 
secretary  and  treasurer.  October  20,  1860,  Henry  Beers  was  again 
elected  president  and  Henry  Beers  Glover,  secretary  and  treasurer. 
On  this  day,  it  was  voted  "that  the  president,  vice-president  and 
secretary  be  a  committee  to  procure  a  safe  for  this  bank  at  not 
exceeding  $100."  At  this  time  the  bank  had  $6,825.06  loaned  on 
real-estate  in  other  States,  $3,500  of  this  amount  being  loaned  in 
Milwaukee  at  10  per  cent.  March  18,  1865,  David  H.  Johnson  was 
unanimously  elected  president  in  place  of  Henry  Beers,  deceased. 
In  this  year,  more  than  one-half  of  the  bank's  deposits  were  invest- 
ed in  United  States  bonds.  At  a  special  meeting,  March  30,  1870, 
Henry  T.  Nichols  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Henry  Beers  Glover.  In  this  year, 
the  bank  was  moved  from  the  residence  of  Mr.  Glover  to  the  home 
of  Mr.  Nichols,  now  the  annex  to  Newtown  Inn.  November  5,  1870, 
Ezra  Morgan  was  elected  president.  October  31,  1871,  Simeon  B. 
Peck  was  elected  president.  October  23,  1883,  he  having  declined 
a  re-election,  Philo  Clarke  was  elected  president. 

At  a  special  meeting,  Aug.  6,  1887,  Charles  H.  Northrop  was  elec- 
ted secretary  and  treasurer,  to  succeed  Henry  T.  Nichols,  deceased. 
August  31,  1887,  the  bank  was  moved  from  the  residence  of  the  late 
Mr.  Nichols  to  an  office  in  the  Henry  Sanford  building.  October  23, 
1897,  John  B.  Peck  was  elected  president  in  place  of  Philo  Clarke, 
deceased.  October  25,  1898,  he  was  succeeded  by  Aaron  Sanford 
and  Arthur  T.  Nettleton  was  elected  secretary  and  treasurer.  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1902,  David  C.  Peck  was  elected  president,  filling  the 
vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Sanford. 

December  8,  1906,  the  old  Academy  lot,  so  called,  between  the 
Congregational  parsonage  and  the  residence  formerly  owned  by 
David  B.  Beers,  was  purchased  by  the  bank  from  Mrs.  Emma  S. 
Beers,  of  Natick,  Mass.  It  has  a  frontage  of  60  feet  and  a  depth  of 
120  feet. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  trustees,  December  15,  1906,  it  was  voted 
that  Arthur  T.  Nettleton,  David  C.  Peck  and  Cornelius  B.  Taylor  be 
a  building  committee  to  have  plans  and  specifications  prepared  for 
the  erection  of  a  bank  building  on  said  lot.  March  8,  1907,  after 
hearing  the  report  of  said  building  committee,  it  was  voted  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  erection  of  a  new  bank  building  on  the  lot  recently 
purchased  for  the  purpose.  It  was  further  voted  that  said  building 
committee  be  authorized  and  empowered  to  make  such  contracts  as 
they  deemed  proper  and  sufficient  for  the  erection  of  said  building 
and  to  have  the  supervision  and  direction  of  the  work  specified  in 
contracts.  The  bids  were  opened  in  the  spring  of  1907,  but  were 
high  and  unsatisfactory  and  it  was  decided  to  defer  building  for  a 
time.  The  matter  was  taken  up  again  the  latter  part  of  1908;  con- 
tracts were  let  in  March,  1909  and  ground  was  first  broken  March 
15,  1909,  by  the  treasurer,  Arthur  T.  Nettleton. 

Joseph  McArthur  Vance  of  Pittsfield,  Mass  was  the  architect  of 
the  building  and  E.  H.  Shaw  of  Great  Barrington,  Mass,  the  con- 
tractor.    The  Barrington  Building  Co.  had  the  sub-contract  from 


238  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

Mr.  Shaw  for  the  interior  work.  M.  G.  Keane  of  Bridgeport,  Conn., 
furnished  the  granite  and  lime  stone  and  E.  J.  Hall  of  Sandy  Hook, 
Conn  ,  the  contract  for  the  heating  and  plumbing. 

The  vaults  of  the  bank  were  built  by  the  York  Safe  and  Lock  Co. 
of  York,  Pa.,  and  are  of  massive  construction.  The  building  is  of 
the  modified  French  Renaissance  type  of  architecture,  30  by  50  feet, 
and  is  constructed  of  Pompeian  brick,  trimmed  with  Indiana  lime- 
stone and  terra-cotta. 

May  5,  1910,  the  bank  formally  opened  its  doors  for  business  in 
its  new  home. 

The  first  annual  report  of  the  bank,  Oct.  1,  1855,  showed  deposits 
of  $17,165.43.  Oct.  1,  1918,  the  deposits  were  $1,391,942.79  and  the 
surplus  and  undivided  earnings  on  book  and  par  value  of  securities 
were  $121,639-50.  The  present  officers  and  trustees  of  the  bank 
are: 

President,  David  C.  Peck;  Vice-Presidents,  Cornelius  B.  Taylor,  John  B. 
Wheeler  and  Theron  E.  Piatt.  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  Arthur  T.  Nettle- 
ton.  Trustees,  David  C.  Peck,  John  B.  Wheeler,  Theron  E.  Piatt,  Cornelius 
B.  Taylor,  Henry  G.  Curtis,  Hobart,  H.  Curtis,  Frank  Wright,  Arthur  T. 
Nettlcton,  Edward  S.  Lovell,  Robert  C.  Mitchell,  Eli  B.  Beers,  William  B. 
Glover,  William  T.  Cole,  H.  Carlton  Hubbell,  Arthur  J.  Smith  and  Thomas 
M.  Holian. 

David  C.  Peck  was  first  elected  trustee,  Oct.  23,  1883,  and  presi- 
dent, Feb.,  25,  1902.  Cornelius  B.  Tavlor  was  elected  trustee,  Oct. 
23,  1897,  and  vice-president,  Oct.  25,  '1902.  John  B.  Wheeler,  Oct. 
20,  1888,  and  a  vice-president,  Oct.  25,  1913  ;Theron  E.  Piatt,  Oct. 
18,  1890,  and  a  vice-president,  Oct.  25,  1913. 

In  this  brief  history  of  the  Newtown  Savings  Bank,  space  does 
not  permit  biographies  of  the  officers  and  trustees  from  1855  to 
1919.  Within  this  long  period  of  time  59  have  passed  away.  From 
this  large  number  who  have  departed  in  the  last  few  years  are  Wm. 
Homer  Hubbell,  trustee  from  Feb.  25,  1902,  to  Sept.  16,  1912 ;  Daniel 
Glover  Beers,  trustee  from  Oct.  26,  1878,  to  Feb.  12,  1913 ;  and  a 
vice-president  from  Oct.  26,  1895,  to  Feb.  12,  1913;  Austin  B.  Blake- 
man,  trustee  from  Oct.  25,  1913,  to  Oct.  19,  1915;  Judge  William  J. 
Beecher,  attorney  for  the  bank  and  trustee  from  Oct.  26,  1901,  to 
Dec.  3,  1915,  and  William  A.  Leonard,  trustee  from  Oct  .25,  1902,  to 
April  13,  1918. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  Presidents,  Treasurers  and  Trustees, 
with  their  terms  of  service,  from  incorporation  of  the  bank  to 
January  1,  1919. 

PRESIDENTS. 

Henry  Beers,  from  August  25th,  1855,  to  November  IS,  1858. 
Theophilus  Nichols,  Nov.  15,  1858,  to  October  20,  1860. 
Henry  Beers,  October,  20,  1860,  to  November  19,  1864. 
David  H.  Johnson,  March  18,  1865,  to  November  5,  1870. 
Ezra  Morgan,  Nov.  5,  1870.  to  October  31st,  1871. 
Simeon  B.  Peck,  October  31,  1871,  to  October  23.  1883. 
Philo  Clarke,  October  23.  1883,  to  March  3,  1897. 
John  B.  Peck,  October  23,  1897.  to  October  25,  1898. 
Aaron  Sanford.  October  25.  1898,  to  February  10,  1902 
David  C.  Peck,  February  25,  1902,  to  date  (Jan.  1,  1919.) 


PHILO  CLARKE 

See    Page    238 


DAVID  C.  PECK 

See    Page    238 


NEWTOWN  SAVINGS  BANK  239 

TREASURERS. 

Henry  Beers  Glover,  August  25,  1855,  to  November  5,  1859. 
Charles  C.  Warner,  November  5,  1859,  to  October  20,  1860. 
Henry  Beers  Glover,  October  20,  1860  to  March  26,  1870. 
Henry  T.  Nichols,  March  30,  1870,  to  August  1,  1887. 
Charles  H.  Northrop,  August  6,  1887,  to  October  25,  1898. 
Arthur  Treat  Nettleton,  October  25,  1898,  to  date  (Jan.  1,  1919.) 

TRUSTEES. 

Baldwin,  Henry         Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Oct.  28,  1865. 

Oct.  31,  1866,  to  Oct.  29,  1870. 
Barnum,   S.  P.  Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Nov.  14,  1857. 

Nov.  5,  1859,  to  1861. 
Blakeslee.Chas.  F.     Aug.  25,   1855,  to  Nov.   15,  1858. 
Blakeslee,  James  B.  Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Nov.  5,  1859. 

Oct.  26,  1861,  to  Oct.  26,  1863. 
Blackman,  Bennet     Oct.  31,  1866,  to  Oct.  19,  1870. 
Blackman,  Joseph     Oct.  31,  1866,  to  1877. 
Blakeman,Austin  B.  Oct.  25,  1913,  to  Oct.  19,  1915. 
Beecher,  Alva  B.       Aug.  25,   1855,  to  Nov.  5,   1859.     (Vice-President,   1860.) 

Oct.  26,   1861,  to  Oct.  25,   1867. 
Beecher.WilliamJ.    Oct.  26,  1901,  to  Dec.  3,  1915. 
Beers,  Henry  Nov.  14,  1857,  to  November  19,  1864. 

Beers,  Daniel  G.        Oct.  26,  1878,  to  Feb.   12,  1913.     Also  one  of  the  Vice- 
Presidents  from  Oct.  26,  1895,  to  Feb.  12,  1913. 
Beers,  Eli  B.  Oct.  24,  1903,  to  date  (Jan.  1,  1919). 

Beers,  David  B.         August  25,  1855  to  Oct.  27,  1866. 
Beard  William.  Aug.  25,  1855,  to  July  29th,  1857. 

Booth,  Lewis.  Nov.   14,   1857,  to  Oct.  20,  1860.     Oct.  21,   1861,  to   1867. 

Booth,  C.  H.  Oct.  20,   1860,   to   Oct.  21,   1861.     Oct.  22,   1864  to   1866. 

Botsford,  William     Oct.  22,  1879,  to  Nov.  2nd  1898. 

Clarke,  Walter.  Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Nov.  14,  1857. 

Clarke,Philo.  Oct.  20,  1860,  to  March  3,  1897. 

Clarke,  Edwin.  Oct.  30,  1875,  to  Oct.  26,  1878. 

Curtis,  Samuel.  Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Nov.  5,  1859.     Oct.  31,  1863,  to  Oct.  27, 

1866.    Oct.  31,  1871,  to  Oct.  31,  1872. 

Curtis,  Henry  G.  Oct.  25,   1882,  to   Oct.  23,   1883.     Oct.  23,  1897,  to   date. 

Curtis,  Hobart  H.  Oct.  25,   1898,  to   date.     (Jan.   1,   1919.) 

Cole,  William  T.  Oct.  24,  1914,  to  date.     (Jan.  1,  1919.) 

Erwin,  Erastus.         Oct.  28,  1865,  to  Oct.  29,  1870. 

Fairman,  Zerah         Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Oct.  20,  1860. 
Oct.  26,  1881,  to  Mar.  21,  1875. 
Fairchild,  Herman    Oct.  29,  1870,  to  May  29,  1874. 

Glover,  Henry  Beers  Aug.  25,  1855,  to  March  26,  1870. 
Glover,  Smith  P.       Oct.  30,  1875,  to  Oct.  26,  1878. 
Glover,WalterH.        Oct.  28,  1899,  to  Jan.  16,  1901. 
Glover,  William  B.  Oct.  26,  1912,  to  date.     (Jan.  1,  1919.) 

Hawley,  Asa  N.         Oct.  26,  1887,  to  1889. 
Hawley,  Robert  S.    Oct.  28,  1885,  to  Oct.  27,  1887. 
Hubbell,Wm.HomerFeb.  25,  1902,  to  Sept.  16,  1912. 
Hubbell,  H.Carlton  Oct.  30,  1917,  to  date.     (Jan.  1,  1919.) 
Holian,  Thomas  M.  Oct.  28,  1918,  to  date.     (Jan.  1,  1919.) 

Judson,  Monroe.  Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Nov.  15.  1858.  Oct.  20,  1860,  to  Oct.  26, 
1861.  Oct.  27,  1866,  to  Oct.  29,  1870.  Oct.  21,  1873.  to 
March  28,  1898. 

Judson,  Jerome  Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Nov.  15,  1858.    Oct.  21,  1881,  to  May 

15,  1891. 

Judson,  John.  Oct.  21,  1873,  to  Feb.  27,  1881. 


240  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN 

Tohnson,  David  H.  Oct.  20,  1860,  to  Oct.  26,  1861.  (one  of  the  Vice-Presi- 
dents, 1861,  1862,  1863,  1864.)  Re-elected  Trustee  Oct. 
27,  1862.  Continued  to  Oct.  28,  1865.  when  he  was 
elected  President.    Trustee  Oct.  25,  1867,  to  Oct.  29,1870. 

Lovell,  Edward  S.    Oct.  28,  1899,  to  date.     (Jan.  1,  1919.) 
Leonard,WilliamA.  Oct.  25,  1902,  to  April  13,  1918. 

Mitchell,  Robert  C.    Oct.  20,  1900,  to  date.     (Jan.  1,  1919.) 

Nichols,  TheophilusAug.  25,   1855,  to  Oct.  27,   1862. 
Nichols,  Henry  T.     March  30,  1870,  to  Oct.  26,  1878. 
Nichols,  Philo.  Oct.  23,  1883,  to  Oct.  24.  1914. 

Nortrop,  Wm.  N.        Oct.  31,  1874,  to  Oct.  28,  1899. 
Northrop,  Hosea  B.  Oct.  26.  1878,  to  Oct.  25,  1902. 
Northrop,  Charles  H.Oct.  28,   1885,  to   Oct.  28,   1899. 
Northrop,  John  J.     Oct.  21.  1891.  to  Oct.  25,  1898. 
Nettleton,ArthurT.  Nov.  17,  1898,  to  date.     (Jan.  1.  1919.) 

Parsons,  Moses.  Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Nov.  14,  1857.  (Elected  one  of  the 
Vice-Presidents,  Nov.  14,  1857.  Served  one  year.  Vice- 
President  from  1860  to  1868.)  Trustee  from  Nov.  15, 
1858  to  Oct.  31,  1874. 

Peck,  Simeon  B.        Nov.  15,  1858,  to  June  6  ,1885. 

Peck,  Hezekiah.         Oct.  30.  1862,  to  Oct.  31,  1866.     Oct.  30,  1869,  to  1881. 

Peck,  Amos  G.  Oct.  28,  1865,  to  Oct.  31,  1871. 

Peck,  Charles  Henry  Oct.  29,  1870,  to  Oct.  26,  1878. 

Peck,  Elliott  M.        Oct.  26.  1878.  to  Dec.  1,  1886. 

Peck,  David  C.  Oct.  23,  1883,  to  date.     (Jan.  1,  1919.) 

Peck,  John  B.  Oct.  27,  1887.  to  Dec.  2,  1899. 

Prindle,  Abel  B.        Oct.  31,  1872,  to  Oct.  21.  1873.     Oct.  27,  1887,  to  Oct.  20, 


Piatt,  Theron  E.        Oct.  18,  1890,  to   date.     (Jan.    1,   1919.) 

Sanford,  Henry.         Aug.  25,  1855,  to  Nov.  19,  1882. 

Sanford,  Frederick.  Nov.  14,  1857,  to  Nov.  15,  1858.     Nov.  5,  1859,  to  Oct.  26, 

1861. 
Sanford,  Aaron.         Oct.  31,  1871,  to  Feb.  10,  1902. 
Starr,  Edward.  Nov.  15,  1858,  to  Nov.  5,  1859.     Oct.  27,  1862,  to  Oct.  22, 

1864. 
Skidmore,  Philo  H.  Oct.  29,  1870,  to  Oct.  26,  1878. 
Stilson,  Abel.  Oct.  31.  1874.  to  1886. 

Sherman,  Cyrus  B.    Oct.  26,  1878,  to  Sept.  16,  1903. 
Smith,  Arthur  J.         Oct.  30,  1917,  to  date.     (Jan.  1,  1919.) 

Terrill,  Botsford.       Nov.  14,  1857.  to  Oct.  26,  1861. 

Terrill,  A.  B.  Nov.  15,  1858,  to  Nov.  5,  1859.     Oct.  26,  1861  to  Oct.  30, 

1875. 
Terrill,  Wm.  L.  Oct.  28,  1865,  to  June  11.  1897. 

Taylor,  Cornelius  B.Oct.  23,  1897,  to  date.     (Jan.  1,  1919.) 

Warner,  Charles  C.  Oct.  20,  1860,  to  Oct.  27,  1862.    Oct.  29,  1870,  to  1884. 

Warner.  James  H.     Oct.  26,  1878.  to  Oct.  22.  1879. 

Wheeler,  John  B.      Oct.  20,  1888,  to  date   (Tan.   1,  1919). 

Wright,  Frank  Oct.  25,  1898,  to  date.     (Jan.   1,  1919.) 

FREE    MASONRY    IN    NEWTOWN. 

The  history  of  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  18.  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  is  divided 
into  two  parts : 

The  first  period  of  its  records  begins  with  the  order  for  the  in- 
stitution of  the  lodge,  dated  at  New  Haven,  Jan.  6th,  1791,  and 
extends  to  April  15th,  1848.  Its  charter  was  revoked  in  1851  and 
restored  in  1866;  accordingly,  the  second  period  of  its  active  exist- 
ence dates  from  its  revival  in  1866  and  continues  until  this  present 


ARTHUR  T.  NETTLETON 

See  Page  240 


CORNELIUS  B.  TAYLOR 

See    Page    241 


FREE   MASONRY   IN   NEWTOWN  241 

time.  There  are  57  years  of  ancient  records  and  51  years  of  modern, 
with  a  dormant  space  of  25  years  between;  the  charter  is,  therefore, 
126  years  old,  1917. 

The  order  for  the  consecration  of  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  18: 

"New  Town  A.  D.  1791,  5791,  January  17th,  Monday. 

Hiram's  Lodge  Consecrated  and  the  Worshipful  Master  Installed  in  due 
form  by  Right  Worshipful  Master  Nathan  Preston  by  virtue  of  a  warrant 
from  The  Most  Worshipful  Grand  Master  of  Connecticut,  in  the  following 
words,  i.  e. — 

To  the  Right  Worshipful  Nathan  Preston,  Master  of  King  Solomon's 
Lodge  in  Woodbury : 

Pierpont  Edwards,  Grand  Master  of  the  State  of  Connecticut,  sendeth 
Greetings  : 

Whereas  the  Grand  Lodge  of  sd  (State)  have  constituted  a  lodge  in  New- 
town (by  the)  name  of  Hiram  Lodge  and  have  (appointed)  Brother  Peter 
Nichols  of  said  Newtown  (to  be  Master)  of  said  Hiram  Lodge  and  said 
(brethren)  have  requested  that  the  (said)  Lodge  should  be  (consecrated.) 

[Words  in  parenthesis  (  )  doubtful.] 

I  do  therefore  request  and  authorize  to  repair  to  said  New  Town  on  the 
third  Monday  inst.  January  and  at  such  time  and  place  in  sd  Newtown  as 
said  brother  Nichols  shall  appoint  to  Install  him  in  the  presence  of  the  said 
Lodge,  first  Master  thereof,  giving  him  the  charges  accustomed  on  such 
occasions  and  in  particular  that  he  regard  the  ancient  land  marks  and 
great  principles  of  the  noble  and  blessed  institution  of  Masonry — 

Given  under  my  hand  in  New  Haven  the  sixth  day  of  January  A.  L.  5791 — 

Pierpont  Edwards, 

Gd.  Master." 

The  original  charter  of  this  lodge,  under  which  we  are  now  work- 
ing, bears  the  date  of  January  19th,  1791,  and  reads  as  follows: — 

"To  all  and  every  one.  Right  Worshipful  and  loving  brethren.  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  now  residing,  or  that  may  hereafter  reside  in  New  Town 
in  the  county  of  Fairfield,  and  state  of  Connecticut.  The  right  Worshipful 
Pierpont  Edwards  Esquire  Grand  Master  of  the  Ancient  and  honorable 
society  of  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  in  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

Sendeth  Greeting. 

Whereas,  Application  hath  been  made  unto  us  by  Peter  Nichols, 
sundry  other  brethren,  of  the  ancient  and  honorable  Society  of  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons  now  residing  in  New  Town  aforesaid,  that  we  would  be 
pleased  to  constitute  them  into  a  regular  Lodge  and  appoint  their  worthy 
brother  Peter  Nichols  their  first  Master,  and  that  also  we  would  appoint 
Bennett  Perry  their  first  Senior  Warden  and  Jonathan  Prindle  their  first 
Junior  Warden,  with  full  power  granted  to  them  and  their  Successors,  to 
rule  govern  and  regulate  the  same  that  Masonry  may  increase  &  flourish 
in  these  parts. 

Now  Know  Ye,  That  we  trusting  and  relying  on  the  fidelity,  resolution 
and  good  conduct,  and  putting  in  them  as  special  trust,  have  nominated, 
ordained,  constituted  and  appointed  Mr.  Peter  Nichols  our  right  Worship- 
ful &  well  beloved  brother,  to  be  the  first  Master  of  Hiram  Lodge  in 
Newtown  aforesaid,  and  that  our  beloved  brother  Mr.  Bennett  Perry  to 
the  first  Senior  Warden,  &  our  beloved  brother  Mr.  Jonathan  Prindle  the 
first  Junior  Warden  of  said  Lodge  and  we  do  hereby  impower  him  the 
said  Master  to  congregate  the  brethren  together,  and  form  them  into  a 
regular  Lodge,  he  taking  Especial  care  in  choosing  the  necessary  officers 
for  the  due  regulation  thereof  for  one  year,  at  the  end  thereof  the  Lodge 
shall  have  full  power  to  choose  and  appoint  their  Master,  &  other  officers 
and  so  annually:  The  Master  and  Wardens  for  the  time  being  taking 
especial  care  that  all  and  every  Member  admitted  into  sd  Lodge  from  time 
to  time  have  been  or  shall  be  made  Regular  Masons,  and  they  the  said 


242  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY   AND   HISTORIAN 

Master,  Wardens  and  brethren  of  said  Lodge  and  their  successors  forever, 
are  hereby  required  strictly  to  observe  and  obey  such  ordinances,  and  reg- 
ulations as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  communicated  to  them  from  this 
Grand  Lodge,  agreeable  to  the  Constitution  thereof,  and  that  they  do  an- 
nually send  an  account  in  writing  to  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  names  of  the 
Members  that  shall  be  made,  passed,  raised,  or  admitted  in  said  Lodge,  and 
their  places  of  abode,  &  the  day  and  place  of  making,  with  any  other  that 
they  think  proper  to  communicate  for  the  benefit  of  their  Lodge,  and 
lastly  that  they  do  regularly  communicate  with  the  Grand  Lodge  by  at- 
tending with  their  Master  &  Wardens  or  by  sending  to  the  half  yearly 
Communications  such  Charities  as  their  Lodge  shall  think  fit,  (for  the) 
for  the   relief   of   poor   brethren. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  seal  at  New  Haven  this  19th  day  of  Jan- 
uary Anno  Lucis   five   thousand   seven   hundred   ninety  one. 

Elias  Shipman,  Grand  Scc'ry. 

Pierpont  Edwards." 

Dated  Newtown 

May  10th  A.  L.  5791—" 

In  this  connection,  and  before  proceeding  with  the  direct  history  of 
Hiram  Lodge,  No.  18,  I  will  insert  here  a  copy  of  what  appears  to  be  an 
ofl[iciaI  communication  from  the  Master  of  the  original  Hiram  }>Iark  Lodge 
to  the  first  Master  of  this  Lodge.  It  is  interesting  and  valuable  as  showing 
to  what  extent  the  spirit  of  Freemasonry  was  abroad  in  this  part  of  the 
country,  and  as  marking  the  beginning  of  Royal  Arch  Masonry  in  Connect- 
icut, in  the  institution  of  Hiram  Chapter,  No.   1  : 

"Bro.  Nichols,  you  are  requested  to  Inform  the  Grand  Lodge  that  Holland 
Mark  Lodge  in  New  York  have  granted  a  Dispensation  &  Installed  Officers 
for  a  Hiram  Mark  Lodge  in  New  Town — and  all  so  that  the  Holland 
Chapter  of  Roj^al  Arch  Masons  in  New  York  have  granted  their  dispen- 
sation &  Charter  to  certain  Royal  Arch  Alasons  in  Newtown  &  Installed 
them  in  the  several  offices  of  the  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons 
in  Newtown — &  that  the  sd  Mark  Lodge  &  Roj-al  Arch  Chapter  are  at 
present  unable  to  open  their  Chapter  in  so  decent  a  manner  as  may  be 
necessary  &  therefore  we  hope  the  Grand  Lodge  will  not  exact  the  accust- 
omed dues  from  Hiram  Lodge — but  assist  the  sd  Mark  Lodge  &  Chapter 
of  Royal  Arch  with  part  of  the  dues  from  Hiram  Lodge — 

David  Baldwin,  Master." 

The  earliest  records  of  this  Lodge,  and  of  Hiram  Chapter  are  of 
great  interest  and  value,  and  they  should  be  preserved  with  care, 
and  without  delay.  In  the  nature  of  the  case  they  supplement  and 
illustrate  the  history  of  each  other,  the  Lodge  and  the  Chapter,  and 
may  serve  to  throw  light  upon  many  subjects  of  personal  and 
famil}^  life. 

The  members  of  the  Chapter  Avere  largely  from  the  roll  of  Hiram 
Lodge  ;  and  the  places  of  meeting  have  probably  been  the  same, 
without  exception.  At  first,  as  we  have  seen,  the  communications 
were  held  in  Bro.  Bennett  Perry's  house,  at  Newtown — in  Newtown 
street,  as  we  would  say,  or  as  we  should  say,  perhaps,  now  the 
Borough  ;  where  it  continued  to  meet  until  October  5,  1821,  when 
it  began  to  assemble  at  Bro.  Czar  Keeler's  Lodge  rooin,  and  appar- 
ently was  located  there,  in  a  private  house  which  stood  just  north  of 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Beecher's  residence,  until  Nov.  5,  1823,  when  it  was 
removed  to  \Vm.  Blakesley's  Lodge  room,  which  was  probably  the 
ball  room  in  the  Blakesley  house  at  the  head  of  the  street. 

It  may  be  said  in  authority,  I  think,  that  Bennett  Perry's  house 
was  that  later  known  as  Dick's  Hotel,  the  site  of  which  is  now 
occupied  by  the  Newtown  Inn. 

And  so  in  the  records  of  Hiram  Chapter,  No.  1,  we  find  it  meeting 


AIASOXIC  TEMPLE 

See  Page  242 


FREE   MASONRY   IN   NEWTOWN  243 

in  "Bennett  Perry's  Lodge  Room,"  1797-1818,  and  later  it  is  called 
"Bennett  Perry's  Chapter  Room."  The  Chapter  also  met  in  Czar 
Keeler's  Room,  and  Dec.  12,  1823,  "At  the  Chapter  Room  at  Wm. 
Blakesley's." 

It  is  worthy  of  note  at  this  i)oint,  that  Mrs.  Sarah  Grace  Glover, 
daughter  of  William  Blakesley,  found  in  the  attic  of  the  Blakesley 
house  what  is  probably  the  original  altar  of  lliram  Lodge,  and  a 
few  years  ago  presented  it  to  us,  and  it  is  here,  in  this  hall. 

The  oil  painting  of  the  Trestle  Board  hanging  in  the  East,  was 
also  discovered  some  years  ago  stowed  away  in  a  barn,  and  fortun- 
ately brought  to  light,  retouched  and  saved  to  us  as  a  relic,  and  a 
token  of  the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  of  our  ancient  brethren  of 
Newtown. 

October  14,  1824,  there  was  a  movement  made  to  build  a  Masonic 
Hall.  "Voted,  that  the  Master  Lodge  agree  to  build  a  Masonic 
Hall  provided  that  the  Chapter  will  defray  one-half  of  the  expense." 
Later  it  was  "Voted  that  Brothers  Theophilus  Nichols,  Henry 
Button  &  Alexander  Hall  be  a  committee  to  act  with  the  committee 
appointed  to  contract  and  build  the  Masonic  Hall  the  above  Com- 
mittee, to  meet  and  confer  with  the  committee  appointed  by  the 
Chapter  for  the  above  purpose."  And  June  1,  1825,  "Voted  that 
this  Lodge  be  adjourned  to  the  Saturday  previous  to  St.  John's  at 
3  o'clock  P.  M.;  and  Voted  that  Brothers  Tousey,  John  Nash  & 
Macpherson  Sherman  be  a  committee  to  move  the  furniture  of  the 
Lodge  to  the  new  hall." 

I  have  seen  no  mention  of  any  dedication,  but  it  is  interesting  to 
think  that  about  this  time  82  years  ago,  this  Lodge  was  making 
itself  a  new  home  very  much  as  it  is  this  day. 

The  Lodge  was  incorporated  by  special  act  of  the  General  Assem- 
bly the  first  Wednesday  in  May,  1825;  and  June  7,  1826,  it  was 
voted  to  get  the  Hall  insured  for  $500. 

This  Hall  was  sold  by  vote  of  the  Lodge,  April  15,  1848,  to  D.  H. 
Belden,  Esq.,  for  one  hundred  dollars,  and  all  the  personal  property 
was  disposed  of.  Our  town  historian,  Mr.  E.  L.  Johnson,  holds 
the  opinion  that  this  building  became  what  is  now  the  dwelling 
house  belonging  to  the  Misses  Julia  and  Lillian  Dikeman. 

The  men  who  founded  this  Lodge  were  real  enthusiastic  Masons. 
They  were  trying  to  be  men.  There  was  an  earnestness  and  dignity 
in  their  proceeding  which  indicate  a  deep  sense  of  obligation  to 
each  other,  and  a  genuine  reverence  for  the  science  of  morality; 
they  made  some  effort  to  be  of  use  to  one  another.  "Brotherly 
love,  relief  and  truth"  were  not  mere  high  sounding  words  to  them. 
To  use  their  oft  repeated  form  of  speech :  Masonry  was  an 
"Antient,  Noble  and  Royal  Art."  And  they  expected  and  required 
true  masonic  conduct  and  character  in  the  brethren. 

They  aimed  at  real  self  improvement  by  having  lectures,  orations, 
and  other  addresses.  They  met  to  listen  to  sermons  on  the  anni- 
versary of  St.  John  Baptist,  and  on  St.  John  Evangelist's  Day, 
November  23,  1791,  it  was  "Voted  that  we  invite  the  Lodges  of 
Danbury,  Woodbury,  Huntington,  Stratford  &  Newfield  to  attend 
with  this  Lodge  at  the  celebration  of  St.  John  on  the  27th  of  Decem- 


244  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND     HISTORIAN 

ber  next."  And  a  committee  was  appointed  "to  confer  with  the  Rev. 
Philo  Perry  to  preach  a  sermon  on  sd  day."  The  Rev.  Philo  Perry 
was  the  rector  of  Trinity  Parish,  and  a  member  of  Hiram  Chapter, 
No.  1,  R.  A.  M. 

It  should  be  noted  that  some  of  the  most  prominent  citizens  of 
Newtown  were  members  of  this  ancient  Lodge.  Of  the  founders 
we  know  very  httle.  Peter  Nichols,  the  first  blaster,  was  born  in 
1732.  died  in  1799.  and  was  the  great-grandfather  of  Philo  Nichols, 
formerly  an  active  member.  His  name  appears  in  the  History  of 
the  Grand  Lodge  as  a  delegate  from  the  Stratford  Lodge  to  a  con- 
ference of  Lodges,  April,  1783,  to  consider  the  organization  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Connecticut. 

Bennett  Perry  was  a  doctor  of"  medicine,  and  Jonathan  Prindle, 
the  grandfather  of  the  late  Abel  Prindle,  was  a  tailor  by  trade. 

Nichols  and  Prindle  and  Sanford  and  Glover  and  Blackman  are 
names  that  have  come  down  through  the  century  of  our  history, 
and  are  with  us  to-day.  The  first  Junior  Warden  Avas  Prindle,  and 
the  present  Junior  Warden  is  Prindle,  'though  not  of  the  same 
family. 

David  Baldwin,  who  spent  his  whole  life  in  Newtown.  1758-1811, 
and  was  very  active  in  Masonic  circles,  is  described  in  the  Fairfield 
County  Record  as  "A  merchant ;  a  prominent  and  leading  man ;  a 
militia  general  and  popularly  known  as  'General.'  " 

Judge  Samuel  C.  Blackman  was  a  notable  man  in  his  day ;  attor- 
ney David  H.  Belden  was  another.  The  Rev.  Daniel  Burhans,  31 
years  rector  of  Trinity  church,  was  an  active  Mason. 

Asa  Chapman,  a  Newtown  man.  was  Master  of  this  Lodge  in 
1800.  and  attended  the  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  He  was  the  head 
of  the  Chapman  Law  school,  and  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
this  State ;  and  his  son,  Charles  Chapman,  a  distinguished  lawyer, 
was  a  member  of  Congress  and  district  attorney ;  and  Henry 
Dutton.  Master  of  this  Lodge  in  1827,  was  judge  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Connecticut,  and  the  governor  of  the  State. 

As  to  the  causes  of  the  revival  of  this  ancient  Lodge  I  can  do  no 
more,  nor  better,  than  to  quote  from  the  preface  of  the  second  book 
of  Records :  "It  was  a  long  time  before  Masonry  revived  in  New- 
town— not  until  the  j'ears  1860-6,  when  a  decided  reaction  took 
place.  Perhaps  one  of  the  great  incentives  to  this  was  the  war, 
which  was  about  to  be  and  was  fought  during  those  years. 

"Two  new  Lodges  had  been  organized,  one  at  Bethel  and  one  at 
Monroe,  to  which  members  were  added  from  Newtown." 

It  was  through  Eureka,  No.  83,  that  the  Charter  was  restored. 
Quoting  from  the  Historical  sketch  of  that  Lodge — which  has 
ever  been  a  good  brother  to  us :  "April  3,  1866,  a  motion  was 
passed  to  recommend  the  brethren  of  Newtown  to  the  Grand 
Lodge,  for  granting  them  a  dispensation,  charter  or  warrant,  em- 
powering them  to  work  as  a  regular  Lodge." 

"This  petition  was  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  at  its  annual 
communication,  May,  1866,  at  New  Haven." 


CAPT.  JULIUS  SAXFORD 

First   Master  Hiram  Chapter 
See  Page  245 


LOUIS  T.  BRISCOE 


Past  Master  of  Hiram   Lodge  No.   18 
High  Priest  of  Hiram  Cliapter  No.   1 


FREE   MASONRY   IN   NEWTOWN  245 

Bro.  Julius  Sanford  was  first  Master,  Bro.  Wm.  L.  Horr  the  first 
S.  W.,  Bro.  George  Woffenden,  first  J.  W. 

The  first  place  of  meeting  was  fitted  up  by  Bro.  Julius  Sanford, 
in  his  building  by  the  roadside,  near  the  Foundry  pond,  in  which 
the  first  installation  of  ofiicers  was  held  June  25,  1866. 

In  1873  the  Lodge  was  removed  to  the  Hall  owned  by  Bro. 
Smith  P.  Glover,  where  it  continued  until  the  building  was  des- 
troyed by  fire  May  31,  1905,  when  it  found  temporary  accommoda- 
tions in  Minott  Augur's  Hall,  over  the  Sandy  Hook  Market. 

June  21,  1906,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  new  Masonic  Hall,  pro- 
vided the  money  could  be  raised.  The  money  was  raised,  and 
Brothers  A.  M.  Brisco,  L.  C.  Morris,  C.  P.  Northrop,  S.  A.  Blackman 
and  G.  A.  Northrop  served  as  the  building  committee. 

The  amount  of  the  contract  was  $2,949.50. 

The  Hall  being  completed,  or  nearly  so,  the  Lodge  moved  into  it 
Nov.  21,  1906.  It  is  paid  for  and  has  been  dedicated  as  the  perman- 
ent home  of  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  18,  Hiram  Chapter,  No.  1,  R.  A.  M. 
and  Jephtha  Chapter,  No.  51,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

In  the  "Guide  to  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter,"  by  John  Sheville,  P.  G. 
H.P.  of  New  Jersey,  and  James  L.  Gould,  P.  G.  H.  P.  of  Connecticut, 
it  is  stated  that,  'At  what  time  or  by  whom  Royal  Arch  Masonry  as 
a  separate  rite  was  introduced  into  the  United  States  has  never  yet 
been  settled.' 

'Prior  to  the  organization  of  any  Grand  Chapters  there  existed 
in  the  City  of  New  York  two  Chapters,  one  known  as  the  Old 
Chapter  and  the  other  called  Washington  Chapter,  the  origin  or 
early  history  of  which  has  never  been  published.  The  latter  body, 
Washington  Chapter,  issued  charters  to  a  number  of  subordinate 
Chapters,  in  which  charters  it  styled  itself  'The  Mother  Chapter.' 
From  this  body  originated  the  first  Chapters  of  Rhode  Island  and 
Connecticut.  The  first  Chapter  in  Connecticut  was  called  Hiram 
Chapter,  No.  1,  and  located  at  Newtown  in  Fairfield  County. 

"Five  other  Chapters  were  instituted  in  Connecticut  under  the 
authority  of  this  Washington  Chapter :  Franklin  Chapter,  No.  2, 
New  Haven;  Washington,  No.  3,  Middletown;  Franklin,  No.  4, 
Norwich ;  Solomon,  No.  5,  Derby,  and  Vanden  Broeck,  No.  5,  at 
Colchester. 

"The  first  convention  of  Chapters  in  Connecticut  was  held  on  the 
first  Wednesday  of  July,  1796,  at  Hartford,  in  which  all  the  Chap- 
ters above  named  were  represented  by  delegates,  except  Franklin 
Chapter,  at  New  Haven.  A  regular  organization  was  perfected  and 
articles  of  agreement  were  entered  into  for  the  government  of  the 
several  Chapters  in  this  State.  Another  convention  was  held 
October  20,  1796.  at  New  Haven,  of  which  David  Baldwin  (of 
Newtown)  was  chairman." 

The  same  writer  says  :  "So  far  as  I  can  learn,  this  was  the  first 
governing  body  in  Royal  Arch  Masonry  organized  in  the  United 
States." 

THE  CHARTER  OF  HIRAM  MARK  LODGE. 

"At  a  meeting  of  Holland  Mark  Lodge  held  in  Holland  Lodge 
Room  in  the  city  of  New  York  on  Thursday  the  twenty-eighth  day 


246  NEWTOWN'S     HISTORY    AND     HISTORIAN 

of  April  A,  L.  5791.  Present,  the  Worshipful  Master  and  other 
officers  of  the  Lodge.  Whereas,  our  Brother  Andrew  Beers,  in 
behalf  of  himself  and  sundry  other  brethern,  did.  on  the  11th  day  of 
February  last,  present  a  Memorial  to  this  Lodge  praying  to  with- 
draw themselves  as  members  thereof  with  an  intention  to  hold  a 
Lodge  of  Master  Mark  Masons  at  Newtown,  in  the  County  of 
Fairfield,  and  state  of  Connecticut,  and  the  prayer  of  the  said  mem- 
orial having  been  granted. 

"Now  Be  It  Known,  that  by  virtue  of  the  power  regularly  com- 
mitted to  us,  we  have  in  ample  form  constituted  these  our  well 
beloved  brethren  into  a  regular  Lodge  of  Master  Mark  Masons  by 
the  name  and  stile  of  Hiram  Mark  Lodge  and  installed  the  several 
officers  into  their  respective  stations  in  the  manner  we  have  receiv- 
ed it,  to  wit : 

"The  Worshipful  Brother  Andrew  Beers,  Master ;  Brother  David 
Baldwin,  Sen.  Warden,  and  by  proxy.  Brother  Nathan  Douglass, 
Junior  Warden  of  the  said  Lodge. 

"In  witness  whereof,  we  the  three  presiding  officers  of  Holland 
Mark  Lodge  have  hereunto  set  our  hands,  and  caused  the  seal  of 
Holland  Lodge  to  be  hereunto  affixed. 

"John  Pintard,  Master, 
"John  Abrams,  Senr.,  Warden, 

"Attest,  I.  Tivorback,  Secretary." 

"Samuel  Low,  Junr.,  Warden. 

— Hiram   Mark  Lodge. — 

The  first  presiding  officers  were  appointed  by  Holland  Mark 
Lodge,  viz : 

Andrew  Beers,  W.  M. 
David  Baldwin,  S.  W. 
Nathan  Douglass,  J.  W. 

CHARTER 

Copy  of  the  Original  Charter  of  Hiram  Chapter,  No.  1,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  Newtown,  Connecticut. 

At  a  Washington  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  held  in  Holland 
Lodge  Room  in  the  City  of  N.  York,  on  Friday,  the  twenty-ninth 
day  of  April,  A.  L.  5791. 

Whereas  our  Brother  Andrew  Beers,  in  behalf  of  himself  and  sundry 
other  brethren,  residing  in  the  State  of  Connecticut,  did  on  the  nineteenth 
day  of  March  last,  present  a  Memorial  to  this  Chapter,  praying  to  with- 
draw themselves  as  Members  thereof,  with  an  intention  to  hold  a  chapter 
of  the  Royal  Arch  in  Newtown,  in  the  County  of  Fairfield,  in  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  aforesaid;  and  the  prayer  of  the  said  Memorial  having  been 
granted : 

Now  be  it  known  that  by  virtue  of  the  power  regularly  committed  to  us, 
we  have  in  ample  form,  constituted  these  our  well-beloved  Brethren  into 
a  regular  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  installed  the  several  Officers 
into  their  respective  stations,  in  the  manner  we  have  received  it,  to  wit: 

The  Most  Worshipful  Brother  Andrew  Beers,  H.  P.,  the  Right  Worshipful 
Brother  David  Baldwin,  K.  g.,  and  the  Right  Worshipful  Brother 
Oliver  Peck  S 

In    witness    whereof    we    the    three    Presiding    Officers    of    Washington 


FREE    MASONRY   IN   NEWTOWN  247 

Chapter   have   hereunto    set   our   hands    and   caused   the   Seal   of   the    said 
Chapter  to  be  affixed.  Jos.  Ogden  Hofifman,  H.P.W.C.R.A.M. 

George  Anthon,  K.  W.  C.  R.  A.  M. 
Attest:     Asher  (?)  Collins,  Sec'y-      Martin  Hofifman,  S.  W.  C.  R.  A.  M. 

Andrew  Beers,  whose  name  appears  in  the  Charter  of  Hiram 
Mark  Lodge,  and  in  the  Charter  of  Hiram  Chapter,  No.  1,  was  made 
in  New  York.  He  was  the  first  Master  of  Hiram  Mark  Lodge  and 
continued  as  such  until  after  June  31,  1793.  He  was  the  first  H.  P. 
of  this  Chapter,  by  appointment,  but  his  name  does  not  appear  on 
the  records,  such  as  we  have,  after  the  signing  of  the  By-Laws, 
March  3d,  1792. 

David  Baldwin,  1758-1811,  who  was  made  in  New  York  and  be- 
longed to  Holland  Mark  Lodge,  and  was  a  member  of  Washington 
Chapter,  and  was  one  of  the  petitioners  for  a  Mark  Lodge,  and 
Royal  Arch  Chapter  in  Newtown,  was  the  first  S.  W.  of  Hiram 
Mark  Lodge  and  the  first  King  of  Hiram  Chapter,  No.  1 — was  H.  P. 
"for  a  series  of  years  successively,"  to  use  his  own  language,  until 
the  election  of  officers  Sept.  6,  1810.  He  was  many  years  W.  M.  of 
Hiram  Mark  Lodge,  and  of  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  18.  And  as  has 
already  been  stated,  represented  this  Chapter  at  the  organization 
of  the  Grand  Chapter  of  Connecticut,  of  which  he  was  Grand  Scribe, 
1807 ;  Grand  King,  1808 ;  and  Deputy  Grand  High  Priest  in  1809. 

Samuel  C.  Blackman,  who  was  Master  of  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  18, 
1803-1808,  was  several  times  Master  of  Hiram  Mark  Lodge;  many 
times  High  Priest  of  this  Chapter;  Grand  Secretary  1806,  1807  and 
1808;  Grand  Scribe  1809,  1810  and  1811;  and  Deputy  Grand  High 
Priest,  1812  and  1813. 

"Hiram  Chapter,  No.  1,  continued  prosperously  until  the  year 
1835,  which  is  the  date  of  the  last  record,  when  the  officers  were 
duly  elected,  and  for  several  years  after  was  represented  at  the 
annual  convocations  of  the  Grand  Chapter,  but  eventually  was 
obliged  to  give  up  its  charter.  At  the  May  Session  in  1870  this 
Chapter  was  revived,  and  a  new  charter  issued,  under  the  name 
of  Hiram  Chapter,  No.  1,  the  old  Charter  having  been  lost,  since 
which  time  it  has  continued  comparatively  prosperous." 

It  should  be  said  here  that  the  Original  Charter  which  was  lost, 
was  found,  and  is  now  in  the  safe-keeping  of  the  Chapter;  and  that 
photographic  copies  of  the  same  have  been  made. 

Contributed  by  Rev.  O.  O.  Wright. 

Order  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

Jephthah  Chapter,  No.  51,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  was  insti- 
tuted on  the  evening  of  Oct.  5,  1899,  and  constituted,  Dec.  7,  1899,  at 
Sandy  Hook,  in  the  rooms  occupied  by  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  18,  A.  F. 
and  A.  M. 

Monthly  meetings  were  held  there  until  the  morning  of  May  31, 
1905,  when  a  fire  destroyed  the  entire  building.  Temporary  accom- 
modations were  found  in  the  old  G.  A.  R.  Hall,  until  Dec.  14,  1906, 
when  the  Chapter  held  regular  meetings  in  a  new  building  erected 
by  Hiram  Lodge,  No.  18,  until  April  9,  1910,  when  the  Chapter 
surrendered  its  charter  to  the  Grand  Chapter  of  Connecticut,  owing 
to  the  loss  of  many  members  by  death  and  removal. 

Contributed  by   Miss  Jennie  Briscoe. 


248  ^-E^VTO^^'x•s   history  and  historl\n 


THE  RUBBER  INDUSTRY. 

The  beginning  of  this  industry  in  Sandy  Hook,  was  in  a  building 
now  in  the  rear  of  Corbett  and  Crowe's  store,  where  Nelson  Good- 
vear  and  Henry  Alden  made  rubber  coats  in  1S41-42.  Later,  they 
moved  into  Dick  and  Sanford's  satinet  factory  by  the  bridge. 

Josiah  Tomlinson.  whose  wife  was  sister  of  Charles  Goodyear, 
owner  of  the  rubber  patents  of  that  day,  then  commenced  work  in 
the  Glen.  Charles  Goodyear  was  born  in  New  Haven,  but  spent 
much  time  in  Sandy  Hook,  experimenting,  in  connection  with  his 
discover^-  in  1839  of  the  vulcanization  of  rubber.  Tomlinson  failed 
and  \Vm.  B.  Glover,  who  underwrote  him,  lost  heavily,  but  paid 
dollar  for  dollar. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Frame  and  Grecian,  then  in  1846  by  the 
N.  Y.  Belting  and  Packing  Co.  Its  history  is  inseparable  from  that 
of  the  rubber  industry-.  The  company  was  founded  at  a  time  when 
little  was  known  of  vulcanized  rubber  beyond  the  crude  result 
of  the  experiments  of  Charles  Goodyear  and  the  development  of 
the  industn.-.  as  it  pertains  to  goods  for  mechanical  purposes  almost 
from  its  inception  to  its  present  enormous  proportions,  has  devolv- 
ed largely  upon  this  company. 

The  accidental  discover}.-  of  vulcanization  by  Charles  Goodyear, 
and  his  subsequent  experiments,  gave  a  wonderful  impetus  to  its 
developm.ent.  Rubber  at  once  became  an  essential  in  the  sciences, 
in  manufacturing  and  in  domestic  life,  and  now  forms  one  of  the 
^eat  industries  of  modem  times. 

Dr.  Werner  Esch.  said  in  1912.  in  a  "Hand  Book  of 
India  Rubber."  ''The  discover}-  of  the  process  of  vulcanization  by 
Charles  Goodyear  in  1839  was  not.  as  is  often  said,  a  matter  of 
chance,  but  the  outcome  of  years  of  investigation.  Goodyear,  like 
many  other  inventors,  kept  on  dabbling  with  rubber,  in  spite  of 
numerous  failures,  and  tried  mixing  all  sorts  of  substances  v.-ith 
rubber.  It  always  was  his  intention  to  make  an  invention  and,  as 
a  result  of  the  experience  gained  by  experiments,  he  knew,  when 
observing  the  ettect  of  heat  on  a  mixture  of  rubber  and  sulphur, 
that  the  heating  was  the  essential  factor  in  the  process.  It  is  a 
matter  for  admiration  to  see  how  this  man,  overwhelmed  w-ith  ideas 
and  hard-pressed,  pursued  working  out  his  invention.  The  way  in 
which  he  worked  it  out  is  clearly  demonstrated  by  his  first  publi- 
cation on  his  method  for  the  metallisation  of  rubber,  in  which  he 
gave  sufiicient  instructions  for  the  technical  preparation  of  perfect 
rubber  goods.  And  these  instructions  for  the  manufacture  of  soft 
rubber  have,  even  up  to  the  present  time,  lost  no  essential  part  of 
their  technical  importance  in  any  of  those  methods  of  vulcanization 
devised  by  Goodyear's  inventions."  By  the  discovery,  Charles 
Goodyear  enriched  the  world,  but  he  himself  lived  and  died  poor. 

In  1856,  the  factory*  was  destroyed  by  fire,  but  was  immediately 
re-built.  The  same  year,  Mr.  Dennis  C.  Gately  was  made  superin- 
tendent. He  had  had  an  experience  of  several  years  with  the 
Boston  Belting  Co.  and  had  been  associated  with   Mr.   Cheever, 


2: 


!-:        '^ 


x 


—       z 


DENNTS  C.  GATELY 

See   Page  248 


WILLIAM   T.  COLE 

See  Page  248 


THE     RUBBER     INDUSTRY  249 

treasurer  of  the  N.  Y.  Belting  and  Packing  Co.  Under  his  super- 
vision, the  business  increased  rapidly  to  large  proportions.  A  year 
in  his  younger  days  with  a  noted  chemist  had  given  him  sufficient 
knowledge  of  chemistry  to  aid  his  inventive  genius,  and  he  made 
valuable  inventions.  The  products  manufactured  included,  besides 
the  largest  belts  in  the  world  for  machinery,  the  smallest  sizes  for 
use  ;  hose  for  fire-engines,  gardening  and  various  other  uses  ;  wagon 
and  car  springs  ;  solid  vulcanite  emery-wheels ;  corrugated  matting 
and  mats  ;  etc.,  a  full  list  of  which  would  make  a  formidable  cata- 
logue. 

Too  much  emphasis  cannot  be  placed  upon  the  influence  of  Mr. 
Gately  and  that  of  his  family  for  good  upon  the  community.  The 
enlarging  of  the  business  meant  the  influx  of  a  large  number  of 
families,  who  were  helped  to  obtain  homes  in  the  vicinity.  Walnut 
Tree  Hill  became  populated  to  such  an  extent  that  school  privileges 
were  necessary.  Pohtatuck  school-house,  though  enlarged,  was  not 
sufficient.  Through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Gately,  the  town  voted  to 
form  a  new  district,  and  for  many  years  a  flourishing  school  was 
kept  in  the  new  Walnut  Tree  Hill  district.  Many  young  men  and 
women  have  filled  places  of  responsibility  in  dififerent  communities 
whose  start  in  life  beyond  the  home  was  in  Walnut  Tree  Hill  school. 

There  were  many  sad  hearts  when,  in  1884,  Mr.  Gately  left  the 
beautiful  home  in  the  Glen  for  the  new  home  at  Mamaroneck,  N.  Y. 

Universal  sorrow  was  expressed  when,  in  1900,  it  was  announced 
that  N.  Y.  Belting  and  Packing  Co.  was  to  move  its  business  to 
Passaic,  N.  J.  Many  families  went  with  them,  while  some,  who  had 
made  for  themselves  pleasant  homes,  remained,  hoping  that  some 
other  industry  would  take  the  plant.  Mr.  I.  Percy  Blackman,  a 
Newtown  boy  who  commenced  work  with  them  in  1876,  went  with 
them  and  is  now  their  superintendent,  with  a  force  of  1200  hands. 
In  1916,  they  turned  out  over  12,000,000  pounds  of  rubber  goods. 
Thanks  are  due  to  Mr.  I.  Percy  Blackman  for  some  of  this  informa- 
tion, also  to  Mr.  Anthony  Patch,  oldest  resident  of  Sandy  Hook. 

By  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  W.  T.  Cole,  president  of  the  Fabric  Fire 
Hose  Co.,  the  following  information  is  given  as  a  sequel  to  the 
removal  of  the  N.  Y.  Belting  Co.  to  Passaic  N.  J. 

"The  Fabric  Fire  Hose  Co.,  formerly  of  Warwick,  N.  Y.  by  virtue 
of  its  affiliations  with  the  United  States  Rubber  Co.,  of  which  parent 
organization  the  New  York  Belting  and  Packing  Co.,  was  also  a 
subsidiary,  acquired  the  Sandy  Hook  property,  formerly  occupied 
by  the  New  York  Belting  and  Packing  Co.,  and  the  entire  plant  of 
machinery  operated  by  the  Fabric  Fire  Hose  Co.,  of  Warwick  since 
1880  was  transferred  to  the  so-called  lower  mill  at  Sandy  Hook  in 
the  spring  of  1901.  The  company  also  brought  with  its  plant  a 
number  of  its  old  employees." 

The  upper  mill,  or  "Dutch  Shop,"  was  operated  for  several  years 
as  a  rubber  reclaiming  plant,  which  was  discontinued  in  1915  and 
succeeded  by  the  Premier  Mfg.  Co.,  Charles  S.Cole  and  George  A. 
Gauthier,  Proprietors ;  manufacturers  of  high  class  machine  tools ; 
and  for  the  first  time  in  history  the  Dutch  Shop  parted  from  its 
identity  with  rubber. 


250  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND     HISTORIAN 


THE  NEWTOWN  BEE. 

The  Bee  owes  its  origin  to  John  T.  Pearse  of  Bethel,  Conn. 

Started  as  an  experiment,  it  quickly  gained  a  hold  upon  the  New- 
town public  and  was  enlarged,  though  always  known  to  printers  as 
a  "patent  outside" — which  means  that  two  of  its  four  pages  were 
printed  by  a  New  York  firm  that  supplied  the  same  reading  matter 
to  local  publishers  in  different  places.  Mr.  Pearse  had  a  "nose  for 
news,"  as  Samuel  Bowles  of  the  Springfield  Republican  used  to  say, 
but  was  not  fitted  for  a  publisher,  as  he  was  non-resident,  living 
at  Bethel;  was  eccentric,  now  suspending  the  Bee's  issue,  then 
transferring  the  paper  to  another  and  again  taking  it  to  his  own 
hands.  The  Newtown  Chronicle  was  meanwhile  started  by  James 
E.  Madigan,  and  the  Winter  of  1880-81  found  the  Bee  apparently 
driven  from  the  field  for  good,  as  its  300  or  more  subscribers  looked 
in  vain  for  the  paper,  and  its  effects  in  the  room  over  Daniel  Camp's 
plunil)ing  shop  were  heavily  mortgaged  to  Henry  Sanford,  the  vil- 
lage merchant.  Reuben  Hazen  .Smith,  formerly  editor  of  the  Water- 
bury  American,  was  then  exchange  editor  on  the  Springfield  Re- 
publican, to  which  duty  had  been  added  that  of  telegraph  editor  on 
the  Sunday  edition,  just  begun.  Chafing  under  enforced  violation 
of  the  4th  commandment,  he  was  looking  about  for  a  loophole  of 
escape.  His  brother,  Henry  called  attention  to  the  Bee,  which- 
ended  in  its  purchase  and  the  removal  of  the  Smith  family  to  the 
Fairchild  place  in  South  Center.  It  was  no  easy  task  mastering  the 
old  Washington  hand  press  and  the  second-hand  type  white  with 
lye,  and  the  first  revived  issue  in  April  of  1881  was  hardly  legible, 
but  was  kindly  wrapped  for  the  mail  in  the  hospitable  dining  room 
of  E.  Levan  Johnson.  How  much  the  Bee  owes  the  generous  hand, 
active  brain  and  fertile  pen  of  that  prince  among  men  only  Heaven 
can  reveal. 

Grit  and  spunk,  aided  by  Charles  B.  Johnson,  Frank  Wright,  Rob- 
ert D.  Smith  (the  Bee  Man's  loyal  brother),  Robert  C.  Mallette, 
two  other  brothers,  Allison  P.  Smith  and  Arthur  J.  Smith,  finally 
won  out.  Rev.  Charles  H.  Smith  came  for  a  little  in  the  early 
.struggle  and  proved  what  personal  canvass  could  do  to  add  funds 
and  make  subscribers  friends,  and  that  able  financier,  Arthur  J. 
Smith,  later  laid  the  bed-rock  of  paying  advertising.  At  one  time, 
the  Bee  Man  knew  every  subscriber,  excepting  those  on  the  distant 
mail  list,  personally,  and  he  closed  one  year  with  all  but  three  or 
four  subscriptions  paid  in  advance  and  those  three  or  four  assured. 

This  personal  work,  involving  miles  of  walk  and  early  and  late 
hours,  was  what  turned  the  Bee  from  a  loss  into  a  valuable  asset, 
finally  capitalized  at  $500  in  the  incorporated  Bee  Publishing  Co. 
Another  financial  spur  was  the  early  purchase  of  the  Chronicle  for 
$300,  giving  the  Bee  an  advertising  grip  that  it  has  never  lost, 
though  the  rates  were  raised  when  subscriptions  topped  1000  and 


REUBEN  H.  SMITH 

See  Page  250 


ALLISUX  V.  SMITH 

See  Page  250 


ARTHUR  J.  SMITH 

See  Page  251 


NEWTOWN  BEE 

See  Page  250 


THE    NEWTOWN    BEE  251 

again  when  they  passed  the  2000  mark.  The  poHcy  of  the  Bee  Man 
was  sim])ly  that  of  l>urns— "A  man's  a  man  for  a'  tliat,"  with  its  ir- 
resistible resultant  that  whatever  concerned  him  and  his,  no  matter 
how  trivial,  was  of  interest  to  that  circle  anrl  ueit^litxirhood.  So 
the  Bee,  without  flourish  or  literary  effort,  banned  gossip,  grudges, 
hate  and  scandal  as  far  as  possible  and  spread  from  district  to  dis- 
trict, from  town  to  town,  George  F.  Buncombe  being  finally  called 
in  to  aid  in  the  canvass.  The  Bee  Man  claimed  absolute  and  fearless 
action  personally  and  so  temporarily  angered  Republican  friends 
by  being  an  independent  Republican  in  Cleveland's  day  and  dared 
to  be  the  only  man  to  vote  no  license  in  his  precinct.  At  the  flood- 
tide  of  success,  the  failure  of  the  health  and  heart  of  Mrs.  Smith, 
whose  loyal  support  made  success  a  double  joy,  led  the  Bee  Man  to 
drop  it  all  in  October  of  1892  and  flee  to  California  with  his  family. 
Newtown  gained  two  things  with  the  Bee  Man's  help,  its  Grange 
and  eventually,  the  wiping  out  of  its  house  of  ill-fame  on  Taunton 
Lake.  The  latter,  assaulted  by  Rev.  J.  P.  Hoyt,  could  only  be  ban- 
ished, it  seemed,  by  buying  the  property  and  turning  it  into  a  home, 
C.  B.  Taylor,  Levi  C.  Morris,  Charles  Nichols  and  other  friends  of 
righteousness  and  pure  living  endorsing  the  note  on  which  the  New- 
town bank  advanced  the  funds.  The  Bee  shared  its  owner's  pros- 
perity, a  new  Campbell  press  and  new  type  making  the  paper  easier 
to  issue  and  more  readable  when  issued,  when  it  moved  to  the  quar- 
ters over  the  post-office,  then  owned  by  Town  Clerk  and  Merchant 
L.  B.  Booth.  A  gasoline  engine  also  took  the  place  of  the  hard 
labor  of  John  Griggs,  beloved  sexton  of  the  Congregational  Church 
and  of  Frederick  Andrews. 

The  controlling  interest  in  the  Bee  Publishing  Co.  property  and 
business  was  sold  by  Reuben  H.  Smith  to  his  brothers,  Allison  P. 
Smith  and  Arthur  J.  Smith,  in  October,  1892.  A.  P.  Smith  became 
president  and  editor,  and  A.  J.  Smith,  treasurer  and  general  man- 
ager. Six  years  later,  Henry  M.  Smith  of  Hartford,  another  bro- 
ther, entered  the  employ  of  the  Bee  Publishing  Co.,  as  general 
agent.  A  year  later  he  was  sold  an  interest  in  the  business,  and 
was  made  vice-president  and  general  agent.  As  a  result  of  the 
united  efifort  of  the  three  brothers,  the  circulation  of  the  Bee  was 
increased  from  about  2200  to  something  over  4000.  In  October, 
1903,  the  present  building  occupied  by  The  Bee  Publishing  Co.  was 
erected.  Some  years  later  a  new  press  and  linotype  machines  were 
installed.  Owing  to  ill  health,  Henry  M.  Smith  was  forced  to  re- 
tire from  the  business  about  four  years  ago,  to  the  sincere  regret 
of  his  associates. 

It  will  be  observed  from  the  above  that  the  Messrs.  A.  P.  and 
A.  J.  Smith  have  about  completed  25  years  of  service  on  the  Bee. 
During  that  period  they  have  seen  almost  every  newspaper  prop- 
erty in  Western  and  Southern  Connecticut  change  hands  from  one 
to  six  times. 

Contributed  by  Reuben  Hazen  Smith  and  Allison  P.  Smith. 


252  NEWTOWN'S     HISTORY    AND     HISTORIAN 


POHTATUCK  GRANGE. 

Pohtatuck  Grange,  No.  129,  P.  of  H.,  was  organized,  March  9, 
1892,  by  State  Deputy  J.  H.  Blakeman  of  Housatonic  Grange, 
Stratford.    There  were  19  charter  members: 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zalmon  S.  Peck,  Mr.  and  Airs.  S.  T.  Botsford,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
W.  C.  Johnson,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reuben  H.  Smith,  Lemuel  Glover,  W.  H. 
Glover,  J.  J.  Schermerhorn,  H.  C.  Beers,  A.  O.  Bierce,  C.  B.  Johnson,  L.  M. 
Johnson,  Fred  Chambers,  E.  S.  Lovell  and  two  others  not  mentioned  in  the 
record.    The  following  officers  were  chosen  : 

Master,  Z.  S.  Peck;  Overseer,  S.  J.  Botsford;  Lecturer,  R.H.Smith;  Stew- 
ard, H.  C.  Beers;  Asst.  Steward,  A.  O.  Bierce;  Chaplain,  W.  C.  Johnson; 
Treasurer,  W.  H.  Glover;  Secretarj-,  J.  J.  Schermerhorn;  Gate  Keeper,  E.  S. 
Lovell;  Ceres,  Mrs.  Z.  S.  Peck;  Pomona,  Mrs.  S.  J.  Botsford;  Flora,  Mrs. 
R.  H.  Smith;  L.  A.  Steward,  Mrs.  W.  C.  Johnson. 

The  meeting  for  organization  was  held  in  Fireman's  Hall,  which 
was  over  the  Savings  Bank  in  the  Sanford  Building.  As  this  room 
was  not  suited  to  the  needs  of  the  Grange,  a  committee  was  appoint- 
ed to  look  up  a  hall. 

The  officers  elected  at  this  meeting  were  installed  by  Deputy 
Blakeman,  assisted  by  S.  C.  Lewis,  Asst.  Steward  of  the  Conn. 
State  Grange. 

The  Grange  was  held  at  houses  of  different  members  until  a  room 
over  L.  C.  Morris's  store  was  leased  and  was  occupied  for  over  20 
years,  being  twice  enlarged  to  meet  the  needs  of  the  rapidly  grow- 
ing Grange. 

The  first  class  initiated: 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  E.  Beers,  Geo.  A.  Northrop,  E.  F.  Northrop,  Homer  W. 
Baldwin,  Mrs.  J.  J.  Schermerhorn,  C.  M.  Parsons,  Mrs.  Walter  Glover, 
Letty  J.  Stoddard  and  Mrs.  E.  L.  Johnson  joined  later. 

It  evidently  made  some  attempt  at  co-operative  buying,  for  we 
find  that  for  some  time  a  purchasing  agent  was  elected  annually. 
The  order  was  also  on  very  fraternal  relations  with  the  neighboring 
granges,  for  frequent  mention  is  made  of  visits  paid  to  and  received 
from  Harmony  Grange,  No.  92,  of  Monroe;  Housatonic  Grange, 
No.  99,  Stratford,  and  others.  Fairfield  Co.  Pomona  Grange  was 
first  entertained  by  Pohtatuck  Grange,  Oct.  28,  1896.  Nor  has  it 
been  selfish  in  its  activities,  but  has  done  much  for  its  home  com- 
munity, and  we  believe  Newtown  is  the  better  because  this  Grange 
has  existed  in  its  midst  for  25  years. 

In  1894,  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration  was  held  under  its  auspices. 
Oct.  10,  of  the  same  year,  a  Grange  Fair  was  held  in  the  Town  Hall. 
There  were  exhibits  of  farm  products,  a  ladies'  industrial  depart- 
ment, exhibits  by  merchants  and  manufacturers,  also  of  cattle  and 
horses.  This  Fair  was  such  a  success  that  one  was  held  annually 
until  it  became  merged  into  the  Newtown  Agricultural  Fair,  at 
which  the  Grange  offered  pretniums.  The  Farmers  Institute  was 
an  annual  event.  Many  plays  and  entertainments  have  been  held 
under  its  auspices,  which  have  been  a  benefit  to  the  community 
as  well  as  of  financial  aid  to  the  Grange. 

At  one  time  the  order  numbered  about  80  members,  but  in  later 
years  the  membership   was  depleted  by   death,  by   removal   from 


ZALMOX  S.  I'l'XK 


First  Master  of  Pohtatuck  Grange 
See  Pages   171   and  252 


POHTATUCK    GRANGE  253 

town  and  other  causes.  In  1914,  the  hall,  with  all  its  contents, 
was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  it  was  with  some  difficulty  that  a  new 
home  was  found  and  the  lost  property  replaced.  At  present  it 
meets  in  Firemen's  Hall  where  it  was  at  first  organized.  The  mem- 
bers now  number  about  fifty,  many  of  whom  are  young  people 
deeply  interested  in  its  work. 

THE  LIST  OF  PAST  MASTERS 

Z.  S.  Peck,  S.  J.  Botsford.  W.  H.  Glover,  C.  B.  Johnson.  Edgar  Northrop, 
K.  L.  Coleman,  C.  M.  Beresford,  Mrs.  F.  W.  Mitchell.  J.  J.  Northrop.  A.  P. 
Smith.  W.  B.  Glover,  Austin  Botsford,  W.  N.  Mitchell  and  Mrs  W.  N. 
Mitchell. 

Contributed  by  Mrs.  W.  N.  Mitchell. 


THE  DOMESTIC  ECONOMY  OF  OUR  MOTHERS 

This  article  was  written  about  twenty  years  ago,  by  Mrs.  E.  L.  Johnson, 
by  request  of  the  Lecturer  of  Pomona  Grange,  and  read  by  her  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Grange  in  Stratford,  Conn.  Discrepancy  in  dates  is  due  to  par- 
tial revision  by  the  writer,  who  will  be,  April  6,  1919,  82  years  old. 

I  am  asked  to  give  a  reminiscence  of  our  inothers'  housekeeping 
arrangements,  and  of  the  conditions  under  which  they  worked; 
how  they  preserved  and  what  they  preserved ;  how  their  dealings 
with  the  butcher,  the  baker  and  the  candle  as  well  as  the  candle- 
stick maker  differed  from  ours ;  how  their  kitchen  conveniences 
compared  with  ours,  etc. 

Nothing  more  fascinating  to  me  could  have  been  assigned  as 
subject  of  a  paper,  and  yet,  I  undertake  it  with  the  feeling  that  it 
must  necessarily  be  so  closely  connected  with  my  own  home 
experiences  during  childhood,  as  to  seem  to  many,  perhaps  intensely 
egotistical. 

The  house  which  comes  most  vividly  to  my  mind's  eye,  and  with 
whose  household  arrangements  I  was  most  intimately  acquainted, 
because  it  was  for  many  years  my  home,  was  of  a  type  common 
then,  though  seldom  seen  now.  The  roof  on  one  side  reached  to 
within  five  or  six  feet  of  the  ground.  A  space  under  this  low  roof 
half  the  length  of  the  house,  and  five  or  six  feet  in  width,  was  an 
open  porch  or  "shed"  as  it  was  then  called,  where  were  kept  the 
wash-bench,  a  table  or  bench  for  the  family  wash-basin,  in  summer, 
and  in  summer  also,  the  cheese  press  and  various  house- 
hold farming  utensils.  There  when  it  was  not  too  severely  cold, 
the  washing  was  done.  The  remaining  room  under  this  low  roof 
was  used  sometimes  as  a  bedroom,  sometimes  as  a  store-room. 
The  chimney  was  of  stone  to  the  top,  and  occupied  space  suffi- 
cient for  a  room  of  moderate  dimensions,  and  had  fire-places  on 
three  of  its  sides.  The  narrow  kitchen  extended  the  entire  length 
of  the  house,  and  the  fire-place  in  that  was  immense,  large  enough 
for  a  fire  of  huge  logs.  It  contained  the  brick  oven,  the  always 
present  dye-pot,  and  sufficient  space  besides  for  seats  for  the  little 
ones.  The  fire-place  in  the  large  square  room  adjoining  the  long, 
narrow  kitchen  was  also  very  large,  while  that  on  a  third  side  of 
the  chimney,  in  the  bed-room,  was  much  smaller.  There  were 
also  fire-places  in  two  bed-rooms  on  the  second  floor,  and  the  stairs 


254  NEWTOWN'S    HISTORY    AND    HISTORIAN 

to  the  garret  were  built  of  stone  into  the  chimney  on  a  third  ;,ide. 
The  only  other  room  on  the  ground  floor  was  the  milk-room. 
On  the  second  floor,  besides  the  two  rooms  containing  fire-places, 
was  the  space  over  the  kitchen  under  the  rafters.  It  was  approach- 
ed by  the  stairway  at  one  end  of  the  kitchen  and  contained  at 
one  end,  bins  for  rye,  oats  and  buckwheat,  while  at  the  other  was 
always  a  bed  for  the  wayfarer,  or  for  some  of  the  children,  if 
crowded  from  their  rooms  by  extra  guests. 

There  was  never  hired  help  for  the  house  and  only  occasional 
days  for  the  farm  from  some  one  in  the  neighborhood. 

The  long  kitchen  was  dining-room  as  well  during  the  warm 
weather,  except  when  there  was  company ;  then  the  square  room, 
always  the  family  sitting-room,  did  duty  as  dining-room.  In  the 
winter,  however,  the  cooking-stove  was  moved  into  the  sitting- 
room  and  all  ordinary  work  was  done  there ;  the  washing,  work 
connected  with  the  butchering,  and  all  extraordinary  work  being 
done  in  the  kitchen,  with  a  big  fire  on  the  hearth. 

The  expression,  "Have  you  come  for  fire?"  is  still  used  occasion- 
ally, but  in  these  days  when  friction  matches  are  in  every  home  and 
in  some  pocket  of  almost  every  man,  it  is  likely  that  many  have  no 
idea  of  the  origin  of  the  question.  Every  woman  expected  to  keep 
coals  enough  buried  in  some  fire-place  to  start  fire  when  needed.  It 
was  a  sorry  time  when  they  and  the  tinder-box  failed.  My  grand- 
mother once  went  nearly  a  half  mile  for  coals  when  she  lost  fire. 

Although  my  recollection  extends  over  considerably  more  than 
three  quarters  of  a  century,  i  can  never  remember  when  it  was  the 
custom  to  cook  exclusively  by  the  fire  on  the  hearth.  Stoves  were 
found  in  most  houses  seventy-five  years  ago,  but  few  of  them  had 
ovens  that  could  be  used  for  general  baking ;  consequently  every 
house-wife  heated  her  brick-oven  twice  or  three  times  each  week  in 
summer  and  once  or  twice  in  winter. 

The  furnishing  of  the  oven- wood  was  a  subject  of  really  vital 
importance  for,  if  too  light  or  flashy,  or  if  it  was  green,  the  heat 
would  not  hold  long  enough  to  bake  the  food.  The  wood  must 
burn  freely,  yet  not  too  rapidly,  and  must  be  of  a  kind,  a  part  of  it 
at  least,  to  leave  coals  that  could  remain  after  the  blaze  was  gone. 

Mr.  A.  and  Mr.  B.,  who  lived  not  far  from  my  home,  were  dis- 
cussing the  question  of  oven-wood,  each  trying  to  convince  the 
other  that  his  wife  was  the  more  particular,  when  Mr.  B.,  who 
had  listened  to  the  description  of  the  kind  Mr.  A.  had  to  furnish, 
stuttered,  "W-w-well,  my  w-w-wife  has  to  have  hers  t-t-turned 
and  b-b-brass  f-f-ferrules  put  on  it." 

The  house-wife  must  have  needed  to  have  her  wits  about  her, 
to  have  bread,  cake  and  pies  ready  to  go  into  the  oven  at  the  same 
time  and  when  the  heat  was  just  right,  the  bread  light  enough, 
yet  not  too  light ;  the  cake  mixed  so  that  it  need  not  stand  too  long, 
and  the  pies  "set  up"  all  in  good  time. 

Apple,  berry  or  mince  pies  could  be  baked  with  bread  and  cake, 
but  not  many  custard  or  pumpkin  pies,  because  the  steam  arising 
from  them  would  cause  the  bread  and  cake  to  be  heavy. 

It  was  considered  as  much  of  a  disgrace  to  be  without  pie,  if  a 
guest   dropped  in     for   dinner   or    supper,   as    without    bread ;    and 


ECONOMY  OF  OUR  MOTHERS  255 

it  was  a  common  practice  to  bake,  after  the  weather  became  cool 
enough  so  that  they  would  keep  two  or  three  days,  ten  or  twelve 
pumpkin  pies  at  one  baking.  In  that  case,  the  crusts  were  set  up 
and  the  pumpkin  mixed,  while  the  first  food  was  baking;  then  some 
lighter  wood  than  was  used  at  the  first  heating,  was  burned  for  a 
shorter  time,  and  the  pies  baked  by  themselves.  Our  mothers 
certainly  needed  the  same  kind  of  "faculty,"  on  baking  days,  with 
which  Mrs.  Harriet  Beecher  Stowe,  invests  Mrs.  Katy  Scudder  in 
"The  Minister's  Wooing." 

The  stove  most  used  in  our  neighborhood,  during  my  childhood, 
was  the  Rotary.  It  revolved  upon  a  track  by  means  of  a  crank 
which  turned  a  wheel,  the  cogs  of  which  fitted  into  corresponding 
cogs  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  circular  top.  There  were  five  lids  of 
graduated  sizes  for  different  sized  cooking  utensils. 

If  it  could  have  had  a  good  oven,  I  am  sure  none  could  be  better 
and  I  often  wish,  when  I  must  lift  a  heavy  kettle  from  one  part  of 
the  stove  to  the  other,  that  I  had  my  mother's  old  rotary. 

Rye  flour  was  the  staple  for  bread ;  few  families  used  wheat, 
except  for  cakes,  pie-crust  and  company  biscuit.  Some  even  made 
pie-crust  of  rye.  Corn  was  used  much  more  than  now.  Hasty- 
pudding  was  almost  a  daily  food  in  some  form  at  some  seasons  of 
the  year,  and  it  was  expected  that  every  miller  know  the  best  way 
to  crack  corn  for  samp.  In  many  families,  the  kettle  of  samp 
must  be  boiled  every  Saturday  during  the  Spring  and  Summer  to 
be  eaten  with  milk  for  the  Sunday  evening  meal.  In  cooking  it, 
there  was  need  of  close  watching  and  frequent  stirring  to  prevent 
scorching.  Boiled  Indian  pudding  was  a  common  dish,  almost 
never  seen  now.  Every  house-wife  had  the  pudding-bag,  made  of 
stout  linen  tightly  woven. 

When  used,  it  was  wet,  turned  wrong  side  out,  and  dusted  with 
flour,  to  prevent  the  batter  from  leaking,  turned  again  and  the  batter 
poured  in,  leaving  space,  when  tied,  for  its  swelling ;  then  it  was 
immersed  in  the  liquor  in  the  huge  pot  containing  the  beef,  pork, 
potatoes,  turnips  and  any  other  vegetables  for  the  dinner.  They 
called  the  meat  and  vegetables  "pot  luck."  In  those  days,  the 
pudding  was  always  served  first,  no  doubt  because,  if  it  was  left 
until  the  last,  it  would  become  sodden. 

Almost  as  soon  as  the  buckwheat  was  harvested  and  threshed, 
griddle  cakes  made  their  appearance  upon  the  breakfast  table,  and 
regularly  appeared  until  Spring.  In  my  own  home  Sunday  morn- 
ing was  the  exception,  because  fresh  bread  was  baked  on  Saturday 
and  because  nothing  was  to  be  done  on  Sunday  to  add  to  the  work. 
I  may  add  incidentally,  that  the  steel  knives  and  forks,  always 
scoured  twice,  and  often  three  times  each  week-day,  were 
never  scoured  on  Sunday. 

The  custom  of  having  baked  beans  always  Saturday  night  and 
Sunday  morning  did  not  prevail  as  extensively  in  our  vicinity  as 
in  Massachusetts  ;  yet  the  pan  of  beans  was  apt  to  be  ready  for 
the  oven  on  Saturday,  when  other  things  came  out,  and  often 
made  the  late  Sunday  dinner  in  hot  weather,  when  a  fire  was 
uncomfortable.  At  any  season,  whatever  was  to  be  eaten  Sunday 
was  prepared  on  Saturday,  as  far  as  possible. 


256  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN 

During  the  Summer,  the  Hst  from  which  our  mothers  chose 
meats  to  place  upon  the  table,  consisted  of  salt  pork,  salt  beef,  ham 
and  dried  beef,  with  now  and  then  a  fowl  from  the  barn-yard. 
Salt  pork  was  cooked  with  almost  everything.  Of  fish,  there  was 
codfish,  salted  mackerel,  Housatonic  River  shad  (of  which  most 
farmers  laid  in  a  supply  in  the  Spring),  with  now  and  then  a  mess 
of  pan  fish  from  the  brooks.  Almost  all  farmers  kept  a  few  or  a 
great  many  sheep,  and  it  is  quite  within  my  recollection  that  the 
only  fresh  meat,  apart  from  one's  flock  of  fowls,  was  by  some 
farmer  killing  a  lamb  or  calf  and  lending  to  his  neighbors  what  he 
did  not  himself  need.  When  it  became  possible  to  get  regularly, 
once  each  week  in  Summer,  a  piece  of  meat  from  a  butcher's  cart, 
it  was  considered  a  wonderful  thing. 

The  only  refrigerator  our  mothers  had  was  the  well,  and  happy 
was  the  woman  whose  well  was  deep  and  cold  and  never- failing. 
Two  or  three  or  more  pails  or  baskets  were  almost  always  hung  in 
it.  She  depended  on  it  to  cool  her  cream  for  churning,  and  to  keep 
the  butter  solid  for  the  table,  as  well  as  to  preserve  a  little  longer 
any  fresh  bit  she  was   fortunate  enough  to  have. 

That  woman  was  to  be  congratulated  in  that  she  did  not  have 
to  wait  for  the  ice-man. 

In  winter  the  conditions  were  more  favorable  for  fresh  meat. 
Farmers  took  turns  in  butchering  their  pork  and  beef,  and  loaned 
to  each  other.  It  was  desirable,  however,  to  choose  a  very  cold 
time  for  butchering,  else  the  task  of  chopping  the  sausage  meat 
was  very  great.  If  quite  cold  and  the  meat  could  be  frozen  by 
spreading  in  a  cold  room  by  an  open  window,  the  task  of  chopping 
was  much  easier. 

Our  mothers  knew  nothing  of  creameries,  or  separators  or  cheese 
factories ;  but  every  woman  made  butter  and  cheese  from  her 
own  dairy,  often  milking  the  cows  also. 

Once  a  week  in  summer,  a  market  wagon  went  the  rounds  of  the 
neighborhood,  collecting  butter,  cheese,  eggs  and  chickens.  The 
chickens  were  carried  in  a  coop  swung  from  the  rear  axle.  The 
produce  was  taken  to  Bridgeport  or  New  Haven,  the  returns  for 
one  week  being  made  the  next,  and  the  house-wife  whose  butter 
cleared  a  York  shilling  thought  herself  well  off.  If  more  than 
that  was  realized,  the  price  was  considered  extra  good. 

In  many  homes  it  was  considered  economy  to  spin  and  weave 
linen  for  some  uses,  even  after  cotton  cloth  became  comparatively 
cheap.  The  spinning  and  weaving  were  to  be  done  in  the  Spring 
before  soap-making,  and  house-cleaning,  so  that  the  lye  not  needed 
for  soap  could  be  used  for  whitening  the  cloth  and  the  thread.  A 
section  of  the  ash-crib,  as  it  was  called,  in  which  the  ashes  were 
leached,  was  like  a  V,  the  bottom  of  the  V  resting  in  a  grooved 
plank  slightly  inclined,  to  form  a  trough.  As  the  ashes  were  filled 
into  the  crib,  they  were  wetted  enough  to  dampen  them,  but  not 
enough  to  cause  the  lye  to  run  until  the  day  for  the 
soap-making,  when  they  were  thoroughly  soaked.  A  certain 
quantity  of  lye  that  would  float  an  egg  must  be  poured 
into  a  certain  quantity  of  heated  grease.  Some  of  our  mothers 
understood  enough  of  chemistry,  although  they  did  not  call  it  that, 


ECONOMY  OF  OUR  MOTHERS  257 

to  know  what  conditions  were  necessary  to  "bring"  the  soap,  and 
were  almost  always  successful ;  others  boiled  and  boiled  and  spent 
a  great  deal  of  time,  and  strength,  and  patience,  with  very  indiffer- 
ent results. 

Seventy  years  ago,  neither  you  nor  I  had  seen  a  kerosene  lamp. 
Lard  oil  and  sperm  oil  were  used  by  some,  but  were  considered  not 
greatly  superior  to  the  tallow  dip,  the  only  light  many  of  our 
mothers  had  ever  known.  Candles  must  be  made  every  Spring  and 
Autumn,  and  the  evening  before  the  dipping  the  whole  familv  was 
set  to  work  helping  put  the  wicks  upon  the  candle-rods.  These 
rods  were  of  hickory,  a  little  larger  than  an  ordinary  lead  pencil, 
made  very  smooth,  and  about  two  feet  long.  The  wicking  was 
wound  around  a  book  or  a  board  whose  length  would  make  a  wick, 
when  cut  and  doubled,  the  desired  length  for  the  candle.  Every 
separate  thread  of  the  wicking  must  be  drawn  out 
because  a  loosely  twisted  wick  would  burn  better  than 
one  tightly  twisted.  Seven  or  eight  of  these  wicks,  each 
composed  of  seven  or  eight  threads,  were  put  double  upon  the  rods, 
and  twisted  just  enough  to  keep  them  in  place.  Early  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  big  brass  kettle  was  hung  upon  the  crane  in  the  fire-place, 
and  sufficient  tallow  for  the  candles  to  be  made  put  into  it  to  melt. 
A  little  alum  was  usually  pounded  and  added,  to  harden  the  tallow, 
and,  if  bees-wax  was  abundant,  the  addition  of  a  certain  proportion 
made  the  candles  much  nicer.  Water  was  also  added  to  prevent 
the  tallow  from  scorching.  While  this  was  melting,  the  ends  of  two 
long  poles  or  ribs  were  put  upon  two  "horses"  or  chairs,  and  the 
candle-rods  with  their  wicks,  put  upon  them  a  little  distance  apart. 
As  soon  as  the  tallow  was  melted  and  somewhat  heated,  the  kettle 
was  placed  near  the  candle-rods,  then  filled  with  water  to  within 
an  inch  or  less  of  the  top,  and  the  process  of  dipping  commenced. 
At  first  the  wicks  on  three  or  four  rods  could  be  dipped  at  once,  but 
after  a  few  dippings  they  became  heavy.  A  kettle  of  water  must 
be  kept  constantly  hot,  and  a  little  added  occasionally,  both  to  keep 
the  tallow  warm  and  to  raise  it  in  the  kettle  as  it  was  dipped  off. 
Great  care  must  be  taken  that  it  be  made  not  too  hot,  or  what  had 
cooled  on  the  wicks  would  be  melted  off,  rather  than  added  to. 
My  mother  used  to  say  that  she  never  dipped  candles  that  she  did 
not  have  unexpected  company,  for  it  was  work  she  could  not  put 
aside  and  must  be  done  in  a  cold  room.  The  introduction  of  molds 
was  considered  a  wonderful  improvement. 

It  is  a  little  less  than  forty  years  since  we  commenced  using  glass 
jars  and  canning  our  fruit.  Our  mothers,  before  that  invention, 
must  keep  their  fruit  in  crocks  and  jars,  and  it  must  be  made  very 
rich,  that  it  spoil  not  by  fermentation.  They  had  no  porcelain  or 
granite  ware,  and  their  preserving  kettles  were  usually  of  brass, 
which  must  be  made  as  bright  as  gold,  cleaned  first  with  salt  and 
vinegar,  then  with  rotten  stone  or  brick  dust,  then  with  soap  and 
water. 

The  currant  worm  was  not,  years  ago,  the  pest  that  it  now  is 
and  the  crop  was  usually  abundant,  so  that  currants  were  preserved 
in  as  large  quantities  as  the  ability  to  furnish  sugar  would  allow. 
Raisins  to  the  amount  of  about  a  quarter  of  their  weight  were 


258  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN 

used  by  many ;  sugar  was  used  pound  for  pound  and  the  preserve 
cooked  until  it  was  a  rich,  clear  mass.  An  incident  will  show  that 
sugar  was  sometimes  and  in  some  places  scarce  in  those  days. 
About  eighty  years  ago,  my  mother  went  with  one  of  her  babies 
to  spend  the  day  with  an  acquaintance.  She  took  with  her  milk  for 
her  baby,  but  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  take  sugar.  When  she 
wanted  to  feed  the  baby,  she  asked  for  sugar.  The  woman  went 
to  a  chest  and,  reaching  to  the  bottom,  brought  out  a  box  with  the 
remark,  "John  bought  a  couple  of  pounds  about  a  year  ago,  and  I 
guess  it  isn't  all  gone  yet." 

Gooseberries  were  much  more  abundant  than  now  and  no  collec- 
tion of  preserves  was  complete  without  them,  both  in  preserve  and 
in  jam.  Jellies  were  not  made  as  much  as  now.  Sometimes  jam 
was  made  of  blackberries, but  they  were  oftener  dried  for  pies,  either 
in  the  sun  without  sugar,  or  scalded  with  a  little  sugar,  spread  upon 
plates  and  put  into  the  brick  oven,  when  the  food  was  drawn  out. 
Pies  made  from  berries  dried  in  that  way  were  delicious,  and 
often  the  oven  was  slightly  heated  for  the  purpose  of  saving  the 
berries  by  drying. 

Plums  of  several  sorts  were  then,  as  now,  considered  the  best 
of  fruits  for  preserving.  Peaches  were  abundant,  and  every  house- 
wife expected  to  have  a  good  supply.  They  were  pared,  the  stones 
taken  out  and  the  sugar  added  to  them  at  night.  In  the  morning, 
a  syrup  had  formed,  and  in  that  the  peaches  were  cooked  until 
clear,  then  skimmed  out,  and  the  syrup  boiled  until  somewhat 
thick,  the  peaches  added  again,  and  scalded  in  the  syrup  for  a  few 
minutes,  then  placed  in  crocks  for  the  winter.  If  cooked  sufficient- 
ly, there  was  rarely  any  trouble  about  keeping  them. 

Grapes  were  preserved  then  as  I  suppose  most  of  us  do  them  now, 
except  that  we  do  not  make  them  so  rich.  Quinces  must  be  boiled 
first  to  make  them  tender,  but  even  then  the  quince  preserve  of 
years  ago  was  apt  to  be  hard,  unless  one  was  very  skillful  in  the 
making. 

One  of  the  duties  of  every  housekeeper  was  to  examine  very 
often  her  stock  of  preserves,  and  she  who  did  not  now  and  then 
have  to  check  incipient  fermentation  by  scalding  was  indeed  very 
fortunate. 

As  soon  as  apples  began  to  drop,  when  in  any  degree  near 
maturity,  our  thrifty  mothers  commenced  drying  them,  spreading 
them  on  cloths  laid  on  roofs,  or  on  platforms  made  for  the  purpose. 
Perhaps  an  earlier  way  was  to  string  the  quarters  and  hang  them 
around  the  kitchen  or  in  the  sun  out  of  doors. 

The  old  time  garden  contained  no  tomatoes,  consequently  our 
mothers  knew  nothing  of  chili  sauce,  green  tomato  pickle,  or  chow- 
chow.  Cucumber  pickles,  usually  put  in  brine,  were  the  stand-by, 
the  cucumbers  being  taken  from  the  brine  and  soaked  from  time 
to  time  as  needed. 

I  must  not  forget  to  speak  of  another  accompaniment  to  almost 

every  meal  during  the  winter  in  many  families — cider  apple  sauce. 

Something  like  it  is  now  called  apple  butter.    The  cider  was  taken 

sweet  from  the  press,  and  boiled  until  nearly  as  thick  as  molasses. 

Some  of  this  was  always  saved  to  use  with  mince  pies  in  the  winter. 


ECONOMY  OF  OUR  MOTHERS  259 

Half  sweet  and  half  sour  apples  were  used,  and  sometimes  a  few 
quinces.  There  was  always  a  busy  company  preparing  the  apples 
the  evening  before  the  apple  sauce  was  to  be  made.  The  big  brass 
kettle  was  scoured  in  the  same  way  and  just  as  bright  as  the  small 
preserving  kettle,  and  in  the  morning  early  it  was  hung  upon  the 
crane  with  the  boiled  cider  in  it,  and  the  apples  added  only  as  fast 
as  those  before  got  to  cooking.  The  mass  needed  constant  care 
through  almost  the  whole  day.  The  making  of  it  was  considered 
of  so  much  consequence  that,  when  the  teacher  who  boarded 
around  the  district,  sent  to  see  if  he  could  go  to  some  place,  the 
reply  sometimes  came,  "Mother  can't  have  you  next  week,  she 
hain't  made  apple  sass." 

Our  mothers  had  no  sewing  machines,  and  I  well  re- 
member when  my  mother  brought  home,  from  a  visit  to  the 
American  Institute  at  New  York,  a  sample  that  she  said  she  saw 
sewed  on  a  sewing  machine,  and  every  one  was  amazed  that  it  was 
possible.  As  they  could  not  sit  down  at  the  machine  and  sew,  they 
took  their  sewing  or  their  knitting  and  went,  uninvited,  to  visit 
neighbors.  Sometimes  the  result  was  rather  embarrassing  to  the 
one  visited,  as  was  the  case  with  old  Mrs.  Blank,  when  several  of  her 
neighbors  went  to  spend  the  afternoon  with  her.  She  and  her 
husband,  "Uncle  Thoph"  to  every  one,  lived  alone.  When  it  was 
time  to  get  tea,  she  announced  to  her  visitors,  "La !  me !  I  thought  I 
had  enough  for  Thoph  and  me  a  week,  but  I  hain't  got  enough 
for  tea." 

As  has  been  stated,  most  farmers  kept  a  flock  of  sheep  which 
were  sheared  in  June,  the  wool  taken  to  some  factory  where  it  was 
"scoured"  and  carded  into  rolls  about  three  quarters  of  an  inch  in 
diameter  and  two  feet  long.  The  rolls  were  spun  at  home  for 
household  use. 

The  yarn  needed  for  stockings  for  the  men  and  boys  was  usually 
cleaned  at  home,  dyed  indigo  blue  in  the  dye-pot  before  mentioned, 
mixed  with  white  wool  and  carded  into  grey  rolls. 

Homespun  dresses  of  wool  were  worn  in  winter.  The  yarn  for 
these  was  spun  white  and  dyed  at  home.  My  mother  dyed  indigo 
blue  in  different  shades.  Cochineal  red,  and  used  butternut  bark  for 
shades  of  brown.  From  these  colors  in  warp  and  woof  a  pretty 
plaid  was  planned,  the  cloth  woven  in  some  home  loom,  then  taken 
to  the  factory  to  be  pressed. 

Many  houses  had  looms  for  weaving  the  wool  and  linen  for 
household  use  and  rag  carpets. 

It  was  one  of  my  chief  delights  to  wind  for  the  weaver  on  a 
"quill-wheel,"  the  little  paper  tubes  or  "quills"  that  were  slipped  on 
a  wire  in  the  shuttle  when  weaving  woolen  or  linen  goods. 

I  would  like  once  more  to  hear  the  musical  whizzing  of  the  old 
wool  wheel,  as  it  sounded  when  I  was  a  child,  and  my  mother  kept 
time  to  its  music  in  the  long  narrow  kitchen  of  the  old  house  at 
home,  but  I  am  thankful  that  the  women  of  to-day  need  not  tread 
in  all  the  foot-steps  of  our  mothers. 


260  NEWTOWN'   HISTORY   AND   HISTORIAN 


BERKSHIRE 

For  the  past  one  hundred  years  the  history  of  Berkshire  has  been 
largely  bound  up  in  the  history  of  the  Curtis  family 

The  first  of  the  family  to  come  from  Stratford  was  Matthew 
Curtis,  who  settled  on  Mile  Hill  and  his  son,  Gold  Curtis,  who 
married  Elizabeth,   daughter   of  Abraham   Gold,  also   lived   there. 

Gould,  the  eldest  son  of  Gold,  married  Joanna  Peck  and  made  his 
home  in  Berkshire.  Being  a  captain  in  the  militia,  he  was  called 
"Captain  Gould." 

He  built  the  white  homestead  at  the  end  of  the  village  towards 
Bennett's  bridge.  This  was  probably  about  100  years  old.  He  was  a 
farmer,  owning  about  200  acres  of  land  lying  on  the  hill  back  of  the 
house  along  the  "Pole  bridge  road  and  in  the  Zoar  district." 

He  had  five  children :  Mary,  who  married  Cyrenius  Beers,  a  native 
of  Newtown,  but  a  pioneer  of  Chicago ;  Samuel ;  Elizabeth,  sectjnd 
wife  of  Robert  S.  Peck,  also  second  wife  of  Simeon  B.  Peck ;  a  child 
who  died  in  infancy  ;  and  Sarah,  who  married  Dr.  Monroe  Judson. 
Samuel,  born  in  1818,  developed  into  a  rather  remarkable  business 
man  for  his  day  and  generation.  He  first  went  into  the  comb  and 
button  business  with  his  uncle  David  Curtis,  in  the  factory  near  the 
bridge  at  Sandy  Hook,  (later  the  Beecher  and  Tucker  satinet  fac- 
tory, then  the  Niantic  Mills,  now,  1917,  the  Harris  Wire  Mills.) 
They  dissolved  partnership  a  year  or  so  later,  and  David  Curtis 
moved  "Out  West,"  so  called,  to  Painted  Post,  about  300  miles  out 
into  New  York  state. 

Samuel  Curtis  returned  to  Berkshire,  married  Mary,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Sarah  Blackman  Nichols,  and  of  this  union  two  children 
were  born :  Henry  Gould,  who  married  Annie,  daughter  of  George 
and  Sarah  Peck  Beers,  and  Julia,  who  married  Plenry  S.  Hawley. 

In  1845  "The  Berkshire  Co."  was  formed.  The  partners  were 
Samuel  Curtis,  Amos  Hard,  Julius  and  John  Curtis.  They  built  the 
first  factory  (which  was  destroyed  by  fire  1852)  and  established 
the  water  power.  The  factory  was  re-built  the  same  year.  The 
business  was  the  making  of  combs  and  buttons. 

When  that  partnership  was  dissolved  a  year  or  so  later,  John 
Warner,  a  cousin  of  Mr.  Curtis  became  his  partner.  This  partner- 
ship under  the  name  of  Curtis  and  W^arner  lasted  about  ten  years, 
when  Mr.  Warner  moved  to  New  Haven,  and  for  a  short  time 
Matthew  Fairchild  was  Mr.  Curtis'  partner.  About  1870  Mr.  Curtis 
owned  the  whole  business.  When  his  son  Henry  Gould  attained 
his  majority,  the  firm  became  S.  Curtis  &  Son.  The  firm  name  is 
still  the  same.  Until  1901,  the  business  was  exclusively  the  manu- 
facture of  combs  and  buttons.  Since  then  the  business  carried  on 
in  the  same  factory  built  in  1852,  is  the  manufacture  of  paper  boxes, 
and  is  under  the  ownership,  and  management  of  William  R.  Curtis, 
younger  son  of  Henry  G.  Curtis.     The  older   son,   Harry   Beers 


o 


BERKSHIRE  261 

Curtis,  is  a  member  of  the  Bridgeport  Hardware  Manufacturing 
Corporation. 

Mr.  Samuel  Curtis  owned  nearly  all  of  Berkshire  in  1870  and  in 
his  day  it  was  called  the  "White  Village."  all  houses  being  white 
with  green  blinds  and  all  fences  white.  From  1874  he  employed  a 
carpenter  for  seven  years.  Mr.  Henry  Curtis'  house  was  built  in 
1875,  the  year  of  his  marriage. 

Mrs.  Julia  Hawley  has  two  children,  Curtis,  who  is  unmarried, 
and  Mary,  the  wife  of  Hobart  G.  Warner,  of  the  firm  of  Taylor, 
Curtis  &  Co.  of  Sandy  Hook.  Her  home,  an  attractive  residence 
adjoining  her  brother's  on  the  west,  is  also  the  home  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Warner  and  their  three  sturdy  boys,  Hobart,  Austin  and  Henry 
Hawley. 

Just  beyond  his  father's  on  the  site  of  the  grandfather's  home, 
William  R.  Curtis  has  a  fine  modern  residence,  built  in  1906.  His 
wife  is  Bertha  Niles  George,  second  daughter  of  Rev.  James  H. 
George,  deceased  rector  of  Trinity  Church.  Two  wide  awake  boys, 
Gould  and  Nelson  bid  fair  to  help  keep  Berkshire  for  some  time  to 
come  a  home  of  the  Curtis  family  as  it  has  been  "for  the  last 
hundred  years." 

There  were  two  or  three  other  small  concerns  in  Berkshire  in 
the  fifties.  One  was  a  hat  factory  where  wool  hats  were  manufac- 
tured. 

This  was  owned  by  Rufus  Somers,  who  lived  where  Mr.  Charles 
Minor's  house  stands,  the  factory  being  quite  near  it. 

Another  business  concern  was  a  tannery  located  across  the  way 
from  the  house  of  Mr.  Samuel  Curtis.  The  little  brook  was  dammed 
for  water  power  for  grinding  the  bark.  Mr.  John  Curtis  owned  the 
tannery  which  was  given  up  in  the  early  sixties  and  the  factory 
converted  into  a  dwelling  house  which  was  removed  a  few  years 
ago. 

A  Baptist  Church  stood  at  the  top  of  the  hill  near  the  cemetery 
overlooking  the  village.  Mr.  Henry  Curtis  remembers  that  when 
he  Avas  a  boy  there  were  large  congregations  every  Sunday,  and 
Berkshire  pond  was  used  for  the  baptism.  Losses  by  death  and 
removal  so  depleted  the  numbers  of  the  members  that  regular 
services  were  given  up,  and  in  1913  the  building  was  sold  and  torn 
down  and  the  ground  it  occupied  added  to  the  cemetery. 

THE  MEN'S  CLUB. 

The  Men's  Literary  and  Social  Club  of  Newtown  Street,  usually 
spoken  of  as  The  Men's  Club,  was  organized  in  1894  according  to 
the  following  extract  from  the  Minutes: — 

At  a  meeting  held  at  the  study  of  Rev.  G.  T.  Linsley  it  was  voted  to 
organize  a  men's  literary  club. 

The  following  ofificers  were  elected:  President,  Rev.  G.  T.  Linsley;  Vice- 
president,  Dr.  E.  AI.  Smith;  Secretary-Treasurer,  Allison  P.  Smith. 

It  was  voted  that  these  officers  constitute  an  executive  committee.  It 
was  voted  that  the  first  meeting  should  be  held  on  Tuesday  evening,  May 
1st,  at  the  residence  of  A.  P.  Smith.    Prof.  P.  E.  Cliff  was  appointed  essayist. 


262  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN 

The  President,  Rev.  O.  W.  Barker  and  Frank  Wright,  were  appointed 
a  committee  on  Constitution  and  By-laws. 

May  meeting.     (First  meeting.) 

The  May  meeting  of  The  Men's  Literary  &  Social  Club  was  held  on 
Tuesday,  May  1st.  at  the  residence  of  A.  P.  Smith.  Prof.  P.  E.  Cliff  was  the 
essayist,  his  subject  being,  "Evolution  and  the  Faith." 

The  following  gentlemen  were  present  and  were  constituted  members  of 
the  club:  Charles  H.  Northrop,  John  J.  Northrop,  Robert  H.  Beers,  E.  F. 
Hawley.  Frank  Wright,  P.  E.  Cliff,  Rev.  G.  T.  Linsley,  Rev.  Otis  W.  Barker, 
Dr.  E.  M.  Smith,  M.  J.  Houlihan,  C.  M.  Penny,  G.  F.  Duncombe,  Arthur  S. 
Hawley,  A.  J.  Smith  and  A.  P.  Smith. 

At  this  meeting  the  Committee  on  Constitution  and  By-laws  presented  a 
Constitution  and  By-laws  were  adopted  and  in  force  until  March  2nd.  1909, 
when  a  new  one  drawn  up  by  a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  James  H. 
George,  Hermann  N.  Tiemann,  Sr.,  Rev.  Alexander  Steele,  Frank  J.  Gale, 
M.  D.,  was  presented  and  adopted. 

From  the  above  it  will  be  seen  that  The  Men's  Club  has  existed 
for  more  than  twenty-three  years  and  has  been  of  the  greatest 
benefit  to  the  town,  as  well  as  to  its  members.  It  has  virtually 
formed  the  Board  of  Trade,  Civic  Federation  and  Village  Improve- 
ment Society  of  the  town  and  has  been  instrumental  in  advocating 
and  establishing  a  large  number  of  reforms  and  improvements. 

Its  membership  is  limited  to  twenty  active  members  and  they  are 
representative  men  drawn  from  the  different  sections  of  the  town. 

Besides  helping  the  town  as  above  mentioned,  the  literary  papers 
have  formed  a  prominent  feature  of  its  meetings,  which  have  tended 
in  no  small  measure  to  broaden  and  educate  its  members. 

The  past  membership  has  included  such  representative  men  as 
Daniel  G.  Beers,  E.  Levan  Johnson  and  Prof.  C.  S.  Piatt. 

The  present  membership  is  as  follows : 

President,  L.  M.  Johnson;  Vice-president,  Alfred  Walker;  Secretary  and 
Treasurer,  H.  N.  Tiemann.  Sr. 

Chas.  F.  Beardsley,  Robt.  H.  Beers,  Chas.  S.  Cole,  Wm.  R.  Curtis,  Frank  J. 
Gale,  M.  D.,  Chas.  B.  Johnson,  Wm.  C.  Johnson,  Walter  H.  Kiernan,  M.  D., 
Rev.  T.  J.  Lee,  Patrick  H.  McCarthy,  Dr.  W.  J.  McLoughlin,  John  J.  Northrop, 
Chas.  G.  Peck,  David  C.  Peck,  Rev.  George  T.  Sinnott,  Allison  P.  Smith. 

Honorary  members:     Rev.  F.  W.  Barnett,  Carlos  D.  Stillson. 

Contributed  by  Hermann  N.  Tiemann  Sr. 

Former  Presidents  : 
Rev.  George  T.  Linsley.  1894-1895;  1895-1896;  1896-1897;  Dr.  Edwards  M. 
Smith,  1897-1898;  Rev.  Otis  W.  Barker,  1898-1899;  Daniel  G.  Beers,  1899-1900; 
Allison  Parrish  Smith,  1900-1901;  Robert  H.  Beers,  1901-1902;  Ezra  L. 
Johnson,  1902-1903;  David  C.  Peck,  1903-1904;  Rev.  James  H.  George,  1904- 
1905;  John  J.  Northrop,  1905-1906;  Prof.  C.  S.  Piatt,  1906-1907;  P.  H.  Mc 
Carthy,  1907-1908;  Charles  F.  Beardsley,  1908-1909;  Carlos  D.  Stillson,  1909- 
1910;  Frank  J.  Gale,  M.  D.,  1910-1911;  William  C.  Johnson,  1911-1912;  Rev. 
Alexander  Steele,  1912;  Austin  B.  Blakeman,  1912-1913;  Charles  B.  Johnson 
1913-1914;  Rev.  F.  W.  Barnett,  1914-1915;  Rev.  G.  T.  Sinnott,  1915-1916;  Rev. 
T.  J.  Lee,  1916-1917. 


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NEWTOWN  WATER  COMPANY  263 


THE  NEWTOWN  WATER  CO. 

This  company,  which  supplies  the  borough  of  Newtown  and 
adjacent  territory  with  water,  is  a  joint  stock  company  organized 
in  May,  1906,  bv  special  charter,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000.  Stock 
isued,  $25,000.  'Officers,  1906-07:  C.  B.  Taylor,  President;  D.  C. 
Peck,  Vice-President;  W.  A.  Leonard,  Secretary;  L.  C.  Morris, 
Treasurer;  W.  B.  Glover,  Superintendent.  Directors:  C.  B.  Taylor, 
D.  C.  Peck,  L.  C.  Morris,  A.  J.  Smith,  W.  A.  Leonard,  W.  J.  Beecher, 
and  VV.  H.  Hubbell. 

The  reservoir  is  situated  on  Reservoir  Hill,  the  highest  point  on 
Mt.  Pleasant,  750  feet  above  tide-water,  180  feet  higher  than  the 
flag-pole,  240  feet  at  the  residence  of  L.  C.  Morris,  and  about  300 
feet  at  Newtown  R.  R.  Station.  Upon  the  highest  point  of  this  hill, 
the  company  has  constructed  a  reservoir  of  concrete,  32x52  feet, 
14  feet  deep.  Its  source  of  supply  is  beautiful  Taunton  Lake,  2200 
feet  distant,  at  an  elevation  of  235  feet,  with  capacity  of  about 
175,000  gallons,  with  25  H.  P.  gasoline  engines  directly  connected 
to  834  xlO  inch,  Triplex  Pump,  which  has  a  capacity  of  300  gallons 
per  minute.  There  are  two  of  these  outfits.  The  water  runs  from 
the  reservoir  to  different  branches,  supplying  water  to  an  estimated 
population  of  600  people,  with  38  public  hydrants  for  the  fire  protec- 
tion. The  system  has  about  53^2  miles  of  8,  6,  4,  and  2-inch  pipe, 
serving  Mt.  Pleasant  as  far  north  as  J.  Albert  Blackman's,  south  to 
the  Country  Club,  east  to  the  R.  R.  station,  west  to  Alfred  Walker's. 
The  company  has  acquired  land  sufficient  to  build  a  reservoir  of 
more  than  double  the  present  size  and  with  view  to  further  expan- 
sion ;  a  pipe  and  gate  through  the  south  wall  has  been  provided  for, 
the  present  south  wall  to  form  one  side  of  the  new  reservoir,  when 
built.  The  pipe  lines  are  of  a  size  to  provide  for  a  large  future 
growth. 

Officers  for  1917:  C.  B.  Taylor,  President;  D.  C.  Peck,  Vice-Presi- 
dent; W.  A.  Leonard  , Secretary ;  L.  C.  Morris,  Treasurer;  W.  B. 
Glover,  Superintendent.  Directors:  C.  B.  Taylor,  D.  C.  Peck,  L.  C. 
Morris,  A.  J.  Smith,  VV.  A.  Leonard,  Wm.  B.  Glover,  F.  J.  Gale. 

THE  COUNTRY  CLUB. 

The  Newtown  Country  Club,  Inc.,  was  started  in  Dec,  1915.  The 
first  officers  were  W.  T.  Cole,  President ;  Dr.  Charles  II.  Peck,  Vice- 
President ;  Wm.  A.  Leonard,  Treasurer;  and  H.  C.  Hubbell,  Secre- 
tary. 

The  property  of  D.  C.  Bacon,  one  mile  south  of  the  village,  was 
purchased  for  Club  purposes,  and  during  the  year  1916,  this,  with 
adjoining  land  was  laid  out  in  a  9-hole  golf  course,  tennis  courts,  etc. 

At  the  present  time,  1917,  the  Club  has  a  membership  of  about 
one  hundred. 

The  Officers  are  the  same  as  in  1915,  except  that  Rodney  P. 
Shepard  has  taken  the  place  of  W.  A.  Leonard,  as  Treasurer. 


264  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN 

A  40  YEAR  LEASE  OF  MOUNTAIN  LAND  IN  SANDY  HOOK. 

Soon  alter  Newtown  was  purchased  from  the  Indians,  prospec- 
tors began  to  turn  their  attention  to  the  Sandy  Hook  mountain, 
whose  Indian  name,  whatever  it  might  have  been,  had  been  trans- 
formed to  that  of  Pisgah.  The  southerly  i^art  of  the  range  in 
particular,  and  more  especially  that  part  lying  back  of  the  grist 
mill,  extending  along  the  stream  unto  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Black  bridge,  seemed  to  the  crude  prospectors  the  most  likely  part 
in  which  to  begin  search  for  minerals,  in  which,  they  felt  sure,  the 
range  abounded. 

In  1764,  John  Staley  Elackwell  of  the  "Province  and  City  of  New- 
York"  leased  for  a  term  of  40  years  a  certain  tract  of  mountain  land 
in  which  to  carry  on  mining.  Of  how  much  prominence  Blackwell 
might  have  been  in  the  "Province  and  City  of  New  York,"  we  can- 
not ascertain.  We  would  hardly  think  him  a  timid  adventurer 
for  a  few  pages  further  on  in  the  same  "Book  of  Land  Records"  we 
find  it  recorded  at  a  later  date  that  Jeremiah  Northrop  of  Newtown, 
in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  leased  to  the  said  Blackwell  "a  tract  of 
land  lying  in  the  northerly  part  of  Newtown,  in  the  Parish  of  New- 
bury, on  the  east  side  of  the  road  that  leads  from  New^town  to  New 
Milford." 

The  lease  was  a  "40  year"  interest  in  ore  mines,  minerals,  fossils 
of  all  sorts  and  kinds  discovered  or  to  be  discovered  throughout 
the  full  term  of  40  years,  "and.  if  need  be,  to  dig  to  the  center  of  the 
earth."  Aside  from  Blackwell's  making  such  ventures  for  mining 
purposes,  the  results  of  his  ventures  are  as  a  sealed  book  to  us  of 
the  present  day,  and  there  is  nothing  to  be  found  on  the  mountain 
side  that  goes  to  show  that  the  work  of  excavation  was  even  once 
begun.    Death  may  have  intervened  and  removed  the  lessee. 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we,  Nathan  Curtiss,  Hannah 
Sanford,  Widow  Thomas  Sanford,  Hezekiah  Sanford,  Samuel  Sanford, 
Josiah  Plat,  Sarah  Plat,  wife  of  said  Plat,  and  Louis  Sanford,  all  of  New- 
town in  the  County  of  Fairfield,  and  Colony  of  Connecticut,  and  Amos 
Sanford  of  Sharon  in  the  County  of  Litchfield  and  Colony  aforesaid — for 
and  on  account  of  the  consideration,  hereafter  in  this  instrument  to  be  set 
forth, — for  ourselves  and  heirs,  executors  and  administrators,  for  the  full 
term  of  forty  years  from  the  date  hereof,  do  let  and  lease  out  unto  John 
Staley  Blackwell  of  the  city  and  province  of  New  York,  his  heirs  and 
assigns  for  the  above  term,  all  our  rights,  title  and  interest  in  ore  mines 
and  minerals  of  every  sort  and  kind,  now  discovered  or  to  be  found  or 
discovered  throughout  the  full  term  of  forty  years,  in  a  certain  tract  of 
land  within  the  township  of  Newtown  and  bounded  as  follows  : 

Beginning  at  two  Black  oak  spiers  marked  in  the  south  line  of  the  land  of 
Asa  Cogswell,  which  was  formerly  Benjamin  Mallory's  land  and  on  the 
easterly  side  of  the  highway  that  goes  to  Mr.  Hubbell's  ferry,  then  run- 
ning south  five  degrees  east  bounding  part  on  highway,  and  part  on  land 
of  Peter  Hubbell  80  rods  to  a  heap  of  stones,  then  east  30  degrees,  south 
about  20  rods  in  the  line  of  the  land  of  Nathaniel  Cady  Blackman  to  a 
spruce  tree  marked,  and  stones  to  it  on  a  ledge  of  rocks  on  the  westerly 
side  of  Pototuck  brook,  then  bounding  on  said  ledge  of  rocks,  as  they  run 
to  said  corner  of  the  above  said  land  that  was  formerly  the  above  said 
Mallory's,  then  west  five  degrees,  south  98  rods  to  the  first  mentioned 
bounds  began  at.  And  for  further  confirmation  this  very  land  was  con- 
veyed by  Peter  Hubbell  to  his  son,  Jedediah,  as  will  more  fully  appear  by 
the  Public  Records  of  Newtown,  Book  5,  folio  357. 


e 


MOUNTAIN  LAND  IN  SANDY  HOOK  265 

Now  it  is  to  be  understood  that  the  right  of  the  above  named  Hannah 
Sanford,  Thomas  Sanford,  Hezekiah  Sanford,  Samuel  Sanford,  Louis  San- 
ford,  Josiah  Piatt  and  his  wife,  is  only  in  13  acres  of  the  above  lands  and 
lies  in  the  southerly  part  of  said  land  and  bounded  north  upon  the  land  of 
Ebenezcr  Ford,  which  he  bought  of  Amos  Sanford,  and  for  further  con- 
firmation of  the  above,  13  acres  may  be  seen  by  the  records  of  the  Probate 
Court  for  the  district  of  Danbury.  Now  we,  the  above  granters,  do  give  to 
the  above  grantee,  his  heirs  and  assigns  full  power  and  authority  to  break 
ground,  dig  and  use  all  proper  means  and  measures,  in  (juest  of  mines  and 
minerals,  and  also  to  fell  and  cut  wood  or  timber  of  all  sorts  except  chest- 
nut, and  also  to  build  houses  for  said  business  in  and  through  said  tract  of 
land  and  if  need  be  to  dig  to  the  center  of  the  earth  with  free  liberty  to 
pass  and  repass  andof  transportation  of  all  necessaries  that  may  be  need- 
ful for  the  carrying  on  of  said  work  or  mineral  business  without  let,  hind- 
rance or  molestation  whatsoever,  all  to  the  best  advantage  of  him,  the 
said    grantee. 

The  consideration  of  the  above  said  lease  or  grant  is  as  follows:  That 
the  above  named  John  Staley  Blackwell,  the  said  grantee,  or  his  heirs  and 
assigns,  in  and  throughout  said  term,  shall,  once  every  month  render,  or 
cause  to  be  rendered,  to  the  above  said  grantors,  one  thirteenth  part  of  all 
the  ore  according  to  quantity  and  quality  that  shall  be  gotten  upon  the 
said  tract  of  land  above  described,  well  ordered  and  fit  for  market,  and  that 
above  ground  at  the  mouth  of  the  pits  or  shafts  where  the  same  is  dug  or 
gotten  and  according  to  their  respective  rights,  which  rights  are  as  fol- 
lows: (viz.)  the  above  said  Matthew  Curtiss  one  fourth,  and  the  above  said 
Hannah  Sanford,  the  other  three  fourths  during  the  term  of  her  natural 
life,  and  after  her  death  or  decease,  to  her  heirs  (viz.)  to  Thomas  Sanford, 
Hezekiah  Sanford,  Samuel  Sanford,  Amos  Sanford,  Sarah  Piatt,  Louis 
Sanford,  it  is  to  be  equally  divided.  And  whereas  it  may  so  happen  that 
the  above  said  grantee  or  his  heirs,  assigns  or  administrators  may  neglect 
to  pursue  the  business  or  search  of  the  said  ore  or  mine  and  by  that  means 
the  grantors  may  be  disappointed  of  the  true  meaning  and  intent  of  the 
above  lease,  by  his,  the  said  grantee  or  his  heirs,  or  executor  or  adminis- 
trator shall  neglect  to  dig  or  search  after  said  mine,  ore  or  minerals  and 
the  grantors  by  that  means  be  debarred  of  having  any  trial  made  which  to 
prevent  it  is  to  be  understood  that  if  the  above  named  grantee  or  his  heirs 
or  executors  shall  neglect  to  dig  or  search  or  make  trial  for  said  mine 
within  the  term  of  one  year,  then,  and  in  this  case  it  shall  be  taken  and 
deemed  his,  the  grantee's  neglect  and  sufficient  to  make  the  foregoing  in- 
strument void  and  of  none  effect.  But,  in  case  it  so  happens  that  the 
grantee  or  his  assigns  shall  be  obliged  to  desist  or  stop  from  the  business 
or  laboring  by  reason  of  water  or  other  impediments  that  shall  or  may 
obstruct  the  way  of  his  or  their  working  for  want  of  proper  implements  or 
engines,  then  and  in  this  case,  it  shall  not  be  taken  as  his  or  their  neglect 
until  that  after  a  proper  time  has  been  allowed  for  him,  the  said  grantee, 
to  furnish  himself  with  necessary  engines  that  be  absolutely  necessary  for 
carrying  on  the  work  or  mineral  business  to  effect  whirh,  shall  not  exceed 
three  years  time.  Then  and  in  this  case,  that  is  to  say  after  a  sufficient 
time,  or  not  exceeding  three  years  as  aforesaid.  He,  the  said  grantee,  or 
his  heirs  or  assigns,  do  not  furnish  him  or  themselves  with  proper  engines, 
then  in  this  case,  the  foregoing  to  be  null  and  void. 

But  on  the  other  hand,  if  the  said  grantee  or  his  assigns  shall  use  his  or 
their  best  endeavors  and  all  proper  means  in  quest  of  said  ore  or  mines, 
then  the  above  instrument  shall  be  good  and  valid  in  law  to  all  intents  and 
purposes,  and  in  witness,  the  grantors  as  conveying  and  the  grantee  as 
concurring,  have  set  to  their  hand  and  seals  this  eight  day  of  September, 
Anno  Domini,  1764,  and  in  the  fourth  year  of  the  reign  of  our  Most  Sover- 
eign Lord,  George  the  Third  of  Great  Britain,  etc..  King.  Signed,  Sealed 
and  delivered  in  presence  of  John  Camp  and  Caleb  Baldwin,  witnesses. 

Hannah  Sanford  (Seal) 

Matthew   Curtiss  (Seal) 

Samuel    Sanford  (SeaH 

Josiah  Plat  (Seal) 

Louis   Sanford  (Seal) 

Hezekirih    Sanford  (Seal) 

John  Staley  Blackwell  (Seal) 


266  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND   HISTORIAN 

Signers  and  sealers  of  the  above  written  instrument  personally  appeared 
in  Newtown  on  ye  day  and  date  mentioned  and  acknowledged  ye  same  to 
be  their  own  free  act  and  deed.     Before  me, 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Justice  of  ye  Peace. 

On  ye  21st  day  of  September,  A.  D.,  1764,  personally  appeared  Capt  John 
Staley  Blackwell.  signer  and  sealer  of  ye  above  written  instrument,  in 
Newtown  and  acknowledged  ye  same  to  be  his  own  free  act  and  deed 
before  me,  Caleb  Baldwin,  Justice  of  ye  Peace. 

The  above  and  foregoing  instrument  recorded  September  26th,  A.  D.  1764, 
per  me, 

John   Northrop,  Town   Clerk. 

In  the  execution  of  the  lease, one  of  the  interested  jjarties,  Thomas 
Sanlord,  refused  to  sign  his  name,  necessitating  further  negotia- 
tions and  Matthew  Curtiss,  one  of  the  lessees,  goes  bonds  in  the 
sum  of  5000  pounds  to  protect  the  said  leasor,  John  Staley  Blackwell, 
from  all  hindrance  in  the  execution  of  said  lease.  A  copy  of  the 
indenture,  copy  or  deed,  immediately  follows  the  copy  of  the  lease 
and  may  be  found  on  Page  206,  of  Volume  8,  Newtown  Land 
Records,  and  reads  as  follows,  viz : 

This  indenture  witnesseth  that  Matthew  Curtiss  of  Newtown  in  the 
County  of  Fairfield,  Colony  of  Connecticut  of  the  one  part  and  John  Staley 
Blackwell  of  the  Province  and  City  of  New  York  of  the  other  part,  viz: 
Whereas,  I  the  said  Matthew  Curtiss  together  with  Hannah  Sanford,  Heze- 
kiah  Sanford,  Samuel  Sanford,  Josiah  Plat.  Sarah  Plat,  the  wife  of  said  Plat, 
and  Louis  Sanford,  all  of  said  Newtown,  did  execute  one  certain  lease  dated 
September  the  eight.  Anno  Domini,  1764,  all  our  right,  title  and  interest  in 
ore,  mines,  minerals  and  fossil  bodies  of  every  sort  or  kind  now  discovered 
or  to  be  discovered  in  a  certain  tract  of  land  as  described  by  said  lease. 

Now,  said  lease  having  been  executed  by  the  above  grantors  to  the  said 
jjrantee  pnd  there  being  Thomas  Sanford  of  said  town  heir  to  the  said 
Hannah  Sanford,  which  the  said  Thomas  has  not  set  his  hand  nor  executed 
his  part  of  the  lease  and  especially  as  said  Thomas  Sanford  does  as  yet 
refuse  to  set  to  his  hand  to  said  lease  so  that  if  possibly  to  hinder  or 
obstruct  the  other  above  named  proprietors  of  settling  or  leasing  their 
respective  right  or  of  having  any  proper  trial  made  to  effect  in  quest  of 
said  mine  or  mineral  according  to  the  will  and  intention  of  the  majority  of 
the  other  proprietors,  therefore.  I  the  said  Matthew  Curtiss,  do  hereby  bind 
myself  and  heirs,  administrators,  firmly  by  this  indenture  in  the  penal  sum 
of  five  thousand  pounds  good  and  lawful  money,  to  secure  and  defend  the 
above  said  John  Staley  Blackwell,  his  heirs,  administrators  and  assigns 
against  all  let  or  hindrance  or  molestation,  by  or  from  him,  them  or  either 
of  them,  the  said  Thomas  Sanford,  his  heirs,  administrators,  executors  and 
assigns,  shall  comply  with  the  afore  said  grantors  of  the  above  named  lease, 
and  set  to  his  or  they,  their  hands  unto  the  above  mentioned  lease,  to  ratify 
and  confirm  the  same,  then  the  above  named  penal  sum  to  be  null  and  void 
and  of  none  effect.  But  in  case  it  so  happens  that  the  above  said  Thomas, 
his  heirs,  or  assigns  do  not  set  his,  or  they  their  hands,  but  at  any  time 
within  the  aforesaid  term  of  40  years,  shall  pay  according  to  his  right, 
his  equal  part  of  all  the  cost  or  charge  that  the  said  John  Staley  Blackwell, 
his  heirs  or  assigns  shall  have  been  at  in  quest  of,  and  laboring  for  said  ore 
or  mine,  which  share  or  rigl\t  is,  by  the  afore  said  lease,  referred  to  the 
records  of  the  court  of  Probate  for  the  district  of  Danbury,  then,  and  in 
case  the  above  said  penal  sum  against  the  aforcsnid  Curtiss,  his  heirs,  etc., 
to  be  null  and  void,  and  of  none  effect,  otherwise  to  stand  in  full  force 
and  virtue  in  law.  Now  on  the  part  of  the  above  named  John  Stnley 
Blackwell,  is  this:  Whereas,  in  the  above  named  lease  in  that  part  of  it 
giving  liberty  of  rutting  wood  and  timber  is  not  meant  in  the  whole  tract 
of  land  described  in  said  lease,  but  only  in  the  13  acres  which  is  described 
to  the  said  Hannah  Sanford  and  her  heirs  as  in  the  consideration  in  the 
above  said  lease  is  to  render  one  13th  part  of  all  the  ore  or  mines  that  is 


THE  CONSERVATION  OF  TIMBER  267 

gotten  on  said  tract  of  land  and  that  according  to  their  respective  rights, 
of  which  the  said  Curtiss  is  one  fourth  part.  Now  on  the  account  of  him  the 
said  Curtiss  giving  this  instrument,  I  bind  myself  and  heirs,  executors  and 
administrators,  notwithstanding  the  consideration  in  the  above  said  lease, 
to  render  him,  his  heirs,  etc.,  one  tenth  instead  of  one-thirteenth  of  all  the 
ore  or  mines  that  shall  be  gotten  upon  the  whole  described  lands  men- 
tioned in  said  lease  and  that  according  to  quantity  and  quality  according 
to  his  right  which  is  one-fourth  part  of  said  mine  or  else  forfeit  the  said 
right  and  it  shall  return  to  the  said  Curtiss,  his  heirs,  etc.,  and  in  confirma- 
tion of  the  above,  the  parties  have  interchangeably  set  their  hands  and 
seals,  this  21st  day  of  September,  Anno  Domini,  1764,  and  in  the  fourth 
year  of  His  Majesties'  reign.     Signed,  sealed  and  delivered  in   presence  of 

Caleb    Baldwin, 
John   Camp, 
Matthew   Curtiss, 
John  Staley  Blackwell. 
Matthew  Curtiss  and  John  Staley  Blackwell  indenture  recorded  Septem- 
ber Z],  A.  D.  1764. 

On  the  day  and  date  of  the  written  instrument  personally  appeared  Mr. 
Matthew  Curtiss  and  Captain  John  Staley  Blackwell  in  Newtown  and 
acknowledged  the  instrument  which  they  had  signed  and  sealed  to  be 
their  own  free  act  and  deed.  Before  me 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Justice  of  ye  Peace. 
Per  John  Northrop,  Town  Clerk. 

THE  CONSERVATION  OF  TIMBER. 

It  may  be  a  surprise  to  some  that  the  conservation  of  timber  was 
a  matter  that  the  settlers  felt  of  vital  importance  and  was  frequent- 
ly discussed  and  as  frequently  acted  upon  at  proprietors'  meetings. 
Stringent  measures  were  devised  to  meet  emergencies  as  they 
arose. 

In  April,  1738,  it  was  "voted  that  no  person  shall  cut  or  fall  any  oak  or 
walnut  tree  under  12  inches  over  at  ye  stub,  nor  any  chesnut  tree  under  18 
inches  over  at  ye  stub  within  ye  sequesterment  for  ye  space  of  three  years 
from  ye  date  above.    This  act  to  hold  three  years  and  no  longer. 

Voted,  Job  Sherman,  Seargant  James  Botsford,  Lemuel  Camp,  Henry 
Glover,  Searg'nt  Benjamin  Dunning  were  chosen  and  appointed  agents  in 
ye  behalf  of  ye  town  to  prosecute  those  that  shall  cut  any  oaks  or  walnuts 
or  chesnuts  contrary  to  ye  above  sd  acts. 

Voted  also  at  sd  meeting.  Thomas  Skidmore,  Joseph  Bristol,  John 
Blackman,  Nathan  Baldwin,  Sr.,  agents  in  ye  town's  behalf  to  prosecute 
those  that  shall  or  have  done  harm  in  ye  destruction  of  ye  young  timber  in 
ye  sequesterment. 

Joseph  Peck,  Town  Clerk." 

Copy  of  petition  for  calling  a  proprietors'  meeting,  Dec.  29,  1748: 
"We  the  subscribers,  desire  that  ye  clerk  of  ye  proprietors  of  ye  common 
and  undivided  land  in  Newtown  in  3'e  county  of  Fairfield  that  he  give  notis 
that  there  is  to  be  a  proprietors  meeting  in  Newtown  for  several  reasons. 
First  place,  to  make  choice  of  a  committee  to  inspect  any  persons  that 
have  inclosed  of  incroached  ye  said  proprietors  common  and  undivided 
lands  and  such  committee  be  empowered  to  prosecute.  Secondly  to  take 
some  measures  to  order  such  way  as  may  be  most  for  ye  advantage  of  ye 
proprietors  to  secure  and  preserve  ye  timber  yt  is  grone  or  groing  on  ye 
common  land,  formerly  supposed  to  be  sequestered  so  that  ye  said  timber 
might  not  be  destroyed.  Third,  to  consider  and  see  if  it  is  not  reasonable 
to  vote  that  ye  proprietors  shall  have  the  overplush  money  and  over  and 
above  what  is  necessary  to  maintain  sd  flock.  Fourthly,  that  the  pro- 
prietors might  take  a  thought  whether  there  may  not  be  some  of  ye 
common  land  afore  mentioned  of  sd  proprietors  taken  up  and  not  damnify 
the  flock.  Fifthly,  to  think  what  a  distinction  there  was  made  in  sd 
sequesterment  by  cutting  and  destroying  ye  young  timber  in   times  past. 


268  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY   AND   HISTORIAN 

whether  it  be  not  reasonable  that  some  satisfaction  should  be  made  to 
some  proprietors  bv  destroying  ye  young  tiinber  in  the  dog  hunt.  Sixthly, 
for  ye  town  to  have  ye  liberty  or  privileges  of  ye  proprietors  of  laying  ye 
land  accruing  to  Job  Sanford's  right  within  ye  sequesterment. 

Benoni  Henry  desires  to  take  up  a  small  peace  of  land  where  his  home 

stands.  ,         ,         ,•  T^      u  c   17 

Also  to  take  sum  speedv  care  to  settel  ye  Ime  from  Danbury  S.  h,.  corner 

to  ye  head  of  Fairfield  bounds  and  to  prevent  ye  incroachment   Danbury 

people   are   m.iking  overbounds   and   also   to   pay   ye   proprietors   clerk   for 

his   past   service. 
Recorded  by  Job  Sherman,  proprietors'  clerk. 


NEWTOWN'S   MILITARY  RECORD 


269 


NEWTOWN'S  Military  Record 

1777-1919 


List  of  Newtown  Men  in  the  Continental  Army,  1777-1782 


Allen,   Eliphalet 
Anderson,  Samuel 
Atwood,  Samuel 

Baldwin,  Serg't.  Abel 
Baldwin,  Major  Caleb 
Baldwin,    Capt.    Isaac, 
Bennett,  Ezekiel 
Botsford,  Capt.  Abel 
Botsford,  Capt.  Elijah 
Botsford,  Jack  (negro) 
Brooks,  Samuel 
Brooks,  Thomas 
Bristol,  Caesar 
Burritt  Bailey 

Chandler,  Col.  John 

Deolph,  Levy 
Dunning,  Jared 

Edmond,  William 

Fairchild,  Peter 
Fairweather,   Corp.    Samuel 
Ferris,  Nathan 

Gillette,  Abraham 
Gregory,  Benjamin 

Hubbell,  Lemuel 
Hubbell,    Nathan 

James,  Thomas 


Kimberly,  Lieut.  Abraham 
Kimberly,   Capt.    Ephraim 
Kimberly,  Fitch 
Kimberly,  John 

Lewis,  Dwight 
Lumnus,  Samuel 

Marvin,  Matthew 
Meeker,  Richard 

Northrop,  Joshua 

Osborne,   Nathaniel 

Parsons,  Jacob 
Pason,  Jacob 
Prindle,  Abigail 
Prindle,  Peter 
Prindle,  Samuel 
Prindle.  Zalmon 

Sanford,   James 
Seeley,  James 
Shaw,  Thomas 
Sherman,  Eleazer 
Smith,  Capt.  Joseph 
Smith,   Capt.   Richard 

Terrill,  Capt.  George 
Terrill,  Josiah 
Tuttle,  Smith 

Whiteley,  William 


The  following  were  of  Newtown's  quota  to  see  service  at  New 

Prindle,  Joseph 
Stillson,  Abel,  Jr. 
Winton,   Czar 


London  in  the  War  of  1812. 
Camp,  Samuel 


Glover,   Ebenezer    Booth 
Glover,  Corp.  Villeroy 
Glover,  Ziba 


Nichols,  Henry 


270  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY  AND  HISTORIAN 

WRITTEN  FOR  MEMORIAL  DAY. 

By  Ezra  L.  Johnson,  May,  1913. 

"Glory  guards  with  solemn  round  the  resting  places  of  our 
nation's  dead,"  and  Memorial  Day  should  lose  none  of  its  interest 
or  meaning  as  the  years  go  by.  A  custom  established  by  act  of 
Congress  many  years  ago  will  probably  be  observed  by  the  people 
of  our  great  nation  so  long  as  our  government  shall  hold  its  name 
among  the  nations  of  the  earth.  By  individuals,  by  families,  by  the 
children  of  our  common  schools,  by  organized  societies,  by  great 
corporations  of  business  and  in  every  possible  way  by  which  it  can 
be  brought  about,  this  day  will  be  socially  and  religiously  observed 
while  the  earth  itself  lavishly  contributes  of  its  abundance  in  flowers 
and  evergreen  to  deck  the  graves  of  the  nations  dead. 

Memorial  Day  stirs  anew  in  the  hearts  of  all  in  whose  bosom 
the  love  of  country  dwells,  tender  and  loving  thoughts  of  those  who 
were  once  of  us,  but  no  longer  with  us.  Not  new  thoughts,  but 
thoughts  long  since  born  in  us,  that  may  have  lain  dormant  during 
the  time  that  has  intervened  between  the  year  that  had  gone  and 
the  coming  of  the  last.  Memory  recalls  names  and  dates  that  are 
seldom  spoken  in  the  common  round  of  everyday  life  and  we  are 
led  to  recall  as  best  we  can,  when  and  where  and  how,  did  our  brave 
ones  do  and  dare  and  die,  in  order  that  our  nation  might  live,  or  if 
spared  to  return  to  their  homes  still  to  live  among  us,  we  regard 
them  with  more  than  an  indifferent  consideration. 

The  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter,  which  was  the  Bunker  Hill 
of  the  Civil  War,  commenced  at  4.30  a.  m.,  April  12,  1861.  On  Mon- 
day, April  15,  1861,  President  Lincoln  issued  a  call  for  three  month's 
service  of  75,000  volunteers.  The  first  response  to  that  call,  from 
Newtown,  came  on  April  24,  1861,  when  three  men,  David  O'Brien, 
Thomas  O'Brien  and  Edward  Carley,  enlisted  and  were  mustered 
into  the  government  service  May  11,  1861,  serving  three  months, 
and  were  mustered  out  August  11,1861.  David  O'Brien  re-enlisted 
was  mustered  into  the  Ninth  Regiment,  Sept.  27,  1861,  and  served 
until  Nov.  27,  1862,  when  he  was  discharged  for  disability.  Thomas 
O'Brien  re-enlisted  in  the  Ninth  Connecticut  Regiment,  was  mus- 
tered in  Sept.  26,  1861,  and  died  in  service,  Nov.  16,  1862.  Edward 
Carley  re-enlisted  in  the  Twelfth  Connecticut  Regiment,  was  mus- 
tered in  Nov.  20,  1861,  promoted  to  sergeant  Jan.  23,  1863,  and  was 
killed  May  27,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 


NEWTOWN'S   MILITARY   RECORD 


271 


Catalogue  of  Newtown  volunteers  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion: 


3rd  Conn.  Vols. 

Enlisted 
Corp.  David  O'Brien,  April  24,  1861 
Sergt.  Edward  Carlcy  April  24,  180l 

Killed  at   Fort  Hudson,  La.   May 

27,  1863. 
Thomas  O'Brien  April  24,  1861 

Died  Nov.  16,  1862. 

1st    Conn.    Cavalry 

Sergt.  Louis  L.  Stuart  Oct.  16,  1861 

George  Bulklev  Dec.  4,  1861 

Henry    W.    Fairchild    Oct.    18,  1861 

Charles    J.    Merritt,    Nov.    14,  1861 

James  Kelly,  Jan.  5,  1864 

Died  Sept.  3,  1864,  Andersonville, 

Ga. 

George    Rankins  Jan.    5,  1864 

2nd  Conn.   Light  Battery 

Martin  Lillis  Feb.  19,  1864 

James  Nichols,  Feb.   16,   1864 

1st  Regt.  Heavy  Artillery 

Thomas  Wade,  Aug.  27,  1864 

Edward  A.   Dunning, 

Charles  H.  Burritt, 

Daniel  Davis, 

James  P.  Hall, 

John  P.  Hubbell, 

Charles  S.  Shepard, 

Sergt.  Henry  Nichols,  Mar.  5,  1862 

George  S.  Coley,  Jan.  20,  1862 

2nd    Regt.    Heavy   Artillery 

Edward  A.  Banks,  Dec.  29,  1863 
Charles  T.  Conger,  Dec.  26,  1863 
Sergt.  James  Sheridan,  Jan.  4,  1864 


Tan.  1,  1864 
May  2Z,  1861 
Mav  23.  1861 
May  23,  1861 
May  23.  1861 
May  23,  1861 


Jan.  4,  1864 

Tan.  4,  1864 

Dec.  31,  1863 

Dec.  31.  1863 

Jan.  4.  1864 

Jan.  2.  1864 

^  1864 


William  Connell, 

Peter  Flood, 

Patrick   Lynch, 

Martin    Blake, 

William  W.   Foster, 

Hawley  Reed, 

Andrew    H.    Sanford,    Jan.    5, 

Patrick   Kaine,  Jan.  2,   1864 

Killed  June  1,  1864  at  Cold 

Harbor. 
Edward  Reicker,  Dec.  31,  1863 

Nathan  H.  Root,  Aug.  11,  1862 

Barney  Casey,  Jan.  28,  1864 

2nd  Lieut.  Senaca  Edgett,    Feb.  5,  '64 
Robert    Clark,  Jan.    5.    1864 

Michael  Farrel.  Feb.  10.  1864 

Corp.  Starr  L.  Booth.  Sept.  5.  1864 
Andrew  Flanagan,  Feb.  10.  1864 

Charles  E.  Gilbert.        Feb.  13.  1864 

5th  Regt.  Conn.  Vols. 

Sergt.    Major    John    H.    Brewster. 

June  21.  1861 

Patrick  Quinn.  Aug.  27.  1864 

Corp.  Henry  J.  Glover,  June  21,  1861 


Enlisted 
William   Conley.  June  21,  1861 

George  D.  Squires,  June  21.  1861 
John  H.  P'aulkner,  June  21.  1861 
George   Briscoe,  June  26,   1861 

6th    Regt.    Conn.    Vols. 

Hall  Shepard,  Aug.  29,  1863 

Frederick  Elvvood,  Aug.  29.  1863 
Benj.  W.  Matthews,  Aug.  29.  1863 
Corp.  James  Sullivan.      Jan.  5.  1865 

7th  Retg.  Conn.  Vols. 

Israel  C.  Botsford,  Sept.  7,  1861 

Charles  Butcher,  Aug.  24.  1861 

Jeremiah    Brown,  Sept.   7.   1861 

Levi  H.  Edwards,  Sept.  7.  1861 

8th    Regt.    Conn.    Vols. 

Jan.  5.  1864 

Nov.  18.  1864 

Feb.  15.  1864 

Oct.  14.  1864 

Dec.  17.  1863 

Dec.  17.  1863 

Nov.  18,  1864 

Feb.  11.  1864 


Theodore  Smith, 

Thomas  Bradley. 

Charles  E.  Hawley, 

David   B.   Hawley, 

Allen   B.   Clark, 

William   Davis, 

William  Gleason, 

Charles  M.  Parsons, 

Charles  R.  Sherwood,  Dec.  17.  1863 

Frederick  E.  Smith.      Dec.  17.  1863 

Frederick  Wenzel. 

John  Cunningham, 

Charles  H.  Pavne. 

Killed  at  Cold  Harbor.  Va 
Capt.  Henry  C.  Hall,  Sept.  14.  1861 
Sergt.  John  D.  Seeley.  Sept.  14. 1861 
Sergt.  Joseph  B.  Weed.  Sept.  21,  '61 
George  W.  Brown.  Sept.  21.  1861 
George  A.  Evarts. 
Horace  Gilbert, 
George  Hawley, 
James  Riley. 
Robert  Tappan. 
Hanford  Tongue. 


Feb.  11.  1864 
July  27.  1864 
Dec.  17.  1863 


Sept.  21.  1861 
Sept.  30.  1861 
Sept.  27.  1861 

Sept.  27.  1861 
Sept.  21,  1861 

Sept.  21.  1861 


9th     Regt.  Conn.    Vols. 

James   Hawley,  Sept.   14.   1861 

Tohn  G.  Foote.  Sept.  20,  1861 

Michael  Ney,  Jan.  27,  1865 

10th    Regt.   Conn.  Vols. 

George  W.  Ramsey.      Sept.  15.  1861 
Charles  Mav.  Sept.  9.  1861 

William  L.  McArthur.  Sept.  26.  1861 
Tames  D.  Hull.  Oct.  9.  1861 

George  Tavlor.  Oct.  29.  1861 

Thomas  Johnson.  Jan.  10.  1865 

11th    Regt.   Conn.   Vols. 

Sergt.  David  Andress.  Spt.  18.  1861 
Henrv  Bissell.  Feb.  25.  1864 

Sergt'.  Geo.  S.  Hubbell,  Oct.  18.  1861 
Fritz  Mever.  Tan.  27.  1865 

Sergt.  G.  W.  Williams.  Oct.  26. 1861 


272 


NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY   AND   HISTORIAN 


Enlisted 
Levi  E.  Stuart,  Oct.  2b,  1861 

Corp.  Wm.  A.  Smith,  Oct.  18.  1861 
Jerome  L.  Stanley.  Nov.  16.  1864 
Wagoner  J.W.  Greene,  Oct.  18.  1861 
Uavid   S.   Payne.  Nov.   1.   1861 

Lewis  Fairchild,  Nov.  3,  1861 

George    McLean,  Nov.  28,   1861 

Elijah  B.  Nichols,  Nov.  1,  1861 
Lewis   Fairchild,  Mar.  29,  1864 

Harmos  L.  Nichols,  Mar.  1,  1864 
Elijah  S.   Pete.  ^o^-J-  J^^ 

Joseph   White,  Nov.  29,   1864 

12th  Regt.  Conn.  Vols. 

1st   Sgt.  Smith  Downs,  Oct.  23,  1861 

Edward  Carley.  Oct.  5,  1861 

Munroe   D.   Downs,  Jan.  2,  1861 

Arthur   Fairman,  Oct.  8,  1861 

Gideon  Bolsford,  Oct.  9,  1861 

Charles   Jones,  Oct.    18,  1861 

Cyrus   W.   Wheeler,  Feb.   25,  1861 

Corp.  John  Tappan,  Oct.  9,  1861 

Joseph  Curtis,  Sept.  27,  1861 

Patrick    Flannery,  Jan.    20,  1865 

Jacob  Johnson,  Jan.  13,  1865 

Carl   Peterson,  Jan.  6,  1865 

13th    Regt.   Conn.   Vols. 

Sergt.  John   Kane,  Jan.   1,   1862 

Sergt.  F.  S.  Twitchell,  Nov.  18,1861 
Corp.  Roswell  Taylor,  Dec.  14,  1861 
William  Ellwood,  Feb.  11,  1862 
Corp.  R.  A.  Fairchild,  Dec.  27,  1861 
John   W.    Farrell,  Dec.  2,   1861 

Ezra    M.   Hull,  Oct.  23.    1861 

George  Dimelow,  Nov.  21.  1861 

Charles  Monson,  Nov.  14,  1861 
Stephen  Tyrrell.  Dec.  2.  1861 

Charles  L.  Briscoe,  Feb.  5.  1862 
Chester  D.  Peck,  Jan.  27,  1861 

14th    Regt.   Conn.  Vols. 

Gottlieb   Spitzer,  Sept.  30,   1863 

Corp  .Chas.  Spring,     Sept.  28,  1863 

15th    Regt.    Conn.    Vols 

Paul   Groever.  Aug.  23.  1864 

Christian  Wieble,        Sept.  15.  1864 

Arlan  Peterson,  Aug.  23,  1864 

17th    Regt.   Conn.   Vols. 

Hos.  Steward.  George  H.  Spencer, 
Aug.  14,  1862 
Corp.  Chas.  G.  Curtis,  July  11,  1862 
William  Curtis,  Aug.  9,  1862 

William  A.  Gordon.  Aug.  12.  1862 
Alpheus  B.  Fairchild.  July  12.  1862 
Ira   Sherman.  July  22,   1862 

Andrew  C.  Hull.  Jan.  27.  1865 

Charles  Wooster,  July  22.  1862 
Milton  C.  Taylor,  Aug.  12,  1862 
Henry  J.  Jackson  Dec.  31,  1863 

Corp.  Dennis  Hayes,  Aug.  13,  1862 
Martin  V.  B.  Glover,  Aug.  14,  1862 


Enlisted 
James  Gordon,  Aug.  11.  1862 

Killed  July  1,  1863,  at  Gettys- 
burg. 
James    Kane,  Sept.    10,    1862 

Charles  C.  Chapman,  Aug.  11,  1862 
Henrv  B.  Bigelow,  Aug.  11,  1862 
Thomas  Bradley,  Aug.  11,  1862 
Corp.  Al.  Northrop,  Aug.  12.  1862 
Matthew  Colgan,  Aug.  14,  1862 
Oliver  Downs,  Aug.  9,  1862 

John   Hickey,  Aug.  9,   1862 

Michael  T.  Holloran,  July  11,  1862 
James  Eagan,  Aug.  5,  1862 

Alichael  T.  Halloran,  July  11,  1862 
Henry  A.  S.  Peet,  Aug.  14,  1862 

Michael  Ryan.  Aug.  9.  1862 

Andrew  Schriver.  Aug.  13.  1862 

Lawrence  Shaughness.  Aug.  13.1862 
Pearl   Smith.  Aug.   13.   1862 

John  Walsh,  Aug.  12,  1862 

20th.  Regt.   Conn.   Vols. 

Sergt.  H.  T.   Manley,  July  28.  1863 
Sergt.  Chas.  Shepherd,  Aug.  14.  1863 
Sergt.  I.  C.  Tomlinson,  Aug.  5.  1863 
Corp.  Fred.  G.  Alldis.  July  28.  1863 
Corp.  H.  W.  Benedict.  Aug.  12,  1863 
Corp.  Charles  L.  Dick,Aug.  10,  1863 
Corp.  David  W.  Jones,  Aug.  11,  1863 
Killed  May  3.  1863,  at  Chan- 
cellorsville,    Va. 
Corp.  C.  H.  Roberts,     Aug.  12,  1863 
Wounded  Inly  3,  1863,  at  Get- 
tysburg; died,  July  23,  1863 
Corp.  Geo.  H.  Sherman.  Aug.  3.1863 
Wag.  Chas.  W.  Dayton.  Aug.  4,  1863 
Lemuel  Botsford,  Aug.  11.  1863 

John  S.  Knapp,  July  28,  1863 

John  A.   Lattin,  Aug.  5,   1863 

George  H.  Lewis,  Aug.  11,  1863 

23rcl    Regt.   Conn.   Vols. 

Julius   Sanford.   Captain   of 

Company   C.  Sept.    10,   1862 

1st.  Lieut.  John  Peck,  Aug.  24,  1862 
Sergt.  Cyr.  N.  Squires.  Aug.  25,  1862 
Corp.  R.  A.  Fairchild,  Sept.  12,  1862 
Corp.  John  Griffin,  Sept.  10,  1862 
Corp.  Bench  Nichols,  Sept.  11.  1863 
Corp.  Austin  L.  Peck.  Aug.  24.  1862 
Corp.  Nelson  I.  Peck.  Aug.  24,  1862 
Mus.  Geo.  P.  Rlakeslee.  Aug.  24.1862 
Charles  Booth,  Jr.,  Aug.  29,  1862 
Corp.  Starr  L.  Booth,  Aug.  24.  1862 
Corp.  Edwin  Benedict.  Sept.  7,  1862 
George  B.  Camp,  Aug.  24,  1862 

Henry   B.   Coger,  Aug.  23,   1862 

Truman  Guernsey,  Aug.  25,  1862 
Wag.  Flam  M.  Tongue,  Sep.lO,  1862 
James   M.  Beers,  Sept.  11,  1862 

Gustavus  Briscoe,  Sept.  11,  1862 
Charles   Briscoe,  Sent.   11,   1862 

Newell   Clark,  Sept.    11,    1862 

Michael   Corbett,  Sept.  8,   1862 


NEWTOWN'S   MILITARY  RECORD 


273 


Arthur   Dimoii, 
Theodore  B.  Fairch 
David  R.  Prench, 
David  A.  Gillette, 
Henry  Johnson, 
Michael    Keenan, 
John  Lillis, 
Patrick  McDaniels, 
David   M.  Peck, 
Benajah  Peet, 
Ammon  Taylor, 
Daniel  B.  Weed, 
Hawley  Beers, 
Henry  A.  Gilbert, 
Peter  D.  Olmstead, 
Peter   M.  Oakley, 
Martin    Lillis, 
George  R.  Gage, 
John   McGrath, 
Smith  B.  Wood, 


Enlisted 

Sept.  8,  1862 

ild,  Sept.  23.1862 

Sept.  10.  1862 

Sept.  10,  1862 

Sept  14.  1862 

Sept.  8,  1862 

Sept.  13  ,1862 

Sept.  11,  1862 

Sept.  10,  1862 

Sept.  5,  1862 

Sept  .10.  1862 

Sept  .10.  1862 

Sept  2,  1862 

Sept.  2,  1862 

Sept.  2,  1862 

Oct.  27,  1862 

Nov.   5,  1862 

Nov.  12,  1862 

Nov.  10,  1862 

Nov.  11.  1862 


24th    Regt.    Conn.   Vol*. 

Enlisted 
Sergt.  Hugh  Dunn,      Aug.  13,  1862 
John   H.   Bumford,       Sept.  20,  1862 
Bernard  Kelly,  Sept.  10.  1862 


29th  (Colored)  Regt. 

John  Jones, 
Sergt.  James   Evans, 
Sergt.  James    Parker, 
Matthew    Rigby, 
Corp.  Allen   Banks, 
James   Adams, 
Jerome  Brown, 
Hiram  Cornell, 


Conn.  Vols. 

Dec.  1,  1863 
Dec.  21,  1863 
Jan.  5,  1864 
Jan.  5.  1864 
Jan.  5,  1864 
Jan.  4,  1864 
Jan.  4,  1864 
Jan.  4,  1864 


31st  (Colored)  Regt.  Conn.  Vols. 

Asa    Franklin,  Dec.   22.    1863 


An  incomplete  list  of  the  names  of  soldiers  buried  in  Newtown 


In  St.  Rose's  Cemetery:  G.  P.  Lillis 
Dennis  Hayes,  Andrew  Eagan, 
Bernard     Casey,     Martin     Lillis, 

Colgan,    Bernard    Kelly. 

In  Sandy  Hook  Cemetery:  Freder- 
ick    Wentzel,    Charles    Roberts, 

Benedict,    Charles    Sher- 
man, 1812,  Curtis,  John  E. 

Glover,  Lyman  B.  Somers. 

In  Newtown  Cemetery:  George 
Blakeslee,  Capt.  Julius  Sanford, 
Nelson  Peck.  Capt.  Leonard  J. 
Wright,  Marion  Wheeler.  Daniel 
Camp,  Herson  Hawley,  Peter 
Keeler,  David  Shepherd,  Ben- 
jamin Matthews,  Gustavus  Bris- 
coe,  Charles   Briscoe. 

In  Land's  End  Cemetery:  William 
G.    Hawley,    Lemuel    Wilkinson. 


David  Peck.  Andrew  C.  Hull. 
Henry  Hoyt,  Ely  Seeley;  in  the 
Spanish-American  War,  Willis 
Hawley. 

In  Taunton  Cemetery:  Edwin  Ben- 
edict, Charles  Butcher,  Daniel 
Gregory,  William  Maynard, 
George  B.  Camp.  Edward  Taylor, 
George  Taylor,  Gustavus  Briscoe. 

In  Huntington  Cemetery:  William 
Fischer,  Horace  Gilbert,  Ziba 
Glover  in  War  of  1812,  Arthur 
Dimon,  Lemuel  Botsford. 

In  Cold  Spring  Cemetery:  Elijah 
Nichols.  George  A.  Bradley, 
Caleb  Davis. 

In  Zoar  Cemetery:  Charles  Dayton 
and  Martin  Hook. 


The  following  "Newtown  Boys"  enlisted  from  some  other  place 
than  their  home  town: 

3rd    Heavy   Artillery 

Edwin  A.  Banks,  Norwalk,  Jan.  2,  1864. 
George  Clinton,  Jan.  5,  1864 

3rd  Light  Battery 

Michael    Carmody,    Oxford,    Sept.    15,    1864. 
Jasper  L.   Curtis,   Seymour,  Sept.   13,   1864. 
William  E.  Curtis,  Seymour,  Sept.  IS.  1864. 
Edward  Troy,  Naugatuck,  Sept.  9,  1864. 

5th   Infantry 

Ephraim   D.    Briscoe,    Hartford,    Feb.    27,    1864. 

12th    Infantry 

Wagoner,   Orlando   N.    Piatt,   Oxford,   Aug.  9,    1862. 


274  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND   HISTORIAN 

15th     Infantry 

Sergeant   Daniel   Camp,  Naugaluck,  Aug.  9,   1862. 

17th    Infantry 
George    Lake,    Roxbury,    Dec.   30,    1863. 
1st  Lieutenant,  Albert  W.   Peck,  Bridgeport,  July,  23,   1862. 

23rd    Infantry 

Sergeant   Robert  B.   Fairchild,   Bridgeport,  Sept.  30,   1862. 

Brooklyn    Zonaves 
Adelbert  Nash. 

CUSTER  POST,  No.  46,  G.  A.  R., 

Was  mustered  in  at  Sanford's  Hall,  Aug.  15,  1878.  The  records 
show  that  the  ceremonies  were  performed  by  Senior  Vice  and  Act- 
ing Department  Commander  Charles  E.  Fowler  of  New  Haven,  as- 
sisted by  Comrades  from  Bridgeport,  Danbury,  New  Haven  and 
Hartford. 

The  following  named  comrades  were  duly  initiated  and  instructed 
in  the  secret  work  of  the  order :  William  C.  Wile,  Chas.  Rinisland, 
A.  W.  Peck,  G.  P.  Lillis,  Edward  Troy,  Chas.  W.  Dayton,  Daniel 
Camp,  James  Taylor,  L.  W.  Williams,  William  Sniffen,  Patrick 
McMahon,  Chas.  Hawley,  Frederick  Wentzel,  George  W.  Graham. 
Chas.  Riebold,  Alpheus  Northrop,  Matthew  Colligan,  Chas.  F.  Hub- 
bell,  John  Ferris,  Henry  Orgleman,  Benjamin  Horton,  Levi  M. 
Williams,  George  Blakeslee,  Andrew  Hamlin,  James  Sinith,  L.  J. 
Wright,  Bernard  Casey,  Henry  Johnson,  and  Michael  McMahon. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  muster-in  ceremonies,  the  Post  formed 
in  line  and  escorted  the  visiting  officers  and  comrades  to  Sandy 
Hook  where  a  public  installation  was  held  on  the  grounds  of  Hobart 
Warner,  (the  E.  T.  H.  Gibson  place,)  Commander  Fowler  acting 
as  mustering  officer.  The  following  were  the  officers  installed ; — 
Commander,  Wm.  C.  Wile ;  S.  V.  Commander,  Chas.  Rinisland, 
J.  V.  Commander,  A.  W.  Peck;  Adjutant,  Griffin  P.  Lillis;  Quarter- 
master, Edward  Troy ;  Officer  of  the  Day,  Chas.  W.  Dayton ;  Chap- 
lain, James  Taylor ;  Surgeon,  L.  W.  William ;  O.  Guard,  Daniel 
Camp;  Sergt.  Major,  Wm.  SnifYen ;  O.  M.  Sergt.  P.  McMahon; 
Sentinel,  Chas.  Hawley ;  Sentinel.  Fred  Wentzel ; 

Of  those  mentioned  in  connection  with  the  mustering-in  of  the 
Post,  all  except  Edward  Troy  and  Chas.  E.  Hawley  have  answered 
the  final  roll  call.     The  present  members  of  the  Post,  Nov.  1918, 
are,  Commander  Edward  Troy ;  Sen.  Vice  Commander,  Henry  B. 
Coger;    Jun.    Vice    Commander    Chas.    G.    Blakeman;    Adjutant, 
Ephraim  D.  Briscoe;  Quarter  Master,  Chas.  E.  Flawley;  Chaplain, 
Ammon  Taylor ;  Officer  of  the  Day,  Patrick  Lynch.     These  with 
Beach  Nichols,  now  at  a  Soldier's  Home,  Dayton,  Ohio  and  Charles 
M.  Parsons  of  New  Haven,  are  the  remaining  members  of  the  roll 
of  Custer  Post.     Only  nine  left  of  the  seventy-seven. 
"On  Fame's  eternal  camping  ground 
Their  silent  tents  are  spread 
And  Nature  guards  with  solemn  round 
The  bivouac  of  the  dead" 
Note  :    Charles  E.  Hawley  passed  away  Jan.  5,  1919. 
Patrick  Lynch  passed  away  April  2,  1919. 


DR.  WILLIAM  C.  WILL 

First   Commander    of   Custer    Post 
See  Page  274 


EDWARD  ll^OY 

Last    Comniaiulcr   of    Custer    Post 
See  Page  274 


NEWTOWN'S   MILITARY  RECORD 


275 


The  following  is  the  Roll  of  Members  of  Custer  Post,  No.  46,  G. 
A.  R.  as  appears  from  the  records : 


Albertin,   E.  T. 
Ashmead,  George 

Ball,  Chas.  H. 
Benedict,  Ephraim 
Blakeman,  Chas.    G. 
Blakeslee,  George   B. 
Bradley,  George  A. 
Briscoe,  Chas  L. 
Briscoe,    Ephraim    D. 
Butcher,  Chas. 

Camp,  Daniel 
Camp,  George  B. 
Casey,  Barney 
Clark,   Lemuel    B. 
Coger,  Henry   B. 
Colgan,  Matthew 
Conger,  Chas.  T. 
Costello,   Michael 
Crofut,  Horace  S. 
Curtis,    Charles    G. 

Dayton,  Chas.  W. 

Ferris,  John 

Gilbert,   Chas.    E. 
Gilbert,  Horace  Jr. 
Graham,  George  W. 
Gray  George  B. 

Hamblin,  Andrew  E. 
Hawlej',  Chas.  E. 
Hooper,  Wm.  L. 
Horton,  Benjamin 
Hotchkiss,  Hubbard  A. 
Hotchkiss,  Levi  H. 

Johnson,  Henry 
Jorey,  Peter 

Keating,  Patrick 

LUlis,  Griffin   P. 
Lillis,  Martin 


Lockwood,  Eli 
Lynch,  Patrick 

Mason,  Louis  S. 
McGuire,  Chas.  A. 
McMahon,  Michael 
McMahon,  P. 
Morey,  Lewis 
Murphy,   Thomas    O. 

Nash,  Adelbert 
Nichols,  Beach 
Northrop,  Alpheus 

Orgelman,  H. 

Parsons,  Chas.  M. 
Peck,    Albert    W. 

Reibold,  Chas. 
Rinisland,  Chas. 
Roswell.  E.  J. 

Smalley,  Garret   E. 
Smith,  Chas.  L. 
Smith,  James 
Sniffen.  Wm.   B. 
Squires,  John  C. 
Stowe,  Wm.  D. 

Taft,  Frederick  B. 
Taylor,  James 
Taylor,    Milton    C. 
Tongue  Elam 
Troy,  Edward 

Wayland,  John  B. 
Weed,  Daniel 
Wentz,  George 
Wentzel,  Frederick 
Wile.  Wm.   C. 
Williams,  George 
Williams,    Levi 
Williams,  Lewis  W. 
Wilson,  James  A. 
Wright,  Leonard 


Only  two  from  Newtown  were  in  the  Spanish-American  war.  Willis 
Hawley,  who  died  in  Hospital  at  Philadelphia.  Pa.,  of  typhoid  fever.  Charles 
G.  Morris,  enlisted  in  the  Navy  June  15th,  1898:  was  rated  coxswain,  acting 
first  class  boatswain's  mate.    Discharged  Aug.  22,  1898. 


CONNECTICUT  HOME  GUARD. 

Following  the  declaration  by  Congress  of  a  "State  of  war"  be- 
tween this  country  and  Germany,  the  State  Legislature  in  March, 
1917  passed  a  law,  approved  March  9,  1917,  authorizing  the  Govern- 
or to  appoint  a  board  composed  of  three  members  to  be  known  as 
The  Military  Emergency  Board  to  "take  proper  action  to  perfect 
and  maintain  a  body  of  armed  troops  for  constabulary  duty  within 
the  state  of  Connecticut  to  be  known  as  the  Home  Guard." 

Following  the  appointment  of  this  Board,  recruiting  officers  were 


276  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND   HISTORIAN 

appointed  in  the  various  cities,  towns  and  villages  of  the  state  and 
our  town  was  so  fortunate  as  to  have  as  recruiting  officer,  Captain 
Seaman  M.  Mead,  an  officer  of  experience  and  a  long  time  member 
of  the  Coast  Artillery  Corps,  C.  N.  G.,  then  on  the  retired  list. 

Captain  Mead  at  once  issued  a  call  for  a  meeting  to  be  held  in 
the  Brick  Building,  Newtown,  on  Monday  evening,  March  26th,  for 
the  purpose  of  organizing  a  Home  Guard  company  for  this  town. 

The  meeting  was  largely  attended,  in  fact  the  crowd  was  so 
large  that  the  room  was  too  small  and  an  adjournment  was  made  to 
the  dining-room  of  The  Newtown  Inn,  which  was  kindly  placed  at 
his  disposal. 

Captain  Mead  briefly  stated  the  purpose  and  scope  of  the  organi- 
zation and  called  for  enlistments.  The  response  was  so  enthusiastic 
that  Capt.  Mead  asked  Messrs.  Harry  M.  Greenman,  Jesse  B. 
Woodhull  and  Hermann  N.  Tieniann,  Sr.,  to  assist  in  making 
out  the  papers. 

At  that  meeting  the  following  men  enlisted: — Edward  B.  Allen, 
Robert  H.  Beers,  J.  Robert  Beecher,  Frank  E.  Banks,  Louis  T. 
Briscoe,  John  C.  Beers,  Adolph  Carlson,  Henry  G.  Carlson,  Willis 
E.  Carter,  Harry  M.  Greenman,  Walter  L.  Glover,  Frank  C. 
Goodsell,  Villeroy  G.  Hard  Jr.,  John  Hendriksen,  William  E.  Honan, 
Charks  L.  Jackson,  William  A.  Leonard,  Edward  S.  Lovell,  L. 
Phillips  Morris,  Levi  C.  Morris,  Patrick  H.  McCarthy,  Arthur  A. 
McDonald,  George  A.  Northrop,  Charles  G.  Peck,  Oscar  G.  Pitz- 
schler,  Edward  S.  Pitzschler,  Robert  W.  Tiemann,  Hermann  N. 
Tiemann  Sr.,  George  M.  Stuart,  Rodney  P.  Shepard,  Allison  P. 
Smith,  Jesse  B.  Woodhull  and  Hervey  W.  Wheeler. 

Another  meeting  was  held  in  Sandy  Hook  the  following  Saturday, 
March  31st.,  and  the  following  enlisted: — Harold  I.  Bishop,  George 
L.  Clark,  Martin  L.  Conger,  Thomas  J.  Corbett,  William  H.  Planlon, 
Carl  A.  Johnson,  Charles  B.  Johnson,  Michael  Kilbride,  James  E. 
Lynch,  Charles  G.  Meeker,  W.  John  Murphy,  George  V.  Pearsall, 
Matthew  Rhomoser,  Patrick  M.  Shea,  Anson  B.  Trimble  and 
Edward  W.  Troy. 

A  number  of  the  above  were  rejected  on  their  physical  examina- 
tion, but  recruits  kept  coming  in  until  sixty-one  had  enlisted  and 
a  company  was  formed  with  Seaman  M.  Mead  as  Captain.  He 
immediately  started  drills,  the  drills  being  held  alternately  in  the 
Town  Hall,  Newtown  and  St.  Rose's  Hall,  Sandy  Hook,  and  he  had 
Hermann  N.  Tiemann  Sr.,  and  Harry  M.  Greenman  appointed  First 
and  Second  Lieutenants  respectively. 

At  the  start  great  difficulty  was  experienced  in  getting  uniforms 
and  equipment,  owing  to  the  tremendous  demand  for  such  things 
to  equip  the  Regulars,  the  National  Guard  and  the  large  number 
of  military  organizations  which  were  being  formed;  and  before  we 
were  uniformed,  Captain  Mead  was  ordered  to  the  Reserve  Officers 
Training  Camp  at  Madison  Barracks,  N.  Y. 

The   company   then   held  a   meeting   and   elected   Hermann   N. 


NEWTOWN'S   MILITARY   RPXORD  277 

Tiemann  Sr.  Captain,  Harry  M.  Greentnan  1st.  Lieutenant  and 
Henry  G.  Carlson  2nd.  Lieutenant.  It  also  elected  the  following 
civil  officers : 

Pres.  H.  W.  Wheeler. 

Vice-Pres.  R.  P.  Shepard. 

Sec'y  P.  H.  McCarthy. 

Treas.  E.  C.  Piatt. 

The  subject  of  drills  then  came  up  and  it  was  found  almost 
impossible  to  agree  as  to  when  they  should  be  held,  as  open  air 
drills  were  needed,  the  Town  Hall  and  St.  Rose's  Hall  being  too 
small  to  use,  except  for  squad  drills.  However  that  matter  was 
finally  settled,  and  the  drills  went  on. 

Meanwhile  the  Co.  was  still  trying  to  get  uniforms  and  equip- 
ment. Finally,  after  much  correspondence  and  a  trip  to  Hartford 
to  see  the  Chief  Quartermaster,  it  was  told  it  could  have  its  rifles 
if  it  would  send  for  them.  Mr.  Edmund  C.  Piatt  of  Hawleyville 
kindly  offered  his  motor  truck  for  that  purpose  and  on  May  30th 
Corporal  R.  W.  Tiemann  with  a  detail  went  to  Hartford  and  got  the 
rifles.     Pvt.  Charles  L.  Jackson  drove. 

All  this  time  the  various  National  Guard  units  were  preparing  to 
be  mustered  into  the  Federal  service  and  all  kinds  of  rumors  were 
rife  as  to  disposition  of  the  Home  Guard,  from  being  sent  to  the 
Texan  border  to  being  sent  to  France,  but  the  drills  went  steadily 
forward  and  the  men  began  to  show  considerable  proficiency  when 
a  General  Order  was  received  from  Home  Guard  Headquarters  by 
which  the  Newtown  company  was  reduced  to  one  Active,  or  First 
Line,  platoon,  the  second  platoon  being  held  as  a  Reserve.  Capt. 
Tiemann,  whose  commission  as  captain  had  not  been  issued  altho 
he  had  been  officially  addressed  by  that  title  from  Headquarters, 
was  told  to  take  command  of  the  Active  platoon  with  the  rank  of 
1st  Lieutenant,  Lieutenants  Greenman  and  Carlson  were  returned 
to  the  ranks  and  the  number  of  non-coms  was  materially  reduced. 

However,  the  drills  kept  up  and  the  platoon  \vas  invited  to  par- 
ticipate, with  the  other  units  of  the  District,  in  the  Fourth  of  July 
parade  in  Bridgeport. 

On  receiving  this  invitation  the  Chief  Quartermaster  was  gotten 
in  touch  with  and  asked  about  uniforms.  He  said  he  could  furnish 
them  if  they  were  sent  for  and  on  Sunday  July  1st  Sergt.  John 
Hendriksen  and  Corpl.  Frank  C.  Goodsell  volunteered  to  go  to 
Hartford  with  their  autos  and  get  the  uniforms  which  enabled  the 
platoon  to  take  part  in  the  parade. 

Courtesy  of  Lieut.  Hermann  N.  Tiemann,  Sr. 


278  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY   AND   HISTORIAN 

NEWTOWN'S    HONOR    ROLL 

Names  of  men  from  Newtown  in  U.  S.  Service  1917 — 1919: — 

Anderson,  Fred,  1917— Co.  E.  102nd  Inf.  A.  E.  F. 

Bailey,  Jesse  M.,  D.  C.  M.  1917— San.  Detachment  103  M.  G.  Bat.  A.  E.  F. 
Bailey,  John  F.,  1918 — Motor  Co.  Camp  Greenleaf,  Georgia. 
Barnett,  Lieut.  William  Edward,  1917— Co.  B.  104th  Inf.  A.  E.  F. 

Was  with  U.  S.  Cavalry  on  the  Mexican  border  in  1916. 
Barnett,  Capt.  Rev.  Francis  B.,  1917— A.  E.  F. 

Rector  Christ  Church,  Ridley  Park,  Phila.,  Pa. 
Barnett,  Rev.  Joseph  N.,  1917— Co.  A.  303rd  M.  G.  Bat.  A.  E.  F. 

Was  Curate  at  St.  George's  Church,  New  York. 
Bale,  Thomas,  1918— 26th  Reg.  3rd  Amb.  Corp.  A.  E.  F. 

*Beehler,  Lieut.  Charles  H.,  1917— Aviation.  Killed  in  action  Nov.  1918  A.E.F. 
Beehler,  Robert  M.,  1917— Navy 
Beers,  Wagoner  George  Herbert,  1917 — Cited  for  bravery  102nd  Amb.  Co. 

26th  Div.  A.  E.  F. 
Beers,  H.  Sanford,   1918 — Naval  Training  Station,   Boston   Harbor. 
Behn,  W.  L.,  1918— Co.  C.  301st  Engineers  A.E.F. 
Blake,  Lieut.  James  E.,  1917— 26th  Eng.  Co.  C,  A.  E.  F. 
Blake,  Michael  J.,  1918—321  Aero  Service  Squad,  A.  E.  F. 

Carey  H.    F..   1918— U.   S.   A.  A    S.   with   French  Army,   France. 
Carey,  T.  P.  1918 — Fort  Storv,  Virginia. 

Carmody,  Lieut.  Richard,  1917— C.  C.  A.  1st  Bat.  56th.  Reg.  San.  Dept.  A.  E.  F. 
Carr,  William  E.  1917 — Quartermasters  Corps.  Finance  Branch  A.   E.   F 
Cavanaugh,  Corp.  Paul  V.,  1918 — S.  A.  T.  C.  Columbia  University,  N.  Y. 
Coholon,  Lieut.  Philip,  1918 — Discharged 
Cole,  Charles  H.,  1917 — Mobile  Veterinary,  A.  E.  F. 
Conger,  Martin  L.,  1918. 

Conger,  William  R.  1917—168  Aerial  Squadron,  A.  E.  F. 

Crick,  Corp.  James  W.,   1918 — Motor  Truck  Co.  465   Motor   Supply   Train, 
A.  E.  F. 

Davidson,  George  I.,  1917— 103rd  Co.  F.  Artillery,  A.  E.  F. 

Donlon,  Michael  J.,  1918— 3rd  Div.  B.  N.  Co.  I.  Camp  Upton,  L.  I. 

Driscoll,  William  E.,  1917— 102nd  San.  Train,  Field  Hos.  27th  Div.,  A.  E.  F. 

Dubret,  Albert,  1917—504  Engineers  Bat.  Co.  D.,  A.  E.  F. 

Dutcher,  Richard  H.,  1918— U.  S.  Naval  Training  Station,  Pelham  Bay.  N.  Y. 

Edwards,  Charles  L.,  1917 — Co.  F.  328th  Inf.  Camp  Gordon,  Atlanta,  Ga 
Elko,  Andrew  Jr.,  1918— Co.  K.  5th  Inf.  U.  S.  Army,  Panama. 
Fairchild,   Sergt.   Arthur   W.,    1917— 103rd    Machine   Gun    Bat.    San    Detach. 
Fairchild,  Robert  D.,  1917— Mobile  Veterinary,  Sec.  2— 2nd  Div.,  A.  E.  F. 
Ferris,  Capt.  George  M.,  1917 — Washington  D.  C. 
Was  Candidate  for  Holy  Orders,  Trinity  Ch.,  Newtown,  Conn. 

Gale,  Gordon  J.,  1918 — S.  A.  T.  C.  Wesleyan  University,  Conn. 

Galyas,  John,  1918. 

George,  Lieut.  James  Hardin,  1918 — Y.  M.  C.  A.,  B.  E.  F.,  France. 

Rev.   James   Hardin    George,   Rector    of   Calvary   Ch.,   Columbia,    Missouri. 

Glover,  Walter  H.,  1918— Fire  Island,  N.  Y. 

Goldstein,  Corp.  Israel,  1917— Bat.  F.  103rd  Reg.  F.  A.,  A.  E  .F. 

Goodsell.  Sergt.  Frank  C,  1917— Co.  L.  56th  Inft.,  A  E.  F. 

Gracco,  Nicholas,  1918. 

Hanlon,  Edgar, — Annile  Transport  Dept.,  A.  E.  F. 

Hanlon,  Richard— 21  Co.  20th  Eng.  A.  P.  O.  738,  A.  E.  F. 

Hawlev,   Maj.  James   N.,  1917. 

Hawley,  Robert.  1918. 

*Hawley.  Philo,  1918— Died  in  the  service. 

Hicock,  Ely  P.,  1918— Motor  Amb.  Co.  44.  A.  E.  F. 


NEWTOWN'S   MILITARY   RECORD  279 

Hicock,  Sergt.  Henry    1918— Co.  C.  504th  Engineering  Brigade,  A.  E.  F. 

Hillhouse,  Henry,  1917 — Portsmouth,  Virginia. 

Hillhouse  Julian,  1917 — Discharged. 

Honan,  Miss.  Kathryn  A., 1918— Nurse,  U.  S.  Hospital  No.  9,  Lakewood.  N.  J. 

Honan,  Michael  J.,  1918— 16th  Co.  4th  Reg.  Motor  Mechanic  D.  M.  A., A.  E.  F. 

Hurd,  Charles,  l9l8 — Camp  Devens,  Mass. 

James,  Herbert  T.,  1918— U.  S.  N.  Air  Station,  Kiliingholme,  N.  Y. 
James,  Jesse  Loderick,  1917 — 3rd  Amb.  Corps.,  101st  San.  Div.  A.  E.  F. 

Keane,  John  J.,  1918— Co.  F.,  316th  U.  S.  Infantry,  A.  E.  F. 

Keane,  Joseph  D.,  1917 — U.  S.  S.  Leviathan. 

Kelly.  Francis  D.,  1917— 3rd  Balloon  Squad.  Aviation  Sec.  Signal  Corp.A.EF 

Kelly,  John  R.,  1918— S.  A.  T.  C,  Columbia  University,  N.  Y. 

Kiniry,    Frank   J.,    1918— Co.    F.   316th    Regular    Inf..   A.    E.    F. 

Klingler,  Arnold,  1918 

Klinger,  Werner,   1918 — 2nd  Bat.  Edgewood  Arsenal,  Maryland 

Kraeplin,  Edward,  1918 — 3rd  Co.  U.  S.  Naval  Training  Sta.  Gulfport,  Miss. 

Lang,  Alonzo,  1918 — 10th  Co.  Fort  Story,  Virginia. 

Larner,  Patrick,  1918— Co.  B.  7th  Bat.  U.  S.  N.  G.,  Conn. 

Liefield,  Clemence  A.,  1918 — Co.  C.  Evac.  Hos.  Camp  Greenleaf,  Chickamauga 

Park,  Ga. 
Lillis,  John,  1918— 152nd  Depot  Brigade  Camp  Upton,  N.  Y. 
Lovejoy,  Leroy  J.,  1918. 

Lynch,  James  E.,  Cook,  1917— Bat.  A.  319th  Heavv  Artillery,  A.  E.  F. 
Lynch,  John  G.,  1918— Co.  57,  Med.  Replacement  Unit.  A.  E.  F. 
Lynch,  Thomas  F.,  191^— 114th  Inf.  M.  G.  Co..  A.  E.  F. 

Maynard,  Benjamin  S.,  1918 — U.  S.  Naval  Aviation  Forces  in  France,  A.  E.  F. 

McMahon,  Alfred,  1918— Battery  B.  12th  Field  Artillery,  A.  E.  F. 

Mead,  1st  Lieut.  Seaman  M.,  1918 — Selfridge  Field,  Aviation.  Mount  Clemens, 

Michigan.     Lieut.   Mead  enlisted  for  the  Spanish  American   War  with  a 

Stamford  Co. 
Meeker,  Clarence  G.,  1917— Co.  A.  102nd  Reg.  U.  S.  Inf.  A.  E.  F. 
Morris,  Sergt.  Levi  Phillips.  1917 — Central  Records  Office,  A.  G.  O.  Dept., 

A.  E.  F. 

Nichols,  George  E.,  1918 — U.  S.  S.  Agamemnon. 
O'Dea,  Earl  T.,  1917 — Engineering  Co.,  A.  E.  F. 

Peck,  Lieut.  Albert  W.,  1917— Base  Hospital  No.  15,  Qu'tmaster  Medical  Co. 

A.  E  F. 
Peck,  Lieut   Col.  Charles  H..  1917 — Asst.  Director  of  General  Surgery.  A.E.F. 

Returned  to  U.  S.  for  service. 
♦Peek.  Segt.  C.  Howard,  Jr.,  1917— Base  Hospital  No.  15.     Died  March  7th, 

1918.  A.  E.  F. 
Perkins.  Corp.  Frank  E.,  1918 — Adm.  Labor  Co.  50,  A.  E.  F. 
Peterson.  Otto,  1917 — Co.  H.  1st  Conn.  Inf.  Camp  Yale,  New  Haven.  Conn. 
Peterson.  Walter.  1918 — Camp  Wheeler.  Georgia. 
Pippines,  Nicholas.  1918. 
Pitzchler,  Corp.   Edward  S.,  1917.  10th  Co.  3rd   Bat.  Depot  Brigade.  Camp 

Devens,   Fitchburg,   Mass. 
Piatt.  Charles.  1918— S.  A.  T.  C.  Columbia  University.  N.  Y. 
Piatt,  Percival  C,  1917— H'dq't's  Surgical  Directors,  A.  E.  F. 

Rasmussen,  John  L..  1917— Co.  F.  56th  Eng..  A.  E.  F. 

Ray.  Rvder.  1918— Co.  E.  367th  Reg.,  A.  E.  F. 

Read.    Fred,    W.    B..    1918.    H'dq't's.    No.    1.    Hos.    Group    Camp    Greenleaf. 

Chickamauga.  Ga. 
Reynolds.  Sergt.  Lester  J..  1918 — Camp  Polk.  North  Carolina. 
Roemer.  Sergt.  Otto,  1917— 34th  Co.  9th  Bat.  151st  Depot  Brig..  Camp  Devens 

Fitchburg,  Mass. 

RuflFels,Clarence,  1917. 

Scanlon.  John  J..  1917— Base  Hospital.  No.  18.  A.  E.  F. 


280  NEWTOWN'S   HISTORY  AND   HISTORIAN 

♦Slater,  Carl  H.,  1918— 316th  Infantry  Supply.     Died  in  service,  A.  E.  F. 
St.  John,  Earl  G.,  1918. 

Terrill.  Herbert  W.,  1918— Co.  D.,  113th  Inf.,  A.  E.  F. 

Tiemann,  Corp.  Robert  W.,  1918— Co.  D.,  316th  Inf.,  A.  E.  F. 

Tilson,  Frank  S.,  1918— Prov.  Unit  C,  Q.   M.  C.  Register  Service.  A.  E.  F. 

Tilson,  Josiah,   1918 — Co.   16Tr.    Bu.   Replacement   group.     Camp   Greenleaf, 

Chickamauga,  Ga. 
Tobias,  David  C,  1917— Ordnance  Dept.  110th  Am.  Train,  A.  E.  F. 
Troy,  Francis  J.,  1918 — Fitting-out  Sec.  Naval  Dis.  Base,  New  London,  Conn. 
Troy,  John  Joseph,  1918 — Co.  F.  74th   Inf.  Camp  Devens,  Mass. 
Troy,  Corp.  John   P.,   1918— Adm.   Labor,   Co.   14,  A.    E.    F. 

Valenti,  Peter  J.,  1917— U.  S.  Armed  Guard,  Camp  Sims,  Phila.  Naval    Yard. 
Valentine,  George  J.,  1917—111   Machine  Gun  Co.  U.  S.  Inf.,  A.  E.  F. 

Wetmore,  Corp.  Fred,  1917 — Co.  C.  33rd  Inf.  Gatun  Canal  Zone. 
Wetmore,  Corp.  Jesse,  1917 — Co.  C.  33rd  Inf.  Gatun  Canal  Zone. 
Wheeler.  Russell.  1918— Naval  Training  Station,   Pelham   Bay,   N.   Y. 
Wirtes,  Stephen,  1917 — Remount  Depot.  Camp  Devens,  Mass. 
Woodhull,  Jesse  B.,  1917— O.  E.  C.  Nat.  Army  Chief  Ordnance,  A.  E.  F. 
WulfT.  Theodore  L..  1917— Bat.  C.  3rd  Field  Art..  A.  E.  F. 
Yawman,  James  W.,  1918— Base  Vet.  Hos.  No.  1.,  A.  E.  F. 


UNITED  STATES  GOVERNMENT  WAR  LOANS. 

During  the  war  with  Germany,  our  Government  issued  four  war 
loans,  or  Liberty  Loans,  as  they  are  called,  two  in  1917  and  two  in 
1918. 

The  people  of  Newtown  subscribed  over  $500,000  for  these  bonds 
and  the  entire  amount  was  paid  the  Government  to  help  carry  on 
and  win  the  war.The  Newtown  Savings  Bank  received  the  subscrip- 
tions, collected  the  money  and  forwarded  it  to  the  Federal  Reserve 
Bank  of  New  York. 

In  the  Third  Liberty  Loan  campaign.  Honor  Flags  were  presented 
to  towns  and  communities  attaining  their  quota.  The  quota  as- 
signed to  Newtown  was  quickly  oversubscribed  and  Newtown  was 
the  first  town  in  the  State  to  be  awarded  an  Honor  Flag ;  the  first 
town  in  the  State  to  receive  and  fly  the  flag  and  win  the  first  Gold 
star  on  the  Honor  Roll  Board  at  the  State  Capitol.  Hartford.  For 
having  trebled  its  quota  two  blue  stars  were  also  awarded  this  town 
and  were  sewed  on  the  flag.  W.  G.  McAdoo.  Secretary  of  the 
United  States  Treasury,  telegraphed  his  congratulations  to  the 
people  of  Newtown  for  the  renewed  evidence  of  their  loyalty  and 
patriotism. 

In  the  Fourth  Liberty  Loan  campaign  there  was  another  Honor 
Flag  contest.  The  campaign  started  Saturday,  Sept.  28,  1918. 
Newtown's  quota  was  $92,300  and  before  9  o'clock  Monday  morning 
over  $121,000  had  been  subscribed.  The  Honor  Flag  was  awarded 
that  day  and  at  8  o'clock  Tuesday  morning,  October  1,  1918,  it  was 
flying  from  the  Newtown  Savings  Bank  building.  Newtown  had 
again  won  high  honors.  There  was  no  other  town  in  the  State 
ahead  of  it  for  "first  honors"  and  it  was  undoubtedly  the  only  town 
in  the  State  at  that  time  having  two  Honor  Flags  in  its  possession. 
The  total  subscriptions  to  the  Fourth  Loan  were  over  $192,000,  two 
blue  stars  being  won,  as  in  the  Third  contest. 


THE  RED  CROSS  WORK  281 

The  people  of  Newtown  have  helped  to  keep  alight  the  torch  of 
Liberty  and  uphold  justice  and  democracy  throughout  the  world. 

In  a  letter  received  from  Governor  Marcus  II.  llolcomb,  dated 
October  14,  1918,  he  congratulated  the  town  and  said,  "the  record 
which  Newtown  has  made  is  one  of  which  it  may  well  be  proud  and 
one  which  will  be  a  source  of  pride  to  its  citizens  in  the  future." 

NOTE — The  credit  of  the  prompt  raising  of  these  Liberty  Loans,  is  due 
largely  to  the  indefatigable  effort  of  the  Treasurer  of  Newtown  Savings 
Bank,  Arthur  T.  Nettleton. 


THE  RED  CROSS  WORK 

Newtown's  Military  Record  will  be  incomplete  unless  it  includes 
some  account  of  the  Red  Cross  work. 

Although  much  interest  was  manifested  in  the  work  and  through 
the  leadership  of  Mrs.  James  W.  Gordon,  entertainments  were 
given,  money  raised  and  deposited  in  the  Savings  Bank  for  the 
purpose  of  purchasing  a  Ford  Ambulance  to  be  sent  to  France  as 
Newtowm's  gift  to  the  soldiers,  no  organization  was  effected  until 
March  11th.  1917,  w^hen  twenty  ladies  met  in  the  Guild  room  of 
Trinity  Church  and  elected  officers  ;  but  because  of  an  epidemic  in 
mild  form  of  small  pox,  work  was  not  started  until  May  15th,  1917. 

The  organization  is  an  Auxiliarv  of  Bridgeport.  Its  officers,  from 
May  15th.  1917,  to  Oct.,  1918  were;  Chairman,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Allen; 
Treasurer,  Mrs.  F.  H.  Mitchell ;  Secretary,  Miss  Charlotte  C.  Minor  ; 
Chairman  of  Surgical  Dressings,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Smith;  Knitting,  Mrs. 
H.  N.  Tiemann ;  Garments  and  Hospital  Supplies,  Miss  C.  C.  Minor. 

The  meetings  were  held  in  the  Guild  room  of  Trinity  Church  until 
the  Autumn  of  1917,  since  which  time  they  have  been  held  in  the 
parlor  of  the  Congregational  Church,  Tuesdays  from  10  A.  M.  to 
5  P.  M.  coffee  being  served  at  noon,  each  lady  taking  her  own  lunch. 

Miss  Dorothy  Allen  one  of  the  prime  movers  in  the  organization, 
did  good  work  soliciting  funds  and  with  her  car  brought  material 
for  all  branches  and  returned  the  finished  work  to  Bridgeport 
headquarters.  Milton  C.  Hull  of  Danbury  a  returned  soldier,  capt- 
ured her  in  August  1918. 

The  officers  elected  Oct.,  1918,  for  the  year  were.  Chairman.  Mrs. 
F.  H.  Mitchell ;  Treasurer,  Mrs.  L.  C.  Morris ;  Secretary,  Mrs.  A.  B. 
Blakeman ;  Chairman  of  Surgical  Dressings,  Mrs.  A.  J.  Smith; 
Knitting,  Miss  15.  Frances  Honan ;  Garments  and  Hospital  Supplies, 
Miss  Charlotte  C.  Minor.  The  branches  of  the  Newtown  Auxiliary 
are,  Sandy  Hook,  meeting  Tuesdays  with  Mrs.  T.  F.  Brew.  Chair- 
man; Botsford,  meeting  Wednesdays,  at  the  home  of  some  member. 
Mrs.  Herbert  T.  Coger,  Chairman;  Dodgingtown,  meeting  Thurs- 
days at  the  home  of  some  member,  Mrs.  R.  D.  Smith,  Chairman. 

Christmas,  1917,  55  Christmas  boxes  were  shipped  to  the  boys  in 
France  and  U.  S.  Camps.  Easter  1918,  20  boxes  were  shipped  to 
France.  As  no  Christmas  boxes  could  be  shipped  to  France  in  1918, 
to  each  boy  was  sent  a  special  Christmas  Card,  which  was  a  poem  by 
Mrs.  A.  B.  Blakeman,  printed  by  Mr.  Frank  Wright  of  the  Newtown 


282  NEWTOWN'S  HISTORY    AND    HISTORY 

Bee.  Christmas  l^uxes  were  sent  to  all  boys  in  Camps  in  this 
country. 

About  60  boys  were  completely  outfitted  with  sweater,  two  pairs 
socks,  helmet,  wristlets  and  comfort  kit. 

The  town's  people  gave,  in  Feb.,  1918,  a  War  Supper,  to  raise 
money  to  buy  clothing  for  refugee  children.  Sufficient  money  was 
raised  for  material  for  419  garments,  which  were  sent  to  Col.  Chas. 
H.  Peck,  who  distributed  them  in  a  home  for  refugee  children  in 
Liefra-Aube,  France,  in  the  Somme  section. 

In  April  another  War  Supper  was  given ;  the  money  to  be  added 
to  the  Ambulance  fund,  but  finding  that  no  more  Ford  ambulances 
would  be  accepted  by  the  Government,  a  "Kitchen-trailer"  was 
])urchased  and  sent  to  the  102nd  Ambulance  Co. 

In  July,  1918,  Mrs.  C.  O.  Kraeplin  gave  the  use  of  "Sophie's  Tea 
Room"  and  grounds  to  the  ladies  of  the  Botsford  branch  for  a  Red 
Cross  sale  of  fancy  articles,  food,  etc. 

The  net  receipts  were  more  than  $300,  for  the  Red  Cross  treasury. 

A  quilt  made  by  Mrs.  Alfred  Osborn,  containing  2,288  pieces  given 
for  the  sale,  sold  by  ticket  for  more  than  $50.00  and  a  beautiful 
doily  of  embroiderv  and  crochet  made  by  Mrs.  Levi  C.  Gilbert,  sold 
by  ticket   for  about  $40.00. 

From  May  1917  to  Dec.  31st,  1917,  3004  hospital  garments  and 
bandages  were  completed;  from  Dec.  31st,  1917  to  Dec.  31st,  1918. 
8526  hospital  garments  and  676  refugee  garments  were  completed, 
making  a  total  of  9202  garments.  Of  knitted  garments,  including 
sweaters,  socks,  helmets  and  mufflers,  2064  were  completed. 

The  making  of  Surgical  Dressings  was  commenced  in  July,  1918 
and  continued  until  Dec,  during  which  time  13710  were  folded. 

Great  credit  is  due  the  officers  of  all  the  branches  and  their  faith- 
ful workers  for  punctual  attendance  at  the  meetings  and  interest 
manifested  in  doing  the  required  work,  not  only  during  the  war 
but  since  the  signing  of  the  armistice,  in  the  making  of  hospital 
and  refugee  garments. 

It  is  worthy  of  note  that  a  group  of  Hawleyville  Red  Cross 
workers  have  almost  invariably  been  met  at  the  R.  R.  Station  by 
Mr.  Cornelius  B.  Taylor,  been  taken  to  the  Red  Cross  rooms,  and 
taken  to  the  Station  for  their  return.  Donations  from  him  of  fresh 
fruit  during  the  summer  were  frequently  enjoyed  during  the  lunch 
hour. 

In  addition  to  the  work  reported  by  the  different  branches,  a 
Junior  Auxiliary  composed  of  68  pupils  of  the  High  School,  under 
the  supervision  of  Miss  Houlihan,  contributed  the  making  of  150 
Property  bags  by  the  girls  and  100  splints  by  the  boys. 

Over  $123.00  has  been  handed  in  as  the  pledge  made  by  students 
at  High  School,  to  personally  earn  and  donate  to  the  United  War 
Work  Campaign. 

Pupils  from  some  of  the  public  schools  and  the  parochial  school 
have  met  each  Saturday  P.  M.  with  Mrs.  T.  F.  Brew  and  under  her 
instructions  have  knitted  six  blankets  for  Belgian  babies.  More 
blankets  have  been  knitted  by  the  children  in  other  districts  under 
the  instruction  of  their  teachers. 


THE  RED  CROSS  WORK  283 

In  the  expectation  of  the  home-coming  of  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors, 
a  beautiful  "Welcome  Home"  flag  has  been  designed  and  made  by 
Mrs.  Levi  C.  Morris,  and  donated  to  the  town  by  the  Red  Cross. 

It  is  hung  between  the  Congregational  Church  and  the  store  of 
R.  H.  Beers. 

The  Red  Cross  also  furnished  one  for  the  R.  R.  Station  and  one 
for  Sandy  Hook. 

As  the  last  pages  of  this  Record  go  to  press  a  movement  is  on 
foot  to  erect  by  the  town,  as  a  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Testimonial, 
a  new  High  School  building. 


By  the  courtesy  of  State  Librarisui,  Geo.  S.  Godard 
the  following  list  has  been  received 

NEWTOWN  MEN  IN  THE  WAR  OF  1812 
Record  of  Conn.  Militia  in  the  War  of  1812 

CampSamuel  place  of  service  not  shown. 

Curtis,    A  b  i  j  a  h,     capt.  service  at  New  London,  under  Lieut.- 

col.  T.  Shepard,  Aug.  3,  1813  to  Sept. 
16,  1813. 
"  Abijah    B.   capt.  service  at  New  Haven  under  Col.  Elihu 

Sanford,  Sept.  8,  1814  to  Oct.  20,  1814. 

Fairchild,  Kiah  B.  serg't.  place  of  service  not  shown,  under  com- 
mand of  Arnold  Foot,  Oct.  24,  1814  to 
Nov.  15,  1814. 

Glover,  Ebeneizer  B.,  priv.  place  of  service  not  shown,  under  com- 
mand of  Ransom  C.  Canfield,  Aug.  3, 
1813  to  Sept.  16,  1813. 
"  V  i  1 1  e  r  o  y,  corp.  place  of  service,  New   London,  under 

command  of  Abijah  B.  Curtis,  Aug.  3, 
1813  to  Sept.  16,  1813. 
"  "  "     place  of  service  not  shown  under  com- 

mand of  Abijah  B.  Curtis,  Sept.  8,  1814 
to  Oct.  20,  1814. 
"        Ziba  place  of  service  not  shown. 

Nichols,  Henry,  priv.  place  of  service  New  London,  under  com- 
mand of  Abijah  B.  Curtis,  Aug.  3,  1813 
to  Sept.  16,  1813  also 
"  "  "     place  of  service  not  shown,  under  com- 

mand of  Abijah  B.  Curtis,  Sept.  8,  1814 
to  Oct.  20,  1814. 

Prindle,  Joseph,  "     place  of  service  not  shown,  under  com- 

mand of  Seth  Comstock,  Sept.  16,  1813 
to  Nov.  1,  1813. 


284  THE  RED  CROSS  WORK 

Sherman,  Charles.         niaj.  place  of  service  not  shown,  commander 

not  shown,  June  11  1813  to  Junel3,  1813. 

"  "  "     place  of  service  New  Haven,  under  com- 

mand of  Col.  Elihu  Sanford.  Sept.  8, 
1814  to  Oct.  21,  1814. 

•*  "  priv.  place  of  service,  New^  London,  under 

command   of   Charles   French,    June    1, 

1813  to  June  16,  1814. 

"  "  "      place  of  service  not  shown,  under  com- 

mand of  Charles  French,  Aug.  9.  1814 
to  Aug.  16,  1814. 

"  "  muse,  place  of  service,  Ne  wLondon,  under 

command  of  Abijah  B.  Curtis,  Aug.  3, 

1814  to  Sept.  16,  1813. 

"  "  "       place  of  service  not  shown,  under  com- 

mand of  Abijah  B.  Curtis,  Sept  8,  1814 
to  Oct.  20,  1814. 

Stilson,  Abel,  jr.  priv.  place  of  service  not  shown,  under  com- 
mand of  Arnold  Foot,  Oct.  24,  1814  to 
Nov.  15,  1814. 

W'inton,  Czar,  priv.  place  of  service  not  shown,  under  com- 

mand of  Arnold  Foot,  Oct.  24,  1814  to 
Nov.  15,  1814. 

Abijah  B.  Curtis  was  commissioned  Major  at  the  close  of  the 
war.  His  sw^ord,  presented  by  his  grand-daughter,  Mrs.  H.  C. 
Miles  of  Milford,  Conn.,  to  the  Connecticut  Society  of  Daughters 
of  1812,  is  placed  in  the  State  Library  at  Hartford  in  a  beautiful 
case  which  has  been  presented  to  the  Society. 


Enlisting  orders  for  the  military  corps  to  be  formed  for  the 
defence  of  the  state. 

Roll  of  enlistments  in  2d  Co.  1st  reg't  infantry,  Newtown,  Feb. 
10,  1813. 

Elihu  S.  Curtis 

Zachariah  Prindle 

Ithamar  Merwin 

Chancy  Tibbell,  for  45  days 

Philer  H.  Dibble  for  the  present  tower  of  duty 

Leveret (Heath?)  for  the  present  tower  of  duty 

Harry  Blakeley  for  the  present  tower  of  duty 

Lyman  Beecher  for  the  present  tower  of  duty 

Asahel  Harington,  18th  Sept.  1814  for  the  present  tower  of  duty 

Charles  Wheeler,  18th  Sept.  1814  for  the  present  tower  of  duty 

Samuel  Addison,  18th  Sept.  1814  for  14  days 

Bennitt  Prindle  for  1  month  from  the  18th  of  Sept.  1814 

Eathiel  Whitney  for  this  tower  of  duty 

Ira  Keeler,  Oct.  8th  to  the  end  of  this  tower  of  service 

Abijah  B.  Curtis 


INDUSTRIES  OF  NEWTOWN  IN  1852—1853  1 

For  the  matter  that  makes  up  the  greater  i)art  of  this  we  are 
indebted  to  the  Newtown  Academician,  a  monthly  paper  issued  by 
the  pupils  of  Newtown  Academy  in  1852  and  1853.  The  pupils  of 
the  school  builded  better  than  they  knew,  when  they  scurried  about 
town  and  got  together  so  many  "ads",  showing  the  great  variety 
of  business  enterprises  successfully  carried  on  in  our  town,  not  by 
any  means  confined  in  location  to  the  business  centers  of  the  town. 

From  no  other  source  can  any  one  form  the  faintest  idea  of  con- 
ditions as  then  existing,  so  far  as  relates  to  industries,  other  than 
that  of  farming.  An  interesting  bit  of  history  this  that  comes  down 
from  a  former  generation  and  we  do  well  to  give  due  credit  to  the 
source  from  w^hich  our  information  comes.  Though  the  Academi- 
cian was  short  lived,  it  w^as  useful  in  its  day  and  generation. 

Business  cards  of  professional  men  and  ads  of  various  Newtown 
industries  copied  from  the  Newtown  Acadamician  of  1852  and  1853: 

NEWTOWN    STREET 

DAVID  H.  BELDEN— Attorney  and  Counsellor  ai  Law;  office  at  his  resi- 
dence, second  door  north  of  Trinity  church. 

DAVID  B.  BEERS — Attorney  and  Counsellor  at  law;  office  first  door  south 
of  Academy. 

AMOS  S.  TREAT — Attorney  and  Counsellor  at  Law;  office  first  door  south 
of  Postoffice. 

C.  H.  BOOTH,  M.  D. — Physician  and  Surgeon;  office  at  his  residence,  third 
door  south  of  the  Hotel. 

ERASTUS  ERWIN — Physician  and  Surgeon;  office  opposite  the  Hotel. 

GEORGE  JUDSON — Physician  and  Surgeon ;  office  at  his  residence,  north 
end  of   the   street. 

MONROE  JUDSON,  M.  D. — Physician  and  Surgeon;  office  at  his  residence 
nearly  opposite  Charles  Fairman's  shoe  store. 

MISS  MARIA  FAIRMAN— Milliner;  head  of  the  Main  Street,  keeps  con- 
stantly on  hand  an  assortment  of  millinery  goods,  bonnets,  ribbons, 
silks,  flowers,  etc. 

HENRY  SANFORD — Dealer  in  dry  goods,  groceries,  crockery,  produce, 
drugs  and  medicines,  etc. 

EDWARD  STARR — Dealer  in  dry  goods,  groceries,  crockery,  produce, 
boots  and  shoes,  ready  made  clothing,  drugs,  medicines,  etc. 

DAVID  H.  JOHNSON — Dealer  in  dry  goods,  groceries,  crockery,  hardware, 
produce,  drugs,  and  medicines,  etc. 

WILLIAM  BLAKESLEE— Gold  and  Silversmith;  watches,  clocks  and 
jewelry  repaired  to  order;  shop  at  head  of  the  street. 

GLOVER  &  ALLEN — Joiners  and  House  Builders  ;  shop  west  of  Congre- 
gational church. 

CHARLES  FAIRMAN — Boot  and  Shoemaker;  store  above  D.  H.  Johnson's 
store. 

PIKE  &  BROTHER— Boot  and  Shoemakers;  opposite  the  Hotel. 

GEORGE  PECK — Custom  Boot  and  Shoemaker;  shop  near  the  foot  of 
Church  Hill. 

BURR  H.A.WLEY— Tailor ;  shop  next  door  above  D.  H.  Johnson's  store. 

NEWTOWN  HOTEL— S.  P.   Barnum.  Proprietor. 

ISAAC  BRISCOE'S  MEAT  MARKET— Near  the  head  of  the  Street. 

THEOPHILUS  NICHOLS— Agent  for  the  best  Fire,  Life  and  Health 
Insurance  Company. 

ISAAC  BEERS— Manufacturer  of  every  variety  of  Horn  Combs;  factory 
in   rear  of  Trinity  church. 

GEORGE  LAWRENCE— Manufacturer  of  Horn  Combs:  factory  first  door 
south  of  the  Hotel. 

CHAS.  FAIRI^IAN'S  LIVERY  STABLE— In  the  rear  of  his  Shoe  Store. 


2  INDUSTRIES  OF  NEWTOWN  IN  1852—1853 

SANDY    HOOK 

WILLIAM  B.  GLOVER— Dealer  in  Dry  Goods,  Crockery,  Hardware,  Farm- 
ing Implements,  Produce,   Drugs,   Medicines,  etc.     Near   the   Bridge. 
LEVI    MORRIS — Dealer    in    Dry    Goods,    Groceries,    Crockery,    Hardware, 

Farming   Implements,   Produce,    Drugs,    Medicines,    etc.     West    of    the 

Bridge. 
CHARLES  TWITCHELL— Blacksmith  and  Carriage  Ironer ;  Custom  work 

done  to  order.  Shop  east  of  tlie  Bridge,  north  of  W.  B.  Glover's  Store. 
MISS  M.  E.  KINDERGON— Milliner  and  Dress  Maker;  over  Morris'  Store. 
MISS    H.    S.    A.    STILLSON— Dressmaker;    shop    two    doors    north    of    L. 

Morris'  store. 
NATHAN  R.  COUCH,  TAILOR— Cutting  done  to  order  at  short  notice  and 

warranted  to  fit  if  properly  made  up.     Shop  next  store  of  Samuel  B. 

Peck. 
NATHAN  SHEPARD — Custom  Boot  and  Shoemaker.    Repairing  done  witli 

neatness  and  dispatch. 
DAVID  GLOVER — Carriage  Maker;  shop  at  the  saw  mill.     Custom  work 

done  to  order. 
SANDY  HOOK  HOTEL— B.  Gregory,  Proprietor. 
DUDLEY   SQUIRE'S   OYSTER   AND   DINING   SALOON— Oysters    served 

up  in  every  style.     Next  door  north  of  Glover's  Store. 
J.  B.  &  C.  F.  BLAKESLEE — Iron  and  Brass  Founders  and  Machinists. 
A.  B.  BEECHER — Manufacturer  of  Satinets.     Factory  west  side  of  Bridge. 
HENRY  L.  WHEELER— Tinsmith  and  Dealer  in  Tin,  Copper,  Sheet  Iron 

Wares,  Stoves,  etc. 
SANDY  HOOK  FLOURING  AND  CUSTOM  MILL— Saw  Mill  and  Plaster 

Mill.     David   Sanford,   Proprietor. 
JOHN  DICK  &  CO. — Manufacturers  of  American   Rivets,  Factory  on   the 

Pohtatuck  below  the   Flouring  Mill. 
DANIEL   H.A.LL — Manufacturer    of    every    variety    of    Horn    Buttons.      In 

Dick's  Machine  Shop. 
MOSES  PARSONS  &  SONS— Manufacturers ;  Corner  of  Main  and  Moun- 
tain Road. 
AMMON  SHEPARD— Wool  Hat  Maker;  factory  between  Sandy  Hook  and 

Housatonic  Railroad  Depot. 
H.  H.  TAYLOR — Physician  and  Surgeon;  Sandy  Hook. 

TOWN 

WARNER  &  CURTIS— Manufacturers   of  every  variety   of   Horn   Combs. 

Factory  in  Berkshire,  one  and  a  half  miles  east  and  south  of   Sandy 

Hook. 
RUFUS  SOMERS— Manufacturer  of  Wool  Hats;  Berkshire. 
ISAAC  J.  WELLS — Custom  Boot  and  Shoe  Maker  .Berkshire. 
ROYAL  O.    CLARK'S    MEAT    MARKET— Two    and   a    half   miles    east    of 

Sandy  Hook.     Customers  supplied  at  their  houses. 
DAVID    JONES— Manufacturer    of    Horn    Combs.      Shop    at    Dick's    Rivet 

Factorv;  half  a  mile  below  Sandv  Hook. 
BURTON  E.  CL.\RK— Tanner  and  Currier.    One  and  a  half  miles  South  of 

the  street  on  the  turnpike.     Cash  paid  for  hides. 
LEVI  PECK — Tanner  and  Currier.     Two  miles  South  of  the  Street  on  the 

Turnpike.    Cash  paid  for  hides  and  bark. 
DAVID  CURTIS— Tanner  and  Currier.     Calculate  to  manufacture  leather 

to  the  best  advantage.     Bark  and  mill  driven  by  water  power.     Factory 

in  Berkshire. 
WILLIAM  J.  DICK  &  CO. — Manufacturers  of  American   Rivets.     Factory 

a  few  rods  below  Sandy  Hook. 
GEORGE  WHEELER— Wool   Hat    Manufacturer.     One   and   a    half   miles 

north  of  the  Street  on  the  Turnpike. 
MRS.  GEORGE  ANDREWS— Milliner  and  Dressmaker.     Third  door  east 

of  the  Railroad  Depot. 
EZRA  MORGAN — Dealer  in  Dry  Goods,  Groceries,  Crockery,  Produce,  etc. 

at  Morgan's  Four  Corners  in  the  south  west  part  of  town. 
WILLIAM     PLATT,     JR.— Manufacturers     of     Horn     Combs     near     Ezra 

Morgan's  store. 


INDUSTRIES  OF  NEWTOWN  IN  1852—1853  3 

MARTIN  REED— Manufacturer  of  every  variety  of  Horn  Combs.    Factory 

at  the  old  Cotton  Factory,  half  a  mile  below  Sandy  Hook. 
GRECIAN  &  CO.— Manufacturers.     Factory  near  the  Housatonic  R.  R.  Depot. 
L.   L.   PLATT   &   CO. — Manufacturers  of   every   variety  of   Horn    Buttons. 

Factory  at  the  Housatonic  R.  R.  Depot. 
BLACKMAN    &    SKIDMORE— Horn    Comb    manufacturers.      Four    miles 

north  of  the  Street  on  the  Brookfield  road. 
LEROY  TAYLOR— Manufacturer  of  every  variety   of  Horn   Combs.     Two 

miles  west  of  the  Street  at  the  outlet  of  Taunton  Pond. 
WILLIAM     PLATT— Horn     Button     Manufacturer.      One     mile     west     of 

Botsford   Station. 

ALFRED  N.  SH.^RP— Dealer  in  Dry  Goods,  Groceries,  Crockery,  etc.    Four 

miles  west  of  the  Street. 
GEORGE  MOREHOUSE— Dealer  in  Dry  Goods,  Groceries,  Crockery,  etc., 

in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town — Gregory's  Orchard. 
WILLIAM  B.  PRINDLE — Manufacturer  of  chairs,  cabinet  ware  and  coffins. 

One  mile  south  of  Newtown  Street  near  the  Turnpike.     He  has  a  good 

Grist  Mill  connected  with  said  establishment.     All  work  done  to  order 
IVES  GLOVER,  BLACKSMITH— One  and  a  half  miles  south  of  Newtown 

Street,  near  the  Turnpike.     All  work  in  his  line  done  to  order  and  at 

short  notice. 
CH.A.RLES    BEERS — Manufacturer    of    Horn     Combs.      One    mile    below 

Newtown  Street;  near  the  cemetery. 
PECK   &  CLARK — Manufacturers   of   Horn   Combs   on   the   Turnpike   one 

mile  south  of  Newtown  village. 
EBEN  BEACH — General  Blacksmithing;  on  the  Turnpike  in  South  Center 

District. 
DAVID  D.  LOPER — House  and  Decorative  Painter,  Newtown. 
PETER    M.    NASH — House   and    Decorative    Painter,   Newtown. 
CHARLES  B.  NICHOLS— Manufacturer  of  Woolen  Stocking  Yarn.     Four 

miles  south  of  Newtown  Street  on  the  Turnpike.    Wool  carded  to  order. 

Take  wool  for  paj'. 
JOHN  WARNER — Dealer   in   Dry  Goods,  Groceries,  Crockery,  Hardware, 

etc.     Store  a  few  rods  south  of  St.  James  Church  in  Zoar  district. 
ALONZO  SHERMAN— Blacksmith,  one  half  mile  west  of  St.  James  Church. 

Custom  work  done  to  order. 
JULIUS   ROBERTS— Carriage   and   Sleigh    Maker.     Next   door   to   Alonzo 

Sherman's  Blacksmith  Shop. 
WILLIAM  A.  BRADLEY — Dealer  in  Dry  Goods,  Groceries,  Crockery,  etc. 

Bradleyville,  Zoar. 
ABIT.'KH   BRADLEY — Manufacturer   of  cabinet   ware   and  churns. 
MATTHEW  F.MRCHILD— Manufacturer  of  Horn  Combs.     Factory  a  few 

rods   east   of  the  Street. 
S.  T.  ALLING — Physician  and  Surgeon.     A  few  rods  south  of  the  Bridge 

in  Snndy  Hook. 
DENNIS   W.    NASH — Carpenter    and   Joiner,   one    mile    southwest    of   the 

Street  in  Head  of  Meadow  District. 
HORACE  GILBERT — Dealer  in  Groceries  and  Yankee  notions.     Hunting- 
town. 
BRADLEY  &  SHERMAN— Blacksmiths  and  Horseshoers.     Shop   west   of 

Congregational  Church. 
SIMEON  NICHOLS — Satinet  manufactory;  three  miles  south  of  Newtown 

on  Newtown  and  Bridgeport  Turnpike. 
JOHN  GRIFFIN'S  STEAM   PLASTER   MILL— At  Botsford  Depot. 
GLOVER  HAWLEY — Hawleyville;  dealer  in  Spruce  and  Hemlock  Lumber, 

and   timber  for  building  purposes. 
BRONSON  BULKLEY — An  expert  workman  in  wood  craft,  builds  ox-carts, 

cart  tongues,  ox-sleds,  stone  boats,  wagon  axles,  etc.    Work  done  with 

nf'atness   and   dispatch.     Shop   at   upper   end   of  Newtown    Street 
UNCLE  BILL  PECK — An  expert  hog  butcher,  pork  packer  and  smoker  of 

hams  and  shoulders.     Season  lasts  from  first  of  November  to  the  first 

of    April.      Office    one    door   north    of    the    blacksmith's    shop,    head    of 

Newtown  Street  on  road  to  Danbury. 
BILL    JOHNSON— ("Colored.)      Day    laborer,    at    all    seasons    of    the    year 


4  INDUSTRIES  OF  NEWTOWN  IN  1852—1853 

regardless  of  weather.    Call  at  old  red  house  west  of  the  meeting  house. 
Can   be   found   there   when   at   home. 

TO  COMB  MAKERS— 20,000  Buenos  Ayres  horns,  low  for  cash  or  short 
approval  credit;  also  exchange  for  tips  at  a  fair  price.  Elam  Shepard, 
Newtown,  Aug.  30,  1825. 

FURNITURE  WAREHOUSE— William  G.  Smith  informs  his  customers 
and  the  public  in  general  that  he  keeps  on  hand  an  elegant  assortment 
of  furniture,  not  inferior  to  any  in  this  country.  The  articles  which  he 
manufactures  are  Sofas,  Secretaries,  Book  Cases,  Lockers,  Bureaus, 
Pillar  and  Claw  Tables,  Mahogany  and  Cherry  Tea  Tables,  Common 
Tables,  Bedsteads,  Chairs,  etc.,  of  every  description;  together  with 
Venetian  Window  Blinds  made  to  order  as  cheap  as  can  be  bought  in 
New  York.  All  kinds  of  lumber  taken  in  exchange  for  the  above 
articles.  Mahogany  and  pine  lumber  kept  constantly  on  hand  and  for 
Sale.    Newtown,  June  14,  1829. 

NOTE — The  cabinet   shop   stood   on   the   ground   north   of  Charles   F. 
Beardsley's  house,  where  Arthur  T.  Nettleton's  house  now  is. 


REVISED    LIST,    1918 


David  H.  Belden 
D.  B.  Beers 
Amos  S.  Treat 
C.  H.  Booth,  M.  D. 
Erastus    Erwin    M.   D. 
George   Judson,    M.    D. 
Monroe  Judson,  M.  D. 
Miss   Maria   Fairman 
Henry  Sanford 
Edward  Starr 

David  M.  Johnson 
William  Blakeslee 
Charles  Fairman 


Residence  of  P.  E.  Abbott. 

Summer  Residence  of  Miss  Louise  Bigelow. 

In  block  now  R.  H.  Beers'  store. 

Residence  of  Mrs.  Marcus  Hawley. 

Summer  home  of  Dwight  C.  Wheeler. 

Residence  of  George  A.  Northrop. 

Residence  of  Mrs.  A.   B.  Blackman. 

Residence  of  Michael  Crowe. 

Store  of  R.  H.  Beers. 

Was  between  Trinity  Church  Rec.  and 

Miss  Louise  Bigelow. 
Morris  &  Shepard. 
Residence  of  Mrs.  Lucy  Cavanaugh. 
Next  above  present  Town  Hall. 


Norman   Glover  bought   the   place   and  Chas.   Fairman   moved   to   house 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  Patrick  McCarthy. 


Pike  &  Brother 
George  Peck 
Burr  Hawley 
Newtown    Hotel 
Isaac  Briscoe 
Theophilus  Nichols 
Isaac    Beers 
George  Lawrence 


Little  Shop  where  brick  building  stands. 
Home  of  Miss  Abbie  Peck  and  Sister. 
Where  Post  Office  now  stands. 
Newtown  Inn. 

In  rear  of  home  of  Michael  Crowe. 
Former  home  of  M.  C.  Skidmore,  deceased. 
Trinity  Church  sheds  near  that  location. 
Location  not  known. 


Charles  Fairman, s  Livery  Stable.  In  rear  of  Mrs.  S.  F.  Schermerhorn's  house. 


Wm.   B.   Glover 
Levi   Morris 
Charles  Twichell 
Nathan  R.  Couch 
Nathan   Shepard 
David  Glover 
Sandy  Hook  Hotel 
Dudley  Squires 
J.  B.  &  C.  F.  Blakeslee 


Where  Sandy  Hook  Post  Office  now  stands 

Corbett  &  Crowe,  Drugs  and  Groceries. 

H.  C.  Bassett. 

Patrick  Campbell's   Saloon. 

Home  of  Arthur  Baird. 

Shop  adjoining  Flour  Mill. 

Edward  Troy's  Hotel.  ♦ 

Brick  store  on  same  location. 

Between  Gibson  Place  &  Mrs.  Minott  Augur. 


Charles  Blakesley,  who  lived  in  the  house  where  Mrs.  Minott  Augur 
now  lives  built  a  brass  foundry  on  the  lot  back  of  the  house,  where  he  cast 
brass  door  keys.     These  were  finished  in  what  is  now  the  Harris  Wire  Mill. 


REVISED    LIST,    1918  5 

A.  3.  Beecher  Harris  Wire  Mill. 

Henry  L.  Wheeler  John  Ilaugh,  Hardware  Store. 

Sandy  Hook  Flouring  Mill  Patrick  Campbell 

Jolin  Dick  &  Co.  Shop  destroyed. 

Josiah  Sanford  and  Joseph  Dick  erected  a  .satinet  factory  north  of  the 
flouring  mill,  and  very  near  the  Dayton  Street  bridge.  Later,  William  J, 
Dick  and  Charles  Dick  went  into  business  with  their  father,  Joseph  Dick 
and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  rivets  and  wooden  screws.  The  first 
gimlet  pointed  screws  were  also  made  in  tliis  factory,  under  a  patent  taken 
out  by  Lorenzo  Bidwell.  The  manufacture  of  horn  combs  and  buttons  was 
also  carried  on  here  by  Ambrose  Stillson. 

Daniel  Hall  Shop  destroyed. 

Moses  Parsons  &  Sons  House  rebuilt  by  Wm.  S.  Stevens, 

cor.   Dayton  Street. 

.\mmon  Shepard  Opposite  Richard's  Store 

Warner  &.  Curtis  S.  Curtis  &  Son,  Berkshire. 

Rufus  Somers  Home  of  C.  E.  Miner,  Berkshire. 

Isaac  J.  Wells  Shop  demolished,  Berkshire. 

Royal  O.  Clarke  Home  of  Arthur  Page,  Berkshire. 

Burton  E.  Clarke  Home  of  George  A.  Benwell  on  State  Road. 

Levi  Peck  On  estate  of  E.  L.  Johnson,  House  and   shop 

burned. 

David  Curtis  Opposite  H.  G.   Curtis  Factorv,   removed. 

Wm.  J.  Dick  &  Co.  See  John   Dick  &  Co. 

George    Wheeler  Next  to  John  B.  Wheeler,  on  Brookfield 

turnpike. 

George  Wheeler's  hat  factory  was  located  right  back  of  house  formerly 

owned  by    Michael    I])ugan,  north   of   residence   of  John   B.  Wheeler.     Mr. 

Wheeler  remembers  very  distinctly,  of   running  in   there  as  a  boy,  to  watcli 

the  process  of  hat  making. 

Mrs.    George   Andrews  Residence  of  Miss  Margaret  Carmody  and 

Mrs.  John   Houlihan. 
Ezra  Morgan  Home  of  Irving  Goodseli. 

Martin  Reed 

The  old  Cotton  factory  stood  where  the  New  Primier  Mfg.  Co.,  Dutcli 
Rubber  was.  The  cotton  factory  was  built  by  David  Sanford  for  the  pur- 
pose of  manufacturing  wool  filling  and  cotton  warp  for  satinet. 

Grecian  &  Co.  Location  not  known. 

L.  L.  Piatt  &  Co.  Factory  removed. 

William  Piatt  The  Crowe  Keane  Button  Co. 

•Mfred  N.  Sharp  Home  of  Eleazer  A.  E.  Bevans,  Dodging  town. 

George  Morehouse  Location  unknown. 

William  B.  Prindle  Wetmore's  Mill. 

Ives  Glover  Home  of  David  Glover. 

Charles  Beers  Moved  to  Ohio,  House  burned. 

Peck  &  Clark  Home  of  Hermon  H.  Peck. 

Eben  Beach  Home  of  William  H.  Prindle. 

David  Loper  Old  house  on  Reservoir  Hill,  (destroyed). 

Peter  N.  Nash  Built  house  the  home  of  Miss  Anna  McCartan. 

Charles  B.  Nichols  Residence  of  O.  Howard  Hall. 

John  Warner  Near  Gray's  Plain  School   house. 

Matthew  Fairchild  Home  of  George  B.  Beers. 

It  was  Dr.  Gideon  Shepard's  Inn;  later  owned  by  Matthew  Fairchild, 
then  by  Botsford  Terrill,  then  by  William  Terrill. 

Dennis  W.  Nash  Home  of  Arthur  L.  Peck. 

Horace  Gilbert  Owned  by  Schimelman  Bros. 

Simeon  Nichols  Owned  by  Bridgeport  Hydraulic  Co. 

John   Griffin  Estate  of  Nathan  C.  Herz,  deceased. 

Home  of  Marcus   Busker. 


6  REVISED    LIST,    1918 

Glover    Hawley  Hawleyville,  property  R.  R.  Co. 

Home  of  Wm.  Sturges. 
Bronson    Buckley  Home  of  Mrs.  Cora  Pierce. 

Josiah  Tomlinson  and  Charles  Goodyear  had  a  shop  on  Dayton  Street 
near  the  Methodist  Church  where  they  cast  pewter  spoons.  They  con- 
ceived the  idea  of  re-inforcing  the  spoons  by  means  of  a  steel  wire  run- 
ning the  length  of  the  handle.  The  wire  being  laid  in  the  mold,  and  the 
moulten  metal  then  poured  in.  The  spoons  were  buffed  and  finished  at 
what  is  now  the  Harris  Wire  Mill. 

Augurs  old  meat  market  building  was  used  as  a  machine  shop,  and  a 
man  by  the  name  of  Gurley  together  with  young  Charles  Blakesley  car- 
ried on  brass  business. 

A  shop  was  built  by  Daniel  Conly  on  Dayton  Street  just  north  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  for  the  manufacturing  of  hats,  the  hats  being  taken  to 
Dicks  machine  or  rivet  shop,  for  finishing.  Conly  married  a  daughter  of 
Squire  Clark,  who  was  father  of  Mr.  Philo  Clark. 

THE  CROWE-KEANE  BUTTON  COMPANY. 

The  button  industry  is  an  old  established  business  in  this  town, 
their  manufacture  having  been  first  begun  in  1844,  in  a  small  fac- 
tory near  the  Housatonic  R.  R.  Station  under  the  management  of 
Grffin,  Piatt  and  Summers.  Later  this  Company  dissolved  each 
going  into  business  for  himself. 

Part  of  the  present  factory  of  The  Crowe-Keane  Button  Co. 
was  moved  from  Botsford  R.  R.  Station  where  an  old  factory  was 
located  by  William  Piatt. 

The  machinery  was  brought  here  from  Waterbury  by  Lorin 
Piatt,  a  brother  of  William  Piatt.  He  (Wm.  Piatt),  continued  in 
the  business  until  1870  when  it  was  sold  to  Patrick  Keane  &  Son, 
who  enlarged  and  improved  the  business.  When  Mr.  Keane  died 
in  1896,  P.  F.  Crowe  succeeded  him  in  the  management  of  the  bus- 
iness until  June  8th,  1909,  when  the  present  stock  company  was 
formed. 

This  industry  is  the  only  manufacturing  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  town,  and  employs  from  20  to  25  girls  and  10  to  15  men.  Horn 
and  hoof  buttons  are  made  in  all  sizes. 


An  interesting  bit  of  Newtown  history  in  connection  with  the  work 
now  being  done  by  the  "Connecticut  Light  and  Power  Co." 

Reader!  Did  you  ever  hear  it  said  that  nearly  one  hundred  years  ago 
the  question  was  being  agitated  of  building  a  canal  along  side  of  the  Hous- 
atonic river,  from  tidewater  to  tlic  northern  boundary  of  the  state  of 
Coniu'clicut,  expecting  by  so  doing  to  furnish  transportation  facilities  for 
getting  farm  produce  from  the  up-country  towns  in  Fairfield  and  Litchfield 
counties  to  the  seaboard  and  thus  find  a  more  ready  market?  The  matter 
was  to  be  brought  up  for  action  at  the  General  Assembly  that  would  con- 
vene in  May,  1822,  and  the  town  appointed  a  committee  to  represent  it  on 
that  matter.  We  give  the  recorded  doings  of  the  meeting  as  they  are  to  be 
found  in  the  Town  Journal.  Vol.  5,  page  175,  which  go  to  show  the  town 
in  favor  of  the  proposed  project.     The  measure  did  not  meet  with  general 


REVISED    LIST,    1918  7 

approval,  although  it  helped  to  make  an  interesting  chapter  to  be  added  to 
Newtown  history  and  reads  as  follows  :  "At  a  special  town  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Newtown,  legally  warned  and  held  at  the  old  church  on  the 
9th  day  of  April,  1822,  at  4  o'clock,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into  consid- 
eration the  subject  of  the  proposed  canal  along  the  Housatonic  river,  it  was 
voted  that  Smith  Booth  be  made  moderator." 

"Voted  that  whereas  it  has  been  represented  to  the  meeting  that  a 
petition  will  be  brought  to  the  next  General  Assembly  to  incorporate  a 
company  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a  navigation  by  the  Housatonic 
river  by  means  of  a  canal  near  its  bank  or  by  improving  the  bed  of  the  river 
as  far  as  the  state  line,  and  whereas  said  operations  arc  in  part  to  be  done 
within  the  limits  of  this  town,  therefore  voted  that  this  town  approve  the 
object  of  said  petition  and  hereby  consent  that  said  canal  may  be  laid 
through  the  town  and  the  contemplated  operations  in  the  river  be  made 
and  this  town  waive  all  objections  the  said  petition  on  the  ground  that 
said  petition  shall  not  be  regularly  served  upon  this  town  and  the  Represen- 
tatives from  this  town  are  hereby  instructed  l)y  all  proper  means  to  forward 
the  object  of  said  petition,  provided  that  nothing  herein  contained  is  to 
be  construed  to  subject  this  town  to  expense  of  purchasing  the  land  over 
which  said  canal  may  pass." 

Voted  to  adjourn  without  delay. 

Caleb  Baldwin,  Town  Clerk 


VERSES  COMPOSED  ON  THE  DEATH  OF  ONE,  BENJAMIN  GLOVER. 

Composed  by  Benjamin  Glover's  Wife  on  the  death  of  her  husband. 
Hail,  all  ye  dead  men,  I  am  come  to  lodge  along  with  you. 

Edge  close  and  give  me  room  to  rot,  I  claim  it  as  my  due. 
I  bring  no  bags  of  cash  to  let,  nor  interest  to  be  cast. 

For  I  was  rid  of  all  these  things  before  I  breathed  my  last. 
I  four  score  years  and  seven  have  lived  in  trouble  and  distress, 

And  seventeen  years  of  it  was  blind  as  was  poor  Bartimeus. 
I  naked  came  into  this  world  and  naked  go  I  out. 

And  not  one  farthing  do  I  leave  behind  for  heoirs  to  snarl  about. 
When  I  was  young  I  did  design  with  riches  to  be  crowned. 

But  soon  I  found  out  my  mistake,  for  want  did  me  surround. 
Loss  followed  loss  till  in  short  time  of  all  I  was  bereft, 

I  made  my  will  and  thus  disposed  of  all  that  I  had  left. 
I  will  my  soul  to  God  on  high  who  gave  it  to  me  first. 

I  will  my  body  to  the  grave  to  moulder  with  the  dust. 
To  his   brother: 
When  you  paid  natures  debt  your  sires  did  quietly  submit. 

Because  you  left  great  store  of  wealth  they  had  their  share  in  it. 
It  was  other  motives  that  moved  mine  to  yeild  that  I  should  die. 

Because  a  great  deliverance  then  they  should  receive  thereby. 
And  what's  the  odds  between  us  now,  you  are  dead  and  so  am  I ; 

Now  I  sleep  as  much  as  you,  as  quietly  I  lie. 
Here  rich  and  poor  together  meet,  the  Lord  hath  made  them  all, 

Then  Let  us  all  in  quiet  sleep  till  Christ  for  us  doth  call. 

Extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Franklin  Fairman  of  Chicago,  111.,  in 
1913. 

Ichabod  Fairman,  son  of  one  of  the  old  settlers  of  Newtown,  married 
Rebecca  Glover,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Burwell  Glover. 

She  must  have  been  a  daughter  of  the  lady  who  wrote  the  verses  quoted. 
Mrs.  Glover  seems  to  have  been  a  rather  striking  character.  One  of  her 
sayings  was,  "The  more  you  oppose  'em  the  more  they'll  'tarnally  marry", 
showing  that  opposition  to  the  marriage  of  children  was  a  burning  question. 
On  looking  up  the  records  I  find  that  Ichabod  Fairman  was  of  the  mature 
age  of  20,  and  that  two  of  his  brothers  and  one  sister  were  married  at  about 
the  same  age. 

I  find  that  Mrs.  Mary  Glover  was  my  gt.  gt.  grandmother.  I  therefore 
am  thankful  for  resurrecting  this  specimen  of  her  composition. 

Franklin  Fairman 


INDEX 


Abrams,  John,  246 

Ackley.  Rev.  Wm.  N.,  88,  93. 

Wm.   E.,  93. 
Adams,   Abraham,    120 

Ephraim,  120,  218 
Frecgrace,   27,   30,   33, 
52,  59,  70,   119,  216,  218 
John,  119,  190,  216,  218 
"      Joseph    S.,    125 
"        Reuben,    123 

Samuel,   190,  218 
William,  53 
Alden,  Henry,  248 
Allen,  Mrs.   Grace,  234 

William,   122 
Allyn,  John,  1 
Andrews,    Frederick,   251 
Anthon,    George,    247 
Arms,  Rev.  Wm.  M.,  78 
Atwater,  Rev.   Jason,  42,  78 
Augur,    Minott,    93,    245 


B 

Bacon,    Mary,   230 
Bailey,  Hiram,  128 

Jesse    M.,    232 
"        Samuel,    215 
Baisley,    Jonathan,    73 
Baldwin,    Abel,    73,    120,    133, 

135,   160 

A.    D.,    160 

Betty,    193 

Caleb.    37.    43,    44,    47, 

49.65,70,71,73,  111,  113, 

119,  120,  133,  136,  143, 
145,  149,  170,  171,  215, 
218 

Maj.  Caleb  Jr.,  65,  82, 

98,    99,     108,     133,     134, 

135,    136,    137,    143,   145, 

149,    190,    193,   218,   265, 

266.   267 

Caleb.    3rd,     120,     178, 

179,    182,    183,    184,    185, 

186,    187,    218,    221,    225, 

227 

Mrs.  Caleb,  233. 

Daniel,     33,     104,     108, 

120,  183.  208,  218. 
Capt.    David,    83.    155, 
242,    245.    246,    247. 
David  V.  B.,  170,  171, 
226,    227. 

Gideon,    120,    218. 

Henry,   77.   236,   239. 

Homer  W.,  252. 

Jabez,     120,     131,     179, 

195. 

James.     64,     105,     119, 

215.  218. 
"        Jerusha,  73. 

Tohn,   1.54. 

5VIarv,    195. 

Mehitable,   193. 
"        Capt.   Nathan,  27,  28, 

.57,    60,   61.    65.    67,    70, 

71.    72.    119,,    120,    215, 

218.  267. 

Philo,   75,   183. 

Richard.    21. 

Sarah.    134. 

Theophilus,    46. 

Thomas,  21. 

Timothy,    20. 

Widow   Anna,   73. 
Bancroft,  Oliver,    128,   209. 


Banks,    David,   229. 

Jane,    228. 
Bantle,  Amy   M.,  232. 
Bardslee,  John,  27,  28. 
Barker,    Rev.    Otis     W.,    79, 

233,    234,    262. 
Barlow,   Joseph   B.,    126. 
Barnes,    H.,    158. 

"        Lucas,    76. 
Barnett,    Rev.     Francis     W,, 
10,  88,   93,   262. 
Rev.    Francis    B.,   88. 
"        Lieut  Rev.  Joseph  N. 
88 

Mary    P.,   88. 
"        Lieut    Wm.    Edward, 
88. 
Barnum,   Andrew,    106,    114. 
"        F'rancis,    218. 

Sallu     Pell,     77,     145, 
236,   239. 
"        Samuel  T.,  151. 
Thomas  B.,  129. 
Bassett,  Albert,  235. 
Charles   H.,  94. 
Joel,   75,   120,    128,  218. 
John,    123,    218. 
Thomas,    218. 
Beach,   Ambrose,    109. 
Eben,    76,    77. 
"        Isaac,    234. 

Rev.  John,  11,  57,  63, 
65,  82,  85,  190,  193,  218, 
233,    234. 

John  Francis,  233,  234. 
"        John     Kimberly,    233, 

234. 
"        Lazarus,    111,   234. 

Rebecca   D.,    233,    234. 
Reuben,  76,  77. 
Beard,   Henry,   230. 

Mrs.    Estella,  234. 
William,    76,   236,   239. 
Beardsley,    Aaron,    126. 
Abner,    127. 
"        Abraham,    128. 
Agur,    125. 
Bailey,    128. 
Charles    F.,    143,    187, 
233,  234,  262. 
Elias,   123. 
Enos,    120. 
Israel   A.,    161,   218. 
James   F.,    127,  218. 
"        Jesse.     129. 

Josiah,  73,  122,  124, 
133,  134,  135,  180,  190, 
218 

Josiah  Jr.,   122. 
"        Lyman,   111. 

Moses,  75,  125. 
"        Moses  Jr.,   126. 
"        Moses   3rd,    128. 
Philo,   75,   125,   127. 
Rev.   E.    Edwards,  81. 
"        Samuel,    75. 
Wilton,  129. 
Beck,  Esther  M.,  232 
Beebe,  James,  25 
Beecher,  Alva  B.,  76,  161,  187, 
236,  239. 
"        Florence  Glover,  303, 

"        Henry    Glover,  234. 
"        Marguerite  Katherine 
203,   232. 
Sarah,    228. 
William    J.    203,    234, 
238.   239.   242,   263. 
Beers,  Abel,   119. 

Abel    S..    126,    183. 
Abiel,  216. 


Beers,    Abner,   77,    127. 

Abraham,  102,  120,  124 

Amariah,  128.  184.  227. 

Andrew,  83.  124,  246. 

Anna,    260. 
"        Anna    S.,   228. 

Arabella      Fitch.     81, 

92. 
"        Austin,  125. 

Booth  G.,  229. 

Charles   C,    129. 

Charles   E.,  252. 

Mrs.   Charles   E..  252. 

Charles    H.,   77. 

Charlotte,   228. 

Cyrcnius,  125,  260. 

Cyrus,  123,  124. 

Daniel,  119,  218,  223. 

Daniel  G.,  87,  92,  163, 

229,    230,    233,   234,   238. 

239,  262. 

David  B.,  83,  99,  129, 

200,   236,   239. 

David,    126. 

Ebenezer,  83,  124,  212. 

Ebenezer  Jr..  127,  182, 

183,  185. 

"        Eleazer,  73. 

Eli,    125. 

Eli  B.,  238,  239. 

Elias,    123,    125. 

Elizabeth    L.,    92. 

Emma  S.,  200,  237. 

Ester,    183,    185. 

Ezekiel,   95,    128. 
"        Florence,    11. 
"        Frederick   H.,    11. 

George,    145,   200,   229, 

260. 
"        George    B. 
"        George  Emerson,  200. 

Gideon,    128. 

Harry,    226,    227,    236, 

237,   239. 
"        Harry  Croswell,  252. 

Henry,    127,    185. 

G.    Herbert.   232. 
"        Hermon,    129. 

H.    Sanford,   232. 
"        Isaac,  85. 

Isaac   Beach,  229. 

Jabez,  123. 

Jacob,    126,   185. 
"        James 

Jane  Fitch,  87. 
"  Jeremiah,  126. 
"        Tessie   M.,  232. 

John,  102.  119,  128,  129. 

184.  214,   218. 
John  B.,  128. 

"        John  Hobart.  229. 

Julius    A.,   229. 

Lemuel,  128,  227. 

Lillian,   232. 
"        Mrs.    Lucv,   78. 
"        Lyman.   76.   77. 

Marv  E.,  233.  234. 

Dr.    Moses    B.,   212. 
"       Norman,   128. 

Oliver.    124. 

Phebe   B.,  212. 

Philo  Jr.,   127,   185. 

Robert  H.,  40,  44,  233. 

262. 

Samuel.   123.   125,   21R. 

Sarah  A.,  232. 

Sarah    M.,    230. 

Sarah  Nichols.  92. 

Sarah  Peck.  260. 
"        Silas  Norman.  85.  "J 

229. 

Simeon.    125.    1.54. 


INDEX 


Beerb.  Simeon   N.,   liS,   161. 

18J,  227. 

Susan   Lyniic,   V.. 

Sylvester,    128. 

Thomas,    127. 

Truman,   123. 
"        Widow  Sarah,  216. 

Zaimon,    75. 
Benedict,   Benjamin  C,  229. 

Eliakim,     149. 

George,    128. 

George  M..  129,  227. 
'•        Gideon,  64. 
"        Capt.   John,  46. 
"        Joseph,   64. 

Joseph  Jr.,  64. 

Ralph,    111. 

Samuel   B.,   129. 
Benjamin,  R.    168. 
Bennett 

Bennitt,    Abel,    110,    120,    124, 

183. 

Abel   Jr.,    129. 

Abram,  37,  64,  71,   75 
"        Abram   Jr.,   73. 

Abraham,      119,      120. 

127,  136,  215,  218. 

Amos,   122,   124. 

Caleb,  41,  75,  123,  125 
"        Deacon,   36. 
"        Kbenezer    F.,    125. 

Eli,  27,   177. 
"        Emily.    204. 

Ephraim,  119,  195,  218 

Ezekiel,    125. 

Gideon,   ISO. 
"        Isaac,   125. 

James,     110,     123,     124. 

184. 

James    Jr.,     128,     183, 

184. 

Jol),    133.    135. 
"        Joseph,    127. 
"        Legrand,  76. 
"        Nancy,    150. 

Nathan,   133,   ISO. 

Richard.   110,   124. 

Thaddeus,    150, ,  183. 
"        Thomas,    (Justice    ol 

Peace).    14.    IS,   22.   27. 

28,    30.    35.    45,    52,    53. 

55.    56.    59.   61.    73,    110. 

117,   119,   159,  216. 

Wheeler.    127. 

"        Widow   Mary,   215. 

Beresford,    Charles    M.,    233, 

252. 
Betts,   Anna  May,  231. 
"        Anna  Plowman,  204. 
"        Ephraim.   136. 
"        James    M..    204. 

John,  230. 
"        Thaddeus,    135. 

Marv    Hough,   204. 

Dr.  Ralph  N.  Jr.,  212. 

Dr.  Ralph  N.,  93,  204. 

Ralph   N.   Jr.,   212. 
Bierce,    A.    O.,   252. 
Birch,   David   M.,    128. 

Ezra,    122,    124. 

George,  218. 
"        Teremiah,   119,  218. 

Lamson,    41,    75,    125. 

141.    149. 

Mary  Ann.  141.   142. 
"        Nehemiah.   110. 

Willi-nm.  104,   120,   177. 

178,    181.   218. 

William  Jr..   123. 
Birchard.    Eden,    126. 
Bishop,   Alfred,   167.   198,   200. 
Blackman,  Abner,  127. 

or 
Blakeman.  Ada  M.,  234. 

Agur,    127. 
Alfred.    18^ 
"        Ann,    146,   230. 


Blakeman,  Austin  B.  l7l,  234. 

238,  239,  262. 

Bennett,  239. 
"         Caroline,    198. 

Daniel,    125,    183,    184. 

185,   186. 

David   S.,   126. 
"        Kbenezer,  46,  218. 

Eli  W.,  130. 
"        Ephraim,    120. 

George,    129,    198. 

Harriet    B.,  228. 

Helen   M.,  232,  234. 

Isaac    Percy,   93,    249. 
"        Isaac,    123. 

James,   97,    120,   218. 

James  G.,  129,  183,  184. 

James  H.,  252. 
"        James   M.,  93. 

J.    Albert,    263. 

Capt.  John,  28,  65,  75, 

119,    123,   215,   218,    267. 

John   Jr.,    120,    122. 

Joseph,     38,     77.     120, 

123.    154,    183,    218,   239. 

Josiah,   103,   154. 

Julia  K.,  228. 

Mary  P.,  88. 

Nathaniel,  218. 
"        Pattern    M.,    126. 
"        Reuben,    127. 

Dr.  Rufus,  205,  206. 

Samuel,    126,   198. 

Samuel  A.,  172,  245. 

Samuel    B.,    129. 

Samuel  C,  41,  76, 

77,    79,    125,    155,    182. 

183,   198,  226,  247. 

Miss  Sarah,  79,  198. 

Sheldon,    129. 
"        Simeon    S.,    127. 

Thomas,   127,  170,   171. 

227. 
"        Truman,    126. 

Zerah.   186. 

Ziba,    128.    145. 
Blake.    Elizabeth.   232. 

Lena,    232. 

Michael  J.,  232. 

Nora    C,    2i2. 
Blackwell,   John    Staley.   264. 

265.    266.    267. 
Blakeslee.    Charle.s,    129,    161. 

227,   236,   239. 

George  B..  229. 

Mary  J..  228. 
fames  B..  236.  239. 

"Sarah   Grace,  228. 

William.   77,   128,  227. 

242.    243. 
William  Z.,  229. 

Ziba.  41,  75,   125. 
Roardman.  David   S.,   199. 
Bolmer.   Mrs.   Gertrude,  234. 

235, 
Booth.    Abel.    37.    40.    65,    71. 

97,    119,    123,    197,    216. 

218,    221. 

Abel   Jr.,    120. 

Abiel.   75,    120. 
"        Abner,    216. 

Abraham,  83,  85,    103. 

120,   218. 
"        Andrew,   197. 

Asahel  Jr.,  75,  126. 

Austin.    128. 

Charles    B,.    128.    227. 

Dr.   Cyrenius  11.,  198. 

210,   211,  239. 

Daniel.  47.  48.  64,  83. 

119,    125,    194,    216.    218. 
"        D.iniel    Jr.,    120,   126. 
Daniel  T..  229. 
David,   123,   1.54,   196. 
David  Jr.,   126. 
Eben,    28. 
"        Ehenezer,    27,    33,    .'^J 

53,  57,  59,  120,  123,   124. 


159,   176,  218. 
Booth,    Edward,    126. 
Ezra,  83. 
Gideon,    120. 
Hesler,    197. 
Hezekiah,      103,      123. 
124,  218. 
Joel.    125. 
John   C.   129. 
"        Jonathan,    26,    27,    28, 
33.    43.    60.    70,    73,    9/. 

123,  124,   133,   196. 
Jonathan  Jr.,  119,  216, 
218. 

Joseph,    27,     183,    184, 

196,    197. 

Levi    B.,   99,    163,    171, 

230,  251. 

Mary,    197. 
"        Mary  Carter,  234. 

Moses  W.,   197. 
"        Naomi,    77. 

Pheobe,  77,   196. 

Reuben    H.,    120,    123, 

124,  125,    195,    199,    218 
Rev.    Robert    C,    234, 

"        Samuel,   125, 

Sarah,    197,   226. 
"        Dr,    Wm,    Edmond. 
210, 

Widow  Mary,  216. 
Bostwick,   Gershom,  46. 

Jolin,   123.   124,   168. 

Levy,   122. 

Rev.   William  L..  22S. 
Botsford,  Capt.  Abel,  37,  40, 
73,  75,  76,  77,  120. 

122,    124,    135,    136,    190. 

218,    227. 

Abel   Jr.,  64,   73,   218. 

Abiel,  97,    180. 

Abraham,   73,   75,   120. 

196,    218. 

Abram,    126. 

Adella,  230, 

Alosia,   228. 

Capt.     Amos.    37,     38, 

44,     72,    73,     120,     215, 

218. 

Austin,   201,   202. 
"        Austin    Nichols,    253. 

Mrs.    Bethia,   197. 

Chas.    128. 

Chas   W.,  232. 
"         Chauncev,   41. 

Clarice    E.,   232. 

Ensign  Clement,   122, 

124,  136,   154,  183. 

Daniel,     75,     123,     125, 

151. 

Daniel    Jr.,     127,     183, 

184,   185,    186. 

David,   136.    186. 

Edwin.   168,   171. 

Capt.    Elijah,   40,    120, 

121,    122,    133,    135,    136, 

218. 

Ephraim,    103. 

Ezra,  218. 
"        George,   113. 

121,    122,    124,    133,    154 

Gideon,   37.   72.   73,   89. 

121.    122,    124,    133,    154, 

196,  218. 

Gideon     Jr.,    Ji.     123, 

124,    196. 

Harold    E.,    231. 

Capt.    Henry,   64,    125. 

183,    191,    215.   218. 

Isaac.   120.  218. 

Israel,   125,   183,   184. 

Capt.    Jabez,    38,    40, 

73,    120,    122,    127,    133, 

134,    135,    136,   137,   138, 

142,   154,   162,  218. 

Sergt.   James,  267. 
Tared,     73,     120,     183, 

218. 


INDEX 


BotsJord,  Jerome.  102,  ,111.  113 
114. 

Tocl.    120. 
"        Dea.   Joiin,  61,  62,  67, 
73,    119.    122,    12t>,    133, 
21S,   218. 

John  Jr..  126.  133.  215. 
Josepu,  liy.  122.  216, 
218. 

Lieut,  J..   121. 
Marcus,   127,   154.    lyi. 
Mayla,  232. 
"        Martin,    126. 
"        Mrs.   Meriam.   196. 

Moses.  65.  73.  119,  121, 
123,    154,    183,   215.    218. 
"        Moses    Jr.,    121. 

Moss  K.,  127. 
"        Mrs.    Nancy.    196. 
Niram,    124. 
Oliver,    171. 
Philo,  75,  126,  232. 
Pulcrea    F..   89. 
Richard.    125.   201. 
Dr.  Russell  B..  211. 
Samuel    J..    23i,    234. 
252,  253. 
"         Sherman,    126. 

Theophilus,    123,    183. 
184,    185.    186. 
Thomas,    126,   183. 
Capt.    Vine,    123,    125. 
Volucia    C.    201.    202. 
VVilham,   127,  183,  239. 
Bowles,   Samuel,   250. 
Braase,    Thomas,   28,   33. 
Bradley,     Abijah,     126. 
Abijah   Jr.,    128. 
Alice   K.,  202,  230. 
Eliphalet.    126. 
George,    128.   229. 
"        Gertrude,    232. 
Jared,    126. 
Medad,  129. 
Robert,    171. 
Thomas   J.,   172. 
Capt.       Walter.      101. 
115. 

William  A..  94. 
Brennan,  Nonie  A.,  232. 
Brenner,  Annie  C.,  232. 
Brewster.  John  Huntington, 
229. 
"        Rt.     Rev.     Chauncev 
B.,  87. 
Brinsmade.  Zachariah,  218. 
Briscoe.    Alfred    M..   245. 
Alice    A.,   202. 
Anna   T.,   202. 
Charles.   129.  202.   227. 
Hon.    Chas.    H.,    202. 
230,  231. 
Daniel,    128. 
"        Isaac,     126. 

James,     28,     frl,     119. 
216,  218. 

Jennie,   231,   247. 
John.     108,     113.     126. 
Lewis   S..   128. 
Marv,    202. 
Molly,   208. 
"        Lieut.    Nathaniel.    37. 
38.  64.  69.  72,   119.   122. 
1.^3,    177,   216,   218. 
"        Nathaniel  Jr..  127. 
Willis    A..   202. 
Bristol,    Abraham,    120. 
Caesar,  182,  185. 
"         Cornelius,  120. 
David,    123. 
Ebenezer.  98.  IDS,  119. 
218 

Enos,    119.   218. 
Job,   120.   218. 
John.      33.      117,      119. 
127,  216. 

Joseph,  .^3,  60.  65.  6' 
123.    177,    190.    216.    367. 


Bristol,   Joseph   Jr.,    117,    119. 

123,   124.  216.  218. 

Joseph.   3rd.,    120. 

VVilham,  178. 
Bronson,     Dr.     William,     103. 

Ill,    117, 
Brooks,     Rev.     Thomas,     4''. 

50,    134. 
Bicwn.    Samuel,    121,    216. 
Brownell,   Rt.   Rev.   Thomas, 

89. 
Bryan,     Alexander.     71,     119. 

214. 

Alice.  27.  28. 

Ezra.    105,    120,    213. 
"         Richard.    3. 
"         Samuel.    50. 
Buck,    Rev.    George   H..    10. 
Bulklcy.    Bronson,    129. 

Daniel,   129. 

Jahez.    218. 
Bunnill.    Job,    124.    135. 

John,    122. 
"        Nathaniel,   123. 
Burhans.     Rev.     Daniel.     84, 

86.  93,  244. 
Burns,  John,  176. 
Burr, Barak,   210. 

"        Benjamin,    124,    135. 

James,    218. 

Jane   A.,  210. 

John,  25,   27,  33,  34. 

Nathan,   109,   113. 

Sylvia    E.,    137. 
Burrill,  Catharine,   199. 

Stephen,    215. 
Burritt,   Amos,    120,    122.    124. 
"        Benjamin,      120.      21.;. 

218 
"        Eleazer.   120,   121.    122. 

218. 
"        James   S..    129. 
"        Joseph,   127. 

Josiah.   27,   28,   33.   5.-. 

60,    215. 

Nathan.    73,    120.    122. 

218. 
"        Widow  Lavina.  160. 
Burross.   John,    19. 
Burroughs.   Cliarles.  75. 

Edward,   229. 
"        Eniana   J.,  228. 
Burrows,  Reuben.  76. 
Burton,    Nathaniel,    154. 
Burrill.    Catharine,    199. 
Burwell.    Job,    133,    135. 
"         Samuel,    120. 

Stephen,   97,    125,   215. 

218 

Steplici:    Jr.,    123. 

William.   12i.  124.  132, 

133.  179,  218. 

William   Jr..   120. 

Widow  Rebecca,  218. 
Bush.  Justus,   13. 


Cable,    Julius    C,    203. 

Nathaniel   J.,  203. 

Phebe,    203. 

Wheeler.    128. 
Cadey,  Nathaniel.  248. 
Cain,    Mary,    191. 
Camp,    Alice.    194. 

Beach.      10.     84.      129. 

212.    227. 
"        Catharine    Kootc,    VI 

2' 2. 
"        Currence,    194. 

Cvrus.    128. 

D-in.-!,  234.   2.50, 

Dibble.    128. 
"        Edwin.   98. 

Esther.  230. 

Hiram,   129. 


Camp,   George   B..  229. 

llobart    B..   229. 

Jacob,     126. 

Jane    Eliza,    10,   228. 

Joel,    12U,    125.    213. 

Joel    T.,    128. 

John     W..     125.     J65. 

267. 

Julius,    124. 

Lemuel,    60,    65,     lly, 

126,    190,    194,   215,   218. 

267. 

Lydia  J..  228. 

Samuel.    120.    126.   218. 

Silas.   127.    180,  218. 

William,    212. 

William   H.,   212. 
Campbell,   Augusta,  231. 

Patrick.   24. 
Canficld^  George    C,   232. 

"        Col.    Samuel,   50. 
Cannon,  John   S.,   152,  153. 

Philip   A.,    127. 
Carey,  ^crry,    160. 

"         Thomas,    162. 
Cargill,   James   A.,    130. 
Carlson,    Anna,    232. 
Carpenter,   W.    L.,   231. 
Carmichacl,    Rev.    Wm.    N  . 

84. 
Carmody,    Francis    J.,    231. 
Carroll,    Mrs.,  99,   110. 
Cavanaugli,    Eleanor   S.,   231. 

James,    107. 

Marguerite,  232. 

Paul.    232. 

Thomas.   104.    IM, 
Chambers.  Asa.   120,  123.   124. 

218 

Frederick,   85,   93.   9A. 

101,    109,   229.   2.52. 

Thomas    O..    97,    101. 

109,  128.  218.  227. 
Chandler.    Elizabeth    J.,    198. 

Col.     John,     133,     134, 

136,    137,    142.    189.    197, 

198. 

Mrs.    Mary,    197,    198. 
Chapman.   Asa,    198,   200,   244 

Charles,  200,  244. 
Chase,  Mrs.   Julia,   234. 
Chastelleaux.   Chevalier,    139. 
Chauncey,  Rev.   Thomas,  54. 
Cheever,  248. 

Christopher,   David,    232. 

Mildred,    232. 
Clarke,    Abel    F.,    234. 

Mrs.   Abel    F.,   234. 

Adam,    l.SO. 

Agur,    130. 
"        Andrew,  126. 

Charles,    128,    227 

David,    127. 

Edwin,    233,    239. 

Elizabeth.   229. 

Everett,    128. 
"        George.  229. 
"        Grandison,    127. 
"        Hannah,   58. 

Tames.   125,  184,  218 

Rev.   Jehu,   41.   75. 
"        Jennie,    10. 

Tohn.   73.    125 
"        Lemuel    B  .   229. 

Lucius.    127. 

Philo,     227.    237,     23.1 
219. 

Rev.    Svlvester.    Vi 

Walter.'   128.   236. 

William,    161. 

Zechariah,     120,     123. 

124.    149.    184.    190.   2\i^ 
Clay,   Henrv.   209. 
Cleveland,   Pres.   Grover.   71. 

172. 
Cliff.     E.     Pennington.     23'). 

262 
Cobb.    Lieut     David.    140 


INDEX 


Coc.    Charles    W..    76. 

Coger,   Kli,    109. 

Cogswell.     Asa,    38,    73,     lAi, 

135,  218,  264. 
Colburn,  Daniel,  73. 
Cole,   Charles   S..   262. 

William   T.,   238,   2i'J. 

249,    262,    263. 
Coleman.   K.   Lester,  252. 
Corastock,   Daniel,    126. 

David,   149. 
Cone,    Hurlburt,    127. 
Cooke,   Benjamin,    123. 

Curtis,    231.-. 

David  B.,  195.        3 

Mrs.  Sally,  195. 
Corbett,  Anna,  232 
"        James,    163. 

Frank,  232. 
"        &    Crowe,    248. 
Cornwallis,     Lord,     137,     139, 

140.    141. 
Corson,  Rev.   Levi,  228. 
Costello.  Thomas,   104,   106. 

Timothy,    109,    112. 
Courtney,    Bishop,   87. 
Cravner,  Rev.  Wm.  C,  262. 
Crawford,  John,  123. 
Crockett,    Rev.    J.    Addison, 

86,  234. 
Crofut 

or 
Crofoot.   Andrew,   126. 

Daniel,  106,  218. 
"        Ehenezer,   126. 
"       Elam,    128. 

Eli,     125. 

Elias,   126. 

Eliel,    127. 

Elihu,    126. 

Elihu  Jr.,   126. 

Isaac,  125. 

John,   126. 
"        Joseph,   127. 
"        T-uzon.    129. 

Stephen,  122,  124,  183. 

Stephen   Jr.,  125. 

Stephen  L.,  128. 
Croof,  Daniel,   125. 
Crosby,  C.   M.,   164. 

George  H.,  230. 
Cummings,    Mabel,   230. 
Currence,  Michael,  112. 
Curtis,  Abel,  125. 

Abijah,    83,    122,     124, 

190,   218. 

Maj.    Abijah   B.,   107, 

108.   110,   120,   125,   161, 

183,   191. 
"        Abijah    Beach,    128. 

Alfred      Devine,      93, 

127. 

Alfred,    127. 

Benjamin,  47,  73,  119, 

120,    190.    194,   216,    218. 
"        Dr.      Benjamin,      124, 

125,   190,  218. 
"        Benjamin    3rd,    125. 
"        Benjamin  G..  93,  97. 
"        Burton   E.,  129. 

Charles  B.,  170,  171. 

Cornelia.  101,  107,  110. 

Daniel,    128. 

David,    125,    128,    135, 

227,  260. 

David  2nd,  229. 
"        Dorothy,    231. 

Elisha,   127,   183. 

Elizabeth,    260. 

Epenitus.    127,    183. 

Ezra,    127. 

Frederick    L.,    229. 
"        George.     161. 

Capt.     Gold,     33,     123 

125.   260. 

GobM     Jr.,     127,     183, 

227,    260. 

Gould    3rd,    261. 


Curtis,  Harry  Beers,  261. 

Henry     G.,     238,     239, 

2o0,   261. 

Hezekiah,   128. 

Huam,    128. 

Hobart  IL,  238,  239. 

Holbrook,    127,   198. 

John,    125,   260. 

John    Jr.,    127. 

John    3rd,    128. 
"        Joseph,   31,   73. 

Josiah,      27,      28,     40, 

106,    124,    125. 

Julia    N.,   260. 

Julius     B.,     201,    204, 

260. 

Marion   N.,  232. 

Mary,    260. 

Matthew,  73,  119,  218, 

260. 

Matthew  Jr.,  120,  133, 

135,  265,  2&,  267. 

Molly,   73. 

Nathan,  122,  264. 

Nehemiah,     120,     122, 

124,    190,  218. 
"        Nelson  George,  261. 

Nichols,  127,  201. 

Niram,    120,    123,    1^, 

218 

Ph'ilo,     107,     110,     123, 

125, 

Reuben,    123,    124. 
"        Salmon,    123,    124. 

Samuel,  236,  239,  260, 

261. 

Sarah,    260. 

Sarah  A.,  201. 

William    R.,    87,    260, 

261,   262. 
"        Capt.  William,  201. 


D 

Daly,  Rev.  James,  95. 

Robert,    62. 
Danforth,  Rev.  Ralph,  79. 
Davis,  Rev.   George,  93. 
Davton,   Caleb,   176. 
"        Hezekiah.    191. 
"        Josiah,   120.   215. 
Deane,    Henry.    128. 
Delzell,   Rev.   Samuel,  79. 
Denslow,  Mrs.   Emily  H.,  64. 
Dibble,     Eleazer,      128,      183, 

218 
"        Horace    B.,    129. 

Squire   John,   41,    127, 

183,  218. 
"        Thomas,    127. 
Dick,   Charles,   76,   161. 
"        John,    161. 

Joseph.    127.    161.    227. 

William  J.,  156,  162. 

&    Sanford,   248. 
Dikeman,    Asa,    126. 
"        Kl)enezer,    129. 

Henry   R.,   234. 

Julia,     243. 

t.illian,   243. 

Martha.  228. 
"        Natlianiel,    125,    154. 

Mrs.   Oscar,   234. 
Donahue,    Rev.    Patrick,  95. 
Douglas,   Nathan,  246. 
Downs,    Charlotte    N.,    204. 

Doris,    231. 

Monroe,    204. 

Nichols   C.  204. 
"        Stephen.    129. 
Drew,   Isaac,   128. 

Levi,    128. 
Driscoll,  Cliarlesina,  232. 

William,  2.^2. 
Dudley,   Joseph,  25,  28. 
Duncomb,     George     F.,     171, 


251,   262. 
Dunen,   John,  28. 
Dunkum,  Zechariah,  127. 
Dunning,    Abel,   120. 

Abijah,   218. 

Andrew,    120.  218. 
"        Capt.     Benjamin,    26, 

27,   28,   33,   60,   65,   120, 

121,  215,  218,  267. 

David.    119,    120,    215. 

218. 

Eli.   121.   122.   133.    135, 

U6,    137,    218. 

Elizabeth,  216. 

Ezra,    122.    218. 

Gideon,    123,    124. 

Jared,    121,   133,   218 

John,    120. 

Michael,  120. 

Peter,    120,   218. 
Dutton,   Eliza   Maria,  211. 
"        Gov.   Henry,   128,    199, 

210,  227,  243,  244. 
"        Lucinda,  211. 

Dr.  Thomas,  76,  210. 
Durant,    Preston,    129. 


Easton,  Fanny,  228. 
Edmond,   Ann,    198. 

David,    125. 

Elizabeth  J..  197.  196. 

Mary    E.,    198. 

Robert.   129. 

Sarah,    198,   210. 

Wm.      P..      122.      128, 

1.54,   198. 

Hon.     Wm.,     41,     75. 

124,    154,    197,   198,  210, 

224. 
Edwards,  '  Albert,     114,     111. 

126. 

H.,    168. 

David,    126. 
"        Pierpont,    241,    242. 
Egan.  Andrew,  213. 

"        Dr.  Andrew,  213. 

Edward,   91. 

Rev.    Edward,  91. 
"        Edward   J.,   231. 
"        Eliza    Gordon,    91. 

Elizabeth,    231. 

Mary    Clark,   213. 

May   J.,    231. 
Elwood,    Phidema    Ann,    151. 
Ensign,    E.   F..    168. 
Erwin,   Dr.    Erastus.   76.   162. 

211.   212.   239. 
Esch.   Dr.    Werner,   248. 
Evans,   Oliver,   130. 


Fabrique.    David.   83.   205. 
"        John.     62,      120,     21S, 

219.    221. 

John    Jr.,    219. 
Fairchild.  Adelia,  228. 
"        Adeline  J.,  78. 
"        Adoniram,    75,     125. 

Agur,    120. 

Alphcus.   123,   125. 

Arthur    W..    138,    232 
"        Araunah,   129. 
"        Beeman,    128. 
"        Beers,    128. 

Botsford.    167. 
"        Bovle.    128.    227. 

Burtis.   128. 
"        Catharine.   228. 

Clarke.    127. 

Clement,   75.   123.    150. 
"        Cyrus.    126. 

Cvrns   Dibble.   128. 

David,   215,   218. 


INDEX 


rairchild,    Ebenezer   H.,   121, 
127,  218. 
"        Edward,     27,     28,     33, 
65,    119,    215. 

Elizabeth,   78. 

Elmer,   99,    100,   233. 

Ezekiel,   123,   125. 

Ezra,    127. 

George,    100,    106,    110. 

Gideon  B.,  130. 

Hannah,    138. 

Harriet,    229. 

Henry,    77,    100,     106, 
110. 

Hermon,    128,    239. 

Hezekiah    B.,    77. 

Hiram,    128. 

Ira,    127. 

James,    121,   218. 

James    Jr.,     121,     122, 

133.   136. 

James    B.,    127. 

John.   123,   124,  218. 

John   L..    129. 

Jonathan   S.,  123,   125, 

127.    134,    21^. 

Joseph,   75,    125. 

Joseph    B.,    130. 

Josiah,    122,    124,    172, 

227. 
"        Josiah   Jr.,    128. 

Kiah   B.,   127,   183. 

Le  Grand,  85.  167. 

Lemuel.    127. 

Levi,    128. 

Lucy    A.,   229. 
"        Marcus,    128. 
"        Mary       Hazen,       138, 

232. 

Matthew.  260. 
"        Mortimer,    229. 

Moss.    129. 

Oliver,   121.  122.  219. 

Peter,    124.    138. 

Philo.  41,  75,   123.   12}. 

Philo    Jr..    128. 

Robert   D..   138,  232. 

Samuel.  128.  227. 

Seth.   123.   124,   218. 

Capt.     Silas.     38,     41, 

73.   75.    121,    136. 

Silas    B.,    76. 

Silas   Jr.,    127.    136. 

Susan    A..   229. 
"        Truman.    75.    125. 

Walter.     128. 
"        Warren.    12<?. 

Wheeler.    125. 

William.  100,  106,  110. 

William     H.,     75.     76. 

77.    125. 

Winthrop.    128. 
"        7,tHoc.   122.   123.   123. 

Ziba.    127. 

Fairman.    Amos    B..    75. 

"        Benjamin,    75. 

Charles.    IT.    227.    233 

Daniel   B.,   229. 

Franklin,   230. 

Lieut.  Henry.  73.  120. 

133. 

Ichabod.   11,    120. 

James    B.,   161. 

Tabez.   7.5. 

Mrs.  Jane.  194. 

Richard.     47,     72,     97 

120.    133.    135.    136,    137. 

194.  218. 

Zerah.    113.   236.  239. 
rancher,  Andrew  B.,  172. 
Farnam,  J.  B.,  230. 
Farrell,   Catherine    F.,   232. 

"         Elizabeth.    202. 
Ferris,    Abel,    123,    125. 

**       Abraham,      120,      194, 

195,  219. 

Abram    B.,    126. 
Arthur,    232. 


Ferris,  Betty,  194. 
Daniel,   126. 
Elsie   C,   232. 
Esther,  76. 

Capt.      George,      112, 
135. 

George   M.,  232. 
Gideon    B.,    127. 
Herbert,    232. 
Jerusha,    210. 
John,  216. 

Joseph,    83,    120,    124, 
125,  210. 
"        Joseph  Jr.,  129. 
Joseph   G.,   130. 
Peter,    119,   216,   219. 
Samuel.     27.     33,     52, 
83,  120,  125,  216.  219. 
Thomas   S.,  128. 
Wm.    D.    B.,   102,   109, 
110. 

William    R..    112. 
Zacliariali,    100,    124. 
Ferry,   Zachariah,   123. 
Fillmore.    Pres.   Millard,   170. 
Finch,    Peter,    125. 
Fitch,    Arabella,    2.30. 
Fisk.    Phineas.    27.    S3.    54. 
Foote,   Abe],    122. 
Amos,    129. 
Arnold,    41,   75,    127. 
Daniel,   21,   26,   27,  iZ, 
61.     63.     64,     119.     120, 
159,    176.   215.   219. 
Edward,    126. 
Elijah.    103,    122.    136. 
Frederick  W.,  212. 
Rev.    George    L.,    89, 
212.  226    227 
Rev.  "CeorKe    W..    90. 
George    Jr..    122.    124, 
219. 
"        Harriet.    227. 
Heber.    127. 
Rev.     Henry     L..    90. 
Dr.     Henry     H.,    212. 
"        Hepsa,    17. 

Tames,    123.    124,    129. 
John,    120,   216. 
Tohn   Jr..    120.   215. 
Joseph.    123.    124,    191. 
"        Lemuel.    126. 

Mary.    227.    228. 
"        Marv  Jane.  229. 
Pbilo,    126. 

Polly      Hawlev.      212. 
226. 

Prosper  A.,  127. 
Rhesa,    127,    174,    212, 
226. 
F'ord,    Ebenezer,    37,    43,    72. 
97,   120,   219. 
Thomas,   122,  124.  219. 
Thomas  Jr..  120. 
Fox.        A.    W..    168. 

Rev.    Daniel    W.,    78. 
Rev.   Patrick.  95,   19! 
Frame,  &•  Grecian,  248. 
Frank,   John,    113,   117. 
French,     Gamaliel,     97,     117. 
120.   191,  219. 
J.    Homer,   212,   228. 
Lillian,   232. 
Mrs.    Mary,   228. 
Samuel,   120,  219. 
Turney,    102,   111,    129. 
Frost,    Sidney    B.,    230. 
Fuller,  J.  R.,  168. 


Gaffney,   Florence  U..  232. 
Gale.     Dr.     Frank,     234,     262, 
263. 
"        Gordon,    232. 
Ganung,    Edith,    231. 


Gannon,    Patrick,    224. 
Gardner,    Elizabeth    D..    234. 
Rev.     Henry     V.,     93. 
Mrs.    Wm.    D.,   234. 
Prof.    W.    IL,    231. 
Gately,    Dennis   C,    113,   248. 

249. 
Gauthier,  George  A.,  249. 
Gay,  Chas.   H.,  94,  233. 
''        Mrs.   John,   234. 
Geeler,   James    P.,   77,   94. 
George,     Bertha     Niles,     87, 
261. 
"        Caroline,    87. 
"        Rev.    James    Hardin, 

10,  86,   234,   262. 
"        Mrs.    James    Hardin, 

86. 
"        Rev.    James    Hardin. 

Jr.,   87,    92. 
•'        Marilla,   87. 
"        Theodora,   87. 
Gerould,    Jabez,     124. 
Gilford,  James,  119. 
Gilbert.     Blanche,    232. 
David    A..    128. 
Elijah.    126. 
Ezra,    127. 
"        George,     129. 

Ichabod,   126,    ISO. 
Philo,    127,    ISO. 
Seth,     126.     129. 
"        Stephen,    125. 
Gillette,    Abel,    129. 

Abraham.    110. 
Frank,  232,  233. 
Fohn,  60,  73,   110,    119. 
126.   216. 

Moses.   73,    110,   127. 
Samuel.    110.    119,   219. 
Gillis,    Miss    Mary,    84. 
Glover,    Abiel    B.,    128,    183. 
"        Andrew    B.,    128. 

Arnold,    120,    178.   219. 
Benjamin   C.  62.   119. 

126.  215. 
Betsey,  229. 
Birdsey,   122,  123,   125. 
Charles,    128. 
Charlotte,    77. 
Cyrus    B..   127. 
Daniel,    103,    123,    124, 
219. 

David     J.,     129,     161. 

184. 

Effie,   230.    2.33. 

Elias,    123,    12S. 
"        Elias    Jr.,    126. 

Ezra,    126. 
"        Mrs.    Grace,    234. 

Granville,     129. 

Harry.    128.    184.    191. 

Capt.    Henry.    47.    62. 

83.    49.     123.     124.     126. 

178.    184,   216,   219,  267. 

Henry    Jr.,    123,    124, 

219,    221. 

Henrv      B..      77.      85, 

236.   237.  239. 

Ives.    129. 

Tames.     27.     103,     122, 

124.    1.33.    141.   219. 
"        Tames    F.  .    128. 

'Tohn    (Town    Clerk). 

is.    17.    25.    27.   33.   3S. 

47,    52.    54.    55.    57.   SJ, 

62.  76.  83. 

Capt.    John,    119.    123, 

127.  129.   159,   196.  215. 
219. 

Tosiah,    126,    154,    183. 
227. 
"        T.rmuel.  252. 

Martin     V.     B..     229 
Norman     B..    44.    99. 
ino,    129. 
Rebecca,   75. 
Roswell.     129. 


INDEX 


Glover,  Salmon,   123,   124. 
"        Samuel  C   163. 
"        Mrs.      Sarah     Grace, 
243. 

Silas   N.,   127,   160. 
"        Simeon,    125. 
"        Capt.  Solomon,  43,  81, 
83,    108,    113,    123,    124, 
141. 

Smith    P.,  93,  94,  233, 
239,    245. 
"        Stanley,    25. 
"        Susan    Nichols,    93. 
Villeroy,    127. 
Walter,    129. 
Walter  H.,  239,  252. 
Mrs.    Walter   H.,  25.- 
Walter   L.,   232. 
Wm.    B.,    93,    94,    99, 
248 

Wm.    Benj.,    238,    239, 
263. 

Wm.   H.,  229. 
Ziba,    127,    183. 
Gold,    Abraham,    260. 

Elizabeth,    260. 
Goldstein.    Irael.    232. 

Mollie.  232. 
Golot.   John,   33,   64,    116,    117. 
Goodhue,     Rev.     J.     E.,     84, 

229. 
Goodsell,    Grace,    230. 
"         Irvinp:,     106. 
"        Jonathan,    126. 
Goodwin,     Elizabeth,     231. 
Goodvear,  Charles,  248. 

"        Nelson,    248. 
Gordon,   Dr.   James   W.,   212. 
"        John,   212. 
"        Marffaret  Colsran,  212. 
"        Margaret        Doretta, 
212. 
Gould,   James    L.,   245. 
Graham,   Rev.   M.,   71. 
Granpcr,    Gideon,    173. 
Grant.   Arminal,   192,  219. 
"        Dnnald,     .^6,     71,     119, 
192,   193,  215. 
Elizabeth,   193. 
.*^ueton,    192. 
Pres   U.    S.,    171. 
Gray,  Andrew   Jr.,  229. 
"        James,    219. 
"        Joseph,  23,  24,   26,   27, 
28.   33.   39,   60,   96. 
Graves,   J.   J.,   168. 
Green,    Tames,    101. 

"        Thomas.     186. 
'^reenman.   H.    M.,    116. 
Gregory,  Aaron,  134. 
Griffin,  Abner,  219. 

"        C.     Frances,    232. 

"        Lieut.   John,   191,   219. 

Joseph,    191,   219. 
"        I.ieut.   Samuel,   76 

Samuel    Jr.,    191,    216, 
219. 
Griggs,    John,    251. 
Griswold.   Zalmon,   76. 
Gunn.   Abel    122. 

"        Joseph,    120,    122,    219. 
Joseph   Jr.,   219. 
Guion,  Rev.  Thomas  T. 
Gurley,   Royal,  O.,  76.   161. 


H 

Hadley,   Arthur   T.,  95. 

Mrs.    Arthur   T.,   201. 
Hall,   Albin,   128. 

"        Alexander,      77,      128, 

243. 

Asa.    219. 

Billy,    75. 

Eli,    126. 

Ezra    J.,    238. 


Hall,       John   Jr.,    126. 
Matt.ie.v.    122. 
William,  123,  172,  219. 
Halley.   Capt.,   28. 
l^ammond,  Mary  Grace,  203. 
Hard   Abel.    124. 

Capt.       Abijah,       123, 
Abner,     119.     123,    190, 
219. 
"        Abraham,    120. 

Amos,  97.  126.  123,  \2A, 
129,  260. 

Ammon,  123,  154,  219. 
Benjamin,  126,  132, 
18.'. 

Charles   T.,   129. 
Chester,    94. 
Curtis    122.    124. 
Cyrenius,  83.  121,  123, 
124. 

Cyrus,  184. 
Daniel,  126. 
Eli,    128. 

Hannah,   Widow,  219. 
James,   24,    28,   33,  35, 
47,    59,   62,   63,   80,    119, 
176.  177,  216. 
James    Jr.,    119. 
James   3rd,    119. 
John,    121,    "<24. 
Joseph,    123,    216,    219. 
"        Josiah    Jr.,   62. 
"        Lazarus,    125. 
"        Lucius  M.,  77. 

Niram,  120,  123,  124, 
219. 

Theophilus,    120,    123. 
William  G.,  93,  219. 
Zadoc,   120,   179.  21S. 
Hare,    Bishop    Wm.    Hobart, 

87. 
Harris,   Dorothy,   232. 
Tabez,     219. 
Luther,  75.  123,   124. 
Harrison,   Francis,  216. 
Hartnett,    Patrick,    109,    115. 
Haskins,    Rev.    Thomas    W., 

85    93 
Hatch,   Josejph.    120. 

Joshua.    135.    154,   219. 
Mark    F.,    125. 
Moses,    199. 
Peter,    219. 
Hawley,  Abel  S.,  127,  219. 

Arthur  S.,  233,  234. 
262. 

Asa  N.,  172,  239. 
"        Benjamin,      97,       102, 
105.    106,    119,    122,    123, 
129,   190.  215,  218. 
Daniel     B.,     76,     154, 
168,     172. 

Edgar    F.,    234.    262. 
Edson   N..   229. 
"        Eleazer,    127. 
"        Elmer  B.,  229. 
"        Ephraim,  64,  96. 
Esther    A.,    229. 
Glover,    129.    170,    172. 
Helen,   231. 
Henrv  S.,  260. 
Isaac' N.,  77.  122,  130, 
133. 

Jabez,   126,   154. 
"         Jehiel,    64. 
"        "Capt.    John,    25. 
John,    127,    128. 
Joseph.  126,  154. 
Jotham    B.,    128,    154, 
168. 
"        Julia  Nichols,  260. 

Lemuel,    125,    127. 
"        Marcus   C,   234. 
"        Mrs.    Marcus    C,    94, 
95. 

Mary,    261. 

Robert  N.,  77,  98. 
100.  101,  102,   106. 


Robert  S.,  239. 

Samuel,    62,    129. 

Stephen,    65,    216. 
Hawley,   Tyrus,    127. 

William,    120,   219. 

Wm.   G.,  229. 
Mrs.  Wm.  S.,  234. 
Hayes,    E.,   158. 

'^        Josiah,   123,   124. 

Nathan    A.,     151. 
Hazard,   Samuel,    135. 
HecocU,   Capt.    Ebenezer,   46. 
Hendrix,   James,    123. 

Roger,    122,   219. 

Zadoc,   219. 
Hendrixson,  Bcnoni,  120,  216. 

David.   216. 
"        Samuel,  216. 
Henry.    Benoni.   268. 
"        Nathaniel.   61. 

Samuel,    .57,   59,   61. 
Hensley,  Dan.  235. 

Mount.  235. 
Hepburn.   Capt.   Joseph,   123. 

124. 

Silas,    122. 
Hickson.    Leo,    231. 

Hill,   Beach,   230. 

Harry   T.,   128. 
Henry    S.,    128. 
"        Hermon.     129. 
Hills,   Rev.    Horace   H.,   84. 
Hinman,    David.    124. 

Joel,    201. 
Hinsdale,   Rev.,  63. 
Hoffman,  Jos.  Ogden,  247. 
Hogan.    E.,    168. 
Holian,   Thomas.   238,   239. 
Holly,    Capt.    John,   27,  33. 
Holstander.    Isaac    F.,    129. 
Honan.   Daniel   C^   231. 
"        Jennie    R..    232. 
"        Katherine.    231. 
Hopkins,   Hazel,  232. 

"        Joseph.    135. 
Horr.  Wm.   L..  245. 
Hosack.    Dr..    210. 
Hotchkiss,   B.,    168. 

Charles,    127. 
Houlihan,    Aileen,    232. 
"        Anna    M..   232. 
"        F.   Loretta,  231. 
Helen,    232.  , 
John    G..   231. 
Mary  V.,  232. 
Michael  J.,  262. 
Hoy,   Wm.    H.,   98. 
Hoyt,    Rev.     James     P.,    79, 
230.   251. 
"        Jesse.  76. 

Mary,    231. 
"        Meeker,  76. 
"        Norman.    76. 
Hubbard,   Cornelia,   228. 
Dr.  Robert,  212. 
Hubbell,   Amos,   152,   153. 
"        Anson.    128. 
"        Ebenezer,  119. 
"        Ephraim.    127. 
"        Eleazer.    215. 
"        Enoch.    219. 
Ezra  Jr..  219. 
H.   Carlton,   239,  263. 
Tchabod,    120. 
Jedediah.    120,   264. 
Jeptha,    120,    121,    219. 
John,    18.   125. 
John    L.    128. 
"       Jonathan,  27,  28.  33. 

51,    60,    64.    216. 
*'        Joseph    M..    129. 

Josiah,    18,    19. 
"         I.ewis,    125. 
"        Nathan.  120. 


INDEX 


Hubbell,  Peter,  Town  Clerk; 
15,    23,    26,    27,    33,    39, 
53,   56,  60,  65,  215,   219, 
264. 

Peter  Jr.,   119. 
Ricliarii,    19. 
"        Samuel  Jr.,  19. 

Silas,   120,   121.   123. 
"        Stillman,     120. 

William,   127. 
"        William    Homer,    209. 
238,   239,   263. 
Hull,    Elijah,    124,   219. 

Eliphalet,      104,      120, 
219. 
"        Erastus,    128. 
Hanford,    129. 
John,  65,  119,  216.  219, 
Peter  Clark,   123,   126. 
S.,    168. 
Hurd,    Abel.    120.    219. 
"        Graham,   76. 
Jabcz,   101.  " 
Oliver  Clark,  125. 
Theophilus,  219. 
William    B.,   229   . 
Humplirey.   Daniel,    123. 
Hunt,  D.   H.,  168. 
Hyde,    Cyrus,    138. 
Joseph,   219. 


I 

Innis,  Albert  C,  10. 


Tackson,  Daniel,  27,  28,  33,  57, 

David,  122.  219. 

David,  Jr.,  122,  219. 

Ephraim,  122,  124,  219. 

Gershom,  122,  124,  219. 

Levi,     127. 
"        Lewis,   41. 
Jagger,  Bishop  Thomas  A.  87 
Tames,   Catherine   A.,   232. 
Jardine,   George,   86   . 
Jarvis,  Abraham,   129. 
Jefferson,  Pres.  Thomas.  173. 
Jennings,   David,   127. 

Elijah.   75,    126. 

Ezra    H.    127. 

Wm.    B.,   129. 
Jewell,  Ross,  231,  234. 

Mrs.    Ross.    21. 
Johnson,   Abel,   75 
"        Abraham,   119. 

Alonzo,    129. 
"        Pres.   Andrew,  171. 

Charles,  41,  76,  77,  101. 

109,    128,    130,   227. 

Charles  Beach,  10,  252, 

253,  262. 
"        Clarrissa,    199. 

Cornelia,  199. 

David   H.,  85,  99,   170, 

171,    209,    236,    238,   240. 

Mrs.  David  H.,  98. 

Ebenezer,    14,    19,    33, 

52.    64,     176,    178,    219, 

Ellas.    129. 

Enos.    123. 

Ezra     H..     9.     41,     75, 

77,  126. 
"        Ezra     Levan,     3,     91, 

234,  243,  262. 
"        Mrs.    Ezra   L.,  84,   91, 

252. 

Frank    L..    232. 
"        Frederick    Foote.    10. 

87,  91. 
"        Frederick    F.    Jr.,   92. 

Ichabod,    9,    117,    119, 

126,   219. 

Jacob,   75.   126. 
"       James.  210. 
"        Jeremiah,  64,    120. 


Johnson,  John.  117,  122,  124. 

199,   219,   227. 
"        Joiiii   Jr.,    126. 

Julia  Mcrritt,  10,  252. 
"        Levan  Merritt,  10. 

Miles,  75,  126. 
"        Moses,    33,    64. 

Nathan,    128. 

Percy  L.,  10. 

Philo,  75. 
"        Susan   Jane,   199. 

Walter,   129. 
"        William      Camp,      10. 

164,   252,   262. 

Mrs.    Wm.   C,  252. 
Jones,    David    W.,    76. 

William,    150,    168. 
Jordan,    Levi    E.,    127. 

Mae,  232. 

Philo    M..    127. 
"        Timothy,    126. 
Joy,       Eliza  Elliot,   199. 
Judd,    George,    230. 
"        Phineas,   46,   71. 
"        Taylor,     129. 
Judson,  Lieut.  Abel,  119,  123, 

124,    219. 

Abel   Jr.,    120. 

Abner,    76,    126,    183. 
"        Andrew,  171. 
"        Anson,    127. 

Rev.     David,     36,     69, 

70,  73,  81,  189,  190.  205. 

Ch.     of    Rev.     David, 

74. 
"        David    &    Mary,    190, 

193. 

David,   123.   124,   136. 

Elijah,    125. 

Dr.   George,  76,   211. 

Jerome,    159,    171,   236, 

239. 

Dr.     John,     120,     123, 

124,    128,    210,    211,    219, 

227 

John,    172,   239. 
"        Joseph,   31. 
"        Martin,    127. 

Marv,    134. 

Dr.    Monroe,   211,   236, 

239,    260. 

Nathaniel,    123. 

Nellie,    230. 

Richard,    125. 
"        Samuel     Lane,     125. 
"        Silas    Burton,    125. 

Stiles   H.,   161. 
"        Thompson,    113. 

Zerah,    127. 


Kane,  Elisha  Kent, 

John    Jr.,    109,    112. 
Keane,   Anna   L.,   232. 

Anna   V.,   231. 

Daniel    J.,    2,15. 

Helen  M..  231. 

Toseoh    D..    232 
"        Margaret   L.,   231. 

Marv.  232. 

M.    G..    238. 
"        Thomas    F.,    232. 
Keating.    Joanna,    160. 
"         Margaret.     232. 
"        Martin,    162,    163.    164. 
Keeler,     Czar,     41.     143,     144. 

1.58,    170,    171,    223,    242. 

Elizur   W.,    76. 

John    C,    10. 

Mrs.     Tohn    C.    10. 

Nathan   W..   170,   171. 
Keep,   Florence.   230. 


Kelly,   John,   232, 

"  Mary  T.,  232. 
Kemble,  Daisy.  231, 
Kennedy.    Mrs.    Arthur.    235. 


Kent.    Abigail,   69. 

Rev.    Elisha.  69. 
Ch.    of    Rev.     Elisha, 
69. 
"         lames,    69. 
"        Josiah,  69. 
Moss,    69. 
"        Samuel,  69. 
"        Thomas,  69, 

Thomas   Jr,,  69. 
Kiernan,  Dr.  Walter  H.,  262, 
Kilbride,   Helen   A,,  232. 

Mary    C.    232. 
Kimball,    H,.    168, 
Kimbcrly.    Abraham.    21.    22, 
26,    33,    43,    54,    55,    57. 
96,    104,    120,    122,    176, 
216,    219 

Abraham  Jr.,  219. 
"        Eleazer,    14. 

Capt.    E.,    123. 
"        Ephraim,    136. 
"        I^ieut.    Ephraim.    136. 
Fitch.     122.     133.     138, 
219. 
Kirkland,    C.    A.,    168. 
Knapp,    Nchemiah,    110. 
Knight  Dr.   Wm.   W.,  234. 
Kut,schcr,  Viola   P,,  232, 


Lacy,    Eleazer,    122. 
"        Josiah,    120. 
R.   B.,   168. 
Laflin,    Mrs,    Helen    M,,    234. 
Lake,  Ada  J.,  23\. 
Carrie,    230. 
"        David,    125 
"        Ephraim,       120,       123, 
124,  219. 
Ezra.    125, 
"        Harriet,    229. 
"        Tackson,   22^. 
James,   102,   106. 
John,    27,    28,    33,    43, 

60.  64,  96.  97,   119,   216, 
219. 

Tohn  Jr..  120.  128.  219. 

Nathan,    105,    120,   219. 

Nichols   B.,   129. 

Peter,     104,     106,     123, 

124. 

Philo.    128. 
"        Roswell.     129. 

Thomas,   219. 

Walter.   129. 

Walter    B..    229. 
"        Widow,    96. 
Lane,    James.   219, 
Lancaster.    Mary    F,..    172. 
Landers,    Lemuel,    126. 
T.ang,  Anna.  232. 
Lattin,  Beniamin.  109,  219. 

Eli    S.,    129. 

Gideon.   125. 
"        Granville.    111. 

Tacob.    127,    219. 

Luke,    123. 
"        Nathan,   136. 
T.auzan,     Chevalier     de     la. 

139.   140.  14V 
T.aw,   Jonathan.    21. 
Lawfon.    Mariruerite,   231. 
Leadbetter.   Rev.   Alexander, 

75.    76. 
T.eavenworth,    Andrew,    111. 

John,    22,    31,    45,    60, 

61,  63,  65,  216. 
Mark  E.,  129. 
Thomas,   11",  216. 

T.eavy,   Agnes,   232. 

"        Morris.    109,    114. 
Lee.    Martin.   "4. 

Rev.    Timothy    J  ,   79. 
362. 


8 


INDEX 


Lemon,    George,    178. 
Leonard,    \Vm.    A.,    157,    233, 

238,   240,   263. 
Lenihan,    Rev.    Francis,    191. 
Lester,    Catharine,   232. 
Mary,  231. 
"        Mrs.,    107. 
Lever,    ilenry    K.,    230. 
Lewis,    Abraliam,    122. 
"        Agur,    126. 
"        Ebenczcr,    109. 

Edmund,    31,    80. 
"        Isaac,   IS-l. 
Israel,  154. 
"        Tames,    31. 
Peter,    183. 
Lillis,   Michael,   ICM,    106. 
Lincoln,  Abraham,   171. 
Lines,   Bishop    Edwin    S.,   87. 
Linsk-y,  Rev.  Geo.  T.,  10,  86, 
234,   261,   262. 
Martha,   86. 
"        Mrs.  Mary  Chauncey 
86,  234. 
Lovell,    Edward    S.,    240,    252. 
Low,   Samuel   Jr.,   246. 
Lum,    Edwin    A.,   76. 
Lynch,   C.   Agnes,  232. 

Catherine    V.,    232. 
Jennie    L.,    232. 
Mary,    232. 
Mary   W.,  232. 
Mrs.,     151. 
Patrick.    109,    115. 
"        Thomas    F.,    232. 
Lyon,    Alanson,    210. 
David,    126. 
Frederick,    229. 
"        Hezekiah,    120. 

Moses,   25,   59.   62. 
"        Nathaniel,    216. 
William.   216. 


M 

Madigan,  James  E.,  250. 
Madison,  President,  173. 
Mallaby,    Rev.    Thomas,    88. 

94. 
Mallctte,    Robert    C,    250. 
Mallory,   Benjamin,    120,   264. 
"        Ebenezer,    125. 
John,    125. 

Nathaniel.     128.     190, 
219. 
"        Widow.    109. 
Maltbie.    J.    M.,    202. 
Marble.  Rev.  Dr.  Newton   F.. 
«4,  203. 
"        F'rances  A.,  230. 
"        Frederick    P.,  84.   203. 
Mary    Gillis.    84.    203. 
Marsh,    Philo    J..    11. 

"        Daniel.    168. 
Marshall.    Abipail,   77. 

"        Isaac,    77. 
Mason,   R.    B..   169. 
Martin,    Dr.    W.  .A..    92. 
Masters,  James,  ]2i5. 
Mayers,    Catherine,    2.'i2. 
Mavliew,  Jacob,  129. 

"        Jacob   Jr.,    129. 
May.     Henrv.     168.     170,     171. 
McCartan,  Rev.   James,  95. 
McCarthy,    Patrick    H.,    262 
McDonald,    164. 
McEwen,   Birdsev.   115. 
MacFarland.     Prof.     H.     B 
231. 
"        Mrs.    II.    B..   231. 
McLatighlin,   Dr.   W.   J.,  262. 
McMahon,      Anthony,       103, 

106. 
McNam.-ira.    John.    162. 

"        Mary    F..    231.    235. 
Meeker.     Capt.     David,     122 
147,  149,  154,   191. 


Merchant,     Amos,     97,     119, 

219. 
Merritt,  Abijah,  126.  149.  ISO. 
161.  191. 
John,    108. 
Levan    W.,    129. 
Merwin,    John,    20. 

"         Stephen,    129. 
Middlebrook,      Charles      11., 
229. 

Friinklin,  229. 
"        Jerome,    129. 

Robert,    127,    144. 
"        Sidney,    76,    129. 
Miles,    Joseph,    27,    28. 
Millous,    Robert,    172. 
Mills,    Eljenezer,    179. 
Elisha,    127,   208. 
John,    179. 
"        Jonathan,    28. 
Minor,   Chas.   E.,  94,  261. 

John,    19. 
Mitchell,    Bessie,    231. 
Edith    W.,    235. 
Frank    W.,    253. 
Mrs.  F.  W.,  253. 
"        Lawrence,      100,      107. 
108,    110,    114. 
Robert    C,   238,   240. 
Wallace    N.,   253. 
Mrs.  Wallace  N.,  253. 
Moger,    John,    120. 

'^       Samuel,    215. 
Moore,   E.   F.,  168. 
"       Joseph,  151. 

Rev.   Wm.,  26,   78,  93. 
More,    John,    219. 
Morehouse,    Abel,    219. 

Daniel,     41.     127,    219. 
"        Stephen,    219. 
Morgan.    Daniel    N.,   85. 

Ezra.     103,     106,     129, 
237,  238. 
Mary    C.    234. 
"        Nathaniel,    48. 
Zedekiah.    121. 
Morris,   Adonijah,   60. 
"        Amos.    125. 

Charles   G..   201. 
Daniel   Jr.,   109,   126. 
Daniel,    122.    125. 
"        Eleazer.    38. 

Eli    Gould.    201. 
Eli   J..  93.  94,   151. 
James,    127. 
"        John.    28. 

Levi   C.    Sr..    172. 
Levi   C.   2nd,   245,  251. 
252,    263. 

Mrs.   L.  C,  234. 
Levi    Phillips,   232. 
"        Luzon   B..  201.  229. 
"        Alartha    J..    229,     2.'50. 
Dr.   Robert,  201. 
Roy,   201. 
Moss,    Abigail,    69. 

"        Rev.   Joseph.   69. 
Munson.   Joseph   O.,   229. 
Mott,    Arthur,    229. 

S.,   158. 
Murphv.     Annie.    232. 
"        Catherine,    231. 
Hugh,    125. 
Mary,    232. 
Murray,    Joseph.    64. 
Murry,    Patten,    125. 


N 

Nash,    David.    128. 
"        Dennis.     126. 

John.   128.  243. 
"        Miciiah.    126. 
"        Peter,    191. 
Ncttleton.  Abner  Anson.  126. 
183.  237.  238,  239.  240 
"        Arthur    T.,     138,     182. 


23i.    234. 
Nettelton,    Josepli,    129. 

Theophilus,    120,    190. 

219. 
Newland,   Albert,   212. 

J.   Selwyn,  212. 
Nichols,    Rev.    Abel,   89,    125. 

Beach,    98. 

Benjamin,   20,    120. 
"        Caleb,    219. 
"        Charles,    251. 

Charlotte,     233. 

David     H.,     lis,     125. 

Daniel,    126. 

Dina,     179. 

Drusus,    129. 

Elijah,     120,    123,     124, 

154,    224. 
"        Gideon,   219. 

Ilenry,    260. 

Henry     T.,     229,     237. 

239,   240. 
"        Isaac,    77,    128. 
"        Capt.    James,    77,    89, 

Capt.    Jonatlian,    219. 
"        Joseph,    125.    225. 

Lemuel,    124,    1.54." 

Lucy   Beach,  89. 

Mary    260. 

Nathaniel,      119,      127, 

179,  216,  219. 
"        Capt.    Peter,    97,    104, 

120,    123,    124,    127    .195, 

197,    219,    241,    242,    244. 

Philo.    240.    244. 
"        Mrs.    Rebekah,    195. 

Richard,     19,    83,     117. 

120. 
"        Richmond,   219. 
"        Sarah  Blackman,  260. 
"        Simeon,   128. 

Stephen,    127. 

Thaddeus    H.,    129. 

Theophilus,     121,    122. 

124.    128.    233,    236,    237. 

238,   240.   243. 
Nickerson,     lob,    125. 
Noble.    Charles,    227. 
Norman.    Wilhelmina,    229. 
Northrop,    Abel.    219. 
"        Alanson,   126. 

Lieut.  Amos,  120,  122, 

124,    135.    U6.    219,    221. 

Andrew,   111,   114.   123, 

168,    184. 
"        Asa,    124. 
"        Benjamin.    44,    60,    64. 

119,   215.   219. 
"        Benjamin   Tr.,  120,  219 

Charles,    129. 

Chas.     H.,     203,     233, 

237.  230,  240,  262. 

Mrs.   Chas.   H.,   231. 

C.    P..    245. 

Cvrenin,  127. 

David.     129. 
"         Deacon,    73. 

Drake,    123,    124. 

Edgar    F.,    255. 

Edith    N.,    232. 

Eleanor    L.,    203,    231. 

F.Iizur,     129. 

Enos,   120.   121,  219. 

Ezra,   120,    124,  219. 

George,    110,    123.    124. 

143. 

George   A.,  245.  252. 

Gideon.   104.   110. 

Heman.    102.    105,    110 
"        Hezekiah,     126. 
"        Hosea   B..   240. 

Isaiah.    121.    127,    219. 
"        James,     127. 

Jeremiah,  119,  176,  215, 

219. 
"        Jerome,   116. 

Job,   119.  121,   122.  216 
"        Capt.      Jrhn.      (Town 

Clerk).  "45,    48,    59,   61, 


INDEX 


63,    64,    65,    67,    69,    70. 

80,    103,    117,    119.    121. 

122,   216,   219,   266,    267. 
Northrop,  John  Jr.,   126,   179, 

180. 

John  J.,   171,  240,  253. 

262. 

Jonathan,  73,  120,  133. 

Joshua,    133,    134,    136, 

219. 

Julia   L.,  203. 

Mary    A.,    232. 
"        Nathan,    123. 

Nathaniel,    120. 

Nehcmiah,  219. 

Nelson    \V.,    203. 

Norman,    110,    128. 

Oliver,    127,    183. 

Oliver   T..    210. 

Peter,    125. 
"        Reuben,   129. 

Samuel,     75,     125. 

Sheldon,   129. 

Thomas,    64.    119.    215. 

Wait,    123,    124,    219. 

Walter.     127. 

William    N.,    123,    124, 

203,  219.  240. 

William    Jr.,    219. 
"        Zalmon,    127. 
Norton,    Philo,    83.    124. 

Nathan,    120. 


Ogden.    Ebenezer,   219. 
Olmstead.  Charles,  232. 

Elhert,   112,   ISO. 

Wilbur    E.,   232. 
Olson,    Be.ssie,    231. 
Oppe,   Herman,   232. 
Orgleman,  Augustus  W.,  93. 
Osborne.   Ephraim,  33. 

"        Joseph,    28. 
Otis.    John    M..    230. 


Page,    Ed^ar    C,    172. 
Palmer,   Carrie   Mason,  92. 
Parmalee,    Amos,    126. 

David,    126. 
"        George,    111. 
"        Grandison,     76. 
"        Hermon,    129. 

Hiram,     76,     11,     102, 

104.  128,  202. 

Tedidiah,   216,  219. 

Levi,    128. 

Marcus    H.,    126,    129, 

183. 

Nathaniel.    126.    216. 

Noah,     119,     121,    216. 

219. 

Philo,    128. 

Rufus,    76,    128. 
"        Samuel.  64,   216. 

Stephen,     27,     33,     7,1, 

.52,     59.     64.     120,     176, 

189.    216. 
Parks,    Michael.    41.    75.    155. 
Parsons.    Rev.    Arthur,    91. 

Charles     M.,    93,    107. 

113.  252. 

Mary    E.,    76. 

Moses,    161,    221,    236, 

240. 

Pearl    F..    230. 
Patch,     Anthonv,     249. 

Ezra,   161,   172. 
Patrick.    Brig.    Gen.    Samuel 

H..   1.^8. 
Payne,   Charles   H..   94. 
Pearce,   Samuel,  64. 
"        Thomas.    64. 

John    T.,    2.50. 


Pease,    F.    W.,    168. 
Peck,    Aaron,     104,     120,     179, 
220. 

Abbie    L.,   233,   234. 
Abel   T.,   77. 
"         Abner, 
"        Abraham,    127. 

Capt.  Albert  W.,  213. 
229 

Albert    W.    Jr.,    213. 
Amiel,  123,  219. 
Amos  G.,  77,  126,  154, 
227,  240. 
"        Andrew    Jr.,    126. 
"        Annie    Curtis,    214. 

Mrs.    Ann    E.,   77,   KM. 
"        Arthur,    110. 
"        Asher,    123,    154. 
"        Benaiah,    219. 
"        Charles     Henry.      98. 
Charles,     128. 
112,    115,    138,    1.S7,    171. 
182,   233,   236,   240. 
Charles   G.,   262. 
"        Lieut.     Col.     Charles 

Howard    213,   263. 
"        Charles    Howard    Jr. 

213. 
"        Dan,   126.   183. 

Daniel,  75,  120,  126,  220 
David.  41,  75.  122,  124, 
184. 

David  C,  237.  238,  240 
262.    263. 

Dillazon,  107,  129. 
Dr.  Earle,  214,  230. 
Ebenezer,  120,  126,  178 
220. 

Edmond  B.,  127. 
Eli,    123,   126. 
Elihu,    220. 
Elijah,     123. 
Elliott  M.,  11,  214,  240 
Elnathan,   126. 
Enoch,    123,   220. 
"        Enos,    183. 

Ephraim.  31,  33,  57. 
.59,  67,  72,  119,  120,  216. 
220. 

Ethel,   120. 
Ezekiel,    127.    129. 
Ezra,   IZ,   120,   220. 
George  B..  76.  123,  124 
George  B.,  229. 
George   C,   76,  98,  99. 
Gideon,  72,  123,  125,  220 
Hannah   D.    F.,   234. 
Harley,     230. 
Harry.   90,    104,    201. 
Capt.  Henry,  120,  134, 
135,    194,   219. 
Henry   S.,   229. 
"        Hermon,    129. 

Hermon  H.,  99.  105. 
Heth.  36,  47,  66,  70,  71. 
119,    219. 

Heth  Jr.,  120,  219. 
Hezekiah,  129,  240. 
Isaac,  123.  124,  184. 
Israel,  128. 

Tabez  B..  77,   104,  121. 
123,   129,   220,  227. 
"        James,   36,    120. 
"        James    A.,   232. 

John,  119,  120.  124.  117. 
220. 

John   B.    237.   238,   210. 
"        Jonathan    126. 
"        Joseph.  (Town  Clerk  I 
14,  16.  20.  22,  28,  il.  35. 
52.   55.  64,  96,   120,  159. 
176,    177,   267. 
Joseph  Jr.,  64,  IS,  117. 
216.  220. 
"        Joshua,    122. 
"        Judson.  126. 
"        Lemuel,   126. 
"        Lewis,   174. 


Peck,     Levi,  77,  123,   128. 
Liverius,    122,    124. 
"        Lucius,     128. 
Mary  F.,  233. 
Mrs.    Mary,    194. 
"         Matthew,    123. 
MicI,     120. 

Moses     120,     123,     124, 
154,  220. 

Nathan,  120,  126. 
Nathaniel.  72.  119,  123 
220. 
"        Nelson   J.,   229. 

Oliver,  77,   127,  246. 
Mrs.    Phebe,  94. 
Richard,  127. 
Robert  S.,  227,  260. 
Rufus,    125. 
Samuel,    123,    154,  220, 
227. 

Samuel    B.,    128,    161, 
162,    183,   236. 
"        Sherwood,  208. 

Simeon     B.,    103,    106, 
129,    237,    238,    240,    260. 
"        Thcodosia,    76. 
"        Truman,    126. 

William    M.,    129. 
Wooster,    76,    77,    184. 
227. 

Zalmon    S.,    122.    124, 
167,   171,    195,   233,   252. 
253. 
"        Mrs.   Zalmon   S.,  252. 
Mrs.  Zilpha,  195. 
Penny,   Dr.   C.    M.,  262. 
Perry,    Agur,    128. 

"        Dr.   Bennett,  123,   145, 
198,    208,    210,   241,   242, 
243,   2AA. 
"        Daniel,     125. 

Joseph,   125,  129. 
Marv.     198. 
Dr.    Nathaniel,    208. 
"        Peter,    127. 

Rev.     Philo,     83,     86, 
190,    193,   244. 
"        Truman,    130. 
Phillips,    Samuel,    149. 
Pierce,  B.   D.  Co.,   164. 
"        Francis,   123.  220. 
"        President       Franklin. 
170. 
Pierson,    Stephen,    120. 
Pintard.    John,    246. 
Pitzchler,    Oscar,    187. 
Piatt,    Bennett,    129. 
Charles,    232. 
Charles     S.,     88,     233, 
234,   262. 
"        Ebenezer,    64,    216. 
Eli,    150. 

Edmund   C,   172. 
Ella    E.,   230,   233.  234. 
"        Ephraim,     126,     183. 
"        Francis    H.,   232. 
"        Isaac,     126. 

Tarvis,    111.   126. 
Tcnnette    Tuttle,    202. 
John.    25,    28,    33,    44. 
.54,   60.   64,    120.   216. 
"        Johnson    T.,   202. 

Joseph.    73. 
"        Josiah     &     wife,     100. 
121,    126,    190.    230,    264. 
265.   266. 
"        Judson,    129. 
Justus.    126. 
"        Moses.     73,     119.     121, 

190,   220. 
"        Nathan.    126. 
"        Percival   C,   232. 
Philo    N.,    150. 
Philo  T..  130,  202. 
R.    H..    168. 
"         Svlvanus.    129. 

Tlieron    E.,    238.    240. 
"        Timothy,    106. 


10 


INDEX 


Piatt,   Waiizer,   114. 

"        William, 
Plummcr,   D.    B.,   230. 
Polk,     President    James     K.. 

199. 
Porter,  Mrs.  Alosia,  109,  111, 
115. 

\Vm.    Arthur,   229. 
Potter,    Rev.    Collis    P.,   9J. 
Pratt,  C,   168. 

Mrs.  Charles  M.,  201. 
Pray,    Margaret,  200. 
Prentice,    T.    P.,    168. 
Preston,    Nathan,    241. 
Prime,   James,    46. 
Prindlc,  Lieut.  Abel,  120,  123. 
124,   220.   244. 
Abel   B..   240. 
Abijah,    220. 
"        Abram,    127. 
Albert,    129. 
"        Ammon,    208. 

Cyrus,    122,    124. 
Daniel,   125,   207. 
Ebenezer,    21,    26,    27, 
28,    33,    54,    55,    59,    65. 
EldacI,    126. 
Eliadah,  220. 
"        Ephraim,    65,    97,    102, 
216.    220. 
James,    122,   220. 
"        Jedidiah,   64. 
"        Jehoshaphat,    65,    120, 
122,  216,  220. 
Joel,    122,    125,   220. 
Jonathan,      120,      124. 
178,    220,    221,    241,   244. 
"        Capt.    Joseph,    65,    97. 
119,    120,    122,    124,    216. 
220. 

Julia,    160. 
"        Lazarus,    122,    125. 
Nathan.    121. 
Riverius,    75,     126. 
Mrs.    Ruth,    160. 
Samuel,   33,   S3,    120. 
Sarah    M.,    229. 
"        Seth,     128. 
"        William,   220. 
"        Zachariah,  127. 
Pulford,    Oliver,    103. 


Randall,   Delia    Beers,   212. 
"       Leerand,    212. 
Ophelia,  212. 
Raymond,   Jacob,    125. 
"       John,    111,    126. 
Orrin,   129. 
Ray,    Harold,    232. 
Read,    Evelyn    B.,    232. 

"        John.  33. 
Reiner,   Frederick,    172. 
Revere,    Paul,    130. 
Reynolds,  Willson  M.,  171. 
Roberts,   Joel,   220. 

"       Thomas,  106,   120,  126, 
220. 

Lula,   231. 
Robson,     Elizabeth,    134. 
Rochambeau,   Count   de,    139 

140. 
Roeers,  Rev.  John,  95. 

Mrs.    M.    C,   230. 
Rood,  M.,  27,  28,  51. 
Roosevelt,   Theodore,    171. 
Rowland,  Hezekiah,  126. 

Tabez,    111. 
^  ''    ^   Joseph,   126. 
Ruffels,  Anna,  232. 
"        Bessie   D.,   232. 
"        Grace,  232. 
"        Jennie   M.,   232. 
Ruth,    232. 
Ruck,  David,  110. 
"        Oliver,   220. 


Salmon,    Ethel,    231. 
Sample,    George,    123. 

Miss,    230. 
Sanford,   Aaron,   84,    109,    112, 

237,    238,    240. 

Amos  C,  128,  264,  265. 
"        Amos    N.,    126. 
"        Augusta,    229. 

Daniel    C,    123.    125. 

David,     24,     113,     126. 

130,   161. 

Ebenezer,  119,  124,  216, 

220. 

Elias    F.,    229. 

Elijah,  23.  160. 
"  Emily  A.,  76. 
"  Frederick,  240. 
"        Frederick    C,    172. 

George    P.,   233,  234. 

Hannah  (Widow),  220, 

264,  265. 
"        Harriet    Emma,    92. 

Henry,     84.     156,    236, 

237,   240.   250. 

Hezekiah,      106,      220, 

264,   265,    266. 
"        Isaac,    125. 

James,    121,   220. 
"        Jeanie,    78. 
"         Tessie,   230. 

Job,  216. 

John,   119,  220. 

John    Ir.,    124. 

John    L.,    93. 

Tonah  Jr.,  97.  127,  220. 

Jonathan,  44,  103,  142, 

220. 

Josiah,    127,    161,    227. 

Capt.  Julius,  235,  245. 

Louis,   264,   265,   266. 
"        Mrs.   Mary,  228 
"        Moses,   120. 

Nathaniel,   220. 

Samuel.     21.     22.     26. 

27,  33,  54,  65,  120,  123, 
128,  216,  220,  264,  265, 
266. 

"        Solomon,   103,   124. 
"        Squire   John,   23. 
"        Stephen,    125. 

Thomas,  120,  127,  220, 
264,  265,   266. 
"        Wm.    Atwater,    23. 
"       W.   J.,  98. 
"        Zalmon.    126. 
Scatacooks.    51. 
Scanlon.    Catharine.    232. 

"        Michael,    141. 
Schermerhorn,   John    J.,   252. 
Mrs.   John   J.,   252. 
"        Mrs.    Sarah    F.,   44. 
Schultz,    Prof.,    230. 
Scott,   George,   76,  77. 
Scudder,  Isaac,  41,  126. 
"        Susan,   78. 

William,   130. 
Seabury,  Bishop,  83. 
Sears,    James,    75. 
Seeley,   A.,   158. 

Eli   B.,  109,  112,  115. 
"        Jeremiah,   215. 

Sergt.     John,    24,     27, 

28,  33,   57,   176. 
"        Nehemiah,  220. 

Ottmiel,  220. 
Robert,  57,  59,  62,  215, 
220. 
"        Robert   Jr.,   .Jl.S. 
"        Tom,    143. 
Sharp,    Eliakim,    126,    137. 
"        Thomas,  26,  33,  59,  60. 
117,    119,    122,    137,   216, 
220. 

Widow,    27.    59. 
119.    216. 
Shaw.    E.    H..   237. 


Shelton,     Benjamin     F.,     127, 

223. 
Shepard  Abraham,   73,  220. 

or 
Shepherd,    Ammon,    76,    126, 

149.   183. 

Amos,   110,   123,   149. 

Andrew  Jr.,  126. 

Charles,   128. 

Daniel,    125. 

David,  110. 

George,    110,   12'. 

George    Jr.,    126,    128. 

Dr.    Gideon,    145,   205, 

206,  207,  211. 

Dr.  Gideon's  Children 

206. 

Hannah,  76. 

Hart, 

Henry,    127. 

Horace,    41. 

James,    123. 

John,  68,  104,   119,  120, 

126,  216,  220. 

Joseph,    128. 

Lemuel,    126. 

Capt.    Moses,    40,    75. 

108,    112,    122,    126,    133, 

136. 
"        Nathan,    126. 
"        Niram,    128. 

Peter,    128. 

Reuben,     127. 

Richard    D.,    126.    183. 

Rufus,    128. 
"        Simeon,    125,    128,   220. 
"        Stephen,    123. 
"        Sueton,    127. 

Dr.    Timothy,    41,    73, 

106,    120,    125,    147,    149, 

216,   220. 
Sherman,     Amos,     122,     123, 

124. 
"        Andrew,    127. 
"        Benjamin,  21,  25,  27. 

Benoni,    119. 

Charles,    128. 

Clark,    127. 

Cyrus,    126. 

Cyrus    B.,    240. 

Daniel,    122,   216. 

David,    120,    128,    220. 
"        Ebenezer,    124. 

Edward    M.,    229. 

Edwin    M.,    229. 

Elijah,    126. 

Ephraim,       120,       124, 

135,  136.   179,  220. 
Ezra,    123,    127,    183. 
Henry,    128. 
Tabez,    126. 

Job,  27,  28,  33,  65,  66. 

67,  69.  70,   71,    119.  220. 

263,  267. 

Joel,    120. 

John,  38,  112,  119.   128, 

190.   220. 

Jonathan.   75,   120. 
"        Joseph,    126. 

Joseph  Jr.,   129,  170. 

Jotham,    122,    126.   129, 

131,  150,  220. 
"        Lauriston,    129. 

Lemuel,    105,   120,  220. 

Lewis  F.,  122,  124. 
"        Linus,    126. 

Lue    L.,    127. 

Mary   J.,   229.  230. 

Matthew,   126,  215. 

McPherson,   128,  2A2. 
"        Nathan,    120,    121,    127. 

136,  220. 

"        Norris,    229. 

Oman,    127. 

Philo,    126. 

Philo  Tr.,  127. 

Philo  B.,  229. 
"        Rev.    Samuel,    62.    63, 

215. 


INDEX 


11 


Sherman,    Truman,    123,    127, 

128,   183. 
"        Warren,  161. 

William,  76. 

William  A..  94. 

Wooster,    183. 

Zadoc,     120,     129.     131, 

220. 
"        Zardis,    126. 
Sherwood,    Daniel,    125. 
"        Ebenezer,   154. 

E.    F.,    168. 
"        John,    73. 

John  P.,  220. 

Justus,   108,   113. 
"         Koswell   L.,    127. 
*'        Thomas,   19. 
Sheville.   John,   245. 
Shipman,    David,    183. 

'*        Elias,    242. 
Short,    Sue,    231. 
Shultz,    Prof.,   233. 
Silliman,   Eugene   R.,   229. 
Sinnott,     Rev.     George,     95, 

262. 
Skidmore,   Abel,    121,    124. 

Abel   B.,    129,  227. 
"        Ammon,    125. 
"        Amos,    124. 

Daniel.    77,    128,   227. 

Elias,    136. 
"        Elnathan,      105,      120. 

125. 
"        Glover,  128. 

Herbert,    234. 
"        Isaac,  126. 

Dr.  James,  209. 

Jane   A.,   210. 

John,  75,  120,   126,  128, 

220. 

John   R.,   129. 

Marietta,  210. 

Martha    E.,  210. 
"         Mary    Caroline,   229. 

Nehemiah,      105,      119, 

127,   220. 

Philo    N.,    240. 

Polly  Sherman,  209. 
"        Lieut.  Thomas,  35,  60, 

65.  80,  97.  119,  120,   131, 

181,  215,  220,  267. 

Robert   R.,  229. 

Dr.   Rufus,  209. 

William,  229. 
Skiff,  Clarence,  232. 
Smith,    Abel,    122. 

A.    D.,    168. 

Alice    C,   232. 
"        Allison     P..    234,    250. 

251.  262. 
"        Ammon,  129. 

Amos,     120,     124,     126, 

220. 

Arthur     J.,     231,     23.:. 

240,  250,  262.  263. 
"        Benjamin  D.,  232. 
"        Brace,    183. 
"        Carlton    S.,   231. 

Charles    E..   229. 

Rev.   Charles  II..  2.50. 
"        Ebenezer,    24.    27,    35, 

52,  53,  54,  55,  133. 

Edwards   M.,   262. 

Capt.  George.  105,  135. 

220. 

G.   B.,   168. 
"        Rev.  Henry  Bagg.  78. 

Henry    M..    250. 
"        Horace    A.,   232. 
"        John,    122,    124. 
"        Lieut.   Joseph,  48,  67, 

119,  120,  121,  179,  220. 

Dea.   Joseph  3rd,   128, 

220. 
"        Lvman,    129. 
"        Reuben     Hazen,     234. 

250,   251,  252. 


Smith,    Mrs.    R.    H.,   251,   2.52. 
Capt.  Richard.  49,  120, 
122,    124,    135,    136,    220. 
Robert   D.,   250,   251. 
Russell   D.,    128. 
"        S<4uire    Van,    i28. 
"         Rev.    Zephaniah,    121. 
Sniffen,    Rev.   Charles,    10. 
H.    Birdsey,   235. 
Mrs.   H.   Birdsey,  2J5. 
William    B.,  93,   17J. 
Sperry    Alexander,    103. 
Stanley,  Caleb,  25. 
Staples,   Samuel,    126. 

'"^       Samuel    J.,    127. 
Stark,    Maj.    Gen.    John,    84, 

203. 
Starling,    Jacob,    197. 
John.    197.    220. 
"        Samuel,   197. 
Sarah,    197. 
Starkweather,    Isabella,    2'0. 
Starr,    Edward,   236,   240. 

Etheil,    126. 
Stebbins,   William,   129. 
Steele,    Rev.    Alexander,    79, 

262. 
Sterling.   David.   75.    125.    ^•■A. 
"        John.  73.   115. 
Wm.,    163. 
Stevens,    Hon.    George.    203. 
Mildred.    232. 
Polodore,    115. 
"        Solomon   W..    128. 
Mrs.   Wm.  H.,  235. 
Stilson,  Abel,  99,  105,  129,  184, 
233,   240. 
"        Ambrose,  76,  77. 

Andrew,   120,   122,  220. 

Bailey,    120.    220,    221. 

"        Benjamin,  102,  104,  120, 

124,  215. 
"        Benjamin  Jr.   120,  123, 
220. 

Carlos   D.,   262. 
Charles  L.,  129. 
David,  127,  220. 
Elijah,   120.   123.  220. 
Elnathan,    129. 
Hawley,    127. 
Hugh,    60,    63.    96. 
Isaac,    129,   220. 
Jacob.    123,   125,  220. 
James  B.,  119.  126.  216 
"        Jonathan,    216.    220. 
"        Joseph.    119,    123.    215. 
"        Jotham.  129. 
"        Lazarus,    125. 
"        Moses,  60,  69,  97,  119. 

126. 
"        Moses,     Jr.,     119. 

Peter,    125. 
"        Samuel,  215. 
Sarah,    195. 

Thomas,   104,   121.   124. 
220. 

Vincent.   180.   195,  220. 
"        William.    105,    110. 
"        Zenas,    125. 
Stocking,   Rev.    S.    S.,  84,  93. 
Stoddard.    Letty    J.,    252. 
Stone,   Rev.    Benj.   W.,  84. 

Joel,     158. 
Storo,    Abram,    28. 
Stratton,    Rev.    Samuel,    84. 

93,  227. 
St.  'johii.   Gould.   75. 
Strisik,    Dora,   232. 
Strong,    Nehemiah,    122,    124. 

137. 
Stuart.   George   M.,  232. 
Sturges,  Isaac   M.,  200. 
Summers,   Beera   P.,    127. 

O''  „ 

Somcrs,    Lieut.    B.,    121,    122, 
133,    136,   220. 
"        Bertha,    232. 
David.    125. 


Summers,    Ebenezer,    220. 

Gershom,  117.  120,  127, 

220. 

John     122,  214. 
"        Jonah,  123. 

Marcus    B.,    128. 
"        Marion   E.,  232. 

Maudr.  232. 
"        Niram.     122. 

Oliver,   129. 

Phcbe,  154. 

Robert,  87,    125,  220. 

Rufus,  128,  261. 
"        Ensign     Samuel,     65. 

119,    120,    220. 


Taber,  Earl,  232. 

Tait,   P.,   168. 

Talbot,   Fannie   Isabella,   203. 

Taylor,   Abner   220. 

Alonzo,  94,   129. 

Ammon    94. 

Cornelius  B.,  237,  238. 

240,   251,    263. 

David.   128.   129. 

David,  J.,  129. 

Ebenezer,    220. 

Eli,    149. 

George   F.,  235. 

Jabez,    128. 

Joshua  H.,   129. 

Lawrence,    171. 

Levi,     128. 

Phineas,    149, 

Reuben,  122. 

Stephen,    125, 

Thomas,     23, 

William   A.,   108. 

William    B.,    128. 

Wooster,    129    . 

Pres.    Zachary,    170. 

Zalmon,   126. 
Teglman,    Louise,   212. 
Tenney,   Eldad,   123. 
Terrill  Abel  B..   129,  240. 


154. 


154. 
129. 


Turrill,  Lieut.  Amos,  38,  75, 
103,  121,  126,  133,  135, 
136,   220. 

Botsford.   128.  227,  240. 
Daniel.  123.  128. 
Elijah   B.,    130. 
"        Emma    F.,   234. 

Frederick    B.,    229. 
Capt.  George.  38.   121. 

122.  133.  136.  215,  220. 
James,  41.    75.    126. 

"        Tared.    220. 

Job    S..    75,    127. 
"        Jonathan,    120. 
"        Reuben,    75,    122. 

Roger.  40.   73,  75.    103. 

123.  125.  220. 
William    L..    240. 

Thomas.  James.  75,  123. 

Dr.    Lemuel,    97.    123. 
189,   193,  205,  230. 
"        Dr.     Lemuel,    ch.    of, 
205. 
Thompson,   Robert,  220. 

"        Mrs.  Sherwood,  235. 
Thorpe,    Herman    S.,    129. 

Joel.   136. 
Tiemann,    Hermann    N.    Sr  . 

210,    262. 
Tibbals.    Rev.    Charles,   94. 
Tilson.  Ruth.  232. 
Timanus.  Solomon.  127. 
Tivorback,    I.,    246. 
Tomlinson,    Beach,    125. 
"        Isaac,   126. 
"        Isaiah.    \29. 
"        Josiah.  125.  161,  248. 
"        Marv.   76. 

Webb,    125. 
"        Zachariah,    127. 


12 


INDEX 


Tongue,  Nelson,   128. 
"        Norman,    1^>. 
Orrin,   129. 
Toucey,  Abel,   123,   124. 

or 
Tousey,  "Brother   ,  243. 
"       David,   125. 
Deborah,   196. 
Donald,   123. 
Hon.    Isaac,    123,    124, 
199. 
*'        Mrs.    Jerusha    196. 
"        John,    220. 

Joseph,   126,   184. 
Oliver,  43,  49. 
Oliver    Jr.,     125,     133, 
154,   196,  220. 
Philo,  123,  191. 
Philo    Jr.,    128. 
Russell,    128. 
Sarah,   198._ 
"        Sinclair,    77. 
"        Rev.    Tiiomas,   33,   33, 
36,    45,    46,    54,    55,    57. 
58,  63,  65,  72,   120,   189, 
193,  216. 
"        Cii.   of  Rev.   Thomas, 
58. 

Zalmon,    154,    196,   220. 
Towner,  Natlianiel,  120. 
Travers,    Anna    J.,    202. 
Treadwell,   John,   33. 

Timothy,   123,  220. 
Treat,  Amos,   S.   77,   170,    171, 
200,   202,   228. 
Robert,   201. 
Troy,    Lillian,    231. 
Trowbridge,  Isaac,  123,  124. 
"        Jeremiah    T.,    128. 
"        Samuel,    123,    126. 
Tucker,    Franklin    W.,    229. 
Harry   W.   129,   161. 
Turner,    Abigail,    101. 
Albert.    98,    102. 
Ebenezer,  41,   125,  149. 
James,   94,   98. 
Jeremiah,    21,    24,    27. 
33,  36,  101,  178,  216,  220. 
"        John,    12S. 

Nathan,   126_. 
"         Samuel,    215. 
Wilmont,   216. 
Tuttle   Eugenia,  201. 
Twitciiell,   Harrison,    129. 
Isaac,   128. 


u 

Urmston,   Rev.   N.   M.,  75. 


Vance,     Joseph     McArthur, 

237. 
Veness,  Rychie  E.,  232. 


Vinton,    Rt.    Rev.    Ale.xander 

87. 


w 

Wainwright,    Curtis,    123. 
Walker,    Abigail,    77. 

Alfred,   262,    263. 
"        Eliakim,  155. 
John,   123. 
Susan,   229. 
Wallace,    Crossley,   232. 

John,   123. 
Ward,    Thomas,    129. 
Warner,  Augustus,  229. 
"        Austin,  262. 

Beeman    P.    125. 
Charles    C,    129,    227, 
237,  239,  240. 
"        Henry  Hawley,  262. 
"        Hermon,    125,    183. 
Hobart  G..  261. 
Hobart  G.  Jr.,  261. 
James   H.   93,   94,   240. 
John,  260. 
Noadiah,  124. 
William    B.,    128. 
Warren,  Irene,  231. 
Washburn,    Amason,    127. 

Dr.     Nathan    87,     120, 
122,   220. 
"        Zenas  123. 
Washington,     Gen.     George, 

139,    140.    141. 
Watkins,   Samuel,   126. 
Weed,  Rev.  Joseph,  54. 
Welch,    Blanche,   232. 
"        Thomas,     126. 
Wells,    David,    127. 
"       Isaac    125. 
"        Josiah,   183. 
Wetmore,    Ephraim    P.,    128, 
183. 

John    128. 
Josiah,    127. 
"        Vivian,  232. 
Wheeler,   Aaron,    127. 
"        Abraham,   123. 
"        Amos    H.,    127. 

Andrew,    60,    73,    125, 
183,  215,  220. 
David,   126. 
Edward,   128. 
Eli,   123,   124. 
Ezra,    194. 
"        George,    108. 

Henry  L.   162,   172. 
"        Isaac,     125. 

James,   127  229. 
"        Tohannah,    194. 

John    B.,   77.    127,    171, 
172,    229,    238   240. 
Capt.   Joseph,   38,   73, 
75.  76,  77,  97,  105,   124, 
220. 
"        Joseph   Jr.,    125. 


Wheeler,    Joseph,    128,    220. 
Lemuel,  120,  220. 
"        Lieut.  Obadiali,  66,  67, 
68,  70,  75,  119,"l20.   194, 
215,  220. 

Obadiah  Jr.,  120,   123, 
220. 

Russell,  76. 

Roswell,     129. 

Thomas,   220. 

Whitaker,  Rt.  Rev.  Ozias,  87 

White,  Rt.  Rev.  John  H..  92. 

Mrs.  Sarah  K.,  90. 
Whitlock,    David   Jr.,    19. 

Stephen   C,   112. 
Whitney,    Abel,     128. 

Philo  128  . 
Whittingliam,  Rev.   Richard, 

89. 
Wilcoxen,  John,  31. 

Nathan  J.,  128. 
Wile,    Dr.    Wm.    C,    163. 
Wilkins,  Rev.  G.  Morns,  86. 

234. 
Williams,  Rt.  Rev.  John,  86, 
90,    94. 
Alma,   231. 
"        Ammon,  130. 

Buckland,  216. 
"        Chief  Justice,  231. 
Randolph,    231. 
Wilson,  E.   W.  99. 

Prof.  Francis  M.,  230. 
Winton,   Abel,    123. 
Abram,    129. 
Czar,    127. 
Daniel,  220. 
"        George,    172. 
"        Lockwood,    125. 
Woffenden,  George  245. 
Wolcott,    William,    142. 
Wood,    Henry,    73,    120,     121, 

122,   136. 
Woodruff,   Rev.   Curtis,  93. 
Woolsey,    John    H.    229. 
Wooster,  Charles  W.  228. 
Wright.   Frank,  238,   240,  250, 
262. 

Leonard    F.,    232. 
"        Lucie,    232. 
Moses  97. 

Rev.    Otis    Olney,    94, 
235,  262. 
William,    120,    220. 


Veats,  Captain,  142. 


Zabonlinski   H.    168. 


INDEX  TO  NEWTOWN'S  MILITARY  RECORD  1776—1918 


1 


Adams,  James  273 

Albertin,  E.  T.  275 

Alldis,    Frederick  272 

Allen,  Dorothy  281 

Allen,  Dorothy  281 

Allen   Edward   B.  276 

Allen,  Mrs.  Edw.  B.  281 

Allen,  Eliphalet  269 

Anderson,    Fred  278 

Anderson,  Samuel  269 

Andrews,   David  271 

Ashmead,  George  275 

Atwood,    Sartiuel  269 

B 

Bailey,  Jesse  M.  278 
Bailey,  John  F.  278 

Baldwin,  Abel  269 

Baldwin,  Caleb  269 

Baldwin,   Isaac  269 

Bale,  Thomas  278 

Ball,  Chas.  H.  275 

Banks,  Allen  273 

Banks,  Edward  271 

Banks,    Edwin  273 

Barnett,  Rev.  Francis 

B.  278 

Barnett,  Rev.  Joseph 

N.  278 

Barnett,  Wm.  Edw.  278 
Beehler,  Chas.  H.  278 
Beehler.  Robert  M.  278 
Beers,  Geo.  Herbert  278 
Beers,  Hawley  273 

Beers,  H.  Sanford  278 
Beers,  James  M.  272 
Behn,  W.  L.  278 

Benedict,  Edwin  272 
Benedict,  Ephraim  275 
Benedict,  Henry  W.  272 
Bennett,  Ezekiel  269 
Bigelow,  Henry  B.  272 
Bissel,  Henry  271 

Blake,  James  E.  278 
Blake,   Martin  271 

Blake,   Michael  278 

Blakeman,  Chas.  G.  275 
Blakeman,   Mrs  Austin 

B  281 

Booth,  Charles,  Jr.  272 
Booth,  Starr  272 

Botsford,    Abel  269 

Botsford,  Elijah  269 
Botsford  Gideon  B.  272 
Botsford,  Israel  271 

Botsford,  Jack  269 

Botsford,  Lemuel  272 
Bradley,  George  A.  275 
Bradley,  Thomas  272 
Brew,  Mrs.  Thomas 

F.  281 

Brewster,  John  H.    271 


Briscoe,  Charles  L.  272 
Briscoe,  Ephraim  D.  275 

Briscoe  George  271 

Briscoe  Gustavus  272 

Bristol,   Caesar  269 

Brooks,    Samuel  269 

Brooks,  Thomas  269 

Brown,  George  W.  271 

Brown,  Jeremiah  271 

Brown,  Jerome  273 

Bulkley,  George  271 

Bumford,  John   H.  273 

Burritt,  Chas.  H.  271 

Burritt,    Bailey  269 

Butcher,  Charles  275 


Camp,    Daniel  275 

Camp,  George  B.  275 

Camp,   Samuel  269 

Carey,   H.    F.  278 

Carey,  T.   P.  278 

Carley,   Edward  271 

Carley,    Michael  275 

Carmody,  Richard  278 

Carr,    Wm.    E.  278 

Casey,  Bernard  275 

Cavenaugh,  Paul  278 

Chandler,    John  269 

Chapman,  Chas.  272 

Chipman,  Chas.  C.  272 

Clark,  Allen  B.  271 

Clark,  Lemuel  B.  275 

Clark,    Newell  272 

Clark,  Robert  271 

Clinton,    George  273 

Coger,   Henry   B.  275 
Coger,  Mrs.  Herbert 

T.  281 

Coholan,    Philip  278 

Cole,  Chas.  278 

Coley,  George  S.  271 

Colgan,  Matthew  275 

Conger,  Chas.  T.  275 

Conger,  Martin  L.  278 

Conger,  Wm.  R.  278 

Conley,  William  271 

Connell,   Wm.  271 

Corbett,   Michael  272 

Cornell,   Hiram  273 

Costello,  Michael  275 

Crick,  James  W.  278 

Crofutt,  Horace  S.  275 

Cunningham,  John  271 

Curtis,  Abijah  B.  269 

Curtis,   Chas.   G.  275 

Curtis,  Jasper  L.  273 

Curtis    Joseph  272 

Curtis,  "Wm.  E.  272 


Davidson,  George  T.  278 
Davis,  Caleb  273 


Davis,    Daniel  271 

Davis,   William  271 

Dayton,  Chas.  W.  275 

Deolph,  Levy  269 

Dick,  Chas.  L.  272 

Dimclow,  George  272 

Dimon,   Arthur  273 

Donlon,  Michael  J.  278 

Downs,  Monroe  D.  272 

Downs,   Oliver  272 

Downs,   Smith  272 

DriscoU,  Wm.  E.  278 

Dubret,  Albert  278 

Dunn,  Hugh  273 
Dunning,  Edward  A.  271 

Dunning,  Jared  269 
Dutcher,  Richard  H.  278 


Eagen,  Andrew  273 

Eagen,    James  272 

Edgett,  Seneca  271 

Edmond,    William  269 

Edwards,  Chas.  L.  278 

Edwards,  Levi,  H.  271 

Elko,  Andrew,  Jr.  278 

Elwood,  Frederick  271 

Elwood,  William  272 

Evans,  James  273 

Evarts,  George  A.  271 


Fairchild,   Alpheus 

B.  272 

Fairchild,  Arthur  W.  278 
Fairchild,  Henry  W.  271 
Fairchild,  Kiah  B.  269 
Fairchild,  Lewis  H.  272 
Fairchild,  Peter  W.  269 
Fairchild,  Reuben  A.  272 
Fairchild,  Robert  B.  274 
Fairchild,  Robert  D.  278 
Fairchild,  Theodore 
Fairman,  Arthur  272 
Fairweather,  Sam'l  269 
Farrell,  John  W.  272 
Farrell,  Michael  271 
Faulkner,  John  H.  271 
Ferris,    George  278 

Ferris,  John  275 

Ferris,  Nathan  269 

Fischer.  William  273 
Flannagan,  Andrew  271 
Flannerv.  Patrick  272 
Flood,  Peter  271 

Foote,  John  G.  271 

Foster,  Wm.  W.  271 
Franklin.  Asa  273 

French,  David  R.  273 
Freedman,  Benjamin 


INDEX  TO  NEWTOWN'S  MILITARY  RECORD  1776-1918 


Gage,  George  R.  273 
Gale,  Gordon  J.  278 

Galyas,  John  278 

George,  J.  Hardin  278 
Gilbert,  Chas.  E.  271 
Gilbert,  Henry  A.  273 
Gilbert,  Horace  271 

Gilbert,  Horace,  Jr.  275 
Gilbert,  Mrs.  Levi  C.  281 
Gillette,  Abraham  269 
Gillette,  David,  A.  273 
Gleason,  William  271 
Glover,  Ebenezer  B.  269 
Glover,  Henry  J.  271 
Glover,  John  E.  273 
Glover,  Martin  V.  B.  272 
Glover,  Villeroy  269 
Glover,  Walter  H.  278 
Glover,  Ziba  269 

Goldstein,  Israel  278 
Goodsell,  Frank  C.  278 
Gordon,  James  272 

Gordon,  Mrs.  James 

281 
Gordon,  William  272 
Gracco,  Nicholas  278 
Graham,  George  W. 

275 
Gray,  George  B.  275 
Greene,  John  W.  272 
Gregory,  Benj.  269 

Griffin,  John  272 

Groever,   Paul  272 

Guernsey,  Truman     272 

H 

Hall,  Henry  C.  271 

Hall,  James  P.  275 

Hamblin,  Andrew  S. 

271 
Hanlon,  Edgar  278 

Hanlon,  Richard  278 
Hawley,  Chas  E.  275 
Hawley,  David  B.  271 
Hawley,  George  271 
Hawley  Harrison  273 
Hawley,  Maj.  James 

Nichols  278 

Hawley,  Philo  278 

Hawley,  Robert  278 

Hawley,   Willis  273 

Hawlev,  William   G. 

273 
Hayes,  Dennis  273 

Hicock,   Ely  278 

Hicock,  Henry  279 

Hickey,   John  272 

Hillhouse,  Henry  279 
Hillhouse,  Julian  279 
Holcomb,  Gov.  Marcus 

281 
Honan,  Kathrvn         279 


Honan,  Michael  J.  279 
Honan,  Miss  B.  Frances 

281 
Hook,    Martin  273 

Hooper,  Wm.  L.  275 
Horton,  Benjamin  275 
Hotchkiss,  Hubbard  A. 

275 
Hotchkiss  Levi  H.  275 
Houlihan,    Miss    Helen 

281 
Hoyt,  Henry  273 

Hubbell,  George  S.  271 
Hubbell,  John  P.  271 
Hubbell,  Lemuel  269 
Hubbell,  Matthew  269 
Hull,  Andrew  C.  272 
Hull,   Ezra    M.  272 

Hull,  James   D.  271 

Hull,   Milton  281 

Hurd,   Charles  279 


Jackson,  Henry  J.  272 
James,  Herbert  T.  279 
James  Jesse  Loderick 
279 
James,  Thomas  269 

Johnson,    Henry         275 
Johnson,  Jacob  272 

Johnson,  Thomas      271 
Jones,  Chas.  272 

Jones,  David  W.         272 
Jorey,    Peter  275 


K 

Kaine,  Patrick  271 

Kane,  James  272 

Kane,  John  272 

Keane,  John  J.  279 

Keane,  Joseph  D.  279 

Keating,    Patrick  275 

Keeler,  Peter  273 

Keenan,  Michael  273 

Kelly,    Bernard  273 

Kelly,  Francis  D.  279 

Kellv,    fames  271 

Kelly,  John  R.  279 

Kimberly,  Abrahain  269 

Kimberly,  Ephraim  269 

Kimberly,   Fitch  269 

Kimberly,  John  269 

Kiniry,    Frank   J.  279 

Klingler,    Arnold  279 

Klingler,  Werner  279 

Knapp,  John  S.  272 

Kraeplin,    Edward  27'^ 
Kraeplin,  Mrs.  C.  O. 

281 


Lake,    George  274 

Lang,  Alonzo  279 

Earner,  Patrick  279 

Lattin,   John   A.  272 

Lewis,    Dwight  269 

Lewis,   George    H.  272 

Liefield,    Clemence  A. 

279 

Lillis,    Griffin    B.  275 

Lillis,    John  279 

Lillis,    Martin  275 

Lockwood,    Eli  275 

Lovejoy,  Leroy  J.  279 

Lumnus,  Samuel  269 

Lynch,  James    E.  279 

Lynch,   John    G.  279 

Lynch,    Patrick  275 

Lynch,    Thomas  279 

M 

Manley,  Henry  A.  272 
Marvin  Matthew  269 
Alason,  Louis  S.  275 
Matthews,  Benj.  W.  271 
May,  Chas.  271 

Maynard,  Benjamin  279 
Alavnard,  William  273 
Mead,  Seaman  M.  279 
Meeker,  Clarence  G  27^ 
Meeker,  Richard  269 
Merritt,  Chas.  J.  271 
Meyer,  Fritz  271 

McAdoo,  Wm.  G.  280 
MacArthur,  Wm.  271 
McDaniels,  Patrick  273 
McGrath,  John  273 

McGuire,  Chas.  A.  275 
McLean,  George  272 
McMahon,  Alfred  279 
McMahon,  Michael  275 
McMahon,    P.  275 

Minor,  Miss  Charlotte 
C.  281 

Monson,    Chas.  272 

Morey,    Lewis  275 

Morris,  L.  Phillips  279 
Morris,  Mrs.   Levi  C. 

281 
Murphy,  Thomas  O. 

275 

N 

Nash,   Adelbert  275 

Nettleton,   Arthur   T. 

281 
Ney,  Michael  271 

Nichols,    Beach  275 

Nichols,  Elijah  B.  272 
Nichols,  George  E.  27^ 
Nichols.  Harmos  272 
Nichols,  Henry  E.     271 


INDEX  TO  NEWTOWN'S  MILITARY  RECORD  1776—1918 


Nichols,  James  271 

Northrop,  Alpheus    275 
Northrop,  Joshua      269 


Oakley,  Peter  M.  273 
O'Brien,    David  271 

O'Brien,  Thomas  271 
O'Day,   Earl  T.  279 

O'Halloran    Michael  T. 

272 
Olmstead,  Peter  D.  273 
Osborne,  Mrs.  Alfred 

281 
Osborne  Nathaniel  269 
Orgelman,   Harry      275 


Parker,    James  273 

Parsons,  Chas.  M.  275 
Parsons,   Jacob  269 

Pason,  Jacob  269 

Payne,  Chas.  H.  271 
Payne  David  S.  272 

Peck,   Capt.   Albert   W. 
275 
Peck,  Lieut.  Albert  W. 

Jr.  279 

Peck,  Austin,  L.  272 

Peck,    Col.    Charles    H. 

279-281 

Peck,  Sergt.  C.  Howard 

Jr.  279 

Peck,  Chester  D.  272 
Peck.  David  M.  273 
Peck,  John   F.  272 

Peck,  Nelson  J.  272 

Peet,    Benajah  273 

Peet,  Elijah   B.  272 

Peet,  Henry  A.  S.  272 
Perkins,  Frank  E.  279 
Peterson,  Arlan  272 
Peterson,  Carl  272 

Peterson,  Otto  279 

Peterson,  Walter  279 
Pippines,  Nicholas  279 
Pitzchler,   Edward   S. 

279 
Piatt,  Chas.  279 

Piatt,   Orlando  273 

Piatt,  Percival  C.  279 
Prindle,  Abijah  269 

Prindle   Joseph  269 

Prindle,   Peter  269 

Prindle,  Samuel  269 
Prindle    Zalmon         269 


Quinn,  Patrick 


271 


R 


Ramsay,  George  W.  271 
Rankins,  George  271 
Rasmussen,John  L.  279 
Ray,  Ryder  279 

Read,  Fred  W.  B.  279 
Reed,   Hawley  271 

Reibold,    Chas.  275 

Reicker,  Edward  271 
Reynolds,  Lester  J.  279 
Rigby,  Matthew  273 
Riley,  James  271 

Rinisland,  Chas.  275 
Roberts,  Chas.  273 

Roemer,  Otto  279 

Root,  Nathan  H.  271 
Roswell,   E.  J.  275 

Ruffels,  Clarence  279 
Ryan,    IMichael  272 


Sanford,    Andrew    H. 

271 
Sanford,  James  269 
Sanford,  Capt.  Julius 

272 
Scanlon,  John  J.  279 
Schriner,  Andrew  272 
Seeley,  Eli  273 

Seelev,   James  269 

Seeley,  John  D.  271 
Shaughness,    Lawrence 

272 
Shaw,  Thomas  269 

Shepard,  Chas.  S.  271 
Shepard,    Hall  271 

Sherman,  Chas.  272 

Sherman,  Eleazer  269 
Sherman,  George  272 
Sherman,   Ira  272 

Sherwood,  Chas  R.  271 
Slater,  Carl   H.  280 

Smalley,  Garrett  E.  275 
Smith,    Mrs.    Arthur   J. 

281 
Smith,  Chas.  L.  275 

Smith,    Frederick    E. 

271 
Smith,    James  275 

Smith,    loseph  269 

Smith  Pearl,  272 

Smith,   Richard  269 

Smith,  Mrs.  Robert   D. 

281 
Smith,  Theodore  271 
Smith,  Wm.  A.  272 

Sniffen,  Wm.  B.  275 
Soencer,  George  H.  272 
Sjjitzer,  Gottlieb  272 
Spring,   Chas.  272 

Squires,   Cyrenius   N. 

272 


Squires,  George  D.  271 

Squires,   John    C.  275 

Stanley,  Jerome   L.  272 

Stilson,  Abel  Jr.  269 

Stowe,  Wm.  D.  275 

Stuart,    Levi    E.  272 

Stuart,  Louis  D.  271 

St.   John,   Earl    G.  280 

Sullivan,    James  271 


Taft,  Frederick  B.  275 
Tappan,    John  272 

Tappan,  Robert  271 

Taylor,  Ammon  273 
Taylor,    Cornelius    B. 

281 
Taylor,   George  271 

Taylor,  James  21':^ 

Taylor,  Roswell  272 
Terrill,  Capt.   George 

269 
Terrill,  Herbert  W.  280 
Terrill,  Josiah  269 

Tiemann,    Mrs. 

Hermann  N.  281 

Tiemann,    Robert    N. 

280 
Tilson,  Frank  S.  280 
Tilson,   Josiah  280 

Tobias,  David  C.  280 
Tomlinson,  Isaac  C.  272 
Tongue,   Elam  275 

Tongue.  Hanford  271 
Troy,    Edward  275 

Troy,    Francis  280 

Troy,  John  Joseph  280 
Troy.  John   P.  280 

Tuttle,    Smith  269 

Twitchell,  Franklin  S. 

272 
Tyrell.  Stephen  272 


Valenti,    Peter  J.       280 
Valentine,    George    J. 

280 


w 

Wade,  Thomas  271 

Walsh.  John  272 

Wayland.  John  B.  275 
Weed,    Daniel  275 

Weed,   Joseph  271 

Wentz.   George  275 

Wentzel.  Frederick  271 
Wetmore.  Fred  280 

Wetmore.  Jesse  280 
Wheeler,  Cyrus  W.  272 
Wheeler,   ^Iarion       ZIZ 


4  INDEX  TO  NEWTOWN'S  MILITARY  RECORD  177(^1918 

Wheeler,  Russell  280 
White.    Joseph  272 

W'hiteley,  Wm.  269 

Wcible,  Christian  272 
Wile,  Wm.  C.  275 

Wilkinson,  Lemuel  273 
Williams,  George  W. 

275 
Williams,    Levi  275 

W^illiams,  Lewis  275 
Wilson,  James  A.  275 
Winton,    Czar  269 

Wirtes,  Stephen  280 
Wood,  Smith  B.  273 
Woodhull,  Jesse  B.  280 
Wooster,  Chas.  272 
Wright,  Frank  281 

Wright,   Leonard  W. 

275 
Wulff.  Theodore  L.  280 


Yavvrman,  James   W. 

280 


Preface  to  Genealogical  Section 

When  in  1916  a  card  was  issued  for  the  purpose  of  deciding 
whether  or  not  it  would  be  best  to  place  in  permanent  form  the 
papers  dug  from  the  early  records  by  Ezra  L.  Johnson,  the  intention 
was  to  use  only  those  papers. 

After  commencing  the  work  in  the  winter  of  1916-17  my  busy 
brain  during  the  sleepless  hours  of  many  nights  conceived  the  idea 
that  a  genealogical  section  that  should  contain  the  names  of  many 
of  the  descendants  of  the  early  settlers  could  give  added  interest  to 
the  volume. 

It  has  proved  far  more  puzzling  than  it  was  expected  it  would 
be ;  has  involved  an  immense  amount  of  correspondence  often  with 
fruitless  results.  The  names  of  many  men  prominent  in  the  records 
of  the  early  years  do  not  appear  because  there  was  no  interest  in 
turnishing  information,  yet  in  spite  of  many  omissions  the  work  has 
grown  to  immense  proportions  as  can  easily  be  seen. 

It  does  not  pretend  to  be  a  complete  genealogy  even  of  New- 
town's earliest  citizens. 

It  has  been  impossible  to  prepare  an  Index  except  of  the  orig- 
inal family  names  without  more  delay  and  expense  than  was 
warranted. 

Trusting  that  the  effort  may  prove  of  interest  to  some  of  the 
descendants  of  the  early  settlers  of  old  Newtown  and  with  thanks 
to  the  very  many  friends  who  have  assisted  in  giving  information, 
I  drop  my  pen  with  a  heart  full  of  thanksgiving  to  the  Heavenly 
Father  who  has  given  health  and  strength  to  complete  the  work. 

Jane  E.  Johnson 


INDEX 

Family  Names  of  the  Early  Settlers. 


Adams 

Baldwin 

Beach 

Beardsley 

Beers 

Birch 

Blackman 

or 
Blakeman 
Blakeslee 
Booth 
Botsford 
Briscoe 
Camp 
Clarke 
Coburn 
Curtis 
Dikeman 
Edmond 
Fairchild 
Fairman 
Ferris 
Foote 
Glover 
Hall 
Hard 
Hawley 
Hubbell 
Johnson 


Page 

1 

Kimberly 

1-2 

"liake 

2-8 

Merritt 

8-9 

Morgan 

9-17 

Morris 

17-18 

Nichols 

Northrop 

Parmelee 

18-25 

Peck 

25-26 

Perry 

27-32 

Piatt 

32-39 

Prindle 

40-41 

Sanford 

41-44 

Scudder 

44-47 

Shepard 

47 

or 

48-52 

Shepherd 

55 

Sherman 

55 

Skidmore 

56-65 

Stilson 

66-67 

Summers 

67-69 

Taylor 

69-72 

Terrill 

72-78 

Toucey 

78-80 

Tyrrill 

80-81 

Warner 

81-84 

Wetmore 

84-86 

Wheeler 

86-95 

Whitney 

Page 
95-96 
96-100 
100-101 
101-102 
102-103 
103-108 
108-111 
111-113 
113-120 
120-121 
121-123 
124-126 
126-128 
128-129 


129-130 
130-134 
134-138 
138-140 
140-141 
141-142 

142 
143-145 

145 
145-146 

147 
147-149 

149 


DESCENDANTS 

OF  SOME  OF  NEWTOWN'S  EARLIEST  SETTLEF^S 


ADAMS 

1  Freegracc  Adams  ni.     Mary  Galpin  in  1700 

Settled  in  Newtown  in  1711. 

2  *Abraham  "  "     Hannah  Warner 

3  *Eli  "  "     Anna  Baldwin 

4  *Truman  "  "      Minerva  Porter 

Anna  Baldwin,  mother  of  Truman  Adams  was  noted  alike  for  her  pro- 
found knowledge  of  the  Bible  and  for  her  dainty  handiwork. 

Minerva  Porter,  wife  of  Truman  Adams,  died  where  she  had  lived  the 
last  twenty-five  years  with  her  daughter.  Xancy  Adams  Clarke,  near  the 
home  of  her  grandson,  Robert  Adams  Clarke  in  Hawleyville,  Conn.  She 
died  Aug.  28,  1883,  aged  96  years,  10  months. 

Nancy  Adams  Newtown,  Conn. 

6  *Robert  Adams  Clarke      ch.  & 

William  Clarke 

7  Ellen  Lucy  " 

7  Julia  E.  "  *Emeline   Blackman     Hawleyville,  Conn. 

7  'William  Blackman"  ch.  & 

7  Herbert  "  Robert  A.  Clarke 

8  Edna  Clarke     Terrill 
8  Helen  Julia 

8  Mortimer  Clarke  Ellen   Lucy  Clarke  Ansonia 

8  Grace  Fairchild        "  ch.  & 

8  Herbert  William      "  Mortimer    Terrill 

In  U.  S.  service 

8  Robert  Leslie 

9  Seelye  Clarke  Vial  .        Uo.v^rd  Vial 

9  Doris  Jeannette  "  •     j^^,^^  j    ^^^^-^^  Montpelier.  Vt. 

8  Mortimer  C.  Terrill  m.  Ellen    Mommers,   South    Manchester,   Conn. 

Julia   E.  Clarke,  Danbury.  Conn. 

8  Elise  Sherman  Brush  ch.  & 

Chester   H.   Brush 

Graduated  from  Vassar  1908,  A.  B.  degree. 

m.  David  Ale.xander  Bliss,  South  Norwalk,  Ct. 

Grace  Judson,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

8  Robert  Judson  Clarke,       ch.  & 

Herbert   Clarke 


BALDWIN 

1  Caleb  Baldwin  first  of  the  name  in   Newtown,  was  baptized  in   Milford 
in  1702.     m.  Mehitabel— 1st.  Jerusha  Daton,  2nd.  wife. 

Mehitabel  Newtown,  Conn. 

2  Lieut.  Caleb  Baldwin  ch.  & 

Caleb   Baldwin 
He  was  prominent  in  town  affairs  serving  as  Town  Clerk  from  1765  to  1799 


2  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

3  Gen.  David  Baldwin,  ch 


Naomi  Hurd,  1st  wife,      Newtown,  Conn. 

& 
Lieut.   Caleb    Baldwin   2nd. 


3  Caleb 


Betsey   Betts  2nd   wife 
ch.  & 

Lieut.  Caleb  Baldwin  2nd. 


4  David  Van  Brooks 


ch. 


Hannah    Brooks 

& 
Gen.  David  Baldwin, 


Brookfield,    Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 

m.   Nanc}' 1st   wife.     Betsey   Piatt   Curtis  2nd   wife,  widow   of  Joseph 

Curtis. 

3  Caleb  Baldwin  was  Town  Clerk  from  1799  to  1843.     His  name  appears  in 

other   offices   of   public   trust   in   the   early   records,   also   as   a   popular   Inn 

keeper. 

His   second    wife   Sarah   Prindle    Baldwin   was    the    donor   of   the   books 
that  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  Newtown  Library. 


4  Henry  Baldwin 
4  Elizabeth 


5  Anna  M.  Booth 

6  Harry  Booth  Brownson 
6  Marie  Louise  " 

6  *Edythe  Elizabeth  " 

6  Anna  Gertrude         " 

7  Sheldon  Thomas      " 
6  Marie  Louise  " 


Caleb    Baldwin  3rd. 
ch.  & 

Betsey    Beers    1st    wife    Newtown,    Conn. 

Elizabeth  Baldwin,        New  Milford,  Conn, 
ch.  & 

Lewis  Booth 

Huntington,    Conn. 
Anna  M.  Booth 
ch.  & 

Henry    Israel    Brownson 

Gertrude  Buckingham,   Huntington,  Conn, 
ch.  & 

Harry  B.  Brownson 


m.     William  W.  Watson, 
ch.  died  in  infancy 


7  Edythe  Brownson  Bowles 
7  Ralph  Henry  " 


Endicott,  N.  Y. 
Anna    G.    Brownson,       Huntington,    Conn 


ch.  & 

Harry   L.   Bowles. 


BEACH 

1  Rev.  John  Beach,  First  Rector  Trinity  Church  m.  Sarah  Beach  1st  wife. 

m.    Abigail  Holbrook  2nd 

Ch.  bj^   1st.  marriage 

2  Phoebe  Beach 
2  John  "  Jr. 
2  Lazarus       " 
2  Lucy          " 


m.  Capt.  Daniel  Hill  Redding  Ridge,  Conn. 

"     Phebe  Curtis  Newtown,   Conn 

"     Lydia   Sanford  Redding,  Conn. 

"     Rev.   Epenetus   Townsend  Salem   N.   Y. 


ch.    John  Beach  Jr.  and  Phebe  Curtis, 


Newtown,  Conn. 


3  Tohn  B. 
3  "Phebe 
3  Hannah 
3  Sarah 
3  Mary 


m.  Mabel    Beers 
"     Zalmon   Glover 
"     John    Curtis 
"    Joel    Booth 
"     Abel   Beers 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  3 

Ch.  John  Beach  3rd,  and  Mabel  Beers  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Lucy  "  m.  Capt.  James  Nichols,  "  " 

(See  Nichols) 
4  Matthew      "  b.  1763,  d.  1766 

4  Ann  "  m.  Dr.    Elisha    Sheldon  Litchfield 

4  Boyle  "  "     Elizabeth  Staats  New  Baltimore,  N.  Y. 

4  Phoebe         ''  "     Barent    Houghtaling      "  "  "    " 

4  John  "  "     Marcia   Curtis  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Charlotte      "  "     Epenetus  Wead   no  desc.       Kirkwood,   Mo. 

4  Ann  Beach,    3rd    dau.    of    Mabel    Beers,    and    3  John    Beach,      m.    Elisha 
Sheldon. 

5  Elizabeth  Sheldon  .       ^Ann    Beach  Newtown,   Conn. 

5  Marv  "  '^"-  ^ 

^  Dr.  Elisha  Sheldon  Sheldon.  Vt. 

6  Mary    Helena    Peck  Elizabeth  Sheldon  New  Haven,  Conn. 
6  Phehe  Warren     "                  ch.                  & 

m.  Birdsey  C.  Lake  Henry   Edward  Peck       "  "  " 

5  John  Staats     Beach  New  Baltimore  N.  Y. 

5  Isaac  "  Elizabeth    Staats  "  "  " 

5  Matthew  "  ch.  & 

5  Anne  S.  "  Boyle    Beach  "  "  " 

5  Jane  Elizabeth  " 

6  *Alexander  Hamilton  Beach        *Angeline  Dickenson  Cleveland  N.  Y. 
6  Mary  Elizabeth                "    ch.                  & 

6  Charlotte  Ann  "  John  Staats  Beach  "  " 

7  John  Arthur  "  " 
7  Mabel  Beers                     "              Elizabeth   Tufts 

7  Mary  Elizabeth  "     ch  & 

7  Ella  May  "  Alexander  H.  Beach 

7  Rev.    John    Arthur  Charlotte  A.  Beach  Waterloo,  N.  Y. 

7  Muriel  "  ch.  & 

7  Alfred    Huntington"  Rev.  John  Arthur  D.  D.  Glen  Ellyn,  111 

Muriel  Arthur  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa 

8  Martha  Trewin  ch.  & 

Harold  R.  Trewin  "  "  " 

6  Reginald  Heber     Lear 

6  *W!lliam  Frederick  "  Anne   Sheldon   Beach 

6  *Ellen  Elizabeth       "  ch.  & 

6  *Clara  Ellen  "  Charles  Briggs  Lear  Naples,  111. 

7  Ethel  Adeline  "  Kirkwood,  Mo. 
7  Mary  Baldwin  " 

7  Reginald  Heber  Jr.  "  Carrie  May  Baldwin 

7  Olive  Beach  "  ch.  & 

7  Irene  Axtell  "  Reginald  Heber  Lear  "^ 

7  Eugene  Sawyer  " 

3  Phoebe   Beach,  eldest   daughter  of  John   Beach  Jr.     m.   Zalmon   Glover. 

(See  Glover.) 

4  Lucy  Ann  Glover,  eldest  daughter  of  Phebe  Beach  and  Zalmon  Glover. 

m.     Abner  Anson  Nettleton 

Lucy  Ann   Glover  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  *Joseph  Nettleton  ch.  & 

Abner  Anson  Nettleton  "  " 

6  *Edgar  Anson     Nettleton  Phoebe   Curtis 

6  *Charles  Pulaski  "        ch.  &  ^^  ^^ 

6  *Joseph  Foster  "  Joseph   Nettleton 


4  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

7  *Joseph  Hinman  Nettleton  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

7  Flora  Curtis  "  Ann   Eliza  Atwood  Branford,  Conn. 

7  Phcbe  Beach  "        ch.  & 

7  Frederick  H.  "  Edgar  A.  Nettleton 

7  .Mabel  Branford  "  West  Haven,  Conn. 

8  Alexander  Edgar  Nettleton 

8  Joseph  Foster  "  Harriet  Lcvine 

8  Flora  Roberta  "  ch.  & 

8  Clara  Levine  "  Joseph  H.  Nettleton  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

8  *Harriet  Prances  "  m.       Walter  Kraft 

Flora  Curtis  Nettleton 

8  Bertha  Jane  Libby  ch.  & 

Locke  Austin  Libby 

n  T  T\r   1      i.i,  WT  II  Bertha   Jane   Libby 

9  Jane  Wolcott  Welles  ^j^  ^  -^ 

9  Judith  Beach  "  '     Qeyton   Wolcott   Wells   Wethersfield.   Ct. 

8  Marjorie  Nettleton  Thompson 

8  Curtis  Keith  "                Mabel  Branford  Nettleton,  W'est  Haven,  " 

8  Eleanor  Lois  "      ch.                  & 

8  Katherine  "                Andrew  Keith  Thompson 

7  Charles  Sumner  Nettleton  m.  Emily  Estelle  Brotherton     Shelton,  Conn. 

7  Albert  Israel  "                                                                   Montpelier.    Iowa 

7  Ernest  Clifton  "                 Frances  Ann   Halleck           Shelton,   Conn. 

7  -^Rebecca  H.  "       ch.                   & 

7  *Rose  A.  "                Charles    P.   Nettleton 

7  Francis  Irving.  M.D.  " 

7  *Ruth  E. 

Anna  Margaret  Johnson,  1st  wife 

8  Howard  Albee  "      ch.  & 

8  Clyde  Harrison  "  Albert    I.   Nettleton  Montpelier,   Iowa 

Clara   Marguerite  Hartman,  2nd.  wife. 

Gilbert  Iowa 

9  Clarence  Wavne  "  Nellie   Genes  Wunder 
9  Elsie  Mav      "                 "      ch.  & 

9  Roy  P.  "  Howard  A.  Nettleton      Mohall,  N.  Dakota 

Ellen  Edith  Franklin 
9  Evelyn  Idel  "       ch.  & 

Clyde   H.   Nettleton  Montpelier,   Iowa 

Amzetta  Barker  Redlands,  Calif. 

7  Lucy  Beach  "       ch.  & 

*Joseph  F.  Nettleton 

Jean  Mairs  Mitchell  Shelton,  Conn. 

8  Francis  Irving,  Jr.        "        ch.  & 

Dr.  Francis  I.  Nettleton 

4  John   Beach,  third   son  3John   Beach  and  Mabel  Beers  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  *John     Sheldon     Beach  Marcia  Curtis  New  Haven,  Conn. 
5  *Daniel  Beers              "           ch.                   & 

5  *Ann  Eliza  "  John   Beach  4th  "  " 

Rebecca  Donaldson   Beach  was  the  donor  of  the  John  Beach   Memorial 
Library. 

6  *Rebecca  Donaldson  " 
6  Rodman  Vernon        " 

6  John  Kimberly  "  Rebecca   Gibbons  New  Haven,   Conn. 

6  Donaldson  "  ch.  & 

6  *Francis  Gibbons       "  John   Sheldon  Beach  LL.D.     "  " 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  5 

7  John     Francis     Beach  Elizabeth  Charnley  Wells,  New  Haven,  Ct. 

7  John  Francis  "  ch.  & 

Francis  Gibbons  Beach 

5  Mary  Beach   Sth    dau.   John    Beach   Jr.   m.   Abel   Beers   Newtown,   Conn. 

See  Beers. 

2  Lazarus  Beach,  m.  Lydia  Sanford. 

3  Sarah  Beach,  2nd  dau.  Lazarus,  m.  James  Sanford 

4  Lemuel  Sanford,  m.  Charlotte  Piatt. 

5  Betsey  Sanford  4th  dau.  Lemuel  Sanford.  m.  George  Barnum. 

6  *Charlotte  Augusta  Barnum 
6  *Hannah  Sanford  " 

6  Sarah  E.  "               Betsey  Sanford,                      Redding,  Conn. 

6  George  W.  "  ch.                 & 

6  Henry  Taylor  "               George   Barnum                          Bethel      " 

6  Charles  Lemuel  " 

7  *Cora  Barnum  Osborne        ,       Charlotte   A.   Barnum  Danbury.   Conn. 

ch.  & 


7  Bessie  Louise 


David  Osborne,  Jr. 


7  *Alida  E.  Benedict  ^^     Hannah^S.  Barnum.  Bethel  Conn. 

7  Jeannette  B.      "  ^   •    ^ewis  B.  Benedict 

7  George  Whitfield  Norvell  Was  Rhodes  Scholar  and  went  to  Oxford, 

England,  now  Supt.  School  in  Colo. 

7  Grace  Edith  "  Sarah  E.  Barnum    Centerville,  S.  Dakota 

7  Philip  David  "  ch.  & 

7  Julia  Sanford  "  Rev.  Joseph  E.  Norvell  "  " 

Member    Dakota    M.    E.    Conference 

7  Addie     Belle     Barnum  Nora  B.  Koons  Centerville,  S.  Dakota 

7  Sarah  Elizabeth         '"  ch.  & 

7  Bertrand  Andrew      "  George  W.   Barnum 

7  Luella  Maud  " 

7  George  Koons  "  Nora  Koons  Barnum 

7  Royal  Charles  "  ch.  & 

7  Fred  Cliflford  "  Henry   Taylor   Barnum  "  " 

7  Kenneth  Henry  " 

Helen  Sitgreave  Delaware,  S.  Dakota 

7  Sheldon  Charles        "  ch.  & 

Charles  L.  Barnum       Lead  City 

Jeannette  B.  Benedict  Bethel,  Conn. 

8  Ethel  Celeste  Morgan        ch.  & 

Clifford  B.  Morgan 

0  D       •     T       •       c  u      .4.  Bessie  L.  Osborne  Danbury 
8  Bessie  Louise  Schmidt          ,                     o 

8  Robert  T.  Jr.         "  ^ '•     Robert  T.  Schmidt 

1  Rev.    John    Beach,    2Lazarus,    3Sarah.    m.    James    Sanford,    4Lemuel    m. 
Charlotte  Piatt,  5Rev.  David  Piatt  Sanford. 

£  *r-  u   J       c      c     J  Caroline  Hamlin,  1st  wife 

0  *Grace     Hyde     Sanford        ,  « 

^  ^''"  Rev.  David  P.  Sanford 

6  Caroline  Hamlin  "  Deaconess  Sanford 

6  ^Harriett  Emma  " 

6  Rev.  David  Lewis       "  Emma  Bartow  Lewis,  2nd  wife 

6  Rev.  Edgar  Lewis      "  ch.  & 

6  Amelia  "  Rev.  David  P.  Sanford 

6  Frederick  Harriman  " 


6  GENEALOGICAL     SECTION  • 

7  Theodora        George 

7  David  Sanford       "  *Harriett   E.  Sanford 

7  Bertha  Niles  "  ch.  & 

7  Caroline  Anna      "  Rev.  James   H.    George       d.   at    Newtown, 

Conn.,  Jan.,  1917. 

7  Rev.  James  Hardin  Jr.  U.  S.  Service  in  France. 

o  TT  r-      ij  r-     *•  Bertha   Niles  George,         Newtown,   Conn. 

8  Henry  Gould  Curtis  ,  o  ^  ' 

8  Nelson  George     "  "      ^^1,;^^  r    Curtis 

Carrie  Mason  Palmer,  Columbia,  Mo. 

8  James  Hardin  George  2nd  ch.  & 

Rev.  James  H.  George  Jr. 

7  Helen     Traver     Sanford 

7  *Alice  Amelia  " 

7  Charles  Briscoe  Anna  Traver  Briscoe 

7  Edgar  Lewis  "        ch.  & 

7  John  Beach  "  Rev.  David  L  .Sanford,        Morrisville,  Pa. 

7  Arthur  Hall 

7  David  Piatt 

Helen  Traver  Sanford 

8  Wm.  Richard  Brown,  Jr.    ch.  & 

Wm.  Richard  Brown,  M.D.  Phil.  Pa. 

Katherine   Uri  Thompsonville,   Conn. 

8  Charles  Briscoe  Sanford,  Jr.  ch.  & 

Charles   B.   Sanford 

8  Anna  Winslow  Truax  ,        *Alice  Amelia   Sanford 

8  Albert  Winslow         "  "^^^       ...      ,%  u     .t     a    r 

Albert    iruax  Hartford,  Conn. 

7  Vera  Sanford  Eugenia   Munson 

7  Eva  Matthews     "  ch.  & 

7  Anna  Munson       "  Rev.  Edgar  L.  Sanford      HoneyBrook,  Pa. 

Eva   Starr  Bates,  1st   wife 
7  Joseph  Bates         "  ch.  & 

Frederick  H.  Sanford  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Natalie  Drake  2nd  wife 
7  Edith  Harmonic  "  ch.  & 

Frederick  H.  Sanford 

2  Lazarus  Beach,  4th  son,  Rev.  John  Beach,  m.  Lydia  Sanford 

3  Lazarus      "        Jr.  m.  Polly  Thompson  Hall 

4  Fanny  "        dau,  Polly  Hall  and  Lazarus  Beach  Jr.        Redding,  Conn. 

5  William  Whitehead    Ladd 

5  Caroline   Medora  "  Fanny  Beach  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

5  Ellen  Louise  "     ch.  & 

5  Catherine  "  James  Ladd  Throggs  Neck,  N.  Y. 

6  William  Whitehead  Jr.    " 

6  Walter  G.  "  Sarah  Hannan  Phillips 

6  Rev.  Henry  M.  "     ch.  & 

6  James  B.  "  William  W.  Ladd,      Throgg's  Neck,  N.  Y. 

Elizabeth   Adelaide   Rowe 

7  Elizabeth  Ladd  ch.  & 

Wm.  Whitehead  Ladd  Jr.  New  York,  N.  Y. 

b  Walter  G.  "     m.       Kate  Everit  Macy,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

7  Coit  "  Martha  Williams  Coit 

7  Henry  M.  Jr.  "     ch.  & 

7  William  W.  2nd.  "  Rev.  Henry  M.  Ladd         Rutherford,  N.  J. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  7 

7  Frances   Serrill  Ladd  Rebecca  Serrill 

7  Frances  Serrill  "     ch.  & 

James   B.  Ladd  Baltimore,   Md. 

6  Fanny  Gilfillan  .       ^Caroline  Medora  Ladd  1st. 

6  Wm.  Whitehead  Gilfillan  ^"-     ^-.^     ,,?,    r-^cu  n        i  i        x-    >.' 

*Dr.  Wm.  Gilfillan  Brooklyn,  N.   i. 

m. 
Catherine  Ladd  2nd.  wife  "  " 

7*KatherineLaddVanWyck        Fanny  Gilfillan 

7  Samuel  Beach  "  ^^u     .   {7      ^xr     i 

Albert    Van  Wyck 

6  Henry  Wallace  M.D.  Ellen   Louise  Ladd  "  " 

6  William  Wallace,  Jr.  ^^-     ^j„j^^^  ^^„^^^  ^    ^ 

Carrie  Louise  Bostwick  "  " 

7  Ellen  Louise     "  ch.  & 

Henry  Wallace  M.  D. 

o  T^   *ui         IT      1-         ^     r      t    ..A  Elizabeth  Ladd 

8  Kathleen  Evelina  von  Gontard       ,  o 

^  ^^^^  "        "  Alexander  C.  F.  von  Gontard 

7  Frances  Serrill  Ladd  m.       Merrill  Kercher  Baltimore,   Md. 

3  Sarah  Beach,  2nd  dau.  2Lazarus  Beach. 
Sarah  Beach  m.  James  Sanford 

4  James  Sanford  Jr.  m.     Eliza  French 

5  Turney     Sanford 
5  James  3rd.        " 

5  Sarah  "  Eliza  French  Redding,  Conn. 

5  Stephen  "  ch.  & 

5  Betsey  "  James  Sanford,  Jr. 

5  Charles  " 

Mary  Roe 

6  George  Turney  "  ch.  & 

Turney  Sanford 

Florence  Hill  Redding,  Conn. 

7  Beulah  "  ch.  & 

George  T.  Sanford 

Sarah  Meeker 

6  William  C.         "  ch.  & 

James  Sanford  3rd 

Edith  Cole 

7  James  Harold    "  ch.  &  ^^  ^^ 

Wm.  Clinton   Sanford 

6  David     S.     Duncomb  Sarah  Fairchild  1st  wife 

6  George  F.  "  ch.  &  ^^  ^^ 

Wm.  Edgar  Duncomb 

6  Emma  Eliza  "  Sarah    Sanford  2nd   wife 

m.  ch.  & 

George  B.  Beers  Wm.   E.  Duncomb  Easton.  Conn. 

7  William     M.     Duncomb  New  York.  N.  Y. 
7  Frederick  How  Duncomb             Lydia   Lane  Lockwood 

7  Raynor  Sanford     "  ch.  & 

7  David  Sanford      "  David  S.  Duncomb      Mount  Vernon,  N.  \. 

o  17      .     ■  ,  T^     1       »  Mabel  Taylor  Newtown.  Conn. 

8  rrederick  Taylor  ,  o 

8  Raynor  Lockwood     "  '      Frederick   H.    Duncomb 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


7  Julia  Beers  Duncomb 

6  Emory   Perkins  Sanford 
6  Stephen  Ernest 


7  Jesse 
7  Stephen 


7  *Margery  Beers 
7  Marvin 


6  James  Arthur  Sherwood    ch. 

7  Hazel  Elaine  "  ch. 

ch. 


m.     Rev.  Walter  Aiken 

Marv   Sophia   Banks 

di.  & 

Stcpiien    Sanford 

Olivia    Sanford 
ch.  & 

Emory   Perkins   Sanford 

Alice  Beers 
ch.  & 

S.  Ernest  Sanford 

Betsey   Sanford 

& 
George   B.   Sherwood 

Eva  Whitehead 

& 
lames  Arthur  Sherwood 


Torrington,  Conn. 
Redding,  Conn 


6  Elsie  Sanford 
6  Lucy 


7  Ravmond  Piatt 


ch. 


Hannah  Sherwood 

& 
Charles   Sanford 

Elsie   Sanford 

& 
Philo  T.  Piatt 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 
Easton,  Conn. 

Redding,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


BEARDSLEY 

All  records  agree  that  the  Newtown  Beardsleys,  some  of  whom  settled 
in  Nev/town  early  in  1700.  were  descended  from  William,  called  'Goodman 
Beardsley."  "It  is  claimed  on  very  good  authority  that  William  Beardsley 
gave  Stratford  its  name  in  1643." 

4Israel,  3Thomas,  2Joseph,  IWilliam. 
Israel,  m.  Elizabeth   Blazze. 

m.     Grace  Perry  Newtown,  Conn. 

Esther  Toucey  " 

"      Flora  Toucey 

Ch.  Israel  Abner  and  Esther  Toucev 


5  Jared         Beardsley 

6  Israel  Abner         " 
6  Asa  Blazze  " 


7  *Philo  Shelton     " 

7  *Flora  Jane  " 

8  Mary  Elizabeth  Sanford 
8  William  Henry    " 


m.     Harriet  Beach 
m.     Aaron  Sanford 

Flora  Jane  Beardsley 
ch.  & 

Aaron  Sanford 

m.     Harlev  T.  Proctor 


Emily  Pearson  Bodstein 
Wilhelm  Hoeninghaus 
Beatrice  Stirling 


cardsley  and  Flora  Toucey 


9  Mary  E.  Sanford 
Tli.-ir  Ch. 

10  William  Proctor 
10  Lillian  Sanford 
10  Rodney 

Ch.  .Asa  Blazze  B 
7  Emily  Esther 
7  Mary  Elizabeth 
7  Philo  Toucey 
7  Julius  Theodore 
7  John  Mark 
7  Frances  Josephine 
7  Henriette  " 

4  Jesse,3William,  2Daniel,  IWilliam 

5  William  Beardsley,  b.  1777     m.     Molly  Sanford  1st  wife 

"     2nd  Mrs.  Esther  M.  Taylor 


Cincinnati,  Ohio 


New  York  City 


Newtown,  Conn. 

unm. 

William  J.  Dick  (d.  Jan.  1918,  age  88  yrs.^ 

unm.  Newtown,  Conn, 

unm.  "  " 

unm.  "  " 

unm.  "  " 
unm. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Their  ch. 


<>  Loi,;             Beardsle^'  m.     Eliel  Crofut                             Newtown,  Conn. 

6  Lydia                       "  "      Jeremiah  Turner                              " 

6  Jesse                       "  unm. 

6  Polly  Ann             "  "      Benjamin    Beers                              "                " 

6  Ruth                        "  "      Ziba   Morse                                      " 

6  William  Sanford"  "      Nancy  J.  Nichols                 Bridgeport.  Conn. 

6  Aaron  Thomas     "  "      1st  Mary  Curtis,  2nd  Frances  Hamlin 

6  Caroline                 "  "     Albert  Booth                          Newtown,  Conn. 

6  Anna                       "  "      Hawley  Nichols                              " 

6  Sally  Maria          "  "      1st  Henry  Lewis,  2nd  Abraham  Lyon 

6  Emily  and  6Eliza  by  2nd  wife  unm. 

5  Jonathan,  4Josiah,  3Josiah,  2Joseph,  IWilliam 

6  Abel     Beardsley  m.     Eunice  Rowell                       Newtown,  Conn. 

7  Abel  Ferris           "  "      Hannah  Gray                                  "               " 
Their  ch. 

8  Henry  S.                "  d.  young 
8  John  B.                  "  unm. 

8  Emma  L.                "  unm. 

8  Charles  F.             "  m.     Mary  Josephine  Lake 

8  Lester  W.              "  unm. 

8  Martha  A.             "  "      Harry   Blake                           Waltham,  Mass. 

8  Edward                  "  unm. 

8  Ida  M.                   "  unm. 

8  Nellie  B.                "  "      George  Crosby                     Worcester,  Mass. 

8  Frederick               "  unm. 

9  Clarence  Lake  ^  ^j^  ^^^'^  Josephine  Lake  Newtown,  Conn. 
^  ^^'-^^  J-  "  '  Charles  F.  Beardsley  New  York  City 
9  Clarence  L.           "  m.     Viola  May  Gamsby           New  Haven,  Conn. 


BEERS 

1  Samuel  Beers  only  son  of  "John  of  Stratford"  born  1679.     Married  Sarah 
Sherman  in  1706,  and  settled  in  Newtown. 

Their   rons  from  whom  the  various  Beers  families  are  descended   were, 

2  John,  Samuel,  Daniel,  Abraham,  Nathan. 

John  born  1710;  married  Mary  Seeley,  Newtown,  Conn. 

Their  Ch. 

3  Cynthia    Beers  m.     1st.  Thomas  Skidmore  " 

m.     2nd  Jothani  Sherman,  3rd  wife" 
3  Anna  "  m.     John   Fabrique 

m.    2nd.  Caleb  Baldwin 
3  Amy  "  "      Jothani  Sherman  2nd  wife 

3  Phebe  "  "      1st  Samuel  Ferris 

"      2nd   Benjamin   Curtis 
3  Naomi  "  "      John   Jackson 

3  John  "  "       Sarah  Sterling 

3  Sarah  "  "      Eliada  Prindle 

3  Andrew  "  "      Sarah   Gunn 

3  Oliver  "  "      Catherine  Hiibbell 

3  Mary  "  "      Phineas  Taylor 

3  John  Beers  b.  1745  m.     Sarah  Sterling 

Their  Ch. 

4  *Jeremiah     "                            "  Polly  Peck  1st.  wife 
4  *Jacob           "                            "  Laura  Toucey  no  ch. 
4  *Hannah      "                            "  Isaac   Bennett 


10  GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 

Ch.  of  Jeremiah  Beers  and  Polly  Peck  1st  wife. 

5  *Marcia  Beers  m.     Levi  Peck                                  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  *Delia  "  "      Le   Grand   Randall                   Roxbury,         " 

5  *Aiina             "  "      Araunah  Fairchild  no  ch.    Newtown,  Conn. 

5  *julia              "  "      Elias  Beers,  Jr.  (see  Elias)           "  " 

5  ♦Polly  "  "     John  Purdy  (no  desc.  located) 


Flora   Sherwood  2nd  wife 
& 


5  *John  •'  ^^ 

5  *Julius  "  ..      T  •   I    r- 

■'  Jeremiah  beers 

Marcia   Beers 

6  *Cornelia  Peck  ch.  & 

Levi  Peck 

7  Anna  Cornelia  Judson  .       Cornelia    Peck. 

m.*Henry  Tucker  *^"-      ,    .       ,^ 

^  John  Judson 

Ch.  Delia  and  LeGrand  Randall  Roxbury,  Conn. 

6  *Charles  Randall  m.  Maria    Ferry                     New    Milford,   Conn. 

6  *Helen           "  "  Philip  Wells  no  ch.                 Roxbury         " 

6  *Henry           "  "  Sarah    E.    Prindle                             "                " 

6  *Ophelia       "  "  Dr.  Wm.  Camp,  (See  Camp)  Newtown,  Ct. 

6  Celia               "  "  Leverctt  Castle  no  ch.        Roxbury           " 

7  Le  Grand      "  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 
7  *Le  Rov        "                                    Maria  Ferry  Bethel  Conn. 

7  fcharkTtte^  "'  '^       Charles  Randall  New  Milford, 

7  *Sarah 

*Alice  Couch  1st.  wife         Norwalk,  Conn- 

8  Alice  Couch "  ch.  & 
m.  George  Allen                                 *Le  Roy  Randall  New  Milford 

8  Mary  Ethel  Randall  Mary  Potter  2nd  wife 

8  Lee  "  ch.  & 

8  Mary  Ethel         "  Le  Roy  Randall 

m.  Russell  Noble 

4  Hannah  Beers 
5  *Jacob  Beers  Bennett         ch.  & 


6  Alice  Bennett  ch. 


Lsaac    Bennett  Medina,    N.    Y. 

♦Jane  Turner  New  York,  N.  Y. 


♦Jacob   Beers   Bennett 

2  Samuel     Beers,  born  1712,  married  Abigail   Blackman. 

Their  Ch. 

3  Abel                   "  Died   unmarried                     Newtown,   Conn. I 
3  Simeon              "  m.     Phedima   Nichols                               "                ' 

3  Abigail              "  "      Ezra  Booth 

Ch.  Simeon      "  and   Phedima  Nichols                            "                " 

4  Abel                   "  m.  Mary   Beach 

4  Samuel              "  "      Rissa  Hard                                         "                ' 

4  Esther               "  ■mm. 

4  Rebecca            "  "      David  C.  Peck                                 " 

4  Abner                "  nnm.                                                  **               * 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  11 

Ch.  4  Abel  Beers  "Maj.  Abe"  m.  Mary  Beach 
5  Sylvia  "  m.     Sinclair  Toucey  (see  Toucey)B'klyn,  N.  Y. 

5  John  Beach      "^  "      Eliza   Uiinn  Council   Bluffs,  Iowa 

5  Isaac  "  "     1st.   Maria  Nichols  Glover,  Newtown,  Conn. 

2nd  Eliza  Bostwick  Monroe,  " 

5  *Charles  Curtis"  "      Harriet  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  *Mary  "  unm. 

5  *Esther  "  "      David  H.  Johnson   1st.  wife 

5  *Phebe  "  unm. 

5  ♦Rebecca  "  "      David  H.  Johnson  2nd  wife  (no  desc.)     " 

Eliza  Dunn  Council  Bluffs,  Iowa 

6  Sarah  Beach  Beers  ch.  & 

John  B.  Beers  "  "  " 

7  *John  Beach  Beers  Rohrer  Sarah  B.  Beers  "  "  " 
7  Isaac  Beers                    "        ch.                     & 

7  Carrie  Test  "  Millard  Fillmore  Rohrer  "  "  " 

6  ♦Sarah   Esther  Beers  .      Harriet  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

6  ♦John  Beach  "  ^^-   r-u     i       r^  t, 

Charles  C.  Beers  "  " 

2  Daniel  Beers,  born  1714,  married  Mabel  Booth.    Their  Ch. 

3  Cyrus,  Jerusha,  Amos,  Daniel,  Ann,  Mabel,  Esther  and  Austin. 
3  Mabel  Beers  married  John  Beach  3rd.  (See  Beach  record.) 

2  Abraham  Beers  born  1716;  married  Sarah ?  Newtown,  Conn. 

Their  Ch. 

3  James,  Philo,  Truman,  Abraham,  Jr.,  (Eli  and  Elias)  twins. 

3  Desc.  through  Eli. 

Ch.  Eli  Beers  and  Rebecca  Toucey  1st.  wife. 

4  Daniel 

4  Alonzo  "  m.     Flora  Glover  Brookfield,  Conn. 

Ch.  Eli  "  &     Phedima  Peck  2nd  wife. 

4  Sylvester         "  m.     Sally   Morris  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Lemuel  "  m.     Eliza  Shepard  "  " 

4  Hermon  "  m.     Phebe    Sherman  "  " 

4  Dimah  Ann     "  m.     Walter  Clarke  (See  Clarke) 

4  Alonzo  Beers  married  Flora  Glover  Brookfield,      " 

Their  Ch. 

5  Daniel  G.  Beers  m.  Harriet  Starr  "  " 
5  Rebecca  "  "  Benjamin  Tones  "  " 
5  Sarah  Minerva   "  "  Philo  Clarke  (See  Clarke  record) 

5  Eli  Starr  "  unm. 

5  Joseph  Toucey  "  "  Wealthy  Ward 

5  Harriet  Sophia   "  "  Edwin   Smith   Hoyt  Waterburv,   Conn. 

5  George  Alonzo  "  "  Jennie  Burge  Brookfield, 

Sally  Morris  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  ♦Daniel  Morris  "  ch.  & 

m  *Caroline  Terrill  Sylvester  Beers  "  " 

Desc.  of  Eli  through  Lemuel 

Ch.  Eliza  Shepard  and  Lemuel  Beers  "  " 

5  ♦George        Beers  m.  Sarah   Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  ♦Caroline  "  "  Cyrus  Beers   Sherman,  (no  ch.)   "  " 

5  ♦Susan  J.  "  "  James  Blakeslec  (See  Blakeslee  record) 

5  ♦Ann  E.  "  unm.  "  " 

5  Fannie  S.  "  unm. 

5  ♦Marietta  "  "  ♦John  C.  Beers 

5  Henry  L.  "  "  ♦Julia  Glover  1st  wife 

,  Florence  K.  Frill  2nd  wife 

5  Eli  B.  "  "  ♦Sophronia  Sherman  Warner,  Newtown,  Ct. 


12  GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 

Ch.  George  Beers  and  Sarah  E.  Peck. 

6  Anna  "  m.     Henry  G.  Curtis,  (See  Curtis) 

6  George  B.  "  "      Grace  Blakeman  Newtown,  Conn. 

6  Robert  H.  "  "      Sarah  Sanford 

Ch.  George  B.  Beers  and  Grace  Blakeman 

7  Lillian  Beers  ni.     Herman  Ticmann,  Jr.        Bridgeport,  Conn. 
7  George  Herbert     "  In  U.  S.  service  in  France  "  " 

7  Jessie  Martha       "  m.     Kurtz  P.  Wilson.  Jr.  Baltimore,  Md. 

7  Sarah  Alice  "  m.     Henry  Cook  Mitchell  Hartford,  Conn. 

8  Herman  Newell  Tiemann  3  Lillian   Beers 
8  Grace  Louise             "            ch.  & 

8  George  Herbert        "  Herman  N.  Tiemann,  Jr.  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

7  Henry    Sanford    Beers  .      ^arah   Saiiford  Newtown.  Conn. 

7  Robert  Edmond     "  ""   '    ^^^^^^  ^    g^^^^ 

6  James  L.  "  *Marietta  Beers  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

6  Carrie  F.  "  ch.  & 

6  Ella  L.  "  *John  C.   Beers 

Carrie  F.  Beers  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

7  Mildred  Otis  ch.  & 

John  M.  Otis 

8  Robert       Lewis  Jr.  Mildred  Otis 
8  Elizabeth          "     (twins)        ch.  & 

8  Marshall  "  Robert  Lewis 

Julia  F.  Glover  1st.  wife 
6  Nellie  Gilbert  Beers  ch.  & 


6  Harry  Sherman 
6  Florence  Susan 


Henrj'  L.   Beers 

Florence  K.  Frill  2nd.  wife 
ch.  & 

Henry  L.  Beers 


6  Fannie  May  " 

6  Alice  Sherman  "                         Sophronia  Sherman  Warner  Newtown,  Ct. 

6  Eli  Burton  "  ch.                    & 

6  John  Cyrus  "                         Eli  B.  Beers                                    "                " 

Alice  Sherman  Beers  "  " 

7  *Margery  Beers  Sanford    ch.  & 

7  Marvin  "  "  Ernest  Sanford  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

6  Fannie  May  Beers  m.     Louis  Edwards  "  " 

Desc.  of  Eli  through  Hermon  Newtown,  Conn. 
5  Harriet       Beers                     m.     *Rev.  Charles  Husband 

5  *John  Hobart     "                      "      Keturah    Sharp  Chicago,    111. 

5  Flora  Jane          "                     "     *James  Hobart  Warner  (See  Warner) 

5  Sarah  M.              "                             unni.  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  *Wm.  Hermon    "                     "      Caroline  R.  Gately  "                " 

Harriet   Beers 

6  *Charles  Howard  Husband  ch.  & 

Rev.  Chas.  Husband 

6  *Anna  Sharp  Beers  j^       Keturah  Sharp  Chicago,  111. 

6  Keturah  Sherman  "  ^   '    ^^^^^^  ^    g^^^^ 

Keturah  S.  Beers 

7  Juiianna  Holmes  ch.  & 

Woodward  Holmes 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


13 


I  William  Hermon  Beers 

Capt.  in  U.  S.  service     ch. 
I  Eloise  Gately 

;'  Alice     Barrett     Farley 

Caroline  Johnson     " 
■  Katherine  Cheney     "  ch. 

Frank  Cheney  " 

Desc.  throngh  Elias 
Beers 


Caroline  R.  Gately 

& 
William  Hermon  Beers 


•  Zenas 
r  Smith 


[  Norman 
\  Elias  Jr. 

J  George 
5  Mary 

5  William  H. 

)  John 

;  Alfred  H. 


5  Ella 


5  Samuel  Wells 


5  Ellen  A.  Beers 
5  Florence  E. 


7  Douglas  McGowan 


6  Mildred  Beers 
6  Lottie 


7  Robert  Mason  Jr. 


7  Evelyn  Klune 
7  Mildred 

6  Eugene  F.  Beers 
6  Bessie  " 


7  Ruth  Beers 

7  Marjorie       " 

6  Bessie 

5  Julia  Elizabeth  Beers 
5  Sylvia  Maria  " 

5  Charles  Elias  " 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


7  John  H.  Crawford  Jr.         ch. 


Eloise  Gately  Beers 

& 
Frank  Cheney  Farley 


Mamaroneck,  N.  Y. 
New  York,  X.  V 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


MaryAbiah  Peck  1st  wife  Newtown,  Conn 

& 
Elias  Beers 

Betty  Botsford  2nd  wife 

& 
Elias  Beers 

Julia  Brown  1st  wife 

& 
Zenas  Beers 

Amelia  Hendrickson,  2nd  wife 

& 
Zenas  Beers 


Harriet  Ayton 

& 
George  Beers 

Ella  Beers 

& 
John  H.  Crawford 

Mary  Beers 

& 
William  Wells 

♦Susan  A.  Smith 

& 
William  H.  Beers 

Ellen  A.  Beers 

& 
Arthur  J.  McGowan 

Lavinia  Cronk 

& 
John  Beers 

Mildred  Beers 

& 
Robert  Mason 

Lottie  Beers 

& 
William  Klune 

Ozemma  Smith 

& 
Alfred  H.  Beers 


Constance  Lewis 
ch.  & 

Eugene  F.  Beers 
m.     Edward  Carman 

Betsev  Dikeman 
ch.  & 

Norman  Beers 


Orange,  N.  J. 

Rutherford,  N.  J. 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


New  York  City 


Buffalo,  N.  Y 


Huntington,  N.  Y'. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


14 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


Grace  Elizabeth  Lake 
Florence  Amelia 


5  Charles  E.  Beers 


Sylvia  M.  Beers,  2nd  wife  Passaic,  N.  J. 

ch.  & 

Lamson  B.  Lake  "  " 

m.     Florence  Burritt  (no  ch.)  Newtown,  Conn. 

Julia  Beers  Newtown,  Conn, 

ch.  & 

Elias  Beers  Jr. 


♦Mary  Frances  Beers 
*Edgar  " 

♦Cornelia  " 

Nathan  son  of  Samuel  born  1718  married  Lydia  Hawley 
Nathan  Jr.,  Ebenezer,  Ezekiel  their  sons. 
Ebenezer  Beers 
Their  sons 


m.     Phebe  Botsford  1st  wife 


♦John 
♦James  B. 
♦Charles  H. 
♦David  H. 
♦Dr.  Moses  B. 
♦Horace 

Ch.  of  John  Beers  and  Roxy  Ann  Glover 

m 


Roxy  Ann  Glover 
Huldah  Clarke 
Mary  E.  Glover 
Lucy  Fairchild 
Loraine  Curtis 
Emily  Terrill 


Newtown,  Conn. 


♦Mary    Jane    Beers 
♦Sarah   Maria       " 
Angeline   Eliza  "  twins 
♦Caroline  Eliza  "  twins 
♦James  Morris  " 

♦Austin  B.  Blakeman 
♦Julia  E.  "      unm. 

♦Ida  A.  "      unm. 

Charlotte  E.  " 


Charles  E.  Blakeman 
"       Lamson  B.  Lake 
"      William  H.  Beers 
"       Robert  Wilberforce  Burritt 
"       Emily  Beach,  1st  wife 

Cornelia  Twitchell,  2nd. 

Mary  J.  Beers 
ch.  & 

Charles   E.   Blakeman 


♦Marjorie 

♦Helen  Mac  Gregor 


8 

8  Maud  E.  Ives 


Ada  Mac  Gregor 
ch.  & 

Austin  B.  Blakeman 

Charlotte  E.  Blakeman 
ch.  & 

Frank  H.  Ives 
m.     Tracy  Peck 


Ch.  Sarah  M.  Beers,  1st  wife,  and  Lamson  Lake 

7  Carrie  Louise  Lake 
7  *Frederick  Beers  " 
7  Katherine  Augusta  " 


7  Sarah    E.    Beers 
7  Robert  W. 

7  John  M. 

8  ♦Ruth  Botsford 
8  Ada 

7  Minnie    E.    Burritt 

7  Ina  L. 

7  ♦Wilson  J. 

7  Robert  W. 

7  Ida  May 

8  Darthia 


m.     Frank  A.  Mallett   (no  ch.)   Monroe        " 
died  in  young  manhood  " 

m.     William  C.  Johnson  (no  ch.)  Newtown,  Ct. 

Angeline  E.  Beers 
ch.  & 

William  H.  Beers 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


Sarah  E.  Beers 

& 
Morris   Botsford 


Caroline  E.  Beers 

& 
Robert  Wilberforce  Burritt 

Esther  Smith  1st  wife 

& 
Robert  W.  Burritt 
♦Janet  Paton  2nd.  wife 


Bridgeport  " 

Bridgeport,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  15 

7  *Emily  F.  Beers  Emily  Beach  1st  wife     New  Haven,  Conn. 


7  *Ernest  Beach  " 


ch.  & 


James  M.  Beers 

Cornelia  Twitchell  2nd  wife 


8  Virginia  Beers  Georgiana    Isbell,  "  " 

8  Allyn  "  ch.  & 

In  U.  S.  Service.  Ernest.  B.  Beers  "  " 

5  Ch.  James  B.  Beers  and  Huldah  Clarke  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

6  *John   C.       Beers  See  Lemuel  Beers  record  "  " 


6  *Albert 

Unm. 

Huldah  Clarke 

6  Frederick  W.  " 

ch. 

& 

6  *Ann  Eliza      " 

Unm. 

James   B.  Beers 

Ch.  of  Frederick  W.  Beers  and  Angeline  Hawley  "  " 

7  Rev.  Clarence  H.  Beers      m.     Ada  M.  Winterburne         Bethlehem,  Conn 
7  *Charles  A. 

7  ^Harriet  E.  "        m.     Ralph  W.  Murdock 

7  Howard  F.  "  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

'   7  Robert  A.  "  m.     Mabel  Baker  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

7  *William  L. 
7  *Herbert  N. 

7  Helen  M.  " 

;  8  John  Frederick  " 

I  8  Amy  Marie  "  Ada  M.  Winterburn  Bethlehem,  Conn 

8  Emily  Huldah  "         ch.  & 

,  8  Anna  "  Rev.  Clarence  Beers  "  " 

ch.  Charles  H.  Beers  and  Mary  E.  Glover 

6  *Silas    Norman    Beers         m.     Sarah  Nichols  Newtown,  Conn. 
'   6  *Daniel  Glover           "              "      Arabella  Fitch  "  " 

!    6  *Mary  Elizabeth        "  m.     Frederick  Beehler  "  " 

Sarah  Nichols 

7  *Susan  Lynne  "  ch.  & 

Silas  N.  Beers  "  " 

Susan  Lynne  Beers  Redlands.  Calif. 

8  Frederick  F.  Johnson  Jr.  ch.  & 

Rt.  Rev.  Frederick  F.  Johnson,  St.  Louis  Mo. 

Ch.  of  Daniel  G.  Beers  and  Arabella  Fitch  : 

7  Jane     Fitch      Beers  m.     Rev.  James  H.  George  Newtown,  Conn 

7  *Helen  "  d.    unm.  " 

7  Harry  Croswell        "  m.     Mabel  Grace  Smith 

7  Elizabeth    Louise       "  m.     2nd  wife  Bishop  F.  F.  Johnson,  St.  Louis  Mo. 

8  Sherman  Johnson     "  ,      Mabel  Grace  Smith         New  Haven.  Conn. 
8  Jeannette  Elizabeth"  •     Harry  C.  Beers  Lanesboro,  Mass.. 

Ch.  Mary  E.  Beers  and  Frederick  Beehler 

7  Ella  Beehler  m.  Walter  Bounty  Stamford.  Conn. 

7  *Alice  "  d.  in  childhood 

7  Gertrude  "  m.  Clarence  Wm.  Vail 

7  *Charles  "  In   Aviation    Corps,   killed   Dec.    19.    1918 

7  Robert  Morris  "  In  Naval   Reserve 

7  Arthur  Leslie  "  d.  in  infancy. 

7  *Leonard  Frederick"  d.  in  infancy 

Gertrude  Beehler 

8  Dorothy  Elizabeth  Vail     ch.  & 

Clarence  Wm.  Vail 


16  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

9  Ch.  of  David  H.  Beers 

6  Emelinc  Beers  David  H.  Beers  Ne\vtov/:i,  Conn. 

6  *William  H.       "  ch.  & 

6  Lucy  Ann  "  Lucy  Fairchild  Beers,  95  vears  old  " 

July  16,  1918 

•7  T-j     ■     inTu     1  Emeline  Beers  Bethel,  Conn. 

7  Edwin  Wheeler  j^  ^ 

7  Clarence  "  '    Charles  Wheeler 

Lucy  A.  Beers  Newtown,  Conn 

7    Julia  Beers  Duncomb         ch.  & 

Geo.  F.  Duncombe 

7  Julia  B.  Duncomb  m.     Rev.  Walter  Aiken 

Ch.  of  Dr.  SMoses  Botsford  Beers 

Loraine  Curtis  Hersey,  Mich. 

6  Phebe  Beers  ch.  & 

Dr.  M.  Botsford  Beers  "  " 

Phebe    Beers  "  " 

7  Albert  Nevvland  ch.  & 

J.  Selwyn  Newland 

Ch.  of  SHorace  Beers  and  Emily  Terrill 

6  Sophia     Emily     Beers  m.     William  Kellogg                   Brookfield,  Conn. 

6  *Herbert  Booth        "  Drowned  in  Housatonic  River  Aug.  9,  1878. 

6  *Edward  Terrill       "  Drowned  in  Housatonic  River  Aug.  9,  1878. 

6  Frederick  Horace     "  m.     Florence  Mapes 

-  T-1  1-    ir  ,,  Sophia   B.   Beers  Brookfield,   Conn. 

7  Florence  E.  Kellogg  h  & 

William  J.  Kellogg  "  " 


7  Herbert  Beers 


Florence  E.  Kellogg  Brookfield,  Conn. 

8  Lina  Mansfield  ch.  & 

Arthur   Mansfield  "  " 

•7  HT     ■  1  \XT    T>  Florence  A.  Mapes  "  " 

7  Muriel  W.  Beers  ^.  n  ^ 

7  TT       1  .1  ch.  & 

'  -"^^^^  Frederick  H.  Beers 

I  Samuel,  2Nathan,  3Nathan  Jr.,  3Ebenezer,  3Ezekiel.  Newtown,  Conn. 

Ch.  of  3Ezekiel  and  Polly  Candee  1st  wife 

4  Lucy  Beers         m.     Edward  Fairchild  New  Milford,  Conn. 

4  Annette  "  m.     1st  David  Botsford  "  " 

2nd  William  Botsford  "  " 


5  *Charles  B.  Botsford 

5  David  B. 

6  *William  Allen 

6  Lena  Annette        " 


Annette  Beers  New  Milford,  Conn, 

ch.  & 

David  Botsford 

Minnie  C.  Allen  "  " 

ch.  & 

Charles  B.  Botsford 


Ch.  of  Ezekiel  Beers  and  Nancy  Johnson_  2nd   wife,  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  *Amos  "  m.     Jeannette  Pierpoint  1st  "  " 

4  *Theodore  "  unm.  "      Susan  Frances  Peck  2nd 

Ch.  of  Ezekiel  Beers  and  Mrs.  Sally  Morris  Beers,  3rd  wife  " 

4  *Sylvester  "  d.  unm. 

4  *Nancy  "  m.     Edwin  Clarke   (See  Clarke) 

4  *Julius  Augustus     "  twins  m.     Sarah  E.  Warner  Monroe,  Conn. 

4  *Julia  Augusta        "  m.     Rev.  Wm.  C.  Saxton  Vineland,  N.  J. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


17 


Ch.  Julius  A.  Beers  and  Sarah  Warner 


Monroe,  Conn 


5  Carrie  Fenn  " 

5  Morris  Daniel      " 

6  Lois  Adelaide  Sutliffe 


7  Edwin  Warner 


6  Preston  Morris  Beers 
6  Irving  Curtis  " 


m.     Edwin  Sutliffe 

m.     Ada  Sophia  Curtis 

Carrie  Fenn  Beers 
ch.  & 

Edwin  Sutliffe 

Lois  Adelaide  Sutliffe 
ch.  & 

Stanley  Harold  Warner 

Ada  Sophia  Curtis 
,  ch.  & 

Morris   D.   Beers 


Newtown,  Conn. 


3Samuel  Beers  son  of  2Nathan  married  Anna  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Henry     Beers  m.     1st  Betsey  Glover,  2nd  Julia  Beers  " 

4  Amariah  "  "      Betsey  Curtis  "  " 

4  Charles         "  " 

Henry  called  Harry,  1st  President  Newtown  Savings  Bank. 


5  *Julia  E.  Beers 
5  *Booth  G. 
5  Charlotte 


Julia  Beers 
ch.  & 

Harry  Beers 


Charlotte  Beers  married  1st.  A.  R.  T.  Nichols 

2nd  Edward  Gebhard 


3  Samuel 
Their  Ch. 


Jr. 


4  Sally      Maria       Beers 
4  Julia  " 

4  David  B. 
4  Charlotte 

4  Harriet  " 

5  *Rev.  John  Samuel  " 

5  *Emma  E.        d.  young 
5  *George     d.  16  yrs. 

5  *Emma  S.  " 

6  Charlotte  Louise  " 
6  George  Emerson  " 
6  John  Howard  " 
6  Susan  Wakeman  " 
6  Henry  Sherman     " 

6  Eleanor  Margaret  " 

7  Henry  Sherman  " 
7  Margaret  Lowry    " 


m.     Charlotte  Booth 


unm. 
m.     Harry  Beers 
"      Margaret  Pray 
"      unmarried. 
"      George  B.  Beers 


Greenfield  Hill,  Conn. 
Schoharie,  N.  Y. 


Ithaca.  N.  Y. 

Was  Gen  Missionary  of  W.  Mass. 
Margaret   Pray  Brookfield,  Conn, 

ch.  & 

David  B.  Beers  Newtown,  Conn. 


M.  Josephine  Wakeman    Greenfield  Hill  Ct. 
ch.  & 

Rev.  John  S.  Beers  d.  Natick,  Mass. 

Margaret  Lowry 
ch.  & 

George  Emerson  Beers 


BIRCH 

1  William    Birch    m.    Catherine    Hubbell    daughter    of    Peter    Hubbell    1750 
Their  Ch. 

2  Ezra.  Nehemiah,  Sarah,  Delight,  Catherine,  William,  Lamson. 


3  *David  Meeker  Birch 
3  *William  Nichols    " 
3  *Polly  Ann 
3  Sally    Maria 


Polly  Nichols  1st  wife         Newtown,  Conn, 
ch.  & 

Lamson  Birch 


18  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

Birch  Betty  Perry  2nd  wife,  Newtown,  Conn. 

Hannah  Thompson  Lake 
Widow  of  Ezra  Lake  3rd  wife 
Joanna  Glover  Botsford  "  " 

Widow  of  Henry  Botsford  4th  wife  " 

Mary  Ann  (Glover)  Glover 
Widow  of  James  Glover  5th  wife  " 

Mary  Ann  Glover,  5th  wife  of  Lamson  Birch  lived  to  the  age  of  102  years. 

.  i^         11"     i-  Sally  M.  Birch  "  " 

4*Corneha     Curtis^  ^^  ^ 

"^    J^"«  Philo  Curtis 

Ch.  3Polly  Ann  Birch  and  Philo  Lake  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  *Catherine       Lake  m.  Amos  Hard  "                " 

4  ♦Hannah  Ann       "  "  John  S.  Hubbard  Meriden,  Conn. 

4-  *Ezra  Birch  "  '"  Melissa  Saxton 

4  *Lamson  Birch     "  "  Sarah  M.  Beers  1st  Newtown,  Conn. 

Sylvia  M.  Beers  2nd 

Catherine  Lake 

5  Chester  Hard  ch.  & 

Amos  Hard 

John  S.  Hubbard 
5  *John  Beers  Hubbard    ch        & 

Hannah  A.  Lake 

e  TvT         Tj    T    1  „  Melissa  Saxton  East  Randolph,  N.  Y. 

5  Nora  B.  Lake  r^    -^  ^u  s 

r  */-v  ,(       1  wins  ch.  & 

^    ^^^  Ezra  B.  Lake  Cherry  Creek,  N.  Y. 

Ch.  Lamson  B.  Lake  and  Sarah  M.  Beers  1st  wife  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  Carrie     Louise     Lake  m.     Frank  A.  Mallet  (no  ch.)  Monroe     " 

5  *Frederick  Beers    "  d.  in  young  manhood 

5  Katherine  Augusta"  m.     William  C.  Johnson  (no  ch.)  Newtown,  " 

c  /-  ■c^■     u  .^u     <•  Sylvia  M.  Beers  2nd  wife  Passaic,  N.  J. 

5  Grace  Elizabeth  '-h  & 

5  Florence  Amelia    "  ^   '   Lamson  B.  Lake 

Ch.  Chester  Hard  and  Ida  Harkness  Painesville,  Ohio 

5  Elmo   Amos       Hard  n.     Eva  Kenne}'-  "  " 

5  Cora  "  d.  young.  "  " 

5  Florence  Esther  "  "      Elmer  B.  Kimmel  "  " 

6  Harkness  Gould  "  In  U.  S.  Service. 

Corp  Harkness  G.  Hard  C.  G.  23rd.  Engineers  in  France. 


BLACKMAN    or   BLAKEMAN 

The  Commemorative  Biographical  Record  states  : 

1  "John  Blackman  b.  1685  grandson  of  Rev.  Adam  Blakeman  of 
Stratford,  was  one  of  a  company  of  fifty-two  who  purchased  the  township 
of  Newtown  of  the  Colonial  Government  and  removed  there  in  1713. 

He  m.  Abigail  Beers. 

Their  Children  : 

2  Martha     Blackman  b.  1714  m.  Abel  Botsford  Newtown,  Conn 
"  1716   "  Samuel  Beers  (see  Beers)  "  " 
"  1720   "  Margery  Glover                               "                " 
"  1723    "  Mary  Smith                            Brookfield,  Conn. 
"  1726    "  Elizabeth  Glover                   Newtown,  Conn. 
"  1730   "  Huldah  Griffin 


2  Abigail 
2  Capt.  John 
2  Ebcnezer 
2  Joseph 

2  James 

3  John  son  of  Capt.  2John  m.  Diamah  Seeley 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


19 


4  Simeon  Seeley  son  of  3John  m.  Lucy  Northrop, 
Their  Ch. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


5  *Eliza     Blackman 
5  *Harriet  " 

5  *Sarah  " 

5  *Sophia 
5  *Emeline  " 


m.     Charles  Sherman  (no  ch.)       Danbury,    " 
Robert  N.  Hawley  (See  Hawley)  Newtown 

Bethel,  Conn. 


"  Andrew  Sherman 
"  Dr.  Ransom  Lyon 
"      Robert  Adams  Clarke 

(See  Freegrace  Adams) 
m.     Leonard  Smith  (no  ch.) 

Sarah  Blackman 
ch  & 

Andrew  Sherman 
m.     Lillian  Stearley 

Sophia  Blackman 
ch.  & 

Dr.  Ransom  Lyon 

2  Ch.  Ebenezer  Blackman  and  Mary  Smith 


6  Mary  Helen  Sherman 
6  Frederick  " 

6  *Edward  Lyon 


3  Marv        Blackman 

3  Philo 

3  Lois 

3  Anna  " 

3  Niram  " 

3  Ebenezer  " 

4  Ebenezer  " 

4  Ammon  Booth  " 

5  Mary  " 
5  Nirom  " 
5  Hiram  " 

5  William 

6  Philo  Booth 


4  Benjamin  Hawley 

5  Henry  B. 


6  Frederick  Roe 

6  Sarah  A. 
6  Alva  D. 
6  William  B. 

6  Mary  B. 

7  Irving    Roe    Vail 
7  Grace  Elizabeth  " 

1  John      Blackman 

2  Ebenezer  " 

3  Nirom  " 

Their  Ch. 

4  Irena        Blackman 
4  Esther 

4  Maria 
4  Clark 
4  Seabury  " 


m. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


m. 


ch, 


ch. 


m. 


m. 


Turner 
Eunice  Peck 

Liverius  Hawley 
Phebe  Sanford 
Abagail  Goodrich 
Eunice  Peck 

& 
3Philo  Blackman 

.Abigail  Goodrich 

& 
Ebenezer  Blackman 


Bethel,  Conn. 

Bethel,  Conn. 

Brookfield,  Conn. 
<i  <i 

«  II 

«  II 

Brookfield,  Conn. 

Amenia,  N.  Y. 
Brookfield,  Conn. 


Caroline  Skidmore  1st  wife 

& 
Ammon  B.  Blackman         Brookfield,  Conn. 
Eliza  Weed  Sherman  2nd  wife 

3Anna  Blackman 

& 
Liverius  Hawley 
Betsey  Peck 

& 
Benjamin   Hawley 
Esther  Skidmore 
(See  Skidmore  record) 


5Mary  Blackman 

& 
Harvey  Roe 

Mary  Blackman  Roe 

& 
Frederick  Vail 

Abigail  Beers 
Mary  Smith 
Phebe  Sanford 


Alfred  Piatt 
Starr  Ferry 
David  Northrop 

Anna  Booth 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


Danburv.  Conn. 


Waterbory,  Conn. 

Bethel 

Brookfield      " 

Newtown,  Conn. 


20  GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 

5  Clark  Ferry 

5  Oris  S.  "  Esther  Bleckman 

5  Leroy  "  ch.  & 

5  Maria  Esther       "  Starr  Ferry  Bethel,  Conn. 

Senator  Orris  S.  Ferry,  born  Aug.  15,  1823.  Elected  in  1859  to  Thirty- 
sixth  Congress.  At  opening  of  Civil  War  was  Colonel  of  Fifth  Regiment, 
Conn.  Volunteers.  Commissioned  Brigadier  General  by  President  Lincoln 
March  17,  1862.  Elected  U.  S.  Senator  bv  Conn.  Legislature  in  1866;  re- 
elected in  1872.     Died  at  Norwalk,  Conn.  Nov.  21,  1875. 

6  Legrand      Randall  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 
6  Clarke                    " 

6  *Leroy  "  Maria  E.  Ferry  Bethel,  Conn. 

6  Orris  "  ch.  & 

6  *Charlotte  "  Charles  Randall  Roxbury        " 

6  *Sarah  "  New  Milford 

Alice  Couch  1st  wife  Norwalk        " 

7  Alice  Couch  "  ch.  & 

Leroy  Randall  New  Milford        " 

m.     George  Allen 

-  T        D      J   11  Mary  Potter  2nd  wife   New  Milford,  Conn. 

7  Lee  Randall  ch  & 

7  Mary  Ethel  "  '    Leroy  Randall 

5  Emily     Northrop  Maria     Blackman 

5  Julia  "  ch.  & 

5  Esther  "  David  Northrop 

"  "  m.     1st  Ely  Booth  Dayton  Ohio 

"    2nd  Henry  Andrews  Brookfield,  Conn. 

Desc.  of  4  Seabury  son  of  3Niram 

Anna  Booth 

5  *Pheobe  Jane  Blackman      ch.  &  Newtown,  Conn. 

Seabury  Blackman  "  " 

6  *Katherine  Wolf  Glidden 

6  *Clarence  "  Phoebe  Jane  Blackman 

6  Estella  M.  "  ch.                    &  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

6  Jennie  Seabury  "                          Carlos  Glidden  "  " 

6  Minnie  Maud  "                          Pratt  Institute  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Carlos  Glidden  assisted  financially  by  C.  Latham  Sholes,  invented  the 
first  successful  typewriter;  the  one  known  as  the  Remington.  It  was  at 
first  called  the  Sholes  and  Glidden  type-writer,  and  the  No.  1,  machine 
bears  that  name.  The  name  Sholes  was  placed  first  in  deference  to  his 
years.    He  was  much  older  than  Mr.  Glidden. 

7  Glidden  Perkins  Estella  M.  Glidden 
7  Stella  Frances     "                  ch.  & 

7  Marion  Glidden  "  George  Francis  Perkins 

7  Marion  Glidden  Perkins     .m.     Horace    Glenwood    Gemmill 

4  David  S.  son  of  3John,  b.  1782,  m.  Fanny  Peck. 

5  Isaac        Blackman  Fanny  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 
5  Sally                       "                  ch.                   & 

5  Ebenezer  "  David  S.  Blackman  "  " 

6  James  M.  "  Sally  Bennett 
6  Fanny                     "                  ch.  & 

6  Isaac  Percy  "  Ebenezer  Blackman  Passaic,  N.  J. 

-  T  T?  "  Sarah  Wilkins  Boston,  Mass. 

7  Lucy  F.  ch  & 

7  Maude  H.  «  "   j^mes  M.  Blackman  Newtown,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  21 

7  Pauline  T  Blackman  Jessie  P.  Mitchell  Passaic,  N.  J. 

7  Olive  M.   '  .,  ^^-  T  15  ^      Tj,     , 

Isaac  Percy  Blackman 

3  3Ebenezer,  4John,  5Joseph,  6Joseph,  6Daniel. 

6  Joseph  Blackman  m.     Huldah  Toucey  Newtown,  Conn 

Their  Ch.  gr.  dau.  Rev.  Thomas  Toucey 

7  *James  Glover  "  Newtown,  Conn. 
7  *John  Toucey      "                   m.     Sally  Baldwin  "  " 

7  *Ziba  "  "  Augusta    Blakeslee  "  " 

7  *Donald  "  "  Louisa  Piatt 

7  *Joseph  "  "  Mary  Botsford  Bailey 

7  ♦Alaria  "  "  Abner  Peck  Blakeslee        Plymouth,  Conn. 

Removed    to    Des    Moines.    Iowa 

Des.  of  Ziba  (see  Blakeslee  line.") 
Des.  of  Donald  and  Louisa  Piatt 

8  *Maria  Louise  Blackman  m.  Wm.  D.  B.  Ferris  (See  Ferris)  Newtown, 
8  *Harriet  Brown  "  "  1st  wife  David  Curtis  New  Haven,  Conn. 
8  Sarah  Elizabeth    "  "     2nd  wife  "  "  (see  Curtis)       "    " 

Desc.  of  7Joseph  Blackman  and  Mary  Botsford  Bailey 

8  *Julia  Esther  Blackman  d.  in  girlhood 

8  Ann  Elizabeth      "  Mary  Botsford  Bailey         Newtown,  Conn. 

8  Joseph  Albert      "  ch.  & 

8  Mary  Frances      "  Joseph  Blackman  "  " 

Ch.  Joseph  Albert   Blackman   and   Mary  Warner: 

9  Mary  Elizabeth  Blackman  unm.  Danbury,  Conn. 
9  Stanley  Joseph    "                  m.     Sarah  Miner                   South  Britain        " 

9  Albert  Francis     "  unm.  Newtown,        " 

9  Henry  Warner    "  m.     Caroline  Clark  New  Britain        " 

9  Eva  Hutchinson  "  m.     Clarence  Naramore  Bridgeport        " 

10  Clarence  Naramore  .  ^^^  Hutchinson  Blackman  Bridgeport 
10  Mary  Blackman  "                  ^^^^  Qarence  B.  Naramore 

Ch.  Rev.  F.  W.  Barnett  and  Mary  Frances  Blackman  Newtown,  Conn. 

9  Rev.  Francis  Blackman  Barnett,  Rector  of  Christ  Church,  Ridley  Park 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Chaplain  in  U.  S.  Army  in  France. 

9  Mary  Pritchard  Barnett 

9  Rev.  Joseph  Noyes        "  Lieut,  in  U.  S.  Service  in  France 

9  Lieut.  William  Edward"  Now  in  France 

10  Dorothy  Barnett  Emily  Hale  Ridley  Park 
10  Francis                  "                  ch.                   & 

10  Walter  "  Rev.  F.  B.  Barnett  Phila.,  Pa. 

6  Daniel     Blackman  m.     Lois  Skidmore  Newtown,  Conn. 

Their  Ch. 

7  Lucy  "  m.     John  Curtis   (See  Curtis) 

7  Letty  "  unm. 

7  Esther  "  m.     Dibble  Camp  (See  Camp)  " 

7  Sybil  "  unm. 

7  Polly  Ann  "  m      Dibble  Fairchild  (See  Fairchildl 

7  Harriet  "  unm. 

1  James  "  m.     Sylvia  Hitchcock 

2  Samuel  "  m.     Eunice  Skidmore 


"22 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Their  Ch. 
3  James         Blackman 
3  Abel  Beers 
3  Lucy 
3  Lacy 

3  Marietta  " 

3  Bennett  " 

3  Clark 


Hannah  Turner 
Lucy  Maria  Barnum 
William  Guyer 
Clara   Lyon 
Wilson  Lyon 
Hepsa  Shepard 
Sarah  Ann    Shepard 


Newtown,  Conn 
Bethel 

Bridgeport        " 
Redding        " 
Newtown, 


Ch.  Hannah  Turner  and  James  Blackman 

m 


4  *Eliza        Blackman 
4  *Reuben  Starr     " 
4  ♦Mary  " 

4  ♦Margaret  " 

4  ♦Cornelia  " 

4  ♦Caroline     Blackman 
4  James  Leroy        " 

4  ♦Frances  " 


Henry  Stevens 
Elizabeth  Lake 
Thaddeus  HoUister 
James  Baldwin 


Bethel 
Danbury,  Conn. 
2nd  wife,  Clark  T.  Jackson,  Brookfield, 
Thomas  Bristol  no  ch.      Brookfield,  Conn. 
Elizabeth  Barlow  1st  Redding        " 

Elizabeth  Austin  Bennett  2nd 
1st  wife,  Clark  T.  Jackson,  Brookfield     " 


Ch.  Eliza  Blackman  and  Henry  Stevens. 


5  Hattie 
5  Charles 
5  James 

5  ♦George 

6  Ruth 

6  Daniel 
6  Harry 

6  Eliza 

7  Harriet 
7  Franklin 


6  Annie 
6  Bertha 


Stevens 


Taylor 


unm 
unm. 


Houghton 


Stevens 


7  Charles  Andrews 

7  Tennette  Morgan 

7  Helen 

7  Marion  " 

7  Frances  " 

7  Starr 

7  Gladys  " 

5  Florence  E.  Blackman 
5  Charles  J.  " 

5  Henry  S.  " 

5  Eliza  S. 

6  John     S.     Drew 


7  Eleanor 
7  Elizabeth 


6  Lottie  E.  Blackman 


m.     Eliad  Taylor 

"     Helen  Osborne 

"      Lary  Durant  (no  ch.) 

"      Bertha  Ward  (no  ch.) 

Hattie  Stevens 
ch.  & 

Eliad  Taylor 

Eliza  Taylor 
ch.  & 

Frank  Houghton 

Helen  Osborne 
ch.  & 

Charles  Stevens 

Annie  Stevens 
ch.  & 

Leroy  Andrews 

Bertha  Stevens 
ch.  & 

Frank  Morgan 


Elizabeth  Lake 
ch.  & 

Reuben  S.  Blackman 

Florence  E.  Blackman 
ch.  & 

Frank  Drew 

Grace  Lockard 
ch.  & 

John  Drew 

Augusta  Blackman 
ch.  & 

Charles  J.  Blackman 


Waterbury,        " 
Waterbury,  Conn. 

Waterbury,  Conn. 
Danbury,  Conn. 


Danbury,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 

Newtown,  Conn. 
Bridgeport,         " 
Newtown,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


23 


7  Laura        Ruffels 
7  Wm.  Clark   " 

6  Flora  E.  Blackman 
6  Arthur  S.  " 

6  Herbert  M. 


7  Catherine  Virginia  Cook      ch 
7  Arthur  Starr,  Ch. 


6  Edward 
6  Pierce 
6  Earl 
6  Florence 
6  Harriet 
6  Jesse 
6  Grace 


3  Ella  Holister 


Leverich 


ch. 

Lottie  E.  Blackman, 
& 
Frank  Ruffels  .. 

Newtown,  Conn. 

ch. 

Catherine  Foster 

& 
Henry   S.   Blackman 

Danbury,    Conn. 

ch 

Flora  E.  Blackman 

& 
Irving  Cook 

6Arthur  S.  Blackman 

m. 

Maud  Cody 

Lieut,    in   U.    S.   Army 

Eliza  Blackman 

Egg  Harbor,  Wis. 
Sparta,  Wis. 

ch. 


ch. 


m.    Adolph  Tumerell 

Ch.  4Margaret  Blackman  and 

5  *Mary  Eliza  Baldwin  m. 

5  William  D. 

5  Jennie 

5  John 

5  Robert 

5  *Dwight 

5  *Louis 


& 
James  W.  Leverich 


4Mary  Blackman  Bethel 

& 
Thaddeus  Hollister 


6  Louis  " 

6  William  " 

6  Eugenie  " 

7  Catherine  Schafer' 
7  Robert 


6  Margaret  Godfrey 


6  Robert  Gordon  Baldwin 
6  Hazel 


6  Dwight 
6  Dorothy 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


5  Charles  Jackson  . 

m.  Maude  Crosby  ^^^  ^^^     " 

5  *Cornelia  Jackson  . 

m.  W.  J.  Beehler  ,  ^     ,   .  *^"' 

5  *Starr      Blackman 

5  Bessie  "  ch. 

5  Lloyd 


James  Baldwin 

Wm.  Wheeler  no  ch. 

Annie  Monroe  Danbury,  Conn. 

Wm.  Godfrey 

Lottie  Pierce  no  ch.  Hartford,  Conn. 

Carrie  Gordon 
Lottie  Peete 
unm. 

Annie  Monroe  Danbury,  Conn. 

& 
Wm.  D.  Baldwin 

Catherine   Schafer  "  ** 

& 
6Louis  Baldwin 

Jennie  Baldwin  Danbury,  Conn. 

& 

Wm.  Godfrey 

Carrie  Gordon 

& 
Robert  Baldwin 

Lottie  Peete 

& 
Dwight  Baldwin 

Frances  Blackman  1st  wife      Newtown.  Ct. 

Clark  T.  Jackson 

Cornelia  Blackman  2nd  wife  Brookfield.  Ct 

& 
Clark  T.  Jackson 

Elizabeth  Barlow  1st  wife 

& 
James  Leroy  Blackman        Redding,  Conn. 

Elizabeth  Austin  Bennett  2nd  wife 


24  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

5  Bessie       Blackmail  ni.     Aaron  Sanford  (no  ch.)        Redding,  Conn. 

Gertrude  Von  Gal 

6  Amy  Elizabeth     "  ch.  & 

Lloyd  Blackman  Redding,  Conn. 

3  Lucy  Maria  Barnum  and  Abel  Beers  Blackman 

4  George     Blackman  Bethel,  Conn. 
4  Theodore               "  " 
4  Elizabeth               "  m.    Joel  Seymour  " 
4  *Augusta                "  "      Edwin  Short  1st  wife  " 
4  Lucy                        "  "      George  Osborn  " 

4  Mary  "  "      Edwin  Short  2nd  wife  " 

5  Rev.  Williams.  Short  ,     Augusta  Blackman  1st  wife 
«                   ch.  & 


5  Grace 


Edwin  Short 


6  Carrie  E.  " 

6  Edwin  T.  "  Lottie  A.  Wheeler 

6  Seabury  T.  "  ch.  & 

6  Wm.  Frederick  "  Rev.  Wm.  S.  Short  Santa  Rosa,  Calif. 

6  Lucy  E.  Spittle  SGrace  Short  Astoria,  Oregon 

6  Samuel  "  ch.  & 

6  John  "  Frank  Spittle  " 

4  Lucy  Blackman  and  William  Guyer 

5  Henry  Guyer  William  Guyer 

6  Esther         "  ch.  & 

5  Juliette        "  Lusy    Blackman 

Clara  Lyon  and  3Lacey  Blackman 

4  Smith     Blackman 

4  Henry  " 

4  Hart 

4  Monroe  " 

4  Eunice  Ann  "  Mrs.  Charles  Way 

4  Lorintha  "  "       Elmer  Shepard 

4  Emily  "  "      David  Bulkley 

4  Annis 

3  Ch.  Marietta  Blackman  and  Wilson  Lyon 

5  Susan  Lyon  Mrs.  George  Lane 
5  William    " 

4  *Susan  J.  Blackman  ,     ^^P'^  Shepard  1st  wife      Newtown,  Conn. 
-            -             «                        ch.  & 


4  John  H. 


Bennett  Blackman 
Elizabeth  Piatt  2nd  wife 


Bethel,  Conn. 


5  Bennett  Short  ,     S"'^"  J.   Blackman 

5  Julia  "  ^^-  ^    .       cu     . 
•^  Rufus  Short 

6  Royal    Ferry  Julia  Short  " 
6  Leonard      "                              ch.                    & 

6  Harold         "  Theodore    Ferry  "  " 

6  Ruth 

Sarah  Ann  Shepard  and  3Clark  Blackman  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  *Samuel  Ambrose  Blackman  m.  Anna  A.  Barnum  "  " 

4  Mary  Augusta     "  m.     Charles  Blackman  "  " 

4  Charlotte   E.        "  "     3rd  wife,  Clark  T.  Jackson 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  25 

5  Clark  Blackman  m.     Roberta  Neville,  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  Dr.  Claude  "  .     ^""^  ^-  Barnum 

u  en.  & 

Samuel  A.  Blackman  "  " 


5  Frank 


6  Clara  "  Clara  Williams  New  Milford,  Conn. 

6  Gordon  "  ch.  & 

6  Phyllis  "  Dr.  Claude  Blackman 

Florence  Edwards 
6  Allen  "  ch.  & 

Frank  Blackman 

5  Sarah  L.  Jackson  .     Charlotte  E.  Blackman  3rd  wife 

m.  Arthur  H.  Osmon  ^   •  ^i^^k  T.  Jackson  Brookfield,  Conn. 

BLAKESLEE. 

"Ziba  Blakeslee  is  said  to  have  been  a  most  skilled  workman  and  manu- 
factured all  kinds  of  jewelry.  His  advertisement  in  the  Farmers  Journal, 
Dec.  22,  1792,  shows  that  he  carried  on  at  the  head  of  the  Street  in 
Newtown,  the  goldsmith's  business  in  all  its  branches;  cast  bells  for 
Churches,  made  and  repaired  surveyor's  instruments,  church  clocks  and 
clocks  of  all  kinds." 

1  Ziba  Blakeslee  m.     Mehitable  Botsford  Newtown,  Conn. 

2  Charles  "  "     Jane  Botsford  Woodbury, 

2  William  "  "     Chloe  Fairman  Newtown,  Conn. 

2  Augusta  "  "      Ziba   Blackman  "  " 

Ch.  William  "  &     Chloe  Fairman  "  " 

3  *James  Beach  "  m.  Susan  J.  Beers  "  " 
3  *Eliza  Maria  "  "  Henry  Beers  Glover  <"  " 
3  *Charles  Fairman  "                 "     Ella  M.  Hugus 

3  *Sophia  Augusta  "  "      Daniel  G.  Hammond  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

3  *William  Ziba      "  "      Eliza  Dingman 

3  *Mary  Jane  "  d.  in  infancy 

3  *Geo.  Benjamin    "  unm.  Newtown,  Conn. 

3  *Mary  2nd  "  unm. 

3  Sarah  Grace         "  "      Samuel  Curtis  Glover  "  " 


4  *Carrie 


Susan  J.  Beers 
ch.  & 


4  •Annie                     '  '  james  B.  Blakeslee          St.  Petersburg.  Pa. 

Ch.  Charles  F.  Blakeslee  and  Ella  Hugus  Franklin,  Pa. 

4  Florence  Glover  "  m.     Rollin  Coleman  Smith     Los  Angeles,  Calf. 

4  Charles  Fairman"  "      Marion  Aida  Coulter             " 

5  Florence  Blakeslee  Smith  Florence  G.  Blakeslee 
5  Charles  Blakeslee       "  ch.                   & 

5  Rollin  Coleman            "  Rollin  C.  Smith 

Charles  Blakeslee  Smith  in  Signal  Service  Corps,  in  France 

4  *Mary  Grace  Hammond 

4  Eva                          "  Sophia  A.  Blakeslee              Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

4  Ella                         "  ch.                   & 

4  Sophie                    "  Daniel  Hammond 

4  Daniel 

5  *Grace  Northrop  Mary  Grace  Hammond        Newtown,  Conn. 
5  Eleanor       "  ch.                    & 

5  Nelson        "  *Charles  H.  Northrop 

Ch.  3William  Z.  Blakeslee  and  Eliza  Dingman  Butler,  Penn. 

4  William  S.  Blakeslee  m.     Dorothy  McKean                           "               'J 

4  Irene                       "  "     John  V.  Ritts 

4  *Isaac                      "  d.  young 


26 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


5  Dorothy  Irene  Blakeslee 
5  Dorothy  Irene     " 


Ch.  Irene 


5  Elias       Ritts 
5  Maud  A.     " 
5  Leonard      " 


4  Curtis  Glover 


Dorothy  McKean, 
ch.  & 

William  S.  Blakeslee 

&    John  V.  Ritts 

m.     Helen  Hunt  Here 
"      F'rank  Craig  Dickson 
"     Gladys  Clark 

Sarah  Grace  Blakeslee 
ch.  & 

Samuel  Curtis  Glover 


Butler,  Penn. 


Ch.  2Augusta  Blakeslee  and  Ziba  Blackman 


Newtowrn,  Conn. 


Newtow^n,  Conn. 


3  *Sarah     B 

lackman 

m 

3  *John 

" 

3  *Eliza 

" 

" 

3  *Mary 

" 

" 

3  Hattie 

" 

" 

3  Martha 

** 

Ch.  Sarah 

« 

& 

4  Martha  Ju 

idson 

m. 

4  John 

" 

Ch.  Martha  Judson 

5  Mary  Judson  Taylor 
5  Harriet  Benedict " 
5  Florence  Barker  " 


6  John  Judson  Breitling 

6  Edv/ard  Taylor  Young 

6  Martha       Ireland 
6  Anita  " 

6  Jane  " 


Dr.  Monroe  Judson 
d.  in  young  manhood 
Delos   Smith   (no  ch.) 
William  H.  Taylor 
James  Turney 
d.  young 

Dr.  Monroe  Judson 
E.  P.  Taylor 


&     E.  P.  Taylor 

m.     John  Adolph  Breitling 

"    Julius  Young 

"     James  Scott  Ireland 

Desc.  of  Sir  Walter  Scott 

Mary  J.  Taylor 
ch.  & 

John   A.   Breitling 

Harriet  B.  Taylor 
ch.  & 

Julius  Young 

Florence  Barker  Taylor 
ch.  & 

James  Scott  Ireland 


Oakland.  Calif. 


3  Mary  Blakeslee  Blackman   m.    Wm.  H.  Taylor 

Their  Ch. 

4  Dr.  Walter  Judson  Taylor  and  wife 


San  Francisco,  Cal. 


5  John  Meister  Taylor 
5  Elinor  " 

5  Walter  Judson  Jr.  " 

4  Maud  Blackman  Turney 

5  Mabel  Taylor  Woolsey 


Sacramento,  Calif, 
ch.     Dr.  Walter  Judson  Taylor         "  " 

Astoria,  Oregon 


Hattie  Blackman 
ch.  & 

James  Turney 

Maud  B.  Turney 
ch.  & 

Ammon  J.  Taylor 


Seattle,  Oregon 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Zl 


BOOTH 

1  Richard  Booth  first  settler  of  the  name  in  Stratford  in  1640. 

m.     Elizabeth  Hawley 

2  Sergeant  John,  son  of  IRichard  born  1653  m.  Dorothy  Hawley. 
He  served  in  the  Pequot  War. 

3  Jonathan,   son   of    Sergt.   John    b.    1681    m.   Hester   Galpin    and   came    to 
Newtown  in  1707. 

4  Lieut.  Daniel  son  of  3Jonathan  b.  1704  m.  Eunice  Bennett. 

5  Daniel  son  of  Lieut.  Daniel,  b.  1730,  m.  Huldah  Thompson 


Their  Ch. 

*Parthena 

*Thompson 

♦Daniel 

*Joseph 

*Phebe 

♦Huldah 

*Naomi 

♦Nichols 

Sabra 


Booth 


Jabez  Hawley  (See  Hawley)  Newtown,  Ct. 

Eunice   Coburn  "  " 

Sabra  Sherman  " 

Clara  Blackman  "  " 

unm. 

Cyrus  Sherman  (See  Sherman)  " 

unm.  "  •* 

died  young  "  " 

unm.  "  " 


Ch.  Daniel  Booth  and  Sabra  Sherman 


Julia     Ann 
Daniel  Lewis 


Booth 


m.     Cyrenius  Beecher  (no  ch.)  Wakeman,  Ohio 
"      Ist  Emelia  Randall  Bridegwater,  Conn. 

2nd  Jane  Ann  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

unm. 
"      George  Smith  Bridgewater        " 

"     Catherine  Eliza  Peters  Kent  " 

&     Emelia  Randall  1st  wife  Bridgewater      " 


7  Sarah  Irene  " 

7  Mary  Charlotte    " 

7  Walter  Sherman  " 

Ch.  Daniel  L.       " 

8  Daniel  Theodore  " 
8  ♦Nathan  Randall" 
8  ♦Justin  Sherman  " 
8  ♦Susan  Emelia      " 

Ch.  Daniel  L.       " 

8  ♦Emeline  Jane     " 
8  Lewis  .A^bner        " 
8  ♦Richard  Botsford" 
8  Joseph  Peck         " 

8  Rev.  Daniel  Theodore  Booth  m.  Mary  Nelson 

Rev.  Mr.  Booth  83  years  old  in  1918  living  in  Long  Beach.  California. 


♦Mary  Nelson 
Fidelia  Hamm 
Killed    in    Civil 
George  Fowler 


Long  Beach.  Cal. 

Bridgewater.  Conn. 

War    at    Mission     Ridge, 

Bridgewater,  Conn. 


& 
m. 


Jane  Ann  Peck  2nd  wife      Newtown,  Conn. 

Rev.  Joseph  Hillmer  Winona.  Minn. 

Watertown,  S.  Dakota 

died  young  Faribault,  Minn. 


9  Grace  Emelia  Booth 
9  Julia  Esther  " 

9  Mary  Seabury  " 
9  Lawrence  Nelson" 
9  Sarah  Irene  " 

9  Daniel  Norman    " 
9  Gertrude  Theodora  " 
9  William  Robert  " 
9  Mrirgaret  Louise  " 

9  Mar}' Esther  Nelson 

10  Tr.hn  Booth  Higgins 
10  Lawrence  Gilbert  " 


m     William  D.  Higgins 


twins 
twins 
twins 
twins  m. 


ch. 


10  Flennor  Laurane  Tompkins 
10  Margaret  Louise         "  ch. 

10  Allen  Coles 


Samuel  C.  Tompkins 


John  Clarkson  Mann 
Franklin  H.  Baxley 

Grace  Emelia  Booth 

& 
Wm.  D.  Higgins 

Sarah  Irene  Booth 

& 
Samual  Coles  Tompkins 


28 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


lOAIargaret  Mary  Mann 


Margaret  Louise  Booth 
ch.  & 

John  Clarkson  Mann 


9  Jennie  Aloisia  Monica  Hilmer 
9  Joseph  Booth  " 

9  Nonna  Theresa  "    ch. 

9  Elsie  Corinne  " 


Winona  Minn. 


10  Joseph  Lawrence  " 

10  Thurston  Booth  " 

10  Marjorie  Marie  " 

10  Edgar  Thompson  " 

10  Herbert  Julius  " 

10  Ralph    Gressins  " 

10  Bernice  Lorraine  Bagley 

10  Lucile  " 


10 Helen  Beverly  Meile 
10  Alice  Jane 

8  Julia  Frances  Smith 

8  Ada  Apphia 

9  Mary  Charlotte  Turrill 
9  Dr.  Henry  Smith" 

m.  Edith  Josephine  Ferris. 


10  Elizabeth  Bentlcy 


9  Grace  Carson  Mead 


ch. 


Emeline  Jane  Booth 
& 

Rev.  J.  J.  Hillmer,  Prof,  of  Ancient 

Languages    at    University. 


Bertha  Gressins 

& 
Joseph  Booth  Hillmer  Wessington  Springs 

S.  Dakota. 


Nonna  Theresa  Hillmer 
ch.  & 

Chester  A.  Bagley 


Denver  Colo. 
New  Ulm.,  Minn. 


Elsie  Corinne  Hillmer 
ch.  & 

Adolph  G.  Meile 

George  Smith  "  " 

ch.  & 

Mary  Charlotte  Booth   Bridgewater,  Conn. 

Frederick  Jay  Turrill 
ch.  & 

Julia  Frances  Smith  "  " 

Medical  Adviser  at  Kent  School,  Kent,  Conn., 

Mary  Charlotte  Turrill 
ch.  & 

Charles  Prentice  Bentley 


10*Joseph  Carson  Wellwood 
10  Francis  Caldwell " 


Ada  Apphia  Smith 
ch.  & 

Carson  Beers  Mead 

ch.  & 

Grace  Carson  Mead 
Frank  Wellwood 


Brigdewater,  Conn. 


Joseph  Carson  Wellwood  enlisted  in  1st  Conn.  Ambulance  Co.  Changed 
in  England  to  102nd  Ambulance  Co.  26th  Div.  101st.  Sanitary  Train  and 
promoted  to  104th  Field  Hospital.  Died  of  Scarlet  fever  in  France  Feb. 
17th  1918,  aged  19  yrs.  9  mos. 


8  *Harriet  Gertrude  Booth 
8  *John  Peters 
8  Walter  Sherman,  Jr.  " 
8  *Henry  Whipple  " 

8  William  Hull 

9  Catherine  Elizabeth  Abel 
9  Marie  Albertine  " 


9  Lillie  May  Booth 
9  William  Henry  " 


Catherine  E.  Peters 
ch.  & 

Walter  S.  Booth 

Harriet  G.  Booth 
ch.  & 

Wilhelm  August  Abel 
m.     Rev.  Wm.  E.  Warren 


b.  Canaan,  Conn. 
Kent,  Conn. 

Rochester,  Minn. 
Minneapolis,  Minn. 


9  Coi 


Nettie  Amelia  Nelson  1st  wife     Rochester, 
ch.  8z  Minn. 

Walter  S.  Booth  Jr. 

Rertha  M.  Townsend  2nd  wife  "  " 

ch.  & 

Walter  S.  Booth,  Jr. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


29 


4Lieut.  Daniel,  SEzra,  6Austin,  7Cyrus  A. 

"       *  m.    Abigail  Botsford 


6  Austin  Booth 
Their  Ch. 

7  Ezra       Booth 
7  Cyrus  A.     " 

7  Henry  " 

8  William  White  Booth 
8  Charles  Austin     " 


9  Harriet  Mabel     " 
9  Marion  Elizabeth 


Newtown,  Conn. 


10  Donald  Clark 


10  William  Booth  Bunn 
10  Elizabeth 

9  Harry     H.     Booth 

9  Charles  L. 

9  Catherine  " 


10  Jane 


10  Ralph        Heuch  Jr. 
10  Flora  Tane  " 

10  Charles  Booth      " 

8  Sarah  White  Booth 

8  John  Henry 

9  Rev.  John  Booth  Clark 
9  Rev.  David  William  " 

9  Corp.  Hobart  Hare  " 
Now  in  France 

9  John  Parkhurst  Booth 
9  Robert  Cyrus       " 
9  Catherine  " 


Vergennes,   Vt. 


Richmond  Hill,  L.  L 


m.     Sophia  Whalley 

Catherine  White  1st  wife 

Sarah  Brace  White  2nd  wife 

Catherine  White  1st  wife 
ch.  & 

Cyrus  A.  Booth 

Elizabeth  Lane 
ch.  & 

William  W.  Booth 

Harriet  M.  Booth 
ch.  & 

Geo.  K.  Clark 

Marion  E.  Booth 
ch.  & 

Albert  C.  Bunn 

Flora  Burge 
ch.  & 

Charles  A.  Booth 

Mary  Rich 
ch.  & 

Harry  H.  Booth 

Catherine  Booth 
ch.  & 

Ralph  Heuch 

Sarah  Grace  White  2nd  wife 
ch.  & 

Cyrus  Booth 

Sarah  White  Booth        Rosebud,  S.  Dakota 
ch.  &  Rapid  City 

Rev.  A.  B.  Clark        Hot  Springs  S.  Dakota 

Maria   Parkhurst 
ch.  & 

John  Henry  Booth 


7  Ch.  Ezra  Booth  and  Sophia  Whalley 
Booth 


8  ♦William 
8  *Lucy 
8  *Ellen 
8  Richard 
8  Ada 
8  Austin 


9  Arthur  E. 

9  Agnes  F. 

10  William  W. 
10  Fred  A. 
lOHermon  T. 
10  Ezra  W. 
10  Ralph  F. 

10  Margaret  E. 


m.  Thrirza  Field 

"  Solomon  Williams 

"  David  C.  Peck 

"  Carrie  Barnes 

"  Wallace  Higbee 

"  Louise  Porter 

Thirza  Field 
ch.  & 

William  Booth 
m.  David  C.  Peck  2nd  wife 


Mary  A.  Ward 
ch.  & 

Arthur  E.  Booth 


Vergennes,  Vt. 

Ferresburv,  Vt. 

Charlotte,  Vt. 

Newtown.  Conn. 

Vergennes,  Vt. 

Charlotte,  Vt. 

Ferrisburg  Vt. 

Waltham.  Vt. 


Shelburne,  Vt. 


30 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


9  Alice  Williams 

9  Ezra  Booth      " 
9  Flora 

9  John 

10  Marsh  Byington 
10  Hazel 
lOJanice 

10  Charles    Williams 
10  Harold 

9  *Ada   Booth  Peck 
9  *Cora  E. 


♦Lucy  Booth 
ch.  & 

Solomon  Williams 

Alice  Williams 
ch.  & 

Burton  Byington 

Jessie  Elliott 
ch.  ch. 

Ezra   B.   Williams 

Ellen  Booth 
ch.  & 

David  C.  Peck 


Charlotte,  Vt. 


Carrie  Barnes 
ch.  & 

Richard  Booth 

Susan  Merritt 
ch.  & 

Fred  B.  Booth 

Ada  Booth 
ch.  & 

Wallace  Higbee 

Louise  Porter 
ch.  & 

Austin  Booth 

Alice  Wilkins 
ch.  & 

Herbert   A.   Booth 

Ch.  Seabury  Booth  and  Lucinda  Sanford  : 
7  Anna  Booth  m.     Seabury  Blackman 

(See  Blackman) 
7  Lewis        "  "     Harriet 

7  William    "  "      Mary  Rice 

7  Carlos       "  "      Elizabeth  Fairchild 

7  Henry       " 
7  Charles     "  "      Emily  Gregory 

7  Ely  "  "      Esther  Northrop 

Ch.  Carlos  Booth  and  Elizabeth  Fairchild 

8  Luncinda  Booth 
8  *Henry  Sanford  " 
8  *Levi  Burtis  " 


9  Fred  R.  Booth 


10  Lucy 
10  Rachel 

9  Mabel  Higbee 
m. 
Henry  Hill 

9  Herbert  A.  Booth 


10  Flora 
10  Austin 
10  Richard 


& 


Newtown,  Conn. 


New  York,  City 
Ferrisburg  Vt. 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 

St.  Louis  Mo. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Daj'ton,  Ohio 


Newtown,  Conn. 


8  *Charles 
8  ♦Anna  Elizabeth  " 
8  ♦Emily  Louise  " 
8  Carlos  Tracy        " 

8  *Cora  Frances      " 

9  Harry  Cook 
9  ♦Lillian     " 

9  Bertha      " 

10  Harry  Cook  Mitchell 
m.  Sarah  Beers 

9  Philo  Clarke  Booth 


m.     Henry  Cook 

unm. 
m.     Sophia  Clark 

unm. 
m.     John  Blackman  (no  ch.) 
"      Charles  Canfield  (no  ch.) 
"      Lillie  Robinson 
"     Elliott  M.  Peck  (See  Peck) 


Newtown,  Conn. 


ch. 


ch, 


Lucinda  Booth 

& 
Henry  Cook 

Bertha  Cook 

& 
Amos  Mitchell 


Newtown,  Conn. 
Hartford,  Conn, 


Sophia  Clarke 
ch.  & 

Levi  Burtis  Booth 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


31 


Ch.  Cora  Frances  Booth  and  Elliott  M.  Peck 
9  Eugene  Marshall  Peck  m.     Florence  Clark 

9  Tracy  " 

9  Cora  May 


Alaude  Estelle  Ives 
Cliflford  Russell 


10  Benjamin     Russell 
10  Anna  May  " 

10  Sterling 


ch. 


Cora  May  Peck 

& 
Clifford  Russell 


Ch.  Charles  Booth  and  Emily  Gregory 

8  Rev.  Robert  C.  Booth  m.     Mary  Carter 

9  Robert  "  their  Ch. 

8  Louise  "  m.     Capt.  Albert  W.  Peck 

(For  desc.  see  Peck  record.) 

6  Joseph  Booth  m.  Clara  Blackman. 

Their  Ch. 

7  »Elmer      Booth 
7  *Nichols 
7  *Josiah  " 
7  *Charlotte     " 
7  *Daniel 


Brookfield,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 
New  York,  N.  Y. 

Newtown,  Conn 


Ann  Curtis 

Antoinnette  Pray   (ch.  d.  in  early  life) 

Sarah  Morehouse  (no  ch.)  Newtown,  Conn 

unm. 

unm. 


8  *Sarah 

8  *  Mary  Ann    " 

9  Harriet  Somers  Bronson 
9  Ann  Tomlinson  " 

9  *Mary  Esther 

9  Anna  T.  Downs 

10  Mary  Booth  Cramer 
10  Fannie  Bristol    " 

10  Wm  Bronson      " 


11  Cecil  Johnston 

11  William.  T.  Forden  Jr. 
11  *WinstonDent    " 
11  Louise  Dent         " 
11  Sterling  Cramer  " 
11  Raymond  Burnett     " 

11  John  Richard  Cramer 
11  "Baby  Girl  1918       " 

1  Philo  Booth 

Their  Ch. 

2  Charles        Booth 
2  Dr.  Cyreneus  " 

1  Andrew  Booth  m.  Anna 
Their  Ch. 

2  Orville     Booth 
2  Russell 

2  DeJana         '" 
2  Elon 


*Ann  Curtis 
ch.  & 

♦Elmer  Booth 

Mary  Ann  Booth 
ch.  & 

David  W.  Bronson 

Harriet  S.  Bronson 
en.  & 

♦Burnett  A.  Cramer 

Mary  Booth  Cramer 
ch.  & 

*  August  Johnston 

Fannie  Bristol  Cramer 
ch.  & 

William  T.  Forden 

Elsie  A.  Richards 
ch.  & 

Wm.  Bronson  Cramer 


Oxford,  Conn. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Redlands,  Cal. 
Ansonia,  Conn. 

u  — 

Douglas,  Arizona 
Assayer  of  Metals  in  Govt.  Employ. 

Aurelia  Hard  Newtown,  Conn. 

Miss  Candee  Cno  desc.)  " 

Sarah  Edmond 


Annis  Blackman  "  " 

unm. 

Newell  Brinsmade  (no  ch />  Trumbull  " 
unm.  Newtown,  Conn. 


He  amassed  a  fortune  at  his  trade  as  Stone  Mason,  und  often  proudly 
made  the  statement  that  he  never  spent  a  cent  for  a  book  or  a  newspaper. 
Poor  man  ! 


32  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

Ch.  Orville  Booth  and  Annis  Blackman  Newtown,  Conn. 

3  Susan     Booth  m.     Stiles  Belfield 

3  John  W.      "  "      Mary  Northrop 
3  Homer         " 
3  Sophia         "  unm. 


BOTSFORD 

1  Henry  Botsford  came  from  Leicestershire  England  to  New  England  and 
settled  in  Milford,  Conn,  in  1639.  He  was  the  Progenitor  of  Newtown's 
Botsford  Families. 

2  Elnathan,  3Sergeant  John,  1st  Newtown  settler  in   1680. 

4  Gideon,  son  Sergt.  John  and  Hepsibah  Camp 

Bethia  1st  wife 

5  Amos,  SGideon,  SClement    ch.  & 

4Gideon  son  of  3John 

Miriam  2nd  wife 
5  SVine,  Bethia,  SAnnis  ch.  & 

4Gideon  Botsford 

5  Gideon,  m.  Pulchrea  Fairman. 
Their  Ch. 

6  Richard  Botsford  m.     Annis  Peck 

6  Gideon  Bennett    "  "  Elizabeth  Farmer  Woodbury,  Conn. 

6  Jane  "  " 

6  Dr.  Amos  "  "  Betsey  Clarke                         Greenville,  N.  Y. 

6  Marcus  "  "  Betty  Perry  1st  wife  Huldah  Lake  2nd  wife 

6  Damaris  "  "  Cyrus  Fairchiild         (see  Fairchild  record) 

6  William  "  "  Delia  Curtis 

6  Ursula  "  "  Ethel  Dibble                              Danbury,  Conn. 

6  Polly  Ann  "  "  Cyrus  Camp                         (see  Camp  record) 

6  Rev.  David  "  unm.     (see    ministers)     Newtown,    Conn. 

Ch.  6Richard  Botsford  and  Annis  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

7  Gideon  Burtis    "  m.     Sophia  Hard  "  " 

7  Sarah,  Ann  "  "      Frederick    Dibble  "  " 

Sophia  Hard  "  " 

8  Sophia  "  ch.  & 

Gideon  B.  Botsford 

n  TT       ■  4.  T>    f  ^„  Sophia    Botsford  "  " 

9  Harriet  B.  Camp  „i,         *^       o 

9  G'deon  B.  ^^^^^^^  g    ^^^^ 

Ch.  Sarah  Ann  Botsford  and  Frederick  Dibble  Newtown.  Conn, 

8  Margaret  Dibble  m.  Isaac   Lake  "  " 

8  Mary  Curtis     "  "  Fred    Dunham  "  " 

8  Annis  "  "  Lyman    Stone,   no   ch.  "  " 

8  Burtis  "  d.  at  15  yrs. 

8  Samuel  E.         "  m.  Elizabeth  Davis  New  Haven,  Conn 

8  Fred  B.  "  "  Sarah  Clinton  1st.  wife 

"  Emily  Dibble  2nd.  wife. 

Ch.  Margaret  Dibble  and  Isaac  Lake.  Newtown,  Conn 

9  Frederick  Lake  m.  Ella   Oliver,   no   ch.  "                  " 

9  *Anabelle       "  "  Howard  Banks  Bethel,  Conn 

9  *Robert          "  "  Julia  Warner,  no  ch.  "                " 

9  *Richard        "  "  d.  in  infancy. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


33 


Ch.  Annabelle  Lake  and  Howard   Banks 

m 


10  Clara  Banks 
10  Willard 
10  Paul  Frederick 
10  Leola  Banks 

10  Lloyd 
in  May  la 

11  Eleanor  Banks 


II  Allen  Heady 


9  Carrie  Dunham 
9  Samuel 


9  Eva  Dibble 
9  Burton       " 


Wallace    Banks 
d.  young, 
d.  young, 
m.     Spencer    Heady 


Clara  Banks 
ch.  & 

Wallace   Banks 

Leola  Banks 
ch.  & 

Spencer  Heady    . 

Mary  Curtis  Dibble 
ch.  & 

Fred  Dunham 

Sarah  Clinton  1st.  wife 
ch.  & 

Fred  B.  Dibble 
ch.  & 

Emily  Dibble,  2nd  wife. 


Bethel,  Conn 


Ch.  Samuel  E.  Dibble  and  Elizabeth  Davis 


New  Haven,  Conn 


9  C  Elmer  Dibble 

9  Ethel  G 

9  Eleanor  E.      " 

9  Samuel  Edward"  2nd 

9  Lewis  A.  Dibble 

9  Albert  B.       " 

9  Marguirite     " 

9  Ruth  Botsford" 

9  Donald 

9  J.  Mansfield" 

9  Benjamin       " 

9  Elizabeth       " 

in  Dorothy   Eggleston 

10  Eleanor  E. 
10  Mary 


Seattle,  Wash, 
unm.  E.  Haven,  Conn. 

Rol)ert     Eggleston     Up.     Montclair,    N.  T. 
Nora  Sage  Pittsburgj  Pa. 

Lillian  Kneranger  Naugatuck,  Conn. 

Mabel  Homan  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Elihu  Wing  Lieut.,  M.  D.  in  Navy 

Morton  Alderagc  Worcester,  Mass. 

Roberta  Preston  Waterbury,  Conn, 

unm.  In  U.  S.  Infantry  ,  France 

unm.  In  U.  S.  Infantry,  France 

unm.  East  Haven.  Conn. 


ch. 


10  Davis  Sage 
10  Samuel  E. 


10  Doris  Dibble 
10  Jane 


Dibble 


3rd. 


ch. 


ch. 


10  Dorothy  Homan  Dibble        ch. 


10  Barbara  Sherwood  Dibble   ch. 


10  Ruth  Bailey  Alderagc 


ch. 


Eleanor  E.  Dibble 

& 
Robert   Eggleston 

Nora  Sage 

& 
Samuel  E.  Dibble,  2nd. 

Lillian  Kneranger 

& 
Lewis  A.  Dibble 

Mabel  Homan 

& 
Albert  Dibble 

Roberta   Preston 

& 
Donald  Dibble 

Ruth  Dibble 

& 
Morton   Alderagc 


Montclair,  N.  J. 
Pittsburg,  Pa. 

Naugatuck,  Conn. 

New  Haven,  Conn. 
Waterbury,  Conn. 
Worcester,   Mass. 


34  GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 

3John,  4Gideon,  SClement,  m.  Mary  Baldwin. 

6  *Lucinda     Botsford  m.  Ichabod  Noble                 New  Milford,  Conn. 

6  ♦Sally                   "  unm. 

6  *Mary  Ann         "  "  Isaac  Birch                             Newtown,  Conn. 

6  *Hersey               "  "  John  Dibble                                  Bethel,  Conn. 

6  *Jabez  Baldwin  "  Anner  Smith 

6  *Dr.  Russell  B.    "  "  Eliza  Whittlesey,  (See  Doctors) 

Ch.  6Jabez  Baldwin  Botsford  and  Anner  Smith 

Clement  Botsford,  M.  D.,  born  August  25th,  1814,  was  the  son  of  Jabez 
Baldwin  and  Anner  (Smith)  Botsford,  of  Newtown,  Conn.  He  graduated 
from  Yale  College  in  1838,  and  soon  after  was  married  to  Caroline 
Montgomery,  of  Bloomingburg,  N.  Y.,  where  he  went  to  engage  in  his  work. 
No  better  words  can  express  the  appreciation  in  which  he  was  held  than 
an  extract  from  the  "Sullivan  County  Whig"  of  February  11th,  1848. 

"He  was  universally  esteemed  as  a  man  and  a  physician,  and  his  loss 
has  deeply  affected  the  entire  community.  For  ten  years  he  has  been 
arduously  engaged  in  the  duties  of  his  profession  and  has  worn  out  his 
own  in  trying  to  save  the  lives  of  others.  Among  the  poorer  classes 
especially,  his  loss  will  be  deeply  felt,  as  he  was  attentive  to  their  afflic- 
tions and  charitable  to  their  wants.  In  all  the  relations  of  life  the  con- 
duct of  the  deceased  was  marked  by  the  strictest  integrity  and  the  highest 
sense  of  moral  bearing.  He  possessed  correct  business  habits  and  was  a 
careful  and  successful  practitioner.  We  believe  that  he  lived  a  true  and 
manly  life,  and  died  the  death  of  the  Christian."  (Rec'd  to  late  for  inser- 
tion with  "Doctors"). 

7  *Clement  Botsford  M.  D.     m.     Caroline  Montgomery 

7  *John  Smith  "  "  Harriet  Nichols  (no  ch.)  Huntington,  Ct. 

7  *George  R.  "  "  Sophia  Botsford  (noch.)  Newtown,  Conn. 

7  *Mary  E.  "  "  Charles  Nichols  (noch.)  " 

7  *Charlotte  "  "  Henry  Russell  Weed 

o  ,.,.      .      1,,     ,,r     J  Charlotte  Botsford  New  Haven,  Conn 

8  Minnie    M.    Weed  ^^  ^ 

8  Clara  L.  "  •  Henry  R.  Weed 

Eliza  Whittlesey  Danbury,  Conn. 

7  *Carolina  Eliza  Botsford     ch.  & 

Dr.  Russell  B.  Botsford 

8  Sarah     W.     Bacon  Caroline  E.  Botsford  "  " 
8  Eliza  W.             "                     ch.                    & 

8  John  R.  "  John  W.  Bacon 

n  /"«-  •  .•       r>    D      ji  Eliza  Bacon  "  " 

9  Christine  R.  Rundle  ^j^  ^ 

9  Marguerite  B.     "  "  ^    Mortimer  Rundle 

9  Christine  R.       "  m.     McLean  "  " 

Ch.  6Gideon  Bennett  Botsford  and  Mary  Elizabeth  Farmer,  Woodbury, Ct. 
7  Jane  Botsford  m.     1st  Charles  Blakeslee  (no  ch.)  Newtown,  " 

"     2nd    Mr.    Sprague  Petersburg,   Va. 

7  Harriet  "  "     Albert  Seeley  Blackman 

7  Lucius  "  "     Adaline  Hubbell 

7  Edgar  "  unm. 

7  William  "  "     Annette  Beers  Botsford  (See  Beers) 

7  Charles  " 

7  Frederick  "  "      Betsey  Canfield  New  Haven,  Conn. 

7  David  "  "     Annette  Beers  (See  Beers)  New  Milford  " 

Ch.  Harriet  Botsford  and  Albert  Seeley  Blackman 

8  *Theodore     Blackman  m.     Evaline  Wygant  1st  wife 

8  ♦Charles  "  "  Esther  Grace  Mann  2nd  wife 

8  ♦Edwin  "  unm. 

8  Benjamin  Knower  "  "  Elizabeth  Collier  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

8  *Mary  Elizabeth     "  "  *Henry  Martin  Bishop    New  Haven,  Conn. 

8  Albert  Seeley  "  "  Annie  Jones 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


35 


Ch.  Theodore  Blackman  and  Evaline  Wygant 


New  Milford,  Conn. 


9  Willis  Wygant 
9  Evaline  Jane 


m.     Delia   Townsend 
"     Victor  Morell 


8  Ch.  Benjamin  K.  Blackman  and  Elizabeth  Collier,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

Chicago,  111. 
Hope  Mountain,  N.  J. 


9  Edwin  Carlton 
9  Harold  Ross 


m.     Lora  Crego 
Ada  Tomlinson 


Ch.  Mary  E.  Blackman  and  Henry  Bishop 


9  Mary  Harriet  Bishop 
9  George  Herbert      " 
9  Edith  Elizabeth       " 
9  *Frederick  Henry  " 
9  Charles  Albert 

6  William     Botsford 
Their  Ch. 

7  Elizabeth 

7  Mary 

8  Emma  Watson 

8  *Elizabeth  " 

9  Eugene  Burlingame 
9  Elizabeth 

9  Frances  " 

9  Westcott 

8  *John  Beach  Betts 
8  Edw.  Herbert     " 
8  Mary 

7  Lucius  Botsford 

8  Phoebe  Jane        " 

9  *Phillip    Van  Bergen 
9  *Lucius  Botsford    " 


10  Bessie  " 

10  Nellie  Coles 
10  Henry  Custo 

10  Nellie  Coles 

11  Robert  Ebert 

8  Dr.  Charles  P.  McCabe 


9  Dorothy  Kerr  McCabe 
9  Phillip 


unm. 

Annie  Neary 


m.     Ruth  Scallon  (no  ch.) 
m.     Delia  Curtis 


m.     Rufus  Watson 
"      Rev.  John  Betts 

Elizabeth  Botsford 
ch.  8c 

Rufus  Watson 


Emma  Watson 
ch.  & 

Burlingame 

Mary  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Rev.  John  Betts 


New  Haven,  Conn. 
Worcester,  Mass. 


Catskill,  N.  Y. 
Glastonbury,  Conn. 

Albany,  N.  Y. 
Albany,  N.  Y. 

Hartford,  Conn. 


Coxsackie,  N.  Y. 
Albany,  N.  Y. 


m.     Adaline  Hubbell 

m.     Henry  Custo  Van  Bergen 

Phoebe  Jane  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Henry  Custo  Van  Bergen 

Julia  Van  Ness 
ch.  & 

Phillip  Van  Bergen 
m    Vanderheyden 


Margaret  Barhyte 
ch.  & 

Lucius  Botsford  Van  Bergen 
m.     George  Frank  Ackerman       Albany,  N.  Y 


Margaret  Briner  Ebert 
ch.  & 

Henry  Custo  Van  Bergen 

♦Mary  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Dr.  McCabe 

Miss  Elliott 
ch.  & 

Dr.  C.  P.  McCabe 


New  York,  City 
Greenville,  N.  Y. 


36  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

Moses  Botsford  b.  1750  m.  Huldah  Winton. 

2  Theophilus     Botsford  m.     Luc\'  Ann  Peck                      Newtown,  Conn. 

2  Daniel                      "  "      Lucinda  Candee                                " 

Their  ch. 

2  Phoebe                   "  "      Ebenezer  Beers  (See  Beers)       " 

2  Sally                         "  "      Harry   Downs                                    " 

2  Aurelia                   "  "     Isaac  Peck  (see  Peck)                  "                " 

3  ♦[ulia                        "  Theophilus   Botsford                       *' 
3  *"Mary                      "  ch.                     & 

3  *William                 "  Lucy  Ann  Peck                                 " 

4  *William  Skidmore  [ulia  Botsford                                   " 
4  *Kobert                 "  ch.                     & 

4  *Alary  Caroline  "  d.  1918  John   Russell   Skidmore 

4  *Julia  Esther  Blackman  Mary  Botsford                                " 

4  Joseph  Albert         "  ch.                    & 

4  Ann  Elizabeth         "  Joseph   Blackman                             " 

4  Mary  Frances         "  See  Blackman   record 

4  Henry  Booth   Botsford  .,^    ^^^'^  Sophia  Terrill 

4  Frank  Terrill           "  ^    '  ^villiam  Botsford 

c  T-        1    T                      "  Elizabeth  Saunders  1st  wife    Los  Angles  Cal 

5  hrank  Lerov  ,                       p 

i<  C 11 .                                  Ol 


5  Lulu  Kate 


Henrv  B.  Botsford 


4  *Frank  T.                  "  m.     Adelaide  Tanner  (no  ch.)      San  Diego,  Cal 

d.  Arizona 

2  Daniel                       "  m.     Lucinda  Candee                     Newtown,  Conn. 
Their  ch. 

3  *Huldah                    "  "      Albert  Turney 

3  Sophia                        "  "      Wheeler  Blakeman                          "                " 

3  *Emily         (twins)"  "      Walter  Northrop  (see  Northrop)               " 

3  *Emeline  (twins)"  "      James  Corwin 

3  *Moses                      "  "      Alary  Beers 

3  *Jabez                        "  "      Elizabeth  Clark 

Ch.  of  Sophia  and  Wheeler  Blakeman  "                " 

4  Eugene  Blakeman  m.     Alaggie  Bond  1st                     California,  Mo. 

"     Jennie   Beach,  2nd 

4  Lucena               "  "      Ephraim  Brisco                     Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Arthur                  "  "      Anna  Hurley                              California,   Mo. 

4  Edson                   "  unm. 
4  Carrie                  " 

4  Daniel  Botsford 

4  Nelson                  "  Mary  Beers 

4  Lena                     "  ch.                    & 

4  Inez                      "  Moses  Botsford 

4  Nellie 

4  Willis                    "  *Elizabeth  Clark                          Staten  Island 

4  Laura                    "  ch.                     & 

4  Elizabeth            "  3  *Jabez    Botsford                            " 

4  Jabez  " 

Ch.  Ephraim  Brisco  and  Lucena  Blakeman  Newtown,  Conn 

5  *Eugene     Brisco  d.  in  boyhood 

5  Charles           "  unm.                                               Shelton,  Conn. 

8  George           "  unm.                                           Newtown,  Conn 

5  Jessie              "  unm. 

5  Inez                 "  m.     George  Quinn                            Shelton,  Conn 

5  *Carrie           "  "      Elmer  Spencer 

5  Eva                 "  unm. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


37 


6  Catherine  Quinn 
6  Myrtle 


Inez  Brisco 
ch.  & 

George  Quinn 


Shclton,  Conn. 


6  Eugene  Spencer 
6  Hazel 


Carrie  Brisco 
ch.  & 

Elmer   Spencer 

1  Jared  Botsford  b.  1745  Ann  his  wife. 

Their  Ch. 

2  Henry  Botsford 


2  Philo 

3  Capt.  Edwin 

Their  Ch. 

4  *01iver 

4  *Henry 


5  George 
5  *Nellie 
5  Morris 


ni.     Joanna   Birch 
"     Hannah  Nichols 
"   Julia  Summers 

"     *Elizabeth  Bray 

"     *Rebecca  Johnson  1st.  (no  ch.)  " 
Julia  Hook  2nd 

Elizabeth  Bray 
ch.  & 

Oliver  Botsford 


2  Desc.  of  Lieut.  2Philo  Botsford  and  Hannah  Nichols 

3  Austin  son  of  Philo  m.     Volucia  B.  Glover 

Their  Ch. 


4  *Caroline 
4  *Philo  G. 
4  *Richard 
4  *Jerome 
4  Eugene 
4  *James 
4  Austin  N. 
4  Alosia 
4  *Amelia 


5  Ella     Parsons 
5  Jennie        " 
5  Caroline  " 


Botsford 


5  Carl 
5  *Alosia 


Botsford 


m.     Edward  Parsons 
"     Charlotte  Hinman 
"      Ellen  Bundy 
"     Emily    Northrop 
"      Jane  Blakeman 

d.  unm. 
"      Mollie    Scott 
"      Reuben   Johnson 
"      Sidney  Frost 

*4Caroline  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Edward  Parsons 

Ellen   Bundy 
ch.  & 

Richard   Botsford 


New  Haven,  Conn. 

Elgin.  111. 

Newtown,  Conn. 


Fort    Dodge,    Iowa. 
New  Haven,  Conn. 

New  Haven,  Conn. 


Elgin,  111. 


Ch.  Jerome  Botsford  and  Emily  Northrop 


5  *Henry 
5  Samuel 
5  *Homer 
5  Adella 
5  Charlotte 
5  Emily 


Botsford 


Newtown,  Conn. 
New  Haven, 


6  Leonard  Austin 


ch. 


K.  Lester  Coleman 

Ella    Couch 

& 
Henry  Botsford 

Ch.    Samuel     Botsford  and  Ella  Couch  Botsford 

m.     Emerson    Setchel 
m.     Florence    Morgan 


6  Gertrude  Elizabeth' 
6  Herbert  Clayton  " 
6  Robert  Couch 

6  Emily  Frances 

7  Alice  Evelyn 

7  Richard  Austin 


Ella  Couch 

Ella  Couch  Botsford 

d.  in  boyhood  _ 

In    Goy't.    employ    in    Washmgton,    U.    L. 

unm.  ,,        ,,  f~ 

New  Haven,  Conn. 

Bridgeport.  Conn. 

New  Haven.  Conn. 

Whitestone.   L.    I 
Monroe.    Conn. 

New  Haven.  Conn. 
Teacher'inMt.  Holyoke  College.  Mass. 
Lottie  Dickenson  Bridgeport.  Conn 

ch.  ^      „       .      . 

Leonard  A.  Botsford 


Ella  B.  CoUard 


38 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


7  Clarence  Emerson  Setchel 

7  Ruth  Elizabeth 

7  Gertrude  Mary  " 

Ch.  Emily  Botsford  and  K. 

6  Willis     Coleman 
6  Margery 
6  Clayton 
6  Jerome 
6  Walter 

6  Louise 

7  Lester    Coleman 
7  Barbara         " 


Gertrude  E.  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Emerson  Setchel 

Lester  Coleman 

m.     Alice  Bronson 

In  U.  S.  Service 

In  U.  S.  Naval  Reserve 


Alice  Bronson 
ch.  & 

Willis  Coleman 


New  Haven,  Conn. 

Roxbury,  Conn. 
New  Haven,  Conn. 
New  Haven,  Conn. 


Ch.  4Eugene  Botsford  and  Jane  Blakeman. 


5  Ida  J.  Botsford 

5  N.  Alosia 

5  *Charles  B.  " 

5  Eugene  R.    " 

5  Cora  A. 

5  *Bertha  M.  " 

5  Elsie  P. 

5  Austin  N. 

6  Clara  Elsie  Sanford 

6  Harold  E.  Botsford 
6  Mayla  " 

6  Charles  W. 
6  Philo  G. 

6  Richard  L.  " 

7  Edna  " 
7  Jean 

7  Carl  Botsford  Rasmussen 
7  Shirley  " 

6  Earl  Botsford  Warner 
6  George  T.  " 

6  Russell  G.  " 

6  Marion  " 

7  Arthur  Page  Warner 
7  Margaret  W.       " 

7  George  T. 
7  Russell  G. 

6  Bertha  G.  Ferry 
6  Hazel  " 

6  Pear] 

6  Bertha  G.  Ferry 

7  Pearl  Green 


5  Reuben  Johnson,  Jr. 


6  Reuben  Johnson  3rd 
6  Richard  " 


m.     Stephen  Mallette  Sanford      Easton,  Conn. 
"      Banks  Goodsell 


unm. 
"      *Ida    Lamphear 
"      Austin    Ferry 
"     Arthur  G.  Warner 

unm. 
"     Elizabeth  Goodwin 

Ida  J.  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Stephen  M.  Sanford 

Ida  Lamphear 
ch.  & 

Eugene  R.  Botsford 

Ludwina  Mager 

ch.  & 

Harold  E.  Botsford 
Mayla  Botsford 

ch.  & 

George  Rasmussen 

Bertha  G.  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Arthur  G.  Warner 

Marion  Page 
ch.  & 

Earl  Botsford  Warner 

m.     Emma  O.  De  Bann 
"     Vera  Chandler 

Cora  A.  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Austin  Ferry 
m.     George  Lattin 

Hazel  Ferry 
ch.  & 

Carl  Green 

Alosia  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Reuben  Johnson 

Harriet  Setchel 
ch.  & 

Reuben  Johnson,  Jr. 


Newtown,    Conn. 


Nichols,  Conn. 

New  Haven,  Conn. 

Minneapolis, 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 


New  Haven,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  39 

5  Geis  Botsford  Mollie  Scott  Fort  Dodge   low.i 

5  *Scott  "  ch.  & 

5  *Richard  "  Austin  N.  Botsford 

1  Chauncey  Botsford  was  an   early   settler  in  Newtown  and  a  large  land 
owner.    He  m.  Mary  Peck. 

Their   Ch. 

2  David      Botsford  Newtown,  Conn. 
2  George                "                       m.     Harriet  Jennings  "  " 

2  Narcissa  "  "       Philo  Beers 

Ch.  George  Botsford  and  Harriet  Jennings  "  " 

3  *Mariette  "  m.  John  R.  Tomlinson  "  " 
3  *Israel    twins  "                                 Served  in  Civil  War 

3  *Lemnel  twins"  Served  in  Civil  War 

3  *Charles  " 

3  Susan                  "  m.  Edward  Taylor                               "               " 

3  Anna  E.              "  "  Edson  Wilson 

3  *Stanley              "  "  Julia  Tomlinson                              "                " 

3  Hattie                 "  "  Noyes  Thompson                          "               " 

3  Edward  twins "  "  Emma  G.  Feet                                "               " 

3  Frederick           "  "  Ella   Barnes 

3  *Phebe                "  d.  in  infancy.  "               " 

Ch.  3Mariette   Botsford  and  John   R.  Tomlinson 

4  Carrie  Tomlinson  m.  Alfred  Briscoe  (see  Briscoe)  "  " 
4  Robert  Sherman       "               "       1st    Hattie    Croffutt 

"     2nd  Christine  Kleine  SuflField,  Conn. 

4  John  Lewis  "  "      Lila  Piatt  Claremont,  Calif. 

Ch.  Robert  S.  Tomlinson  and  Christine  Klein  Suflfield,  Conn. 

5  *Ruth  Lillian 

5  Charlotte  Agnes       "  m.     Dr.  Russell  Barber  Street 

in  U.  S.  Service  in  France 

6  Russell  Barber  Street  Jr.      Their  Ch. 

Ch.  John  L.  Tomlinson  and  Lila  Piatt  Claremont.  Calif. 

5  Alberta  "  m.     Benjamin  Wilson 

Ch.  3Susan  Botsford  and  Edward  Taylor 
4  4  George  Francis  Taylor      m.     Lorena  Glover  Sandy  Hook.  Conn. 

Ch.  3Stanley  Botsford  and  Julia  Tomlinson,  Wallingford,  Conn. 

4  Rowland  Stanley      " 

Ch.  3Edward  Botsford  and  Emma  G.  Peet  Stepney,  Conn. 

4  *Lina  "  „  „ 

4  *Liila  "  m.     Emma  Martha  Mattegat  ^  ^ 

4  St  an  lev  "  ,[ 

4  Effie 

Ch.    Stanley    Botsford    and  Emma  M.  Mattegat 

4<  « 

5  Alice  Isabelle  "  twins  „  „ 
5  *Ida  Emma  "  twins  „  „ 
5  Laura    May           " 

Ch.  3Frederick  Botsford  and   Ella  Barnes  Newtown. 

4  Ruby  "  I  « 

4  Paul 


40 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


BRISCOE 

2  Nathaniel  Briscoe  b.  1629  was  an  early  settler  in  Milford.  His  descen- 
dants probably  came  to  Newtown  as  the  names  James  and  Nathaniel  are 
found  in  the  list  of  pioneers  of  1712. 

3  Nathaniel  m.     Mary  Camp  in   1672. 

4  James  son  of  3Nathaniel  b.  1673. 

5  Lieut.  Nathaniel  son  of  4James  b.  1708,  Newtown,  Conn. 

He  owned  a  large  amount  of  real  estate;  the  homestead  he  occupied  is 
now  a  part  of  the  Newtown  cemetery.  He  served  as  Selectman  for  10  years 
between  1743  and  1777. 

In  1768  he  and  Capt.  Amos  Botsford  gave  the  bell  to  the  Cong.  Church 
which  is  now  in  use. 


5  Lieut.  Nathanial  Briscoe 
Their   Ch. 


m.     Eunice  Hurd  Johnson         Newtown,  Conn. 


6  Eunice 

6  Isaac 

6  Nathaniel 


Briscoe 


Thompson  Booth 
Anna  Sherman 
Hannah  Leach 
2nd  Sally  Raymond 


Bridgewater,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Nathaniel  Briscoe  and  Hannah  Leach 

7  Susan  "  m.     Alfred  Wixon 

7  Mary  "  "     Joseph  G.  Ferris 

Ch.  Nathaniel  Briscoe  and  Sally  D.  Raymond 


7  Bradley  D. 
7  Miranda 


m.     Mary  C.  Glover 
"      Duranzel  Hall 


Ch.  Bradley  D.  Briscoe  and  Mary  C.  Glover 
"  m 


8  Alfred 
8  Ella 
8  Esther 


Carrie   Tomlinson 
Walter  B.  VVelton 


"  "      Ormel  Morgan  (See  Morgan) 

Ch.  Alfred  Briscoe  and  Carrie  Tomlinson 
"  m 


Bethel,  Conn. 
(See  Foote  record) 


9  Florence  ' 

9  Howard  ' 

10  Howard  E.  Wood 


10  Helen  Ruth  Briscoe 
10  Harold  Russell     " 

Ch.  Isaac  " 

7  Amy 

7  Lewis  " 

7  Charles 

7  Harriet  " 

7  Polly 

7  Sally 

7  Caroline  " 


F.  S.  Wood 
"      Emma  E.  Sherman 

Florence    Briscoe 
ch.  & 

F.  S.  Wood 

Emma  E.  Sherman 
ch.  & 

Howard    Briscoe 

&     Anna  Sherman 

m.     William  Tomlinson 
"     Jane  E.  Pettis 
"      Mary  Davison 
"     Horace  Dibble 


Fairfield,  Conn. 
Bethel,      " 

Fairfield,      " 


Bethel,   Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 

New  Haven,  Conn. 
David  Glover  (See  Glover)  Newtown,  Ct. 
Curtis  Frost  Bridgewater  Conn. 

Peter  Warren  Fairchild       (See  Fairchild) 


Ch.  Lewis  Briscoe  and  Jane  E.  Pettis 


8  *Isaac 
8  *Cornelia 
8  *Gustavus 
8  *Louisa  S. 
8  *Charles  L. 


m.     *Cornelia  Fairchild 
"      *Edward  Crofut 
"      Susan  Taylor 
"     *Leroy  Taylor 
"     Jennette  Taylor 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


41 


9  Alfred  Briscoe 
9  *Jennie  " 


10  Jennie 
10  Louis 


9  Wilbur 
9  Frances 


9  *Sherman  Crofut 


Cornelia  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Isaac  Briscoe 

Agnes  Tomlinson 
ch.  & 

Alfred   Briscoe 

Jennette  Taylor 
ch.  & 

Charles   L.    Briscoe 

Cornelia  Brisco 
ch.  & 

Edward  Crofut 


(See  Fairchild) 


Ch.  7Charles  Briscoe  and  Mary  Davison  "  " 

8  Harriet  "  Henry   Mygatt  California 

8  Mary  "  unm. 

8  Charles  H.  "  "  1st  Anna  J.  Traver  See  Newtown's  lawyers 

"  2nd  Alice  Bradley       Thompsonville,  Conn. 

8  Willis  "  d.  in  Panama 


Ch.  Judge  Chas.  H.  Briscoe  and  Anna  J.  Traver  1st  wife 
9  Willis  Briscoe  m.     Jessie  Bradley  Drew 

9  Anna  T.        "  "      Rev.  David  Lewis  Sanford 

9  Alice  M.      "  "      Rev.  J.  Francis  George 

Ch.  Rev.  David  L.  Sanford  and  Anna  T.  Briscoe 

10  Helen  Traver  Sanford         m.     Dr.  Wm.  Richard  Brown 


Essex,  N.  Y. 


Phila..  Pa. 

Hartford.  Conn. 

Thompsonville 


10*Alice  Amelia  "  "     Albert  Truax 

10  Charles  Briscoe  "  "      Katherine   Uri 

10  Edgar  Lewis  "                       unm. 

10  John  Beach  "                       unm. 

10  Arthur  Hall  "                       unm. 

10  David  Piatt  "                       unm. 

Helen  Traver  Sanford 

11  William  Richard  Brown     ch.  & 

Dr.  Wm.  Richard  Brown.  Phila.,  Pa. 

Katherine  Uri 
11  Charles  Briscoe  Sanford  Jr.  ch.  & 

Chas.  Briscoe  Sanford,  Thompsonville,  Ct. 


11  Anna  Winslow  Truax 
11  Albert  Winslow    " 


Albert  Truax 
ch.  & 

Alice  A.  Sanford 


Ch.  Rev.  J.  Francis  George  and  Alice  M.  Briscoe. 
10  Willis  George  twins 
10*Nelson      "  Drowned  in  1916. 


Essex,  N.  Y. 


First  Camp  settled  in  1707. 

1  Lieut.  Samuel  Camp 

2  Lemuel  " 

Some  of  their  Ch. 

3  Joel  Camp 
."^  Samuel 
3  Phtbe 
3  Hoppie 
3  Alice 
3  Clarissa 


CAMP 


Rebecca  Caafield 
Alice  Leavenworth 


Ellen  Jackson 
Killed  in   French  War. 
Cyrenius  Hard 
Amiel  Peck 

Sims 
Josiah    Blackman 


Newtown,  Conn. 


42 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Ch.  Joel  Camp 

Deborah  " 

Lemuel  " 

John  " 

Susan  " 

Phebe 

Silas 

Samuel  in  war  of  1812. 


&     Ellen  Jackson 

m.     Matthew  Sherman 
"      Sarah  Dibble 
"     Wife  not  known 
"     Joseph  Wheeler 
unm. 


Newtown,  Conn. 
Bethel,  Conn. 

Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Lemuel  Camp  and  Sarah  Dibble 


5  Joel  Trowbridge  Camp 

5  Cyrus  " 

5  Polly 

5  Adah 

5  Maria 

5  Beach 

5  Dibble 

5  Hiram  " 

5  Sarah  Ann  " 

5  Mary  Ann  " 

Ch.  Joel  T. 

6  Lemuel  F.  " 
6  *Edwin  " 
6  *Lucia  " 
6  Samuel  B.  " 


& 
& 


Polly  Fairchild 
Polly   Ann    Botsford 
Samuel  Fairchild  (no  ch.) 
Beers  Fairchild  2nd  wife 
John  Smith  2nd  wife 
Catherine   H.   Foote 
Esther   Blackman 
Eliza  Barnum 

Zachariah  Clarke  (see  Clark) 
unm. 

Polly   Fairchild 

Sarah  J.  Lake 
Hannah  Hawley  (no  ch.) 
John  R.  Smith  (no  ch.) 
Caroline  C.  Lake 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Lemual 

♦Carrie  A. 
Alma  M. 
Mary  Alice 
Amos  T. 
Sarah  A. 


Ch.  Mary  Alice  " 

8  Percival  Camp  Piatt  in 

Ch.  Amos  T.  Camp  and 

8  *Lyman  Fairchild  Camp 

Ch.  Samuel  B.  " 

7  Edwin  Beers  " 

7*  Frank  Bennett  " 

Ch.  Cyrus  " 

6  *Marcus  " 

6  *Sarah  M.  " 

6  *Gideon  B.  " 

7  *Harriet  B. 
7  *Gideon  B. 

Ch.  Dibble 

6  Hobart 
6  Emily 

6  Daniel  " 

Ch.  Hobart 

7  *Anna  L.  " 
7  *Susan  A.  " 
7  Robert  N. 


&      Sarah  J.  Lake 

d.  young 

m.  Charles  B.  Johnson  (See  Johnson  record) 

"  Edmund  Piatt 

"  Cornelia  Sherwood 

"  Asa  Hawley  (See  Hawley  record) 

&    Edmund  C.  Piatt 

France  in  U.  S.  Hospital  service. 
Cornelia  Sherwood, 
d.   in  infancy 

&     Caroline  C.  Lake 

(Samuel  Camp  in  1918  is  in  his  91st  year) 
d.  young 


&      Polly  Ann  Botsford 

m.     Sophia  Botsford 
unm. 
unm. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Sophia    Botsford  " 

ch.  & 

Marcus  Camp 

m.     Esther  Blackman 

m.    Juliette  Hawley  . 

Henry  Dikeman  (See  Dikeman)" 
"     Augusta  Nichols 

.S:      Juliette  Hawley  " 

d.  in  childhood 
d.  unm. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


43 


Ch.  Daniel  Camp 

7  Esther  L. 

7  Grace  " 

8  Donald  Anderson 
8  Elizabeth 

8  Duncan  " 

Ch.      Beach  Camp 
6  *Dr.  William 
6  *Julia  Ann  " 

6  Jane  Eliza  " 

6  *Katherine  F.  " 

Ch.  Dr.  Wm. 

7  *William  H. 

7  Marion  Barlow  Tuttle 
7  *Henry  Ogden        " 
7  *William  Beach      " 
7  Lauren  Steele         " 
In  U.  S.  Service 

Ch.      Hiram      Camp 
6  Lydia  Jane  " 

6  Sarah  Esther  " 

6  *George  Beach       " 
6  *Henry  Barnum     " 

Desc.  of  Silas  Camp  son 
5  Emma  Camp 

5  Marietta        " 

5  Edson 

Ch.  Emma     " 

6  *Edwin     Barnum 
6  *VVilliam 

6  *Jerome         " 

6  Emma  " 

Their  Ch. 

7  Minnie  Grumman 
7  Anna  " 

7  William 

7  Clifford 

8  Cleon      Wildman 
8  Leroy  " 

8  Lester 

8  Grace  " 

8  Nellie 

8  Alice 

8  Richard      Lynn 

8  Bertha 

8  Lawrence       " 

8  Bernard 

8  Raymond  Grumman 
8  Leland 

8  Frances  " 

8  Louise  " 

8  Florence  " 
8  Helen 

6  William  G.  Hard 


&     Augusta  Nichols 

unm.  A  successful  teacher  in  Albany 


m.     Dr.  Clyde  Anderson 


N.  Y. 
Pittsburg.  Pa. 


ch. 

& 
m. 


& 

m. 


Grace  Camp  " 

& 

Dr.  Clyde  Anderson  " 

Catherine  H.  Foote  Newtown, 

*0phelia  Randall  Roxbury, 

*Ogden   Tuttle  Minneapolis, 
♦Ezra  L.  Johnson  (See  Johnson) 
unm. 


*Ophelia  Randall 
Jane  Adam 


Kent, 
Canaan, 


Conn. 
Conn. 
Minn. 


Conn. 
Conn. 


♦Julia  Ann  Camp  Minneapolis,  Minn, 

ch.  & 

♦Ogden   Tuttle 


&      Eliza  Barnum  Newtown, 

d.  when  17  years  old  " 

m.     Wm.  G.  Hard  (no  ch.)  " 

unm.    Served  in  Civil  War         " 
unm. 

of  Joel 

m.     Isaac  Barnum  Bethel, 

"     Amos  Hard  Newtown, 

unm.  " 

&      Isaac  Barnum  Bethel, 

d.  in  prison  during  Civil  War    " 
.m    Charles  Grumman  " 


m.  William  Wildman 

m.  J.  B.  Lynn 

"  Agnes  Tomlinson 

"  Edna  Haines 


Conn. 


Conn. 
Conn. 

Conn. 


Minnie  Grumman 
ch.  & 

William  Wildman 


Annie    Grumman 
ch.  & 

J.  B.  Lynn 

Agnes  Tomlinson 
ch.  & 

William  Grumman 

Edna  Haines 
ch.  & 

Clifford  Grumman 

Marietta  Camp 
ch.  & 

Amos  Hard  (See  Hard) 


44 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


1  Thomas  Chambers  settled 
of  wife  unkown. 

2  Mary    Chambers 
2  Asa  " 

2Jesse  " 

2  Nathan  " 

2  James  " 

2  Jemima  " 

3  Thomas  Osborn  Chambers 


Their  Ch. 

4  Henry  R.  Chambers 

4  Dr.  Cornelius  " 

4  Jane  Elizabeth  " 

4  Frederick  " 

5  Susie  Sturges  " 
5  Jennie  Morris  " 
5  *Sarah  Burritt  " 

5  Elizabeth  Burritt  " 


CHAMBERS 

in  Newtown,  1736.    He  had  12  children.     Name 

m.     Dr.  William  Warner 
"      1st  Adams 

"     2nd  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Osborn  Clifford 
d.  in  British  Army 

d.  in  American  Service 
m.     Dr.   Benjamin  Warner 

Elizabeth  Osborn  Clifford 
ch.  & 

Asa  Chambers 
m.     Sarah  Curtis 


Emeline  Munson 
d.  unm.  Newbern,  N.  C. 
Eli  J.  Morris 
Betsey  Morris  Burritt 


Betsey  M.  Burritt 
ch.  & 

Frederick  Chambers 


CLARKE 

1  James  Clarke  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Fundamental  Articles  of 
Agreement  when  New  Haven  was  settled  in  1639. 

2  James  Jr.,  earliest  Clarke  settler  in  Fairfield  County. 

m.     Deborah  Peacock,  1662. 


3  James,  b.  1664, 

4  Zachariah(l)  b.  1702 

5  Zachariah  (2)  b.  1739 

6  James,  b.  1769 

6  Zachariah,  b.  1771 


Jane  Griffen 
Eunice  Staples 
Mary   Bacon 
Polly  Sherman 
Hannah  Toucey 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  James  Clark  and  Polly  Sherman 


7  Grandison        " 

7  Everett 

7  Eliza  " 

7  Polly 

7  John 

7  Williarn 

7  Zachariah         " 

7  Anna  Maria     " 

7  Hulda'rt 

Ch.  Grandison  " 

8  George  " 
8  Mary 


& 
m. 


Hannah  Hard 

Ann  Barnum  Bethel,  Conn. 

Levi  Edwards  Trumbull,  Conn. 

Abijah  Hard  Newtown,  Conn. 
Mary   Curtis   1st   wife 

Sally  French  2nd  wife  Monroe,  Conn. 

Nancy  Adams  Newtown,  Conn. 

Sarah  Ann  Camp  "                " 

Charles   C.  Warner   (See  Warner) 
James  B.  Beers  (see  Beers)  B'klyn,  N.  Y. 

Hannah  Hard 

Jane  Warner 

Charles  Webster  (no  ch.)  Newtown,  Conn. 


9  Homer  G. 


10*Mabel 
10  George 


Jane  Warner 
ch.  & 

George  Clarke 

♦Elizabeth  Wheeler,  1st  wife 
ch.  & 

Homer  G.  Clarke 
Sarah  W.  Hall,  2nd  wife 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


45 
Bethel,  Conn. 


Ann  Barnum 
8  *Rev.  James  Starr  Clarke  ch.  & 

Everett   Clarke  "  " 

For  many  years  the  successful  Principal  of  a   school   for  boys  at   Tivoli 
on  the  Hudson,  N.  Y. 


8  *Abel  French  Clarke  ch. 

8  *Abel  French  Clarke  m. 

8  Robert  A.  Clarke  ch. 


8  Leniuel  Beach  Clarke  ch. 

8  *Sherman  Beers     " 


9  Jennie 
9  Frederick 


Sally  French  Newtown,  Conn. 

it 
John  Clarke 

Florence  Glover  1st  wife    Newtown,  Conn. 
Adella    Van    Name   2nd    wife,    New    \'ork 

Nancy  Adams  Newtown,  Conn. 

& 
William  Clarke 
See  Freegrace  Adams'  record 

*Sarah  Ann  Camp,  1st.  wife,   Newtown,  Ct. 

& 
Zachariah  Clarke  Danbury,  Conn. 

Sarah  Ann  Gregory  2nd  wife 

Mary  Osborn  "  " 

& 
Lenuicl   B.   Clarke  "  " 


10  Bertha  Mary 
10  Frederick  Beers 


11  Ruth  Daisy  Plue 
11  Lois  Vivian       " 

6  Zachariah  Clarke  b.  1771 
Their  Ch. 

7  Sally        Clarke 
7  Oliver  " 

7  Maria  " 

See  Skidmore  record 

7  Walter  Clarke 

7  Charles  " 

7  Emma  " 
7  William 

7  Philo 

8  *Eli  B. 
8  *Edwin 

8  *Emma  J.      " 

9  E.  Beers 
9  Julia  L. 

9  *Mattie  Eugenie  " 
9  *Edwin  Parker      " 


lOSnmncl  E.   B.  Clark 


9  *Samuel  Clarke  Peck 
9  Walter  Tnucey  " 

9  Elizabeth  Fayerweather 
9  Susan  Emma  " 


ch.  & 

Frederick  Clarke 

Bertha   M.  Clarke 
ch.  & 

Silas  Raymond  Plue 

m.      Hannah   Toucey 


m.     Daniel  Connelly  Newtown,  Conn. 

unm.       Died   of   small   pox   in   New   York 
m.     Harry  Hawley  1st.  m.        Ridgefield,  Conn. 

Rufus  Skidmore  2nd  m.    Brookfield, 


"  Dimah  Ann    Beers 

"  Betsey  Ann  Fairchild 

"  William   Hill 

"  Elizabeth  Lewis 

"  Sarah  Minerva  Beers 

Dimah  Ann   Beers 
:h.  & 

Walter  Clarke 


Newtown,  Conn. 

Redding.         " 

Monroe        " 

Newtown,  Conn. 


ch. 

ch. 

ch. 
m. 

ch. 


Nancy  Beers  1st  wife 

& 
Edwin  Clarke 

Mattie  A.  Parker  2nd  wife 
Edwin   Clarke 


Elizabeth  Bowers 

& 
E.  Beers  Clarke 
Alcetta  Gilbert 


Emma   T.  Clarke 
George  B.  Peck 


Minneapolis.  Minn. 


Newtown.  Conn. 
Brooklyn.  N.  Y. 


46 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


lOPriscilla  Burdick 

10  Ruth  Mac  Bride 
lUAlerrili  Clarke 

10  Elisabeth  Chester  Peck 
10  Samuel  Clarke 


Susan  Emma  Peck 
:h.  & 

Willard  Merrill  Burdick 


S.  Orange,  N.  J. 


Elisabeth  Chester  Backus 


ch.  & 

Walter  T.  Peck 

Ch.  7Charles  Clarke  and  Betsey  Ann  Fairchild 


8  *Robert    Toucey    Clarke 

8  *Emily 

8  Rev.  Sylvester  " 

8  *Elizabeth 

8  *Charles  W. 

8  nVilliam  H. 

Ch.  Robert  T. 

9  *Henry  Peck  " 

9  Mary  Toucey  " 

9  Charles  Robert         " 

10  Nancy  Barnum         " 
10  Julia  H. 


10  Harry  F. 

lONancey  Barnum       " 

10  Alton  Clarke  Haight 
10  Marian  Toucey    " 

10  Philip  Griffen  Clarke 

10  Elizabeth 

10  Charles  R.,  Jr.     " 

9  Annie  Fairchild  Clarke 
9  Grace  Dalrymple      " 
9  Robert  Toucey 


Harriette   Eliza   Peck 
unm. 

Annie    Dalrymple 
Unvid    Beecher 
d.  young 
d.  young 


0  Jessie  Beecher 


twins 


ch. 

ch. 
m. 

ch. 
ch. 
ch. 

ch. 


9  *Bessie 

8  *Rev.  William  Toucey  Hill  ch. 

9  Emma  Elizabeth  Hill 
9  William  Burr 

9  *Cyrus  Foss  "  ch. 

9  Ellen  Toucey  " 

9  William  Burr  jr.,    "  ch. 

10  Cyrus  Giles  " 

In  1917  an  aviator  in  France      ch. 

Ch.  Philo  Clarke  & 

8  *Hannah  Sophia  Clarke  m. 
8  *Emma  Francis         " 

8  *Flora  M.  "  m. 


Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

Brookfield,  Conn. 

Newark,    N.    J. 

Shelton,  Conn. 

Newtown,  Conn. 


&  Harriette   Eliza   Peck       Brookfield,  Conn. 

m.  Julia  C.  Hurd,  1st. 

"  Mary  J.  Mactie  2nd 

"  William  C.  Haight 

"  Martha  E.  Griffen 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 
Brookfield, 


*Julia  C.  Hurd  1st  wife  " 

& 
Henry  Peck  Clarke     Brevard,  N.  Carolina 

*Mary  J.  Macfie  2nd  wife 

& 
Henry  Peck  Clarke 
Henry  N.  Carrier  Brevard  N.  Carolina 


7Mary  Toucey  Clarke 

& 
William  C.  Haight 

Martha  E.  Griffen 

& 
Charles  R.  Clarke 

Anna  Dalrymple 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 
«  « 

Brookfield,  Conn. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Newark,  N.  J. 


Rev.  Sylvester  Clarke      Bridgeport,  Conn. 
See  Ministers 


*Elizabeth  Clarke 

& 
David  Beecher 
7Emma  Clarke 

& 
William  H.  Hill 

Jane  C.  Burr 
& 
Rev.  Wm.  T.  Hill 

Illie  C.  Clapp 

& 
William  Burr  Hill 


Newtown,  Conn. 

Shelton,  Conn. 

Newtown,  Conn. 

Redding,  Conn. 

Middletown,  Conn. 

New  Haven,  Conn. 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

New  York,  N.  Y. 
Chicago,  111. 


Kate  S.  Giles 

& 
Cyrus    Foss   Hill 

Sarah  Minerva  Beers 

Levi  Burtis  Booth 

d.  in  young  womanhood  Newtown,  Conn 

Alfred  Walker  Ossining.  N.  Y 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  47 

Hanah   Sophia  Clarke       Newtown,  Conn. 
9  Philo  Clarke  Booth  ch.  & 

Levi  Burtis  Booth  "  " 

Flora  Clarke 
9  Clarke  Skidmore  Walker     ch.  & 

Alfred  Walker  Newtown,  Conn. 


COBURN 

1  Daniel  Coburn  and  Sarah  Johnson  Newtown,  Conn. 

Sarah  Johnson  "  " 

2  Charles    Coburn  ch.  & 

Daniel  Coburn  "  " 

3  Emma  "  Nabby  Johnson  "  " 
3  *William        "                          ch.                   & 

3  *Charles         "  Charles  Coburn 

Emma   Coburn  Easton,  Penii. 

4  Mary  Hilliard  ch.  & 

*Edward  Hilliard 

Mary  Hilliard 

5  Edward  Hart  Greene  Jr.      ch.  & 

Edward  Hart  Greene 

Frances  Wooster  SanFrancisco,  Cal. 

4  Clarence  Wooster  Coburn  ch.  & 

William  Coburn 

4  Henry  Coburn 

4  Mary  "  *Helen  Messinger 

4  Erwin  "  ch.  & 

4  Edwin  Rogers    "  Charles  Coburn 

Jennie  Greathouse  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

5  Clarence W'ooster Coburn Jr.ch.  & 

Clarence   W.   Coburn 

?  P/'"''^'     *^°^.l'''"  ch.     Henry  Coburn  Easton.  Penn. 

5  Minnie 

5  Julia                       Merrill                4*Mary  Coburn  Rochester.  N.  Y. 

5  Rev.  Richard  Nye     "  ch.  & 

5  Rev.  Charles  Coburn  "                   Rev.  Phillip  S.  Merrill  New  Castle.  Penn. 

5  Philip  S.                      "  Jr.  Philadelphia.  Penn. 

.  T>>       .1-     c        ..■  Julia  Merrill  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

6  Dorothy  Sweeting  ch  & 

6  Margaret       "  •  ^^^^^  Sweeting 

^  „.  ,      J  XT      nr       -11  T  Agnes  Estey  Miami,  Florida 

6  Richard  Nye  Merrill,  Jr.         ch  & 

6  John  Estey  "  •  j^^^   Richard  Nye  Merrill. 

I-  T-     -1      nr-jj        L  z-  u  Elizabeth  Middaugh  Newark.  N.  J. 

5  Emilv   Aliddaugh  Coburn     ch  & 

5  Margaret  "  •   ^^^-^  Coburn 

4  Edwin  Rogers  Coburn  m.     Julia  Hackman  Easton.  Penn. 


48 


GENEALOG ICAI.     SECTION 


CURTIS 

1  Elizabeth,  "Widow  Curtis,"  of   Stratford 

2  William   her   son   b.    1618   in    England   m.   1st    Mar}-. 
2nd  Sarah  Morris  Goodrich. 

3  Josiah,  1662  b.   Stratford  m.  Abigail  Judson,  2nd   Mary   Beach 

4  Benjamin  m.  Elizabeth  Birdsey 

4  Matthew  m.  1st  Phebe  Judson,  2nd  Abigail  Thompson 
They  were  first  Curtis  settlers  in  Newtown,  1716 


Ch.    Matthew    Curtis 

5  Phebe 

5  Nirani  " 

5  Matthew  2nd.  " 
5  Stiles 

5  Josiah  " 
Son  of  Matthew    " 

5  Gold 

Their  Ch. 

6  Abigail  " 

5  Betsey  " 

6  Deborah  " 
6  Gould  " 
6  Marilla  " 
6  John  G.  " 
6  Phebe 

6  Hezekiah  " 

6  David  " 

6  Daniel  " 


&  Phebe  Judson 

m.  John  Beach  Jr. 

"  Mabel 

"  Hannah  Ford 

"  Hannah  Bishop 

"  Ann  Ford 

&  Abigail  Thompson 

m.  Elizabeth    Gold 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Fairfield,    Conn. 


Cyrus  Hard  (See  Hard)  Newtown,  Conn, 
unm. 

Hermon  Warner  (See  W^arner)   "  " 

Joanna  Peck  " 
unm. 

Lucy  Blackman  "                " 
unm. 

Marcia    Glover  "                " 

Jeannette   Shelton  Monroe,         " 

Elizabeth    Beach  Trumbull         " 


Ch.  Gould  "  & 

7  *Mary  "  m. 

7  *Samuel  "  " 


7  *Elizabeth 

7  *Sarah  '    ' 
Ch.  Mary  " 

8  Alary    Curtis    Beers 
8  Charles  Gould      " 

8  Rissa 

Ch.  Mary  Curtis  Beers 

9  George  B.       Foster 
9  Orrington  " 

9  Marv  Susan  " 


& 


Joanna  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

Cyrenius  Beers  Chicago,  111. 

Mary  Nichols  1st  Newtown,  Conn. 

Betsey  Curtis  Hinman  2nd  Southbury  " 
Mary  Curtis  Wheeler  3rd.  New  Haven  " 
Robert    C.    Peck    1st  Newtown,       " 

Simeon  B.  Peck  2nd  "  " 

Dr.   Monroe  Judson  2nd  wife     " 


Cyrenius   Beers 

m.  Orrington  C.  Foster 

"  Louisa  Wilson 

"  Augustus  Warner 

&  Orrington  C.  Foster 

m.  Margarite   Johnson 

"  Mary  Ehlin 

"  Dr.   John    Marrurre 


10  Marguerite  "  ch. 


10  Elizabeth  "  ch. 

10  John         Marrurre 
lOkatherine  "  ch. 

10  Mary 

9  Catherine  E.  Beers  ch. 


Marguerite  Johnson  t 

& 
George  B.  Foster 

Mary  Ehlin 

& 
Orrington  Foster 

Mary  Susan  Foster 

& 
Dr.  John  Marrurre 

Louisa    Wilson 

& 
Charles    Gould    Beers 


Chicago,   111. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  49 

9  Charles  Curtis  Warner  Rissa    Beers  Chicatro    III 

9  Raymond  "  ch.  & 

9  Catherine  "  Augustas  Warner 

Ch.  Samuel  Curtis  &      Mary  Nichols  Newtown,  Conn. 

8  Henry  Gould  Curtis  m.     Anna  Beers  "  " 

8  Julia  "  "      Henry  S.  Hawley  "  " 

Ch.  8Henry  G.  Curtis  &     .A.nna   Beers 

9  Harry  Beers  "  m.     Laura  Trulock 

9  William   R.  "  "      Bertha  Niles  George 

10  Henry  Gould        "  .      ^^''^^^  Niles  George 

10 Nelson  George    "  ^   ■    -.Trir        t.    r-     .• 

"  William  R.  Curtis  "  " 

9  Curtis  Hawley         .      -""^'^  Curtis 


9  Alarv  Nichols 


ch.  & 

Henry  S.  Hawley 


lOHobart  Warner  Mary  Nichols  Hawley  "  " 

10  Austin  "  ch.  & 

10  Henry  Hawley        "  Hobart  Glover  Warner 

Dec.  6John  Curtis  and  Lucy  Blackman 

7  Daniel  Curtis  m.      Mary  A.  Brown                                  Erie.  Pa. 

7  Simeon  "  unm. 

7  John  Gould  "  "      Mary  Chambers                                    Erie,  Pa. 

7  Robert  "  d.   in   infancy 

7  David  "  "      1st  Harriet  Blackman     New  Haven,  Conn. 

"     2nd  Sarah  E.  Blackman  "  " 

Ch.  Daniel  "  &      Mary  Brown  Erie,  Pa. 

8  *Jennie  "  d.  in  infancy 

8  John  Simeon  "  m.  Grace  Bemis  Erie,  Pa. 

8  George  H.  "  "  Annie  Hitchcock  (no  ch.) 

8  Uri  Balcom  "  "  Martha  A.  Doiers  (no  ch.) 

8  Mary  A.  "  "  Rev.  Karl  Klass  Seattle,  Wash. 

Ch.  John  S.  "  &     Grace  Bemis  Campbell,  N.  Y. 

9  Daniel  B. 

8  John  Simeon  " 

9  Daniel  G. 

Jane  Eldred 
9  Harriet  Eldred       "  ch.  & 

Daniel  G.  Curtis 

9  Mary  Klass  Mary  A.  Curtis  Seattle,  Washington 

9  Karl  "  ch.  & 

9  Georgianna    "  Rev.  Karl  Klass  " 

♦Harriet  Blackman  1st  New  Haven,  Conn. 
8  *Charlotta  Augusta  Curtis    ch.  & 

David  Curtis 

Sarah  E.  Blackman  2nd  wife    " 
8  *Hattie  Louise  Curtis  ch.  & 

David  Curtis 
Desc.  through  6Hezekiah  Curtis  and   Marcia  Glover 

7  Henry  Curtis  m.      Fannie  Parker  Seattle,  Washington 

7  Benjamin       "  "     Laura  Lewis  Newtown,  Conn. 

7  Betsey  "  "     1st  Daniel  Hinman  (no  ch.)       "  " 

"     2nd  Samuel  Curtis  (no  ch.) 
7  Mary  "  "      1st  James  Wheeler  (no  ch.)       New  Haven 

2nd  Samuel  Curtis 


50 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Ch.  Henry  Curtis 

8  *Charles 
8  Florence 

8  Hobart  H.  " 
8  Jennie 

8  Frederick  " 

8  Newton  M.  " 


9  Marion 


&      Fannie  Parker 

m.      Pearl  Hunt  (no  ch.) 
"     Mr.  Cone  (no  ch) 


Laura  Lewis 
ch.  & 

Benjamin  Curtis 

Ruth  Amelia  Nichols 
ch.  & 

Hobart  H.  Curtis 
m.     Clayton  Hawley 


6  Desc.  through  David  Curtis  and  Jennet  Shelton 


Dubuqe,  Iowa 

Newtown,  Conn. 

Passaic,  N.  J. 

Newtown,  Conn. 

Monroe,  Conn. 
Painted  Post,  N.  Y. 


7  ♦Jane    Marilla    Curtis 
7  *Infant  Son 
7  *Antoinette  " 

7  Phebe  Minerva       " 

7  Josiah  " 

Their  Ch. 

8  Carrie  Jennet  " 

8  Minnie  Antoinette  " 
8  Bertha  Jane  " 

8  *Jose  Richmond     " 

Ch.  Carrie  Jennet    " 

9  Curtis  Patterson    " 

9  Janet  Curtis  Patterson 

10  Allan  Curtis  Taylor 
10  Curtis  Sheldon  " 


& 
m. 

ch. 


d.  Newtown,  sixteen  yrs.  of  age. 
d.  in  infancy 

Charles  H.  Erwin(  no  ch.)  " 

Charles  G.  Thompson  Campbell 

Caroline  Sophia  Smith 


1st  Louis  Patterson  New  York,  N.  Y. 

2nd  Alfred  Lublin 
Frank  E.  Smedley  (no  ch.)  Addison,      " 
unm. 
d.  young 

Louis  Patterson 

Carla  Owen 
Lynn  Taylor 


Janet  Curtis  Patterson 

& 
Lynn  Taylor 


4  Matthew  and  4Benjamin  first  in  Newtown,  1716. 

Ch.   4Benjamin  Curtis 

5  Nehemiah  " 
5  Phebe 

5  Eunice  " 
5  Elizabeth 

S  Benjamin  " 


& 
m. 


5  Abijah 

5  Sarah 

Ch.  SBenjamin 

6  Philo 

Ch.  Benjamin 

6  Artemisia 

6  Alfred  Devine 

6  Epenitus 

Ch.  Philo 

7  Philo 
7  Polly 

7  Betsey 
7  Huldah 


& 
m. 

& 

m. 

(I 

& 
m. 


Elizabeth  Birdsey 

Martha  Clark 
Daniel  Morehouse 
Amos  Hard 
Capt.  John  Glover 
1st  Phedima  Nichols 
2nd   Mary  Devine 
3rd.  Phebe  Toucey 
Sarah  Birdsey 
Nirom  Hard 

Phedima   Nichols 
Huldah  Hubbell 


Mary  Devine 

Linus  Sherman  (see  Sherman) 
Sarah  Hard 
Salina  Hard  " 

Huldah  Hubbell 

Sally  Maria  Birch 

John  Glover  (see  Glover)  ' 

Amariah  Beers  (see  Beers)  ' 

Chauncey  Hatch  * 


Addison,  N.  J. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


51 


Ch.  Alfred  Uevine  Curtis        &      Sarah  Hard 


Newtown,  Conn. 


7  *Sophia 

" 

7  *Nirora 

" 

7  *Phebe 

« 

7  *Cyrenius 

" 

7  *Alfred 

" 

7  *Edwin  A. 

" 

Ch.  Nirom 

<> 

8  *Julia  M.  L. 

" 

She  was  "W.  M. 

L.  Jay, 

Ch.    6Epenitus 

Curtis 

7  Susan 

« 

7  Charles 

" 

7  Henry  Francis 

i< 

Ch.  Henry  F. 

« 

8  *Jasper 

" 

8  Susan 

" 

8  Henry  William 

" 

8  Charles 

" 

8  Salina 

" 

8  *Lany  Elizabeth 

« 

8  *Sarah 

« 

8  *Frances 

« 

unm.  "  " 

Matilda  Rogers  1st  m.  "  " 

Joseph  Nettleton  (See  Beach)    " 

Christa  Ann  Beardsley  Monroe,  Conn. 

Matilda    Rogers   Curtis   2nd   m.   Newtown, 

Matilda  Rogers  Curtis  3rd  m. 


9  Lucy  McDaniel 
9  Henry  William 


9  Henry  Barnum        " 
9  Anna 

9  Richard  Curtis  Randall 

9  Elizabeth 

9  Keith  Meade 

9  Miriam  Flint  " 

9  Richard  Curtis 

8  Cornelia  Curtis 
8  Jane 

Ch.    7Cyrenius    Curtis 

8  Joseph 

8  Sarah  Matilda 

8  Phebe  Ann 

8  Bertha  Celia 

Ch.  Phebe  Ann      " 

9  Lynn      W.      Wilson 

9  Clyde  Curtiss 

9  Justin  A.  " 

9  Leigh  H. 

9  Enid  Lynnette        " 

10  Curtis  A.  Wilson 
10  Alan  W. 


&      Matilda  Rogers 
m.     Rev.  Curtis  Woodruff 
authoress  of  "Shiloh"  and  n 

&     Salina  Hard 

m.     Anson  Smith 
unm. 
"      Lany    McDaniel 

&     Lany  McDaniel 

d.  in  Civil  War 

unm. 
m.     Ida  Whitlow 
"     Rachel  Barnum 
"     Richard  Randall 

unm. 

unm. 

unm. 

Ida  Whitlow 
ch.  & 

Henry  Wm.  Curtis 

Rachel  Barnum 
ch.  & 

Charles  Curtis 


ch. 
m. 

ch. 

& 
m. 


& 
m. 


Salina  Curtis 

& 
Richard  Randall 
Florence  Valentine 

Sally  Maria  Birch 

& 
Philo  Curtis 


New  York,  N.  Y. 
umerous  poems. 

Brookfield,  Conn. 
Marysville,   Tenn. 


New  Orleans,  La. 

Marysville,  Tenn. 

Knoxville,  Tenn. 

Danbury,  Conn. 

Shelton      " 

Los  .'\ngeles,  Cal. 

Knoxville,  Tenn. 


New  Fairfield,  Conn. 


Shelton,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Christa  Ann  Beardsley        Monroe,  Conn. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 


Jane  Eliza  Tyler 
Frederick  W.  Curtis 
James  A.  Wilson 

unm. 


ch. 


James  A.  Wilson 

1st  Maude  Blakmey 
2nd  Alice  Peckham  Booth 
d.  young 

Lucy  MacDonald  (no  ch.) 
1st    Edith    Henna 
2nd  Florence  Voder  (no  ch.) 
Bradford  Tilden   Seney 

Maude  Blarney 

& 
Lvnn  W.  Wilson 


52 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


10  Wilson  Tilden  Seney 
10  Clyde  Curtis 

Ch  SAbijah  Curtis 
6  John 

6  Benjamin  " 

6  Maj.  Abijah  Birdsey  " 

Their  Ch. 

7  Marcia  " 
7  Horatio  Nelson  " 
7  Charlotte 

7  Anna  " 

7  Joseph  B.  " 

7  Birdsey  G.  " 

7  Caroline  " 

7  Ira  L. 

8  *Julianna  " 
8  *Sarah  Frances      " 

Ch.  Ira  L. 

8  ♦Elizabeth 

8  ♦Juliette 

Ch.  Elizabeth  " 

9  Cora       Parker 

9  Alfred  Curtis" 

10  Mabel 
10  Harriet 


Enid  Lvnnelle  Wilson      Bridgeport,  Conn. 
ch.  & 

Bradford   Tilden   Seney  "  " 


&  Sarah  Birdsey 

m.  Hannah  Beach 

"  Mehitable  (no  desc.) 

"  Anna    Glover 


Newtown,  Conn. 


John    Beach    (See    Beach) 

Marcia  Nefus  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Nichols  Booth  Lake       (See  Lake) 

Simeon  Nichols  (See  Nichols) 

Betsey  Piatt  Newtown,  Conn 

Louisa  Ketcham  Beloit,  Wis. 

Simeon  B.  Peck  (see  Peck) 

Marietta  Glover  Newtown,  Conn. 


ch. 

Betsey  Piatt 

& 
Joseph  B.  Curtis 

«                « 

U                                 11 

& 

Marietta  Glover 

l<                          u 

m. 

Daniel  W.  Parker 
Winthrop  Foote  (no  ch.) 

Bedford,  Ind 

& 

Daniel  Parker 

m. 

T.  J.  Leonard  (no  ch.) 
Gertrude  Bowden 

Springville,  Ind 
Bedford 

ch. 

Gertrude  Bowder 

& 
Alfred  Curtis  Parker 

Nathaniel  Dikeman 

Their  Ch. 
2  Mary  Ann  " 

2  Polly 
2  Ira 
2  Maria 

2  Ebenezer  " 

2  Sylvia  " 

2  Betsey  " 

2  Charles  " 

2  Harriet  " 

Ch.  Mary  Ann  Dikeman 

3  ♦Maria        Judd 
3  *Catherine     " 

3  ♦Arsina  " 

3  Juliette 

3  ♦William 

3  ♦Mary 

3  ♦Louisa  " 

Ch.  Polly  Dikeman 

3  ♦Eliza         Starr 
3  Dr.  Alfred     '' 
3  ♦Ira 


DIKEMAN 

m.     Experience  Hawley  1791,  Newtown,  Conn. 

Taylor  Judd 

Samuel  Starr  Bethel        " 

Betsey  Hurd  Cheshire        " 

Ebenezer  Beers  (no  ch.)      Newtown,  Conn. 
Julia  Fairchild  " 

Abram  K.  Fairchild  (see  Fairchild)  " 

Niornipn  Beers  (see  Beers)  Newtown,  Conn. 
Mary  Matilda  Benedict  "  " 

Walter  Parmelee  "  " 

&     Taylor  Judd  Bethel,        " 

m.     Daniel  Gregory  "  " 

m.     William  Dikeman  "  " 

Benjamin  Gregory  "  " 

Stiles  Smith 

Elizabeth  Seeley 

John  Stone 

Ira  Manley 

m.     Samuel  Starr 

Adolph  H.  Upson  Bethel, 

"       Mary  Alice  Nichols  (no  ch.)       New  York, 
"      Jane  Hutton 


Ch.  2  Ira  Dikeman 

3  *Homer  " 

3  Mary  " 

3  Sylvia 

3  Hattie 

3  *Theodore  " 

Ch.  Ebenezer     " 

3  *Henry  " 

3  Sophia  " 

Ch.  Ebenezer     " 

3  *Martha  " 

3  Oscar  " 

3  Emma  " 

4  *Arthur  Dikeman 
4  Julia 

4  Lillian  " 

4  Dwight  Tyrill 

4  *Gertrude     " 

5  Raymond  Tyrill 
5  Dorothy         " 

5  Phyllis 

5  Reginald  Reid 
5  Marion         " 


4  *Russell  Dikeman 

4  Mildred  " 

5  Henry  Dikeman  Stoddard 
5  Russell  Buddington     " 

5  William 

5  Marcia  " 

2  Ch.  *Charles  Dikeman 

3  Jane  Dikeman 
3  Sarah        " 

Ch.  Harriet  Dikeman 

3  Edwin  Somers  Parmelee 
3  Bruce  Leavenworth    " 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 
m.     Betsey  Hurd 


53 


|]       Lydia  Ann  Northrop  (no  cii.)  New  Haven. 

Doolittle 
«"      i?^"  Bishop  Cheshire,  Conn. 

^^      Elbert  Sprang  1st  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Howard  2nd  Chicago,  111. 

unm. 

Julia  Fairchild  1st  wife      Newtown,  Conn. 
Emily  Camp  "  " 

George  E.  Porter  New  Haven, 

&     Betsey  Maria  Dikeman,  2nd  wife 
Alfred  Tvrill 


Lillian  Russell 
unm. 

Emily  Camp 
ch.  & 

Henry  Dikeman 

Martha   Dikeman 
ch.  & 

Alfred    Tyrill 

ch.  & 

Dwight  Tyrill 

*Gertrude    Tyrill 
ch.  & 

William  Reid 

Lillian  Russell 
ch.  & 

Oscar  Dikeman 


Mildred  Dikeman, 
ch.  & 

Clifford  Ives  Stoddard 


New  Haven,        " 
Newtown,  Conn. 

New  Haven,  Conn. 


New  Haven,  Conn. 


Woodbridge,  Conn. 


&  Mary  Matilda  Benedict       Danbury,  Conn. 

m.  Theodore  Sanford  "  " 

"  John  Hodge  "  " 

m.  Walter  Parmelee  Wallingford        " 

m.  Mary  A.  Treat  " 

"  Martha  Treat 


Ch.  Edwin  S.  Parmelee  " 

4  Jennie  Maria  "  " 

4  *Harriet  Elizabeth      "  " 

4  Mary  Rebecca  "  " 

4  Eva  Treat  " 

4  Sarah  Edwina  "  " 

Ch.  Jennie  Maria         "  & 

5  *Edwin  Seymour  Baldwin 

5  Mary  Eliza  "  m. 

S  Walter  Parmelee         "  " 
5  Elizabeth  Gilbert 


Mary  A.  Treat 

Seymour  Gilbert  Baldwin 

Robert  Culm  Canby  Phila.  Pa. 

James  Mcintosh  Jones        Petersburg,  Va. 

unm.  Wallingford,  Conn. 

Daniel  Hervey  Havens  Meriden 

Seymour  G.  Baldwin 

d.  at  3  mos. 

Rufus  Town  Stephenson       Springfield,  O. 

Marguerite  Doyle  East  Haven,  Conn. 

unm. 


Mary  Eliza  Baldwin 
6  Seymour  Towne  Stephenson  ch.  & 

Rufus  Towne  Stephenson 


54 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


6  John  Doyle  Baldwin 

5  Daniel  Parmelee  Havens 
5  Mary  Edwina  " 

5  William  Edwin  " 

3  Bruce  Leavenworth  Parmel 

4  Fannie  Augusta  Parmelee 

Their  Ch. 

5  Evelina  Augusta  Markham 
5  Esther  Jane  " 

5  Fred 

6  Ruth  Ives 


Marguerite  Doyle 
ch.  & 

Walter  Parmelee  Baldwin 

Sarah  Edwina  Parmelee      Meriden,  Conn, 
ch.  & 

Daniel  Mervey  Havens  "  " 

eem.  Martha  Jane  Treat       Wallingford,  Conn, 
m.     Fred  Markham  "  " 


Willett  Ives 

unm. 

unm. 


Evelina  Augusta  Markham 
ch.  & 

Willett  Ives 


Ch.  3  Maria  Judd 

& 

William  Dikeman 

4  George            Dikeman 

m. 

Kittie  Jones 

4  Orson                         " 

« 

4  Hannah  Maria        " 

unm. 

4  Mary  Ann                " 

Henry   Griffin 
Catherine  Judd 

4  Anna  Gregory 

ch. 

& 
Daniel  Gregory 

ii                « 

m. 

Ferris  Mead  (no  ch.) 

Bethel,  Conn. 


4  Juliette  " 
4  Harriet  R.  " 
4  *Martha  A. " 
4  *Arthur  R.  " 

4  *Henry  R.  " 

5  Grace  Louise  Hubbell 

5  Charles  Gregory     " 

6  Leland  Hubbell  Lyon 
6  Roger  Adams  " 

6  Fred  Gregory  " 

6  Marion  Louise        " 
6  Harriet  Grace         " 

6  Luman  George  Hubbell 
6  Catherine  Annette  " 


7  Leland   Hahn    Lyon 

4  Ch.  Martha  A.  Gregory 

5  Emma  J.  Bloomer 
5  Hattie  A. 


ch. 
ch. 
ch. 

ch. 

ch. 

& 

m. 


Arsina  Judd 

& 
Benjamin  Gregory         Sandy  Hook,  Conn. 


6  Joseph  Blomer  Bateman      ch. 


4  Henry        Smith 
4  *William 
4  Cortez  " 

4  *Jane  Ann      " 
4  Cortez  " 


ch. 
m. 


Harriet  R.  Gregory 

& 
Luman  Leroy  Hubbell 

Grace    Louise    Hubbell 

& 
G.  Fred  Lyon 


Mary    Louise    Modeman 

& 
Charles  G.  Hubbell 

Alice   Hahn 

& 
Leland  Hubbell  Lyon 

Joseph  B.  Bloomer 

Arthur  A.  Mead 
Elmo  Bateman 

Hattie  A.  Bloomer 

& 
Elmo  Bateman 

Juliette  Judd 

& 
Stiles    Smith 
Cora  B.  Ferry 


Danbury,  Conn. 


Bethel,    Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


55 


4  Cli.  Henry  Smith 

5  Grace  " 
5  Florence  " 
5  Georgia  " 
5  Frederick  " 

3  Ch.  William  Judd 

4  *John 

4  Elizabeth  " 

4  Alice 

4  Lloyd  Taylor     " 
4  Estella 

4  *Ida 

5  Virginia  Ray 
5  Alice  " 

5  George      " 

3  Ch.  Louise  Judd 

4  Henry       Manley 
4  Eveline  " 

4  Howard 


See  Newtown's  Lawyers. 

1  Tudge   William   Edmond      m. 

2  Mary  E. 

1  Judge  William  "  m. 

Their  Ch. 

2  Elizabeth  P. 

2  Sarah  "  " 

2  William  P. 
2  Ann 

2  Robert 

3  Willliam  Edmond  Curtis     ch. 

3  William  Edmond         "  m. 

Their  Ch. 

4  William  Edmond  Curtis,  Jr. 

4  Henry  Holbrook  "  m. 

4  Frederick  Kingsbury  "  " 

Ch.  Sarah  Edmond  & 

3  *Mary  Booth  m. 

Sarah  "  " 

♦Dr.  William      " 


& 

Minnie  Bruin 

m. 

John   Killingbeck 
Gerald  Hall 

" 

Burton  Orton 

unm. 

m. 

Elizabeth  Sceley 

d.  unm. 

m. 

Runyon 

unm. 

m. 

m. 

unm. 
Charles  Ray 

ch. 

Ida  Judd 

& 
Charles  Ray 

m. 

Ira  Manley 

« 

unknown 

Fred  H.  Richmond 
Mary  Reynolds 

EDMOND 

Bethel,  Conn. 


Ch.  Mary 

4  Annie  Sanford 

4  Sarah 

.S  Henry  Sanford  Beers 

5  Robert  Edmond      " 

4  *William  B.  Hawley 
4  Marv  " 

4  *William  2nd     " 
♦Harry  C. 


1st  Elizabeth  Chandler       Newtown,  Conn. 

Their  Ch. 

2nd  Elizabeth  Payne  "  " 


Holbrook  Curtis 
Dr.  Cyreniuh  Booth 

unm. 
unm. 

Elizabeth  P.  Edmond 

& 
Holbrook  Curtis 
Mary  Ann  Scoville 


Josephine  Allen 
Marion  Scott  Hare 

Dr.  Cyrenius  Booth 

Henry  Sanford 
Marcus  C.  Hawley 
unm.  (See  Doctors) 


Waterbury 

Newtown, 


Waterbury 
Watertown, 


Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
N.  Y.  Citv,  N.  Y. 


Newtown.  Conn. 


&      Henry  Sanford 

unm. 
m.     Robert  C.  Beers 

Sarah  Sanford 
ch.  & 

Robert  C.  Beers 

Sarah  Booth 
ch.  & 

Marcus  C.  Hawley 


56 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


FAIRCHILD 

1  Thomas  Fairchild  came  from  England  in  1638-9  and  sealed  in  Straiford 
in  1639  d.  in  1670  .  The  name  was  originally  Fairbairn. 

2  Edward,    2  Samuel,    2  Thomas,    sons    of    1  Thomas. 

3  Edward  first  Fairchild  settler  in  Newtown   in   1705. 

4  Ebenezer,   4  Jonathan,   4  James,    sons    of    3  Edward. 

5  Peter,  SClement,  5Truman,  sons  of  4Ebenezer. 
5  Josiah,  5  Zadoe,  sons  of  4  Jonathan. 

5  Peter  Fairchild,  son  of  4  Ebenezer  ni.  Eunice  Bulkley.  She  was  a  desc. 
of  Gen.  Warren  of  Revolutionary  fame.  Peter  was  a  soldier  in  the  war 
of  the  Revolution  having  served  seven  years.  He  was  at  Putnam  Park 
during  one  winter  with  Gen.  Putnam.  He  was  a  Corporal  and  it  is  said  he 
served  for  a  time  on  the  staff  of  Gen.  Washington. 


Ch.  of  5  Peter  Fairchild       & 

6  Marcus  "  m. 

6  Fanny 

6  Rufus 

6  William  B. 

6  Nabby 

6  Walter 

6  Hermon 

6  Peter  Warren 

Ch.  6  Marcus 

7  *Fayette 

7  *Horatio 

8  *Isabella 
8  Oscar 

8  ♦Lillian  "  ch. 

8  *Bernice 


9  Iza  May  "  ch. 


Eunice  Bulkley 

Susan  Underbill  Foote 

Hawley  Fairchild  son  of  5  Zadoe 

Mary  Windom  Picken 

Sarah  Hoffman 

James   B.   Fairchild 

Abigail  Jennings  (no  desc.) 

Clara  Dibble 

Caroline  Briscoe 

Susan  Underbill  Foote 

Mary  Jane  Spring 
Accidentalllv   shot. 


Mary  Jane  Spring 

& 
Fayette   Fairchild 

Mabel  Atwood  1st  wife 

& 
Oscar  Fairchild 


Naugatuck,  Conn. 


Alice  J.  Beardsley  2nd  wife 
9  Pearl  "  ch.  & 

Oscar  Fairchild 
6  Fanny    Fairchild    dau.    of    Peter    m.    6Hawley    Fairchild 


7  Harriet 

8  *Edwin     Benedict 
8  Emily  " 

8  *Delia 

9  ♦Hattie 


9  Lena  " 

9  *George  Lewis  " 

10  George  Hull 
10  Ruth 

10  Emily 

5  Silas  son  of  4James 

6  Joseph  son  of  5  Silas 


6  Fanny  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

6  Hawley  Fairchild 

Harriet  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

George  Benedict 

Cornelia  Morse 
ch.  & 

Edwin  Benedict 

"       Delia  Benedict 
ch.  & 

Lewis  Beers  Fairchild 

Lena  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Matthew  Hull 

m.     Sarah  Godfrey 

"       Electa  Fairchild  1st  wife 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Bethel 


Newtown, 


Newtown,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


57 


Their  Ch. 

7  Polly    Ann    Fairchild 
7  Philo 

Ch.  6  Joseph  " 

7  Aurinda  " 

7  Electa 

7  Sarah 

7  Mary 

7  Laura  Ann  " 

7  James  " 

7  Dr.  S.  Bradley 

6  Joseph 

7  Amarillis  Gale 

7  Angeline      " 

8  Florence  Sherman,  M.  D' 
8  William 

6  *Rufus  Fairchild 


m.     Beman  Fairchild 


& 
m. 


New  Milford,  Conn. 
Bethel, 


Amarillis  Dibble  2nd  wife 

Mizenus  Hard 

.\ul;u>iiiic    l  haycT 

John  Gale 

Charles  Stevens 

Barlow  Stevens  Bridgeport 

Evelyn  Wallace  Newtown, 

Sarah  McKinney  Woodbury 

Patience  Judson  Wheeler  3rd  wife 


ch. 


ch. 


Sarah  Fairchild 

& 
John  Gale 

Angeline   Fairchild   Gale 

& 
William  Sherman 


Bethel 


m.     '\l-dTy  W.  Pickens  New  York,  N.  V. 

7  They  had  a  daughter  who  m.  a  Zogbaum 

8  Rufus  Fairchild  Zogbaum  became  an  eminent  artist.     His  specialty  was 
battle  scenes  during  the  Civil  War. 

6  *Nabby  Fairchild  m.  SJames  Fairchild  son  of  4  James 

Their  Ch. 

7  *Mary  E. 
7  *Sarah 
7  *Susan  " 

7  *Smith 

8  Frederick  Andrews 
8  Rufus 
8  William 
8  Elizabeth 


Capt.  Wason  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

William  Mayuard  (no  ch.)  Newtown,      " 
David  Andrews  "  " 

d.  in  Civil  War 


ch. 


Susan  Fairchild  " 

& 
David  Andrews  Killed  in  Civil  War 


9  Susan  " 

9  Fannie 

6  Ch.  Hermon  Fairchild 

7  *Hannah  Dibble    " 

7  *Edwin  " 

♦Lewis  Henry  Peck 
Adopted 
Arthur  Treat  Nettleton 


ch. 


Jennie  Butcher 

& 
Frederick  Andrews 


Newtown,  Conn. 


&     Clara  Dibble 

m.     Charles  Henry  Peck 
d.  in  young  manhood 

Hannah  D.  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Charles  Henry  Peck 
m.     *Jennie  Morris 


Ch.  6  Peter  Warren  Fairchild   &  Caroline   Briscoe 


7  *Emily     Fairchild 

6  Juliette  " 

7  Robert 

7  *Margaret        " 
7  Jerome  " 

7  *Albert  Warren  " 


8  .Arthur  Fairchild 
8  Adelaide         " 


Charles  Gray  (no  ch.) 

Hosea    B.   Northrop   (see   Northrop)    rec.) 

Frances  Smith  Starnford        |' 

Benjamin  Lewis 

<\.  in  Civil  War 

Mary  Greene  1st  Newtown,  Conn. 

Mrs.  Victoria  Burritt  2nd       Stepney 


ch. 


Mary  Green   1st  wife 
Albert  W.  Fairchild 


Newtown,  Conn. 


58 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


9  Arthur  Warren  Fairchild  Emily  Hazen  Smith  Newtown,  Conn. 

9  Robert  Dunning  "  ch.  & 

9  Mary  Hazen  "  Arthur  Fairchild  "  " 

Sergt.  Arthur  W.  Fairchild  in  France,  Oct.  1917.     In  Med.  Dept. 
Robert  D.  in  France  May  1918. 

9  Edith  Fairchild  Wilson         ^^    Adelaide^Fairchild 

9  Edna  Louise  "  '   j-^^^^^  ^jj^^^ 

5  Clement  Fairchild  son  of  4  Ebenezer  m.  Sarah  Piatt 


Their  Ch. 
6  Lucinda     Fairchild 
6  Beman  " 

6  Hiram 


m.     John  Williams 
"       Polly  Ann  Fairchild 
"       1st  Sarah  Northrop 
2nd  Betsey  Gelston 
"      Asel  Beebe 


Newtown,  Conn. 
Brookfield      " 

Bethel, 


6  Lucia  " 

No  desc.  located. 

5  Truman  Fairchild  son  of  4  Ebenezer  m.  Sarah  Sherman  Newtown,  Conn. 

Their  Ch. 

6  Araunah  Fairchild 


6  Abraham    K.     Fairchild 
Their  Ch. 

7  *Harriet  Catherine  " 
7  *George  S.  " 
7  *Nathaniel  Perry  " 
7  *Sarah 

7  Henry  Hobart 

Ch.  Henry  H.  Fairchild 

8  George  S.  " 
8  William  H. 

8  Alice  P. 

8  *Hobart  C. 

8  Sarah  L.  " 

8  Edwin  C. 

8  Perry  E. 

9  George  S.  Jr.  " 
9  Julia 

9  •Louise 
9  Ivan  O. 

9  Ruth  H. 
9  Arthur  W. 


9  Arthur  E.  Sherman 


9  May  L.  Fairchild 


9  Grace     L.     Sirine 
9  *Arthur  E. 
9  Fairchild  J. 

9  Geraldine  Fairchild 
9  Elliott  R. 


m.     1st  Esther  Bryant 

2nd  Anna   Beers   (no  ch.) 
m.     Sylvia  Dikeman 


m.     John  Nichols  (see  Nichols) 

unm. 
"      Abby   Bartram 

unm. 
"      Lydia  Piatt 

&      Lydia    Piatt 

Florence   Sirine 
Nettie  Ward 
Ernest  Sherman 
Mary  L.  Botsford 
Arthur  L.  Sirine 
Grace  McDowell 
Belle  Smith 

Florence   Sirine 
ch.  & 

George  S.  Fairchild 

Nettie  Ward 
ch.  & 

William  H.  Fairchild 

Alice  P.  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Ernest  S.  Sherman 


Stepney, 
Newtown, 
Bethel, 


Stepney, 


Mary  L.  Botsford 
ch.  & 

*Hobart  C.  Fairchild 
m.     Louis  Bedat 

Sarah  L.  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Arthur  L.  Sirine 

Belle  Smith 
ch.  & 

Perry  E.  Fairchild 


Newtown 


Bethel 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


59 


10  George  S.  Curtis  3rd. 
10  May  L. 


10  Pearl  H.  Cable 
10  George  H.     " 


10  Florence  Thompson 


10  Harold  H.  Fairchild 

lODorthea 

10  Beatrica  " 

Ch.  of  5  Josiah  Fairchild 

6  Adoniram       Fairchild 
6  Wheeler  " 

6  Jonathan  Sturges  " 
6  Ira 
6  Betsey  Ann  " 

6  Cyrus  " 

Ch.  6  Adoniram      " 

7  *Dibble 
7  Josiah 
7  Horace 
7  Florilla 

7  Polly  Ann 

Ch.  7  Dibble  Fairchild 

8  *Elizabeth 
8  *Lilly  Delia 
8  *Jane  Ann 

8  *Theodore 

9  Jane 

9  William 
9  Carrie 

8  Mariette  " 

8  Josiah  Booth 

8  Mariette  Fairchild 

7  Ch.  of  7  Horace  Fairchild 

8  Harriet 

8  Martha  " 

8  Adoniram  " 

8  Reuben  " 


George  S.  Fairchild  Jr. 
ch.  & 

Jessie  M.  Stucklan 

Ruth  H.  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Harvey  Cable 

Julia  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

David  Thompson 

Mary  Hawley 
ch.  & 

Ivan  O.  Fairchild 

&      Betsey    Wheeler 

m.  Polly  Dibble 

"  Betsey  Botsford 

"  Lucy  Wheeler 

"  Jerusha  Hall 

"  Levi  Weed 

"  Damaris  Botsford 

&      Polly  Dibble 

m.  Polly  Blackman 

"  Phebe  Booth 

"  Laura  Taylor 

"  1st  Daniel  Leavenworth 

"  William  Hinman 

&      Polly  Blackman 

d.  at  twenty  one  years 

d.  sixteen  years 
m.     William  Kellogg  (no  ch.) 
"       Maria  Bryant 


Bethel,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Bethel 


Monroe, 


ch. 

ch. 
m. 

m. 


Maria   Bryant 

& 
Theodore  Fairchild 


Phebe  Booth 

& 
7  Josiah  Fairchild 
Glover  Hawley  (See  Hawley)    " 

Laura  Taylor 


Canada 


Newtown,  Conn. 


m.     Phebe   Summers.     A  diver.     Lost   his   life 
diving. 


Ch.  Adomiram  and  Phebe  Summers 


9  Benjamin 
9  Anna 
9  *Ada 
9  Edith 

9  David 

10*Benjamin  H. 

10  Edith 
10*Walter 
10  Anna 


Fairchild 


m.     Marion  Siditer 

unm. 
m.     Dr.  Charles  Penny 

unm. 

unm. 

Marion  Siditer 
ch.  & 

Benjamin   Fairchild 


Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Stepney,  Conn 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


60 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Ch.  7PollyAnn  Fairchild       & 
John  S.  Hinman  tn. 

Kate  L. 
Emma  J.     " 
Arthur  W.  " 
*Anna  " 


Florence        Lake 
Rev.  Clarence   " 


ch 


9  Lydia  Lane  Hinman  Benedict  c 


Ch.     Levi    Weed 

& 

7  Eliza  Ann        " 

m. 

7  Edwin                " 

7  Josiah  Austin  " 

7  Granville          " 

7  Harrison           " 

7  Henry  Russell " 

8  Maria  Sherman 

9  Carrie  Twiss 

m.  H.  F.  Burgess 

8  Emma  Weed 

m.  J.  W.  Drum 

8  Charles  T.  Weed 
8  Jennie  " 

8  Smith  G.  Weed 

8  I.  De  Witt  " 
8  H.  Harrison  " 
8  Elizabeth       " 


8  Minnie  M.     " 
8  Clara  L. 

5  Zadoc  son  of  4  Jonathan 


Ch.     SZadoc     Fairchild 
6  Hawley  " 

6  Ezra  " 

6  Ziba 
6  Clark 
6  Lewi.s 
6  Levi 

6  Samuel  " 

6  Burtis 
6  Beers  " 

6  Moss 
6  Polly 
6  Eunice  " 


ch. 
ch. 

ch. 

ch. 
m. 

ch. 

ch. 
m. 

ch. 

m. 

& 
m. 


William  Hinman 

Mary  Turney 

Jackson  Lake 

unm. 

Lydia  O.  Lane 

Bruce  Griffen 

Kate  L.  Hinman 

& 
Jackson  Lake 

Lydia  O.  Lane 
h.  & 

Arthur  Wm.  Hinman 

Betsey  Ann  Fairchild 
Charles  Sherman 
Susan   Tripp 
Jeannette  Treat 
Phebe  Dann 
Elizabeth  Piatt 
Charlotte  Botsford 

Eliza   Ann   Weed 

& 
Charles  Sherman 

Maria  Sherman 

& 
Gustavus  Twiss 

Susan  Tripp 

& 
Edwin  Weed 

Jeannette  Treat 

& 
J.  Austin  Weed 
H.  C.  McKnight 

Phebe  Dann 

& 
Granville  Weed 

Elizabeth  Piatt 

& 
H.  Harrison  Weed 
A.  J.  Ward 

Charlotte  Botsford 

& 
Henry  Russell  Weed 
1st   Mary  Griffen 
2nd  Abiah  Wheeler 


^lonroe,  Conn. 


Monroe 
Shelton, 

Monroe 


Bethel, 

Brookfield, 

New  Haven 


Mary  Griffen 

Fanny  Fairchild 

Anna  Shepard 

Sally  Morehouse 

Charlotte   Beecher 

Betsey  Botsford  Fairchild 

Anna  Shepard 

Polly  Camp  (no  ch.) 

Hannah  Wakelee  (no  ch.) 

1st  Esther  Toucey  (no  ch.) 

2nd  Adah  Camp 

Eliza  Fairchild 

Trowbridge  Camp  (see  Camp) 

Taylor  Judd 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Bethel 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


61 


ch. 

ch. 
m. 


Ch.     Ezra     Fairchild 

7  Sophia 

7  Lucretia 

7  Ehza 

7  Catherine  " 

7  Charles  " 

8  Julius  Henry  Allen 

9  Howard  Sanford  " 
9  Arthur  Stephen    " 

6  Ziba  Fairchild 
Their  Ch. 

7  Edmund 

7  David  Wheeler     " 
7  Le  Grand  " 

7  Samuel  " 

8  *Lucy  A.  "  . 
8  *JuIia  A.                "                  *^"- 


8  *Julia  A.  2nd        "  ch. 

9  Edgar      Northrop 

9  George              "  ch. 
9  Lucy 

9  Homer  Baldwin  ch. 

lOAurelia  Wetmore  Northrop 

lOEdgar  Whitney  "          ch. 


10  Mary      Northrop 

10  Georgia         "  ch. 

10  Helen 

lOLucv  A.  Baldwin 

10  Ruth  "  ch. 

10  Carlton 

10  Allan  Mc  Gregor  ch. 


9  Lois  Bulkley  ^.j^ 

9  Edmond  " 

7  Ch  7David  Wheeler  Sz 

8  Marv  Tane  Fairchild  m. 
8  Aupustine 

8  Sarah  M. 
8  Henry  W. 
8  Arthur 
8  Julia 


Anna  Shepard  Newtown,  Conn. 

Stephen  Allen  Woodbury 

George  Redstone  Newtown, 

unni. 

Charles  B.  Glover  (see  Glover  record) 

Jerusha  Edmonds  Newtown,  Conn. 

Sophia  Fairchild  Woodbury, 

& 
Stephen  Allen 

Lillian  Amelia  Sanford  "  " 

& 
Julius  H.  Allen 
Sally  Morehouse 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Harriet  W'hitney   1st  wife  " 

Lois  Peck  2nd  wife 
Emeline  Wetmore  " 

Emily  Whitney  " 

no  desc.  located 

Harriet  Whitney      1st  wife       " 

& 
Edmond    Fairchild 

Lois  Peck        2nd  wife 

& 
Edmund  Fairchild 

Lucy  A.   Fairchild 

& 
Edgar  Northrop 

Lucy  Fairchild  Northrop 
& 
Baldwin 

Florence  Wetmore  2nd  wife 

& 
Edgar  Northrop 
Cora  St.  John  1st  wife 

Annie  Warren 

& 
George  Northrop 

Annie  Hawlev  Stratford 

& 
Homer  Baldwin 

Lucy  Northrop 
Albert  Mc  Gregor 


Juiia  A.  Fairchild 

& 
Eugene  Bulkley 

Emeline  Wetmore 

William  L-^wrence 
E.  A.  Goodemote 
Myron  Colby 
unknown 
d.  young 
d.  young 


Newtown. 


Bethel 


Newtown, 


62 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


Ch.  7  Le  Grand  Fairchild  son  of  Ziba  and  Emily  Whitney,  Newtown,  Conn. 
"  m.     Emma  Jane  Jennings  "  " 


8  *J.  Botsford 
8  *Julius  Burr 
8  *Emily  Aurelia 


9  Mary  Ella 
9  Jennie  Louise 
9  *Emma  Irene 


10  Willis  Arndt 


6  Ch.  Levi     Fairchild  son 

7  Elizabeth  " 
7  Delia 

7  Levi  Beers  " 

6  Moss  son  of  Zadoc 
7  Cornelia     Fairchild 
7  Mariette  " 

7  Clarinda  " 

7  Lewis  Beers       " 


unm. 
"       1st  Jacob  Mayhew  Bethel 

2nd  John  Gay  Newtown, 

Emma  J.  Jennings  " 

ch.  & 

J.  Botsford  Fairchild  " 

Jennie  L.  Fairchild  " 

ch.  & 

Richard  Arndt  " 

of  Zadoc  and  Anna  Shepard 

m.  Carlos  Booth  (see  Booth)  " 

"  Henry  Terrill         (see  Terrill  record) 

"  Louisa  Sanford  Bethel, 

m.  Eliza  Fairchild  " 

"  Isaac  Briscoe  (see  Briscoe)        " 

"  William  Babbitt  Bridgewater 

"  Ammon  Taylor  Newtown, 

"  Delia   Benedict  " 

See  desc.  Fanny  Fairchild 


Ch.  6Wheeler  son  of  SJosiah  m.     Betsey  Botsford 

7  Boyle        Fairchild 
7  Josiah  Beach     " 
7  Lucy  Ann  " 

7  Laura  " 

7  Betsey  Ann        " 
7  Jane  " 


Julia  A.  Hatch 

Eliza  Dibble  " 

John  Hawley  (see  Hawley)  Brookfield 

Sallu  P.  Barnum  Newtown, 

Charles  Clarke  (see  Clarke)      " 

Betts  Woodbury 


Ch.  7  Boyle  Fairchild 

8  David  W. 

8  George  Hatch  2nd  " 

8  Dr.  Josiah  Beach     " 

8  Elijah  Boyle  D.D.S.  " 

8  Catherine  " 

Ch.  8  David 

9  *Alfred  Boyle 
9  Julia  Gertrude        " 
9  Mary  Kate 

9  Charles  Gregory     " 

Ch.  Charles  Cristadora         &     Julia  Gertrude  Fairchild 

10  Agnes  Gertrude  " 
10  Bertha  Corinne  " 
10  Charles  Clarence  " 
10  Harold 

Ch.  Harris  Richardson         &      Mary  Kate  Fairchild 

10  Gertrude  " 

10  Walter 


&     Julia  A.  Hatch  Newtown, 

m.     Mary  Gregory  Danbury, 

m.     Jane  D.  Parrot 

"       1st  Jane  McLean  Wade 

"       Mary  E.  Waterbury 

"       Emroy  Alma  Blinn 

William    Hart    Davis  Monroe, 

&      Mary  Gregory  Danbury, 

unm. 
m.     Charles  Cristadora 
"      Harris  Richardson 
"      Ada  Vandewater 


11  Harris  Angell 
11  Benjamin  " 


11  Russell  Richardson 
11  Harris  2nd    " 


m.     Austin  Angell 

"      Theresa  Bates  Walley 

Gertrude  Richardson 
ch.  & 

Austin  Angell 


ch. 


Theresa   Bates  Walley 
Walter  Richardson 


Ch.  George  Hatch  Fairchild  & 

9  *Mary  Hatch  Fairchild 

9  George  William  " 

9  Jane  Francis  " 

9  Julia  Alice  " 

9  George  Hatch  " 

9  Julia  Anna  " 

9  Sherman  " 

9  Fannie  Parrot  " 

9  David  Allen 

10  Herman  Kissam  Beach 
10  Nelson  Miles  Jr.      " 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 
Jane  D.   Parrot 


« 


m.     Nelson  Miles  Beach 

m.     Robert  T.  Patterson 
Frederick  R.  Drake 


Jane  F.  Fairchild 
Nelson  Miles  Beach 


10  Allen  Fairchild  Drake 


11  Herman  Beach 
11  William 


Fannie  P.  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Frederick  R.  Drake 

Bertha  Rigmar  Lynge 
ch.  & 

Herman  Kissam  Beach 


Ch.  8  Dr.  Josiah   B.   Fairchild  and  Jane    McLean   Wade 

9  William  Wade  Fairchild 
9  Kate 


10  Bertha 


Clara 
ch.  & 

William  Wade  Fairchild 


11  Twin  daughter 
11  Twin  son 


Bertha  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Arthur  L.   Roberts 

7  Josiah  Beach  son  of  6Wheeler  m.  Eliza  Dibble 

Their  Ch. 

8  *Catherine  Fairchild  m.     Robert  Van  Keuren 
8  Susan  A.             "  iinm. 

8  Mortimer  "  m.     Elizabeth  Agnes  Kelly 

9  *Robert  Mortimer  Fairchild  m.  Lillian  May  Wilson 
9  Mortimer  Van  Keuren         m.     Katie  Schaaf 


9  Robert  Fairchild    " 

10  Katherine  Louise  " 
10  Robert  Mortimer  " 

8  Mary  Catherine  Barnum 

8  David 

8  Sarah  Frances  " 


9  Mary  Barnum 


ch. 

ch. 

ch. 
m. 


Maude  Felt 

Katie  Schaaf 

& 
Mortimer  Van  Keuren 

Laura  Fairchild 
Sallu  Pell  Barnum 


Newtown,  Conn 


East  Aurora,  N.  Y. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 


East  Aurora,  N.  V 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Marv  Louise  Seymour 

& 
David  Barnum 
Arthur  Frederick  MacArthur 


Ch.  6  Jonathan  Sturgis  Fairchild  and  Lucy  Wheeler 

7  *Topeph  Bennett  Fairchild    m.  Phebe  Shepard 

7  *"Mary  "  "  Charles  Skidmore  (no  ch.)  Newtown  Conn. 

7  *Henry  "  "  Caroline  Booth  1st 

"  Elizabeth  Peck  2nd 

7  *Emeline  "  "  Edwin  Terrill  (see  TerrilH  Brookfield     '^ 

7  *William  "  "  Adaline  Johnson  Newtown, 

7  Lucv  "  David  Beers  (se  Beers) 


64  GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 

7  Ch.  Joseph  Bennett  Eairchild  and  Phtbe  Shepard 

8  Sarah  M.  "  i.i.  William  E.  Duncomb  Redding,  Conn. 
8  George                             "            "       Mary  Clark  (no  ch.)           Southbury 

8  Jonathan  Sturgis  "  "      Nellie   Morse 

8  Ambrose  S.  "                   unni. 

8  Elmer  W.  "                   unni. 

8  Esther  B.  "  "      Charles  J.  Merritt                    Medina,  N.  Y. 

8  Henry  W.  "  "      Anna  Green 

8  Ch.  Sarah  Fairchild  and  Wm.  E.  Duncomb  Redding,  Conn. 

9  David  S.  Duncombe  m.     Lydia  Lane  Lockwood        Knoxville,  Tenn. 

9  Gaorge  F.  "  m.     Lucy  Beers  Newtown,  Conn. 

10  Wm.  Millington  Duncombe  New  York,  N.  Y. 
10  Frederick  Howe  "  Lydia  Lane  Lockwood  Newtown,  Conn. 
10  Raynor  Sanford         "          ch.                    &                      Mount  Vernon,  N.  Y. 

10  David  Sanford  "  David  S.  Duncomb  Albany,  N.  Y. 

11  Frederick  Taylor        "  .      Mabel  Taylor  Newtown.  Conn. 

11  Raynor  Lockwood     "  *"        t     j     •  i    u    i-i  u 

Frederick  H.  Duncombe 

Lucv  Beers 

10  Julia  Beers  "  ,.«h.  "        & 

George   F.   Duncombe 

"  "  "  m.     Rev.  Waller  Aiken  Torrington,  Conn. 


9  ♦Ida  Merritt 

9  *Charles  H.      " 


Esther   Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Charles  J.  Merritt  Chicago,  111. 


,n  y,,  „  Annie  Crawford 

0  Margery  ^_  ^^^  ^ 


10  Crawford 


Charles  H.  Merritt 


Ch.  7Henry  Fairchild  and  Caroline  Booth  Newtown,  Conn. 

8  Jane  Elizabeth        "  m.     Col.  Julius  W.  Knowlton      Bridgeport     " 

8  Anna  Frances  "  "       Andrew  C.  Moore  Newtown,  Conn. 

n  *ixrti-       T^         14.  Jane   E.   Fairchild 

9  *Willie     Knowlton  ,      ■'  ^ 

9  *Waldo  "  •    ^^■^    J    ^    Knowlton        Bridgeport,  Conn. 

9  Henry  Fairchild  Moore  Anna  F.  Fairchild  Newtown,  Conn. 

9  Arthur  Hill  "  ch.  & 

9  Elsie  May  "  Andrew  C.  Moore 

9  Henry  F.  "  m.     Lillian  Bonner  "  " 

10  Evelyn  Frances  " 

10  Mildred  Jane  "  Ethel  Holroyed 

10  Arthur  Holroyd  "  ch.  & 

10  Ralph    Fairchild         "  Arthur  H.  Moore  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Ch.  7  William  Fairchild         t^      .Adaline    Johnson  Newtown.    Conn. 

8  *Charles  Johnson  "  unm. 

8  Julia    Merrit  "  m.     George  C.  Stahl  Toledo,  Ohio 

8  *William  Henry     "  "      Nellie  A.  Hartshorn  Newtown,  Conn. 

♦Tulia  M.  Fairchild  Tulsa,  Okla 

9  William  F.  Stahl  ch.      "  & 

George  C.   Stahl 

Elizabeth  Thornton  " 

lOWinifred  Elizabeth  Stahl  ch.  8z 

Wm.  F.  Stahl 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  65 

Ch.  Wni.  H.  Fairchild  &      Nellie  A.  Hartshornc 

9  Dean  Drummond  Fairchild  m.     Ada  May  Allen  Cold  Spring  Harbor   \   Y 

I  v^T,"'°h'^    .  u  "..     Kl^'^  Harrison  Depcw."  N.'  Y.' 

9  .\ollie  Hartshorne  *Samuol  E.  Speed  Mbany       " 

Speed  "     2nd,  Horatio  T.  Allen      VVaterbury.  Conn. 

10  Burgess  Johnson  Speed         .      ^^"'^  H    Fairchild  Milford,  Conn. 
10  Nellie  Hartshorne      "           ^l}-    ^^            &      ^ 

QT  IT-     U-1J  r-TT  *Sanuiel  h.  Speed  Milford,  Conn. 

8  James  bairchild  son  of  /James  was  in  Colonial  Army  Newtown.  Conn. 

Ch.  James  Fairchild  and  Mary  Beers  " 

9  Kiah  B.  was  a  teacher  in  Newtown.     He  enlisted  in  U.  S.  Army  in  1809 
was  Sergt.  in  war  of  1812;  later  raised  to  rank  of  Capt. 

y  e'apt.  Kiah  Fairchild  m.     Polly  Hubbell  Newtown,  Conn. 

Their  Ch. 

10  Matthew  Fairchild  m.  Mary  Booth  "  " 
10  Burton  "  "  Amy  Wayland  "  " 
10  Maria                   "                       "      1st   Newton   Benedict                  "  " 

10  Mary  "  2nd  Wheeler  Drew 

lOLuciiida  "  " 

Ch.  Matthew  Fairchild  and  Mary  Booth  "  " 

II  Julia 

11  Jane 

11  Ellen  "  m.     W.  W.  Courier  Bridgeport,       " 

11  George  "  "      Jane  Marilla  Warner 

11  Emma  " 

11  William 

11  Clarence  "  Lives   in    San    Francisco 

Ch.  Burton  Fairchild  and  Amy  Wayland  Newtown,  Conn. 

11  George    Newton   "  m.     Mary  J.  Sherman  Bethel, 

11  Col.  Robert  Bruce "  unm.  Bridgeport     " 

11  Frank  Harrison      "  "  " 

Ch.  George  N.  Fairchild  and  Mary  J.  Sherman 

12  George  Burton       "  ni.     Martha  B.  Farnuni  Bethel, 
12  Anna  M.                   "                m.     Stuart  Kyle 

Col.  Robert  B.  Fairchild,  a  Newtown  boy,  was  left  an  orphan  when  eleven 
years  of  age  by  the  death  of  his  mother;  the  father  having  been  killed 
while  blasting  rocks  several  years  earlier.  He  lived  with  Rufus  Couch  of 
Bethel  a  few  years,  then  went  to  Bridgeport,  where  he  became  a  salesman 
with  Birdsey  &  Co.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  Civil  War  he  enlisted  in 
23rd  Conn.  Vols.;  was  taken  prisoner  in  Louisiana  when  Capt.  Julius 
Sanford  and  his  company  were  captured.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
Colonel  of  4th  Reg.  C.  N.  G.  and  was  in  a  fair  way  to  be  promoted  to  the 
highest  military  position  in  the  State. 

He  was  for  seventeen  years  Supt.  of  S.  School  of  Washington  Park  M.  E. 
Church,  Bridgeport  and  exerted  untold  influence  for  good. 


66  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

FAIRMAN 

1  Richard  Fairman  b.  1708      m.     Jane  Botsford 

Their  Ch. 

2  Ichabod  Fairman  m.     Rebecca  Glover  Newtown,  Conn. 
Their  Ch. 

3  Henry 

3  Patience 

3  James  Beach     "  m.     1st  Polly  Peck 

"      2nd  Nancy  Betsey  Peck 
3  Pulchrea  "  "       Gideon  Botsford       (See  Botsford  record) 

3  Jane 

3  Dorcas 

Ch.  James  B.  Fairman  and  Polly  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Chloe  "  ni-     Ziba  Blakeslee  (see  Blakeslee  record) 
Ch.  James  B.  Fairman          &      Nancy  Betsey  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Polly  "  unm-  "  " 

4  Charles  "  rn.  Eliza  Morehouse  "  " 

4  Maria  "  unm.  "  " 

4  William  "  m.  Sarah  Dunn  Adams  New  York,  City 

4  James  "  "  Mary  Louise  Doolittle   New  Haven,  Conn. 

4  Zerah  "  "  Sarah  Bennett 

Ch.  Charles  "  &       Eliza  Morehouse  "  " 

5  Franklin  "  m.  Mary  Jane  Sherman  Chicago,  111. 
5  Matilda  Eliza  "  d.  in  infancy  Newtown,  Conn. 
5  Daniel  Beach    "                                  d.  in  infancy  "  " 

5  Daniel  2nd  "  m.     Lucinda  L.  Southwick  Chicago,  111 

5*Matilda  2nd  "  "      James  J.  Noble  "                " 

5*James  "  twins  unm. 

5*Jane  "  twins  unm. 

5*Arthur  "  m.     Sohpia  B.  Seibert  Manhattan,  Kan. 

5*Elizabeth  "  m.     Rev.  Geo.  W.  Patten  Chicago,  111. 

5*Anna  "  unm. 

5  Eva  2nd  wife    "  m.     James  J.  Noble  "  " 
5*Drusus  "                                   d.  in  boyhood  Newtown,  Conn. 

Ch.  Franklin   Fairman  and  Mary  Jane  Sherman  Chicago,  111. 

6  Matilda  Louise" 

6  Frank   S.  "  d.  in  young  manhood  "  " 

6  Marion  " 

Ch.  Daniel  B.  Fairman  and  Lucinda   L.   Southwick  Chicago,  111. 

6  Charles  Chauncey  "  m.     Sarah  Overman  "  " 

6  Clarence  "  "       Margaret  Miller  "  " 

Ch.  Charles  C.  Fairman  and  Sarah  Overman  Detroit,  Mich. 

7  Ruth  "  m.  Allen  Ray  Johnston  Chicago,  111. 
7  Helen 

7  Hazel  "  "      Ralph  Doyle 

7  Charles  Chauncey  "  " 

Ch.  Ruth  Fairman  and  Allen  Ray  Johnston  "  " 

8  Kenneth   Allen   Johnston 
8  Richard  Lloyd 

8  Robert  Fairman      " 

Hazel  Fairman  "  " 

8  Dorothy  Doyle  ch.  & 

Ralph  Doyle 

7  Daniel  Beach  Fairman  .      Margaret  Miller 

7  Margaret  "  ^"'    r-i  r'  •  «  « 

Clarence  Fairman  *^ 


4 

r 

^ 

i 

^^te' 

k 

k 

FRAXKLIX  FAIRMAN 


Franklin  Fairman  was  born  at  Newtown,  Conn.  June  22nd.  18.i3.  He  attended  the  imiilic 
schools  and  the  academy,  but  wdien  only  sixteen  years  old,  he  entered  the  employ  of  his 
uncle,  James  Fairman  of  New  Haven.  Later  he  was  employed  in  the  printing  office  of  the 
N.  Y.  Independent,  but  in  1855  sought  larger  oiiportunities  in  Chicago.  He  at  once  entered 
the  service  of  the  111.  C.  R.  R.  and  from  1874  until  190U  was  Chief  Freight  Clerk  and  Auditor 
of  Freight  Accounts.  In  1900  he  was  made  Auditor  and  held  that  position  until  1903,  when 
he  was  retired  by  age  limitation.  For  years  he  was  one  of  the  forceful  figures  of  railroad 
circles  centering  in  Chicago.  In  the  early  80's  he  became  much  interested  in  Fraternal  Life 
Insurance,  joining  the  National  Union  in  which  he  was  a  very  efficient  worker  and  Iield  the 
highest   and  most   responsible  positions   until    the   time  of  his   death. 

In  1888  while  President  of  the  Lincoln  Council,  he  inaugurated  the  public  annual  com- 
memoration of  Lincoln's  birth-day  and  from  this  beginning  the  day  has  become  a  legal 
holiday    in    Ills,    and    the    I".    S. 

In  early  life  he  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  but  became  much  in- 
terested in  the  Reformed  Episcopal  Church  in  Chicago,  and  later  in  St.  Paul's  Episcopal 
Kenwood.  The  Kenwood  Club  of  which  he  was  an  early  member,  gave  him  social  diver- 
sion.    He  was  much  interested  in  the  Art   Institute  and  was  very   fond  of  music. 

In   politics   he   was    a    staunch   Republican. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  67 

Matilda   Fairman  Chicago,  III. 

6  Mary  Eliza  Noble  ch.  & 

James  J.  Noble 
Ch.  4Arthur  Fairman  and  Sophie  Seibert  Manhattan.  Kansas 

6  Charles  Edward  Fairman     m.     Mary  Marshall 

6  Anna  "  Joplin,  Missouri 

6  Margarita  " 

6  Arthur  " 

6  Jennie 
6  Hobart       twins       "  Manhattan.    Kansas 

6  Seibert       twins       " 

7  Laura  Virginia        "  Mary  Marshall  "  " 
7  Marjorie  Jane          "                ch.                   & 

7  Mary  "  Charles  E.  Fairman 

Eva  Fairman  Chicago,  111. 

6  Alden  Charles  Noble  ch.  & 

James  J.  Noble 

Helen  Parker  Harlan         New  York,  N.  Y. 

7  Althea    Noble  ch.  & 

Alden  C.  Noble 

Ch.  4William  Fairman  and  Sarah  Dunn  Adams  New  York,  N.  Y. 

6  *William  James      "  m.     Blanche  Helfenstein 

Ch.  3James  Fairman  and  Mary  Louise  Doolittle  New  Haven,  Conn. 

5  Caroline  Elizabeth  "  m.     Leslie  Moulthrop  Short  Beach,  Conn. 

5  *James  Yale  "  "      Suzie  Chaffee  New  Haven,        " 

Ch.    Caroline    E.   Fairman   and    Leslie    Moulthrop 

6  Caroline  Louise  Moulthrop  m.     Walter  Peck  Stanley  Atlanta,  Georgia 
6  Berkeley 

6  Alice   Fairman       "  m.     Alfred  Russell  Burr        New  Haven,  Conn. 

Ch.  James  Yale  Fairman  and  Suzie  Chaffee 

6  Ruth   Lillian  "  m.     Graham  Fellows  Thompson        "  " 

6  Hortense  Victoria  "  "    James  Franklin  Cowan  Wellsley  Hills,  Mass. 

Ruth  Lillian  Fairman 

7  Graham  F.  Thompson  Jr.      ch.  & 

Graham  Fellows  Thompson,  New  Haven,  Ct. 

Hortense  Fairman,      Wellsley  Hills,  Mass. 
7  James  Franklin  Cowan,  Jr.     ch.  & 

James  F.  Cowan 
In  Y.  M.  C.  A.  in  U.  S.  Service.    Has  charge  of  work  in  different  camps. 

Sarah   Bennett,  Newtown,   Conn. 

5  Sarah  Elizabeth  Fairman     ch.  & 

Zerah  Fairman,  Bridgeport,      " 


FERRIS 

Jeffrey  Ferris,  ancestor  of  the  many  Ferris  families  in  New  England,  was 
made  a  freeman  in  Boston  in  1635. 

He  m.  Susannah  Lockwood 

Their  ch.  James,  Peter,  Joseph,  Mary,  John. 

1  Peter,  desc.  of  Jeffrey,  bought  a  farm  in  Newtown  in  1711. 
He  m.  Martha  Northrop 


68  GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 

2  Joseph  Ferris  m.  Abigail  Sherman 

Being  a  conscientious  adherent  of  the  Church  of  England,  he  went  to 
Nova  Scotia  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  His  wife  saved  the  farm 
from  confiscation. 

Their  ch. 

3  Daniel  Ferris  m.     Jerusha  Glover  Newtown,  Conn. 
3  Martha      "'                                m.     Abel  Hurd  Brookfield,     " 

3  Ruth  "  desc.  not  located 

..Ch.  Daniel  Ferris  and  Jerusha  Glover 

4  Jerusha  "  m.     Dr.  Rufus  Skidmore,  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Glover  "  m.     Mary  Briscoe 

Ch.  Jerusha  Ferris  and  Dr.  Rufus  Skidmore  (See  Doctors) 

5  Jane  A.  Skidmore  m.     Barak   Burr   (no   ch.)  Fairfield,   Conn. 

She    placed    in    Trinity    Church    a    beautiful    window    in    memory    of 

Joseph  Ferris,  her  gr.  grandfather. 
5  Marietta  Skidmore  b.  1825    m.  Alanson  Lyon,  living,  1918  Redding,  Conn. 
5  Martha  E.        "  m.     James  Johnson,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

See  Skidmore  record  for  other  desc.  of  Dr.  Rufus. 

4  Peter  Hurd  Martha  Ferris,  Brookfield,  Conn. 

^  ^^^^^      "  '   Abel    Hurd, 

Ch.  Jabez  Hurd  and  Lucy  H.  Blackman 

5  George  S.  Hurd  m.     Mary  Taylor,  Danbury,  Conn. 
5  Bernice           "                           m.     Zerah  Skidmore                    Bethlehem 

5  Philo                "                            m.     Melinda  Tomlinson,              Bridgeport,  " 

5  Hester             "                           m.    Abel  Sherman  Hawley       Newtown,  " 

(See  Hawley) 

5  Samuel  Ferris  Hurd               m.     Julia  Tomlinson                  Bridgeport,  " 

5  Rhoda   Ferris                             m.     Abraham  Shepard                 Brookfield,  ' 

1  Squire  Zachariah   Ferris 

2  Abel  "  m.     Abiah Newtown,  Conn. 

3  Gideon  Baldwin         "  m.     Charlotte  Northrop,  "  " 

Their  ch. 

4  Harriet  "  m.     Starr  Skidmore,  Brookfield,  Conn. 

4  Wm.  David  BaldwinFerris  m.     Maria   E.   Blackman  Newtown,  Conn. 

Their  ch. 

5  George   B.   Ferris  m.     Bertha   Clark  Newtown,   Conn. 

5  Charles  D.      "  m.     1st  Mary  Sherwood  "  " 

m.    2nd  Ophelia  Thornhill,     Brookfield,  Conn. 

5  Hattie  Louise  "  m.     Dr.   Thomas   Wallace  Warren,   Pa. 

6  Elsie  Clark  Ferris 

6  Herbert  Curtis        "  r?     .v      ^i     i  id        i  c   u     /- 

6  Capt.  George  Mallett"  Bertha    Clark  Brookfield,    Conn. 


In  U.  S.  Service 


ch.  & 


6  Arthur  Judson        "  ^^""'^^   ^-   ^^''^s 

6  Charles  Blackman  " 

7  Herbert  Curtis  Jr.  Ferris        ,    ^ucy   Wright  Bridgeport,   Conn. 


7  Dorothy  Wilson 


ch.  & 

Herbert   C.   Ferris 


6  Charles  Ferris  Newtown,  Conn. 

6  William 


6  Florence       Ferris 
6  Donald  " 

6  Louise  " 

6  Sarah 
6  George  Wight    " 

6  Romaine  Wallace 


Nathan  Ferris 

Their   Ch. 
Thomas     S.     Ferris 
Abraham  Booth  " 
Betsey  " 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

Ophelia   Thornhill 
ch.  & 

Charles  D.  Ferris 


Hattie  L.  Ferris 
ch.  & 

Dr.Thomas  Wallace 

m.     Abiah  Skidmore 


69 

Newtown,  Conn. 


Warren,  Penn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


m.     Phoebe  Ferris  " 

Louis  Beer.s  Priiidle  (see  Priiidle)    " 


FOOTE 

Nathaniel,   first   Foote    settler   in   Wethersfield,   Conn.    1593. 

1  Daniel  first   Foote   settler  in  Newtown    in    1716. 

2  James  m.     Adah  Stilson 

3  Rhesa  Foote  m.     Polly  Hawley 


Their  Ch. 
4  *Tulia       Maria       Foote 
4  *Catherine  Hawley 
4  *George  Lewis 
4  *Frederick  William 
4  *Mary 
4  *Harriet 
4  *Robert 

4  *Dr.  Henry  Hawley 
4  *Tane  Elizabeth 


For  desc.  of  Catherine  see  Camp  and  Johnson 
Ch.  Rev.  George  L.  Foote  and  Minerva  Tuttle 


Charles  Stilson  (no  ch.) 

Beach  Camp  (See  Camp) 

Minerva  Tuttle 

Vashti  Butler  Thompson      Elizabeth,  N.  J 

Rev.  Henry  V.  Gardner  d.  E.  Aurora,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  William  Atwill 

d.  on  ninth  birthday 

unm. 

Walter  B.  Welton  Bridgewater,  Conn. 


5  *George 
5  *Harriet  Minerva 
5  *Rev.  George  Wm. 
5  *Rev.  Henrv  Lewis 


S  Mary  Tuttle 
5  *Frederick  Rhesa 
5  Sarah  Katherine 
5  *Charles  Edgar 


d.  in   infancv 

Rt.  Rev.  Daniel  S.  Tuttle 

Sarah  Ellen  Pidsley 
1st  Christine  Carr 
2nd   Ellen  Wiggin 
hd  Harriet  Rislev 
Rev.  G.  D.  B.  Miller 

unm. 

Abel  White 
unm. 


Roxbury,  Conn. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

San   lose,  Cal. 

Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 

Holyoke.    Mass. 

Marblehead   Mass. 

St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Salt  Lake  City.  Utah 


Ch.  Harriet  M.  Foote  and  Rt.  Rev.  Daniel  S.  Tuttle  St.  Louis,  Mo. 

6  Dr.  George  Marvine  Tuttle   m.     Grace  Dean  Wallace  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah 


6  *Herbert  Edward 
6  Arthur  Lemuel 

6  Christine 

7  Daniel  Sylvester  2nd 
7  Wallace 


7  Mary  Elizabeth  " 

7  Arthur  Lemuel  Jr.,     " 


Willie  Lea 

Mary   Eliza   Hackley 

Stanley  Matthews  Ramsey    Cincinnati,  O. 


ch. 


Grace  Dean  Wallace 

& 
Dr.  George  M.  Tuttle 


St.  Louis.  Mo. 


Willie  Lea 
ch.  & 

Herbert  E.  Tuttle 

Mary  Eliza  Hackley 
ch.  & 

Arthur  L.  Tuttle 


70  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

7  William  AlcCreery  Ramsey  Christine  Tuttle  Cincinnatti,  Ohio 

7  Harriet  Tuttle  "         ch.  & 

7  Christine  Frances  "  Stanley  M.  Ramsey  "  " 

7  Virginia  Foote  " 

Sarah  Ellen  Pidsley  San  Jose,  Calif. 

6*Christine  Foote  ch.  & 

Rev.  George  W.  Foote 

Ch.  4Frederick  Wm.  Foote  and  Vashti  Butler  Thompson,  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 
5*Julia  Magie          Foote                   unm. 

5  Frances  Meeker      "  m.     *William   Boyce   Eakin,  "                " 

5*Frederick  Wm.  Jr.     "  m.     Sara  Fitz  Randolph  DePuy,       New  York 

5*Louis  Thompson       "  unm.  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

5*George  Rhesa            "  d.  in  infancy  "              " 

5  Anna  Butler             "  unm.  "               " 

5  Harriet                      "  m.     Wm.  Pennington  Toler  "             " 

5  Mary  Roberts  '  m.     John  Burnside  Value 

5*Henry  Hawley  "  m.     Ada  Henderson  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

Ch.  Frances  M.  Foote  and  *Wm.  Boyce  Eakin  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

6  Elizabeth  Buttler  Eakin  "  " 
6  William  Boyce  "  m.  Mary  Winchester  "  " 
6  Corp.  Frederick  Foote  " 

6  Constant    Mattheiu     " 

6  Corp.  Fred'k.  F.  Eakin,  wounded  at  Chateau  Thierry,  has  recovered  and 
is  with  2nd   Engineers — regulars  in  Army  of  Occupation   in   Germany. 
Ch.  William  Boyce  Eakin  and  Mary  Winchester  Elizabeth,  N.  J. 

7  Arthur  Rutherford  "  "  " 
7  William  Boyce,  Jr.  "  "  " 
7  Patricia 

Ch.  Frederick  Wm.  Foote  and  Sara  FitzRandolph  DePuy,  New  York 
6  Nathaniel  Niles            "          m.     Katherine  Andrews  "        " 

6  Isabel  DePuy  "  m.     Holmes  Agnew  "        " 

6  Sara  Randolph  "  m.     Robert  Sayle  Hill  "        " 

6  Florence  Butler  "  "        " 

Katharine    Andrews 

7  Frederick  Wm.  "  ch.  & 

Nathaniel  Niles   Foote  "        " 

Sara   Randolph   Foote  "        " 

7  Robert  Sayle  Hill,  Jr.  ch.  & 

Robert  Sayle  Hill 

^  n         -J     T5         \T  1   ^  Mary  Roberts  Foote 

6  Burnside  Rene  Value  .  & 

6  Mary  Foote  "  "   j^j^^   Burnside  Value 

7  Alfred  Pearce  Dennis  Jr.       ^^    ^^^'^  ^«°^^  ^^'"^ 

7  John  Value  "  "    ^,f^^j  p^^^^^  p^^j^i^ 

Ada  Henderson  Elizabeth.  N.  J. 

6  Maud  Bryan  Foote  ch.  & 

Henry  H.  Foote 

Ch.  Mary  Foote  and  Rev.  Henry  V.  Gardner,  Newtown,  Conn.,  b.  Hartford, 

5  Ella  Jane  Gardner                  m.  Dr.  Charles  R.  Hart,  Bethel,  Conn. 

5*Rev.  Charles  H.  "                      m.  1st  Annie  Parker  Utica,  N.  Y. 

m.  2nd  Margaret  Jackson  Omaha,  Neb. 

5  Marietta  "  twins  unm. 

5  *Henrietta  "  twins  d.  in  infancy 

5  Harriet  Foote     "                      m.  Edward  Burroughs  Long.  Hill,  Conn. 

5  Mary  Watson    "                      "  Thomas  H.  Dobson  Brockport,  N.  Y. 

5  *Rev.  George  E.  "                      "  Jessie  Lewis  Lowville 


FREDERICK  \V.  FOOTE 

Born  at  Newtown  Oct.  23.  1816,  for  many  years  conducted  a  boys'  f,';^.°°'  ' "div'^to 'iny 
N.  T.  Many  prominent  business  men  in  the  c.ty  saul  tluy  '^•-'<>  "*-;^-'^,, ''^:' J' .^^^^c  rcl.n'^ 
other  schooll.efore  goin^  to  College  or  busmcss.  ^^?L."'^^  ^^^''J^  Tour  aP  which  ma 
quished  that  work  and  became  owner  and  editor  of  The  Ne«  J'i'^J^cj  Journal  -  "'^''- ''"',. ^ 
short  time  became  "The  Elizabeth  Daily  Journal-,  of  which  he  was  owner  and  editor  at 
«leath,    March    18th.    1879. 


REV.  CHARLES  H.  GARDNER 


Son  of  Rev.  Henry  V.  and  Mary  Foote  Gardner.  At  his  death  Aug  8th  1896  Dean  of 
Trinity  Cathedral,  Omaha,  Neh.  His  mother,  born  in  Newtown,  sister  of  Rev.  Geo.  L.  foote, 
was  associated  with  him  in  the  founding  of  Newtown  Academy  ni  1837  and  was  assistant  to 
other   principals   after   Mr.    Foote   left    to   become   rector   of   Clirist    Ch.    Koxbury,    Lonn. 

Five  of  the  six  sons  of  Dean  Gardner  were  in  the  war  with   the  Allies. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  71 

5  *Frederick  Gardner  ni.     Nellie  Roberts  E.  Aurora,  X.  V. 
Ch.  Ella  Jane  Gardner  and  Dr.  Charles  R.  Hart  Bethel.  Conn. 

6  Martha  Hart  m.     George  Dimonrl 
6  Bertha                       "  "       Eugene  Stone 

6  ♦Charles  Gardner  "  "      Grace  Roosevelt  Fowler      Durham 

6  Ella  Gertrude  "  unm. 

6  Ruth  Helen  "  unm.    In  Hospital  Service. 

Ch.  of  Martha  Hart  and  George  Dimond 

7  Charles  Henry  Dimond        m.     Minnabelle  Burlingham  Niagara  Falls  N.  V. 
7  George  Gardner     " 

7  Leonard  Alfred       "  "      Florence  Schultz 

Minnabelle  Burlingham  "  " 

8  Marjorie  Jane  Dimond         ch.  & 

Charles  H.  Dimond  "  " 

7  *Herman  Stone  Bertha  Hart  Bethel,  Conn. 

7  *Mary  "  ch.  & 

7  *Philip  "  Eugene  Stone 

7  Constance  Worthington  Hart     Grace  Roosevelt  Fowler        Durham,  Conn. 
7  Gertrude  Van  Ness  "  ch.  & 

Chas  Gardner  Hart 
Mrs.  Hart  is  great  grand  daughter  of  Noah  Webster 

Ch.   *Rev.  Charles  H.  Gardner  and  Annie   Parker  1st   wife  Utica,  X.  Y. 

6  Irvine  Parker  Gardner         m.     Harriet  Evelyn  Jackson 
6  William  Thaw         "  "      Emma  Melissa  Jenkins 

6  Charles  Henry        " 

Ch.  *Rev.  Chas.  H.  Gardner  and  Margaret  Jackson,  2nd  wife.Washington,  D.  C. 

Dean  of  Cathedral  at  Omaha,  Nebraska. 

6  Arthur  Gardner  (Yale   1910  SheflF.)     In   U.   S.   Service  2nd 

Lieut,  in  Tank  Corps,  1917. 
6  Anson  Blake       "  Yale  1913,  B.  A.  Harvard  Graduate  Engin- 

eer   School   and    Boston   Tech.    1915.      1st 
Lieut.  Ordnance   Engineer.   Machine  Gun 
and  Small  Arms  division,  1917. 

6  Edward  "  Training     for     Aviation     ground     section 

Machine  Gun   division,  1917. 

Harriet  Evelyn  Jackson 

7  Marjorie  Evelyn  ch.  & 

Irvine  Parker  Gardner 

Emma  M.  Jenkins 
7  Wilhelmina  Thaw  ch.  & 

William  T.  Gardner 

6  ♦Robert         Burroughs  Harriet  Foote  Gardner      Trumbull,  Conn 

6  Lucius  "  ch.  & 

6  Marv  Svlvia  "  m.     Edward   Burrouglis  Trumbull.  Conn. 

7  Dorothy  Grace        "  Annie  Falls  Bridgeport,  Conn. 
7  George  Norman      "  ch.                   & 

7  Earl  "  Lucius  Burroughs 

Ch.    Mary   Watson    Gardner   and   Thomas    H.    Dobson    Brockport.    N.   Y. 

6  Harold  Gardner  Dobson        m.     Helen  Wadsworth 

6  Eleanor  Mary         "  Training  for  U.  S.  Service  as  Nurse 

San  Francisco.  Csl 
6  George  Gardner     "  In  Aviation  Section  of  Signal  Corps 

m.     Bertha   McNaugton. 
6  Rodney  Hiram        "  In  U.  S.  Submarine  Chaser,  24 


n 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


7  Harold  Wadsworth  Dobson 
7  Helen  Barbara  " 

6  Ray  Frederick  Gardner 

6  Mildred 

6  Henrietta  " 


Helen  Wadsworth 
ch.  & 

Harold  G.  Dobson 

Nellie  Roberts 
ch.  & 

Frederick  Gardner 


Ch.  4Harriet  Foote  and  Rev.  William  Atwill. 
Atwill 


5  Joseph 

5*William 

5  *George  Edgar  " 

5  *George  Nelson  Welton 

5  Walter  Beach 

5  *Henry  Hobart 

5  *Jane  " 


ch. 


6  Leonard  Briscoe  Welton      ch. 


not  located 
d.  young 
d  young 


Jane  E.  Foote 

& 
Walter  B.  Welton 

Ella  J.  Briscoe 

& 
Walter  B.  Welton 


Brockport,  N.  Y. 
E.  Aurora,  N.  Y. 


Newtown,  Conn. 
Bridgewater,  Conn. 

White  Plains,  N.  Y. 


GLOVER 

Henry  Glover  came  to  Boston  in  1636,  d.  at  New  Haven,  1689. 

1  John    son    of    Henry,   b.    1648    m.    Joanna    Daniels 

2  John,  first  Glover  settler  in  Newtown,  b.  1674  d.  1752.  m.  1700,  1st  Marjorie 
Hubbard.    2nd  1707,  Bathia  Beach  Bickley. 

As  early  as  1710,  John  Glover  is  spoken  of  as  "fast  becoming  an  extensive 
land  owner"  and  his  signature  is  affixed  to  town  records  as  Town  Clerk  in 
1712-13. 


Ch.  2John   Glover  and   Marporie  Hubbard 

3  John  Glover  m.     Elizabeth  Bennett 

3  Henry     "  "       Prudence  Stoddard 

Ch.  John  Glover  and  Bathia   Beach  Bickley 

3  Benjamin  Glover  m.     Mollie  Bunnell 

3  John  served  in  Revolutionary  War 

Ch.  Elizabeth  Bennett  and  John  Glover 


Newtown,  Conn. 


4  Marjory  Glover 
4  Elizabeth  " 

4  Bathiah  " 

4  John  " 

4  James  " 


m.  David   Blackman 

"  Joseph  Blackman 

"  John  Camp 

"  Elizabeth  Curtis 

"  Eunice  Booth 


Ch.  3Henry  Glover  and  Prudence  Stoddard 

m 


4  Henry      Glover 
4  Simeon  " 

4  Esther  " 

4  Prudence        " 
4  Silas  " 

4  Anadine  " 

4  Elias  " 

4  Rev.  Solomon  " 

5  Esther 
5  Esther 


1st   Julia   Bassett.     2nd  Anna   Sanford 

Newtown,  Conn, 
d.  young  "  " 

d.  young  "  " 

d.  young  "  " 

Bradf^eld 

1st   Nancy  Beers.     2nd  Joanna   Northrop. 
Mary  Northrop 


ch. 


Julia  Bassett 

& 
Henry  Glover 

m.     Abel  Toucey 


Newtown,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


73 


3  Benjamin  Glover 
Their  Ch. 

4  Huldah     Glover 
4  Mary  " 

4  Bathia 

4  Rebecca  " 

4  Benjamin       " 


m.     Mollie  Bunnell 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Joseph  Prindle  " 

William  Hawley  " 

Joseph  Tomlinson 
Ichabod  Fairman  (see  Fairman) 
Phoebe  Sanford 


4  Rev.  Solomon  Glover  son  of  3Henry,  m.  Mary  Northrop,     b.  1750,  d.  1842, 
age  92  years. 

Their  ch. 

5  Joanna  Glover 


5  Mary  Ann  " 

5  Silas  Norman  " 

5  Ziba  " 

5  Maria  " 

5  Silas  Norman, 

Their  ch. 

6  Roxy  A.  Glover 
6  Eunice  Maria     " 

6  MaryE.  " 

6  Betsey  A.  " 

6  Silas  N. 
6  Daniel  B. 

6  Nancy  Anadine  " 

7  Annie  Eliza  Henderson 

7  Julia  Frances        " 

7  Annie  E.  Henderson 


8  Wallace  Works 


m.     Henry  Botsford  (See  Botsford) 

Newtown,  Conn. 
"      James  Glover 

"      Nancy  Morris  "  " 

"      Marinda  Griswold 

"      Ambrose    Beach  "  " 

m.  Nancy   Morris.  "  " 


m.     John   Beers   (See  Beers) 
"      Charles  Blackman 
"      Charles   Beers   (See  Beers) 
"      Abel  Prindle  (See  Prindle) 
died  young 

m.     James  Henderson 

Nancy  A.  Glover 
ch.  & 

James  Henderson 
m.     Ist  Dr.  William  Burhans,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 
"     2nd   Dr.   Edwin   Eames 


Julia  F.  Henderson 
ch.  & 

In  Aviation  Corps  U.  S.  Service  William  Wallace  Works 


Milford, 


4  John  Glover 
Their  ch. 

5  James 

5  Zalmon 

5  Josiah 

5  Benjamin  Curtis 

5  Betsey 

5  Phoebe 


m.     Elizabeth  Curtis 


Glover  m.     5Mary  Ann  Glover 

"  m.     Phoebe  Beach 

"  "     Rebecca  Booth 
"  "      Clara  Peck 

"  "      Sylvanus    Noble 

"  "      Samuel  Wheeler 


Ch.  Zalmon  Glover  and  Phoebe  Beach 


6  Lucy  Ann  Glover 

6  John 

6  Villeroy  " 

5  *Wm.  Beach  Glover 


5  *Tulietta 
5  *Marrietta 


Anson  Abner  Nettleton  (See  Nettlcton  in 

Beach  record.) 
Lucv  Beers  1st  wife 
Polly  Curtis  2nd    " 
Susan  Hard 


ch 


Lucy  Beers  1st.  wife 

& 
John  Glover 

Pollv  Curtis  2nd  wife 
ch.  & 

John  Glover 


Sandv  Hook,  Conn. 


74  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

6  Esther  Sophia  Glover  Harriet  Ann  Peck,  1st  wife  Sandy  Hook,  Ct. 

6  Smith  Peck  "  ch.  & 

6  *John  E.  "  Wm.   B.    Glover 

SSusan  Nichols  2nd  wife     "  "  " 

Ch.  Smith  P.  Glover  and  Marie  Antoinnette  Tomlinson       "  "  " 

7  *William  Tomlinson  Glover 

7  Lorena  Tomlinson  "     m.     George  Francis  Taylor  (no  ch.) 

7  Harriet  Peck  "      "      Charles  Lawrence  Warner 

Harriet  Peck  Glover  Vicksburg,  Miss. 

8  Lawrence  Glover  Warner      ch.  & 

Charles  Lawrence  Warner         "  " 

A  *iri-     K^4.u  n     *•  Marietta    Glover  Newtown,   Conn. 

6  'Elizabeth  Curtis  ,  p  ' 

,.  ch.  & 


6  *luliette 


Ira   Lawrence  Curtis 


7  Cora  Parker  Elizabeth  Curtis  Bedford,  Ind. 

7  Alfred  Curtis  "  ch.  & 

Daniel  W.  Parker 


44  Gertrude  Bowden 

o  Tj       -4.  "  ch.  & 

^  "^'■'■'^t  Alfred  C.  Parker 


8  Mabel 


7  Cora  "  m.       Thomas  J.  Leonard  (no  ch.)  Springoille  " 

6  *Juliette  Curtis  m.       Winthrop  Foote  (no  ch.)       Bedford,       " 

e-  -^r         T  u-       Tj      1  lulietta    Glover,  Danbury.   Conn. 

0  Mary  Josephme  Hawley      \  ^ 

6  Helen  Sophia  "  '^ '      Isaac   H.   Hawley 

7  Herson  Clark     Osborne  Mary  Josephine  Hawley        Oxford,  Conn. 
7  Arthur  Ray            "                ch.  & 

7  Thomas  Elmer      "  Thomas  Smith  Osborne  " 

Calista  Johnson  Crane 

8  Florence  Josephine "  ch.  & 

Herson   C.  Osborne 

Helen  S.  Hawley,        North  Haven,  Conn. 

7  Ruth  Juliette  Warner,        ch.  & 

Orin  Delos  Warner  " 

Phebe  Beach  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  VJlleroy  Glover  ch.  & 

Zalmon  Glover 

Susan  Hard 

5  Sarah  Esther  "  ch.  & 

Villeroy    Glover 

6  *Frank     B.     Nichols  Sarah  E.  Glover 

6  *Grace  "  ch.  & 

8  Ruth  Amelia    "  *Philo  Nichols 

Ruth  A.  Nichols 

7  Marion  Nichols  Curtis         ch.  & 

Hobart  H.  Curtis 
"  "  "  m.     Clayton  B.  Hawley 

5  *Josiah  Glover,  son  of  4John,  m.  Rebecca   Booth. 

Their  ch. 

6  *Betsey  Glover  m.     Henry  Beers 
6  Abel  Booth  "                            m.     Maria  Nichols 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


75 


7  *Eliza  Maria  Glover 

7  *Henry  Beers      " 

8  *William  Booth  Glover 
8  *Florence  Stanley 
8  *Mary  Blakeslee 
8  *Maria  Nichols 

8  *Florence   Stanley 

9  Flornece  Beecher 
9  Marguerite      " 
9  *Glover 


Maria  Nichols 
ch.  & 

Abiel  Booth  Glover 


Eliza  Maria  Blakeslee 
ch.  & 

Henry   Beers  Glover 
m.  Abel  French   Clarke. 

Mary  Blakeslee  Glover 
ch.  & 

William  J.  Beecher 


5  *Benjamin  Curtis  Glover,  son  of  4John,  m.  Clara  Peck 
Their  Ch. 


6  *Samuel  Glover 

6  *Marcia  " 

6  *Walter 

6  *Benjamin  N.       " 

7  *Samuel  Curtis  Glover 
7  *John  Birdsey  " 
7*Henry  Botsford 

7  *Sophia 

7  *Betsey 

8  Samuel  Curtis  Glover 


unm. 
m.     Hezekiah   Curtis   (See  Curtis) 
"      Marcia  Botsford 
"      Harriet  A.  Lake 


7  *Birdsey  C.     Glover 

7  *Walter  Henry  " 
7*Lemuel  P. 

8  Bessie    Glover 
8  *Emma 

8  Florence      " 

9  David  Glover  Taylor 
9  Florence  "  ch. 
9  Birdsey                  " 

8  William  B.  Glover 
8  Norman 


Marcia  Botsford 
ch.  & 

Walter  Glover 

Sarah  Grace  Blakeslee 
ch.  & 

Samuel  C.  Glover 

Harriet  Lake 
ch.  & 

Benjamin  N.  Glover 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Sarah  E.  Northrop 
ch.  & 

Birdsey  C.  Glover 

Bessie  Glover 
& 

David  Taylor 

Sarah  M.  Northrop 
ch.  & 

Walter  H.  Glover 
m.     Emily  Jones  (no  ch.) 


il  M 


it  14 


Bethel.      " 


Newtown,      " 


Walter  LeRoy  Glover 
Agnes  Northrop     " 
Wm.  DeForest        " 


Lydia  Ann  Benedict 
ch.  & 

William  B.  Glover 


Ch.  SMary  Ann  Glover  and  SJames  Glover 


6  Flora  Glover  m. 

6  Granville  Stoddard  Glover  " 

6  Charlotte  "  " 

6  Sophia  (1st  wife)  "  " 
6  Julia  (2nd  wife) 

6  Norman  Booth  "  " 

6  Volusia  "  " 

6  Mary  Ann  "  " 

6  Emma  "  " 

6  James  Nelson  "  " 

6  George  Heman  "  " 


Alonzo  Beers  (See  Beers)  Brookfield.  Ct. 
Mary  Hawley  Newtown,  Conn. 

Squire  Van  Smith  Brookfield,  Conn. 

Botsford  Terrill  (Se  TerriinNewtown.  Ct. 
Botsford  Terrill  (See  Terrill)    ^_     " 
Esther  Hawley.  1st 
Amelia   Gilbert  2nd 
Austin  Botsford  (See  Botsford) 
unm. 

George  Foote 
Sally  Wetmore 
Elmira  Page 


Id 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


7  Ann  Elizabeth  Glover 

7  Charlotte 

7  Jabez  Hawley         " 


8  Mary  Charlotte  Gilbert        ch. 


9  Carrie  Louise  Stone 
9  IMary  Grace 


10  Eleanor  Grace  Chase 

10  Florence     Gilbert     Chase 
10  Mildred  Kellogg 
10  Grace  Mary  " 

10  Russell  Stone  " 

10  Pauline  Harriet 

8  *Carrie        Glover 

8  Mary  Effie 

9  Harold  Glover  Betts 
9  Helen  May        " 

9  *Arthur  Berhila  " 

10  John  Doremus  Betts 


Mary  Hawley 
ch.  & 

Granville  S.  Glover 

Ann  Elizabeth  Glover 

& 
Henry  D.  Gilbert 

Mary  Charlotte  Gilbert 
ch.  & 

Wm.  K.  Stone 

Carrie  L.  Stone 
ch.  & 

Edwin  M.  Chase 


Mary  Grace  Stone 
ch.  & 

Alva  R.  Chase 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Kent,  Co 


low.  L.  Kimball.  Jr. 


Mary  E.   Peck 
ch.  & 

Jabez  H.  Glover 

Mary  Effie  Glover 
ch.  & 

James  A.  Betts 

Mabel  Doremus 
ch.  & 

Harold  G.  Betts 

Helen  May  Betts 
ch.  & 

Atty.  W.  L.  Kimball 


Newtown,  Conn. 


6  Henry  Glover,  son  of  SHenry  m.  Zeziah  Johnson 
Their  ch. 


7  David       Glover 
7  Lossie  " 

7  Emeline         " 
7  Grandison     " 


m.     Polly  Briscoe 

m.     Austin  Hurd 

m.     Benjamin  Hawley  (See  Hawley) 


Ch.  David  Glover  and  Polly  Briscoe 

8  *Charles  B.  Glover 

8  *Mary  C. 
8  *Delia 


8  *Jane  Ann 
8  Ann  Eliza 
8  Lewis  Henry 
8  George  G. 
8  Harriet  Dibble 


9  Annie     Glover 
9  Martha 


9  Jennie  Glover 


10  Lulu  Canfield 
10  George     " 
10  Pearl 


m.  Catherine  Fairchild,  1st  wife 

m.  Bradley  Briscoe  (See  Briscoe 

m.  William  Hoy,  2nd  wife 

m.  Isaac  Harris 

m.  Thomas  Judson 


m.     George  Clark 

Catherine  Fairchild,  1st  wife 
ch.  & 

Charles   B.   Glover 
Frances    Botsford,   nd   wife 

Sarah  Davis,  3rd  wife 
ch.  & 

Charles    B.   Glover 

Jennie  Glover 
ch.  & 

William  Canfield 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  11 

6  Roswell  Glover,  son  SJames  and  SMary  Ann  Glover 

-  ^  „     r.        ,      ^,  ,       ^°''^'  ^""  Ferris  Newtown,  Conn. 

7  Roswell     Booth     Glover      ch.  & 

Roswell  Glover  "  " 

8  Harriet     Jane     Glover  Polly  Ann  Robertson  Danbury   Conn 
8  *Ida  Ann                     "              ch.                   & 

8  *Lemuel  Francis      "  Roswell  B.  Glover  "  " 

9  *Mabel    Louise    Hoyt 

9  *Julia  Banks  "  Harriet  Jane  Glover  "  " 

9  *.'\.nnie   Isabelle         "  ch.  & 

9  Leon    Glover  "  George  Banks  Hoyt  " 

10  Barbara   Elizabeth   Martin 

10  Julia  Isabelle  "  Alabel  Louise  Hoyt 

lOHarry    Hoyt  "       ch.  & 

10  Frederic   Arthur  "  Frederic  Arthur  Martin 

Julia  Banks  Hoyt 
10  Christine    Ella    Lacey  ch.  & 

Dwight  Aaron  Lacey 

10  Frederic     Couse   Bennetto         Annie  Isabella  Hoyt 

lOJosephine  Harriet  "  '    x^     a     •     n  t, 

Frederic  Couse  Bennetto 

7  Booth      F.  Glover  New  Orleans,  La. 

7  E.  Leroy            "                                Esther  M.  Hawley  1st  wife 

7  Mary  S.  "  ch.  & 

7  William  H.       "                                6Norman  B.  Golver  Newtown,  Conn. 

Amelia  Gilbert  2nd  wife 
7  Julia  F.  "  ch.  & 

Norman  B.  Glover 

7  Julia  F.  "  m.     Henry  Beers  (See  Beers) 

u       u  «  Elizabeth  G.  Bartram     New  Britain,  Conn. 

8  Charles  B.  "  .         ^h.    ^.jj.^^&^    ^^^^^^ 

Mary  E.  Bishop 

9  William  H.  Jr.  "  ch.  & 

Charles  B.  Glover 

4  Simeon  Glover  son  of  3Henry  m.  1st  Olive  Booth 

Olive  Booth 

5  Ebenezer  Booth  Glover       ch.  & 

Simeon  Glover 
d.  in  U.  S.  Service  at  New  London  in  1815. 

5  Harry     Glover  Rachel      2nd  wife 

5  Charles        "  ch.  & 

5  Olive  "  Simeon  Glover 

5  Ives  " 

5  Melora        " 

Mary  Gregory  3rd  wife 

5  Henry  "  ch.  & 

Simeon  Glover 

Julia  Hull 

6  Julia    Maria    Glover  ch.  & 

Ives  Glover 
6  *Sarah  " 

6  *Mary  see  Lake  " 
6  *Martin  V.  B.      "  d.  in  hospital  during  Civil  War. 


78  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

6  Henry  Glover 

6  David         " 

7  Edith       Smith 

7  Herbert       "  Sarah  Glover 

7  Leonard      "  ch.  & 

7  Ida  "  Charles  Smith 

7  John      H.      Glover 

7    lames  C. 

7  Thomas  L.  "  Ella  Clark 

7  Elmer  C.  "  ch.  & 

7  Frederirk  "  Henry  Glover.    Served  in  Civil  War. 

7  Benjamin  " 

7  Harlod  "  Now,  Pel).  1918  in  Soldier's  Home,  Norton,  Ct. 

7  Ethel 


HALL 

1  Alexander  Hall  m.  Rebecca    Colburn 

Their  Ch. 

2  Daniel                Hall                  m.  Sarah  Judson 
2  Mary                        "                     "  John    Cocoran 

2  Charlotte  "  "  John    Parmelee 

2  Rebecca  "  "  John  A.  Sayre 

2  Alexander,  Jr.     "  "  Sarah  Bradley 

2  *James  " 

2  *Polly  Jane  "  "  1st  Jerome  T.  Judson 

"  2nd  George  Miles  Grant 

2  *Anna  Eliza  "  "  Amos  Shepard 

2  *Henry  Clay         "  "  Emily  J.  Andrews 

2  *James  Peck        "  "  Margaret  Carr 

3  *Ann   M.  "  c        i     t    j  t^     u       r- 

3  Charles  H.  "  .  Sarah  Judson  Derby,  Conn. 

3  William  F.  "  ^^-  ,^      •   ,'\r   ii  ^^T   .        -it      r- 

3  Daniel  A  "  Daniel  Hall  Waterville,  Conn. 

3  Charlotte  Ellen  Corcoran  Mary  Hall 

3  *Charles  "  ch.  & 

3  *Frederick  "  John  Corcoran 

3  John   Sidnev   Parmelee  New  Haven,  Conn. 

3  Ella  Douglas  "  "  « 

3  *Anna  Rebecca        "  Charlotte  Hall 
3  *Charlotte  Rachel  "                ch.  & 

3  *Mary  Jane  "  John  Parmelee 

4  Raymond  Hall  Lewis  Southington,  Conn. 
4  Howard  Bishop  "  Urbana,  111. 
4  *Ruth   Parmelee         "  Charlotte  R.  Parmelee 

4  Charlotte  Mansfield  "  ch.  & 

4  Esther  Douglas  "  Fred  A.  Lewis  Southington,   Conn. 

Mildred  Eaton 

5  Charlotte  Barber  Lewis       ch.  & 

Howard  B.  Lewis  Urbana,  111. 

4  nVilliam  Thorpe  Babcock     ,  ^lla  D.  Parmelee 

4  *Alexander  Hall  "  '^'^-  r-  r    d   k        i 

George  J.   Babcock 

5  *Douglas  Armstrong"  Bertha  Woods  Denver,  Col. 
5  Theodore  Wood         "            ch.                    & 

5  George  Parmelee       "  Alexander  H.  Babcock  "  '* 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  79 

n   K        1        u      '^^^^'  ^-  P^^'*^y  ^'i-'w  London.  Conn. 

5  William  Thorpe  Babcock    ch.  & 

William  T.  Babcock 

3  *Frederick  Augustus  Sayre  Rebecca  Hall  2nd 

3  *Charles   Albarnus        "        ch.  & 

3  *Helena  Anna  "  John  A.  Sayre 

3  *Alice  Rebecca  "        m.  Frederick  J.  Brenner 

,,,...       ^^         ^  Rebecca  Hall  2nd  Sacramento.  Cal. 

4  Virginia     Uee     Sayre  gr.  ch.  & 
4  Clarence  Charles        " 

4  Evelyn  Bernice  Sayre  John  A.  Sayre  San  Francisco.  Cal. 

,  ^„     ^    ,,.       „  ,      Alice  Rebecca  Sayre       Charles  City,  Iowa 

4  'Ruth  Alice  Brenner  ch.  & 

Fred  J.  Bremic 

4  Clarence  Charles  Sayre        m.     Eva  Cuneo 
Their  Ch. 

Rebecca  Hall 
?r.  gr.  ch.       & 

5  *Ruth  Louise  Dasch  Hull  John  A.  Savre 

5  Eleanor  Virginia  "  Ruth  Alice  Brenner         Charles  City.  Iowa 

5  Richard  Brenner  "  ch.  & 

Dwight  C.  Hull 

3  Ale.xander    Morris    Hall         ^     '''^''^h  Bradley  Boston.  Mass. 

3  Charles   Bradley         "  '     *,  j      tt  n    t  c     •      /-   11    »r 

■'  Alexander  Hall,  Jr.  Springfield,  Mass. 

Martha  E.  Davis  Patterson,  N.  Y. 

4  Sarah    Elizabeth    Hall  ch.  & 

Alexander  M.  Hall 

Sarah  E.  Hall  Patterson,  N.  V. 

5  Anna  Louise  Austin  ch.  & 

J.  Clayton  Austin 

3  Charlotte  Emma  Judson  Polly  Jane  Hall  New  Haven,  Conn. 

m  ch.  & 

Austin   Mansfield  Jerome  T.  Judson  1st 

George  Miles  Grant,  2nd. 

3  William  Henry  Shepard  .^,^,,^   Eliza  Hall  ^^''"'""'  "'' 

3  *jane  Mary  ^^  ^j^  ^ 

i  fi"l^''V\"^u^  "  Amos  Shepard  Chicago.  III. 

3  Robert    John  ^  «        *      « 

3  Anna  Louise  "  <•  h 

Emilj-  Day  Charles  City,  Iowa 

4  Amos    Birdsey   Shepard       ch.  & 

William  H.  Shepard 

4  Maryette  Shepard  Wallace  Jane  Mary  Shepard  DeKalb,  III. 

m.  ch.  & 

Spickerman  Wm.  B.  Wallace 

Margaret  Cotton  Chicago.  111. 

4  Marjorie  Shepard  ch.  & 

Albert  Amos  Shepard 

4  Robert    Shepard   Hale  Anna  Louise  Shepard  "  " 

4  Herbert  Francis        "  ch.  & 

4  Albert  William         "  Charles  H.  Hale 


80 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


3  *Ed\vard  Henry  Hall 

3  Arthur  Burnside    " 

4  Arthur  Hall 

3  Birdsey  James  Hall 

m. 
Hattie  Hart 

4  Foster  Hall 

m. 
Irene  Ahrons 


Emily  J.  Andrews 
ch.  & 

Henry  Clay  Hall 

ch.     Arthur  Burnside  Hall 

Alargaret  Carr 
ch.  & 

James  Peck  Hall 

Birdsey  fames  Hall 
ch.  & 

Hattie  Hart 


Aurora,  Missouri 


New  Haven,  Conn. 


HARD 

The  old  records  show  that  IJames  Hard  served  as  Selectman  of  Ne 
in  1713. 


2  James  Hard  b.  1695  m.     Hannah  Kimberly 

3  Abner  Hard  son  of  2James  m.  Hannah  Beers 

Their  Ch. 

4  Niram        Hard 
4  Cyrenius 
4  John 
4  Abigail 
4  Currence 
4  Ann 
4  Zilpha 
4  Abner 
4  Mary 

Ch.   Niram  Hard   and   Sarah    Curtis 

m. 


wtown 
Newtown,  Conn. 


m.     Sarah   Curtis 

u 

" 

"       Phoebe   Camp 

" 

" 

"       Mary  Nettleton 

" 

" 

"      Josiah  Beardsley 

" 

" 

"      David  Botswick 

M 

onroe, 

Conn 

"       Ebenezer    Beers 

Newtown, 

Conn 

"      Zalmon  Peck  (see 

Peck) 

" 

" 

"       Lucena  Nichols 

" 

" 

"      2nd  Ebenezer  Beers 

" 

" 

5  Sarah 

5  Benjamin 

5  Cyrus 

6  Charles  T. 
6  Susan 

6  Sarah 

7  Benjaminlst  ' 
7  Benjamin2nd 
7  Josephine  M. 
7  James 

7  Susan    G. 
7  Villeroy  G. 


8  Benjamin  Francis  Hard 

9  Anna  Hard 
9  Ella 

9  Elmer  Francis     " 

8  Villeroy  Glover  Hard,  Jr. 
8  Elmer 

8  Svlvester  " 

8  *Jesse  " 

8  *AIabel  " 

9  Emily   Althea   Hard 


ch. 


Alfred  Divine  Curtis 
Mabel    Tomlinson 
Abigail  Curtis 

Mabel  Tomlinson 

& 
Benjamin  Hard 


Eliza  Ann  Greaton 
ch.  & 

Charles  T.  Hard 


Annie  Crane 
ch.  & 

Benjamin   Hard 

ch.  & 

Benjamin  F.  Hard 

m.     Harriet   Watts 

Catherine  E.  Ming 

ch.  & 

Villeroy  Hard 

Margaret  Williams 
ch.  & 

Sylvester  Hard 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


81 


7  Sarah  Esther  Glover 


Frank   B.    Nichols 
♦Grace  " 

Ruth  Amelia    " 


♦William    Hard 
♦Amos  " 

♦Sophia  " 


7  Sophia   H.   Botsford 


♦Harriet    Botsford   Camp 
♦Gideon  Burtis  " 


♦Elizabeth 
William   Gould 


Hard 


7  Chester  Hard 


Katie  Nichols  Hard 

Charlotte 

♦William 


ch. 


ch. 


8 

9  Marion    Nichols    Curtis        ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


9  Stanley  Hard  Bedient  ch. 


Susan  Hard 

& 
Villeroy  Glover 

Sarah  Esther  Glover 

& 
♦Philo  Nichols 

Ruth  A.  Nichols 

& 
Hobart   H.  Curtis 

Abigail  Curtis 
SCyrus  Hard 

Sophia  Hard 

& 
Gideon  Burtis  Botsford 

Sophia  Hard  Botsford 

& 
Marcus  Camp 

Mariette  Camp  1st  wife 

& 
Amos  Hard 

Catherine  Lake  2nd  wife 

& 
Amos  Hard 

♦Sarah  Erwin  1st  wife 

& 
William   G.  Hard 
Sarah  Esther  Camp  2iid  wife 

Charlotte  Hard 

& 
James  Bedient 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  7Chester  Hard  and  Ida  Harkness 

Hard  m.     Eva  Kenney 


Nor  walk,  Conn, 
Painesville,  Ohio 


Elmo     Amos 
♦Cora 
Florence  Esther 
Harkness  Gould 


d.  young 
m.     Elmer  B.  Kimmel  " 

Corp.  in  U.  S.  Service,  Co.  G.  23rd  Engineers 


HAWLEY 

1  Joseph  Hawley  b.  1603,  at  Derbyshire,  England,  came  to  America,  1629. 
later  came  to  Stratford,  d.  1690. 

2  Samuel,  son  of  Joseph,  b.  1652. 

3  Samuel,  Jr.,  son  of  Samuel,  b.  1674. 

4  Benjamin,  son  of  Samuel,  Jr.,  b.  1694,  came  to  a  place  he  called  "Lands' 
end"  which  has  ever  since  retained  that  name.  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  Benjamin,  Jr.,   SAbel.  SWilliam,   sons  4Benjamin  Newtown,   Conn. 

6  Jabez,  son  of  Benjamin,  Jr.,  m.  Parthena  Booth  "  " 

Ch.  Parthena  Booth  and  Jabez  Hawley. 

7  Sally  Hawley  m.  Philo  Beers  Michigan 
7  Anna  "  unm.  Newtown,  Conn. 
7  Mary          "                                m.     Granville  Glover  (see  Glover)    "  " 

7  Benjamin "  "     Emeline  Glover  "  " 

7  Daniel  Booth  Hawley  "     Olive  Hawley 

7  Isaac  Nichols        "  "     Avis  Shepard  Brookficld,  Conn. 


82 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


7  Robert  Nichols  Hawley 

8  Mary  Beers 

<>  « 

9  Robert  Ingcrsoll 

Inventor  of  Ingersoll  watch 

7  Benjamin  Hawley  m.  Emeline  Glover 
Their  ch. 

8  *Mary    Hawley 


m.    Harriet  Blackman 

Sally  Hawley 
ch.  & 

Philo  Beers 

m.     Ingersoll 
ch.  & 

Mary  Beers 


Newtown,  Conn. 


8  *Frederick 
8  *Susan 
8  Juliette 
8  nVilliam 
8  Annie 
8  Margaret 
8  Sarah 


unm.  Newtown,  Conn, 

m.  Ella  Burritt 

"  John  R.  Smith  (See  Lake  record) 

"  Hobart  Camp  (See  Camp  record) 

"  Mary  Francis  Terrill        Brookfield,  Conn. 

"  Duane  Stone                  New  Milford,  Conn. 

"  Homer  White  (no  ch.)    Huntington,  Conn. 

"  Homer  Lake                       Brookfield,  Conn. 


Ch.  Mary  F.  Terrill  and  William  Hawley 

9  Edward  " 

9  William     Hawley 
9  Annie  " 

9  *Ernest  " 

9  William  2nd  " 
9  *Carlton 
9  Harry 
9  Helen 


Newtown,  Conn. 

Killed  by  cars 

d.   in   infancy  "  " 

Homer  Baldwin  "  " 

Cornelia  Young  "  " 

♦Fanny  V.  Daniels  (no  ch.)      " 

died  j'oung 

accidentally  killed 

unm. 


10  Lucy  A.  Baldwin 
10  Ruth 
10  Carlton 


10  Ernest  Hawley 


9  Florence  Stone 


9  Eugene  Lake 
9  Herbert    " 


Annie  Hawley 
ch.  & 

Homer  Baldwin 

Cornelia  Young 
ch.  & 

Ernest  Hawley 

Annie  Hawley 
ch.  & 

Duane  Stone 

Sarah  Hawley 
ch.  & 

Homer  Lake 


Stratford,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


New  Milford,  Conn. 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


Ch.  Daniel  Booth  Hawley  and  Olive  Hawley 


8  *Esther  A.  Hawley  m. 

8  Elmer  B. 

8  *Henry  S. 

9  Mary  Helen  Goodhue  uni 
9  ♦Willis  Elbridge    " 

9  Marion  Louise        "  ch. 


10  Stephen  F.  Sherman,  3rd 
10  Jonathan  Elbridge    "  ch. 


9  S.  Curtis  Hawley 

9  Mary  Nichols  Hawley  ch. 


♦Rev.  Jonathan  Elbridge  Goodhue, 
Rector  St.  Mark's  Ch.  Newark.  N.  J. 

Cornelia    Belle   Estey  Chicago,   111. 

Julia  Curtis  Newtown,  Conn. 

1.  Courtland,   N.   Y. 

Esther  A.  Hawley 

& 
Rev.  Jonathan  E.  Goodhue 

Marion  L.  Goodhue        Bridgeport,  Conn. 

& 
Rev.  Stephen  F.  Sherman,  Jr., 
Rector  St.  John's  Ch.         Bridgeport      " 


Julia  Curtis 

& 
Henry  S.  Hawley 


Newtown,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  83 

10  Hobart  G.  Warner,  Jr.  Mary  N.  Hawley  Newtown.  Conn. 

10  Austin  ch.  & 

10  Henry   Hawley         "  Hobart  G.  Warner  ••  " 

7  *Isaac  Nichols  Hawley  m.  ♦Avis  Shepard 
Their  ch. 

8  *Edson   N.  Hawley  m.     Margaret  Nichols 
8  Homer  A.              "  "      Grace  Nichols 

8  *Edgar    F.  "  "      Sarah  McMahon 

8  *Arthur  "  d.  young 

Ch.  Edson  N  Hawley  and  Margaret    Nichols  Brookfield,   Conn. 

9  Clara    Bertha         Hawley  d.  in  infancy 

9  Arthur    Shepard  "        m.     Marie   Isabel   McDonald     Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

9  Julia   Nichols  "  Nurse  in   Pittsburg,  Pa. 

9  Clarence  Beach  "        m.     Mary  Esther  Wilson  "  " 

9  John  Beach  "  "      Maud  Addis  Matheson.  Col. 

Ch.  Homer  A.  Hawley  and  Grace  Nichols  Pittsfield,   Mass. 

9  Willis   Nichols  Hawley         d.  in  U.  S.  service  in  Spanish  War 

9  Sarah   Louise  " 

9  Maj.  James  Shepard      "  in  U.  S.  service  in  France 

Ch.  Edgar  F.  Hawley  and  Sarah  McMahon 
9  Jessie  McMahon       Hawleym.     Ray  Leach  New  Milford,  Conn. 

9  George   Shepard  "        "     Jessina  White  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

9  Florence  Avis  " 

Ch.  Arthur  S.  Hawley  and  Marie  Isabel  McDonald  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

10  Margaret  Elizabeth  Hawley 
10  Isabel  Louise  " 

Ch.  Clarence  B.  Hawley  and  Mary  Esther  Wilson  "  *' 

10*Helen  Hawley 

10  Alys   May  "      .     • 

10  Florence  Isabel  "      *^'"^ 

10  Ruth  Nichols 

Ch.  John  B.  Hawley  and  ^laud  Addis  Matheson,  Col. 

10  John    Beach    Jr.,    Hawley 
10  Clara  Jean  " 

7  *Robert  Nichols  Hawley     m.     *Harriet    Blackman  Newtown,  Conn. 
Their  ch. 

8  Angeline  E.  "  m.     Frederick  Beers  (See  Beers  record) 

8  *Robert  S.  "  "      Ida  E.  Stoddard  Newtown,  Conn. 

8  Harriet    S.  "  "     William  F.  Hurd  Bridgeport.  Conn. 

9  *Asa  H.  Hawley  Ida  E.  Stoddard  Newtown,  Conn. 
9  Tulia  M.                    "               ch.                   & 

9  Robert  N.  "  Robert  S.  Hawley 

9  Collis  S. 

10  Mildred  C.  Hawley  Sarah  Anna   Camp  Newtown.  Conn. 
10  Mabel  S.             "                   ch.                   & 

Asa  H.  Hawley 

Harriet  S.  Hawley  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

9  William  Hurd  ch.  & 

William  Hurd 

6  Jotham,  SAbel.  4Benjamin,  3Samuel.  Jr.,  2Samuel,  IJoseph 

7  Abel  Sherman  Hawley  Olive  Terrill  Newtown.  Conn. 

7  Tyrus  "  ch.  & 

Jotham  Hawley 

Ch.  Abel  Sherman  Hawley  and  Hester  Hurd 

8  *Isaac   Herson   Hawley        m.     Juliette  Glover  *  " 
8  *01ive                         «                 "     Daniel  Booth  Hawley                 "  " 


84  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

8  Mariette  Hawley  ni.     Judson  Marsh  Danbury,  Conn. 

8  *Ferris  Hurd  "  unm.  Newtown,  Conn. 

8  Jotham  Burr  Hawley  Hartford,  Conn. 

8  *Royal  DcForest    "  Sally  Lewis  "  " 

8  Mary  Caroline        "  ch.  & 

8  Marshall  "  Tyrus    Hawley  " 

Danbury,  Conn. 

6  Joseph,  SWilliam,  4Benjamin,  3Samuel,  Jr.,  2Samuel,  IJoseph 

7  William       Hawley  early  went  to  Carthage,  111. 

7  Hon.  John  N.     "  m.     1st    Harriet    Norton         Brookfield,    Conn. 

7  Glover  "  "      Mariette    Fairchild  Newtown,    Conn. 

Glover  Hawley  made  the  first  cast  iron  plough  in  Newtown.  He  and  his 
brother,  William  invented  the  principle  of  the  corn-sheller  still  in  use.  He 
went  to  California  in  1849  for  gold,  returning  in  1851. 

8  Asa  Norton  Hawley  ch.  Harriet  Norton  and  John  N.  Hawley  Newtown.  Ct. 
8  John  N.  Hawley,  Jr.  ch.  Lucy  Fairchild  and  John  N.  Hawley,  Brookfield,  Ct. 

8  Asa  N.  Hawley  m.     Julia  Stoddard  Brookfield,  Conn. 

9  Charles   B.   Hawley  Clarissa  Keeler  New  York.  N.  Y. 
9  Rev.  Franklin  K.  Hawley     ch.                    & 

9  Clara  F.  "  John  N.  Hawley  Brookfield,  Conn. 

10  John  T.  Hawley  Julia  Alice  Terrill 
10  Ruth  F.          "                         ch.  & 

Rev.   Franklin  K.  Hawley  "  " 

10  David  H.  Keeler  Clara  F.  Hawley 

10  Ray  D.  "  ch.  & 

C.   W.    Keeler 

Ch.   Mariette   Fairchild  and   Glover  Hawley. 

8  *William  E.  Hawley  d.  in  Army  during  Civil  War 

8  Martha   E.        "  m.     Minot  Blakeman  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

9  Mariette  H.      "  "      Martin  Lum  Redlands,  Calif. 

9  William  D.  Lum  Mariette  Hawley 

9  Mabel  A.  "  ch.  & 

9  Mariette  H.      "  Martin  Lum 

7  Charles,  6Daniel,  SWilliam,  4Benjamin,  3Samuel,  Jr.,  2Samuel,  IJoseph 

8  Charles  Seeley  Hawley  ,      ^""^  Merwin  Brookfield.  Conn. 

8  Sidney  E.  "  ^'^-    rt      i       u      i  v>    a  .    n 

■'  Charles   Hawley  Bridgeport,   Conn. 

Sidney  E.  Hawley,  Fairfield  Co.  sherifif  several  terms. 

Sidney  E.    Hawley  m.  1st  Sarah  A.  Roe,  2nd  Amelia  Northrop. 


HUBBELL 

Peter  Hubbell  having  been  given  a  large  tract  of  land  in  Newtown  by  his 
father  Lieut.  Richard  Hubbell  and  his  wife  Rebecca  Morehouse,  settled 
there  in  1709,  kept  the  first  hotel  and  was  granted  the  first  Ferry. 
Newtown's  first  business  meeting  was  held  at  his  house  Sept.,  1711  when  it 
was  voted  that  Peter  Hubbell  should  be  Newtown's  first  Town  Clerk. 

Peter  Hubbell  m.  Katherine  Wheeler  Newtown,  Cona 

Their  Ch. 
2  Ephraim        Hubbell  m.     Johanna  Gaylord  "  " 

2  Peter  "  "      Hepzibah  

2  Capt.  Ezra  "  "     

2  Sarah  "  "     Alexander   Bryan  "  « 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  85 

2  Jebediah     Hubbell  m.     1st  Abigail  Northrop  Newtown.  Conn. 

2nd   Susanna   Hickok  "        '        ** 

3rd  Mary  Hurlbcrt  "  " 

4th  Eunice  Johnson  "  " 

5th  Mrs.  Chloe  Bcmcn 
m.     his  5th  wife  when  87  years  and  lived  with 
her  12  years  "  " 

2  Matthew       Hubbell  m.     Abiah  Wolcott 

2  Ciideon  " 

2  Comfort  "  "      Susanna   Baxter  "  " 

2  Katharine  "  "     William  Birch  (sec  Birch) 

2  t-noch  "  "      Sarah  

2  Silas  "  "      Elizabeth   Edmond 
Ch.  Matthew  Hubbell  and  .Vbiah  Wolcott 

3  Ann  "  b.  in   Newtown 
3  Annah                     "  b.  in   Newtown 

3  i^ilas  "  killed  in  Revolutionary  War 

3  Wolcott  Hubbell  was  one  of  the  Minute  Men  of  Berkshire  Co..  Mass.  and 

fouglit  in  the  battle  of  Bennington.    Was  State  Senator  of  Berkshire 
Co.  and  many  years  Judge  of  the  Courts  of  Berkshire  Co. 
Ch.    Wolcott    Hubbell   and  Alary  Curtis  Lanesboro,  Mass. 

4  Silas  "  m.     Sarah  Henderson 

4  Wolcott,  2nd        "  "  Mary  Elizabeth  Woolsey          "               " 

4  Julius    Caesar       "  "  Anna    Moore    .. 

4  Algernon  Sidney"  "  Julia  Ann  Jackson 
Their  ch. 

5  George  Wolcott  Hubbell  m.  Cornelia  Churchill 

5  Julia  Jackson  "  "      Rev.  Chas.  R.  Treat 
Ch.  George  Wolcott  Hubbell  and  Cornelia  Churchill 

6  Grace  C.   Hubbell  m.     Dr.  Henry  C.   Rowland 

6  George  Wolcott  Hubbell,  Jr.  is  of  the  5th  generation  to  occupy  the  Hub- 
bell homestead  built  by  his  great,  great  grandfather,  Matthew  Hubbell 
in  1768  in  Lanesboro,  Mass. 
Ch.  4Wolcott  2nd,  Hubbell  and  Mary  E.  Woolsey 

5  George  H.   Hubbell  m.     Mary  A.  Smith 
Their   ch. 

6  William  Wolcott  Hubbell     m.     Sarah  Austin 
Their  ch. 

7  Alida  Taylor  Hubbell 
7  Annie  Austin  " 

7  Arthur  Rutkom 

7  Austin   Eberly  " 

7  Laura    Livingston  " 

7  Nellie  Grant  " 

7  Melancthon     Woolsey  " 

Ch.  2Comfort   Hubbell  and  Susanna  Baxter 
[3  John  Hubbell  m.     Parillas  Foote  Newtown.  Conn. 

i     Their  ch.  ^^  ^ 

|4  Philena  Hubbell  m.     Dr.  John  Judson 

Their  ch.  ^^  ^ 

15  Dr.  George  Judson  m.     Jane  Bidwell  (no  ch.)  ^*  ^ 

15  Dr.  Monroe  "  "      1st  Sarah  Blackman  "  ^ 
:                                                              2nd  Sarah  Cortis  (no  ch.) 

,5  Jerome  "  unm.  ^^  ^ 

i5  John  "  "      1st  Cornelia  Peck 

I     Their  ch.  ,,  ^ 

16  Anna  Cornelia     "                     "      Henry  Tucker  ^^  ^ 
Ch.  John  Judson  and  Julia  Colt,  2nd  wife  "  ..v. 

6  Grace  "  m.     Herbert  Clarke  Brooklyn.  N.  Y. 

6  Jerome  " 

Ch.  Dr.  Monroe  Judson  and  Sarah  Blackman  Newtown    Conn 

|6  Martha                           "           m.     E.  P.  Taylor  Oakland.  Calif. 

;     Their  ch.  ^               „ 

'7  Mary  Judson           Taylor     m.John  Adolph  Breitling  ^               ^ 

7  Harriet    Benedict  "  "     Julius  Young 


86  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

7  Florence  Barker  Taylor      m.    James  Scott  Ireland  Oakland,  Calif. 
Ch.  Mary  Judson  Taylor  and  John  Adolph  Breitling  "  " 

8  John    Judson    Breitling  "  '* 
Ch.   Harriet   Benedict  Taylor  and  Julius  Young  "  " 

7  Edward  Taylor  Young  "  " 
Ch.  Florence  Barker  Taylor  and  James  Scott  Ireland  "  " 

8  Martha  Ireland  "  " 
8  Anita 

8  Jane 

James  Scott  Ireland  is  a  descendant  of  Sir  Walter  Scott.       .  „ 


JOHNSON 

1  Robert  Johnson  came  from  Yorkshire  England,  no  date  given. 

2  Thomas  drowned  in  New  Haven,  Harbor  in  1640 

3  Thomas  and  Jeremiah  sons  of  2Thomas, 
Jeremiah  m.  Sarah  Hotchkiss. 

4  Ebenezer  son  of  3Jeremiah,  b.  1679  at  Derby  d.  at  Newtown  1768.    He  was 
one  of  the  witnesses  of  the  deed  given  by  the  Indians  in  1705. 

Of  all  the  Johnson  names  that  figure  in  the  Conn.  Colonial  Records,  no 
name  is  so  prominent  as  that  of  Ebenezer  Johnson,  who  settled  in  the 
town  of  Derby;  admitted  as  an  Elector  there  in  1678;  was  first  appointed 
to  the  General  Court  as  the  deputy  from  Derby,  in  May,  1685;  the  same  year 
was  confirmed  as  Lieut,  of  the  Derby  Trained  Band.  He  had  already  done 
service  in  the  field,  for  the  same  year  the  General  Court  granted  him  four 
pounds  English  money  for  services  done  in  the  Pequot  war.  In  1689  was 
chosen  Captain  of  volunteers  to  go  forth  against  the  Indian  enemy,  with 
liberty  to  drum  for  volunteers  under  him  in  every  plantation  in  Fairfield 
and  New  Haven  counties.  In  1697  he  was  made  captain  of  a  second  expedi- 
tion. In  May,  1698  the  Court  granted  him  six  pounds  cash  for  money  he 
expended  at  Albany  out  of  his  own  estate  to  satisfy  for  damage  done  by 
soldiers  under  his  command.  In  1702  was  appointed  one  of  a  committee  to 
settle  the  line  between  the  colonies  of  Rhode  Island  and  Connecticut.  In 
1704  appointed  as  Sergt.  Major  and  commissioned  as  such  for  New  Haven 
county.  In  1709  "upon  consideration  of  the  age  and  long  service  of  Major 
Ebenezer  Johnson,  the  General  Court  does  excuse  and  release  him  from 
any  furthur  labor  in  that  post;"  although  in  1710  he  was  appointed  Lieut. 
Colonel  of  forces  upon  the  expedition  to  Port  Royal  and  Nova  Scotia. 

1  Ebenezer  m.  Hannah  Tomlinson  and  had  two  sons,  Abraham  b.  1715  and 
Ichabod,  b.  1719. 

2  Ichabod  Johnson  m.  Elizabeth 
Their  Ch. 

3  John,  Hannah,  Jerusha,  Ebenezer,  Abel,  Mary,  Mabel,  Hulda,  Enos. 

Of  these  we   have   located  only  descendants  of  oldest. 

m.     1st   Dorothy  Hurd 
"      2nd  Sarah  Northrop 

d.  young 

m.  Hinman    (no    dec.) 

"  Jerusha  Northrop  Newtown,  Conn. 

"  Rebecca  Northrop  " 

"  1st  Samuel  Northrop  " 

"  2nd  Banks 

"  Huldah  Judson  Easton  " 

"  Hcpsa  Shelton 

"  Clarissa  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

"  Levi  Drew  (no  ch.)  " 

"  Lamira  Wheeler  Brookfield,        " 

"  Hepsa  Judson  Newtown,  Conn. 

"  Sarah  Briscoe  "  " 

Ell  Briscoe 


3  John  Johnson 

Their  Ch. 

4  Abram      Johnson 

4  Isaac 

" 

4  Jacob 

M 

4  Ezra 

" 

4  Clarissa 

** 

4  Joseph 

« 

4  Ebenezer 

(i 

4  John 

i( 

4  Lucy 

« 

4  Daniel 

« 

4  Elias 

« 

4  Abraham 

M 

4  Dolly 

M 

GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  87 

4  Sally  Johnson  m.  John  Fayerweather  Danbury,  Conn. 

4  Eli  "  "  1st  Sally  Watkins 

"  2nd  Betsey  Baldwin  Lyons,  N.  Y. 

4  Benjamin  "  "  Dorcas  Morse 

"  2nd  Jane  Thompson 

Desc.  of  4  Isaac  not  located.    He  went  to  Ballston,  Spa,  N.  Y. 

4  Jacob  Johnson  m.    Jerusha  Northrop 
Their  Ch. 

5  Walter  Johnson  m.  Emma  Bennett  Newtown.  Conn. 
5  Isaac  "  "  Marietta  Hinman  Southbury,  Conn. 
5  Nancy              "                             "       Thomas  Stillman                Bridgeport,        " 

5  Clarissa  "  unm.  deaf  and  dumb  "  " 

Ch.  Walter  Johnson  and  Emma  Bennett  Newtown,  Conn. 

6  Juliette  W.       "  m.     1st  Jerome  Somers  "  " 

2nd  Stephen  S.  Hanford 

6  Mary  Jerusha  "  "      Joseph  W.  Birdscy  Bridgeport,  " 

6  Elizabeth  "  "       Isaac   Turney  Easton,  " 

6  Orville  "  "      Jane  Durant  Newtown,  " 

Ch.  Juliette  Johnson  and  Jerome  Somers  "  " 

7  Lucy  Amanda  Somers  m.     Leon  Woodford  Bridgeport, 
Their  Ch. 

8  Leona  Woodford  m.     Elmer  Osborne  "  " 
Their  Ch. 

9  Marjorie  Osborne 
9    Hazel 

Ch.  Juliette  Johnson  Somers  and  Stephen  S.  Hanford,  Bridgeport. 
7  Emma  L.  Hanford  m.     Chas.  S.  Thompson  "  " 

7  Nellie  J.  "  m.     Henry  R.  Kimberley 

Ch.  Emma  L.  Hanford  and  Chas.  S.  Thompson 

8  Grace  W.  Thompson  " 
8  Mabel  L. 

Ch.  Nellie  J.  Hanford   and  Henry  R.  Kimberley 

8  Helen   Kimberley  m.     Robert  D.  Goddard  " 
Their  Ch. 

9  Katharine  K.  Goddard  ,^  ^ 
9  Dorothy  J. 

9  Robert  D.  Jr.      " 

Ch.  6Mary  Jerusha  Johnson  and  Joseph  W.  Birdsey 

7  Helen  L.  Birdsey  m.     Franklyn   Burton  Ansonia, 
Their  Ch. 

8  Ruth  Burton 

8  Franklin,  Jr.        "  m.    Anna  Peck 
Their  Ch. 

9  Elizabeth  Burton 
9  Helen 

5  Ch.  Isaac  Johnson  and  Marictte  Hinman  Southbury,  Conn. 

6  Marietta         "  m.     Isaac  Jay  Allen 
Their  Ch. 

7  Ella  Allen  m.  George  W.  Smith  (no  ch.)  Milford.  '| 
7  Minnie  "  "  George  B.  Russell  Southbury.  ^ 
7  Horatio  Treat         "                "      1st  *Marv  B.  White  (no  ch.)  Waterbury. 

2nd.  Nellie  Fairchild  Speed 

Ch.  Minnie  Allen  and  George  B.  Russell  Southbury.    " 


88  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

8  *Lulu  Russell  d.  in  girlhood 

8  Allen  B.    "  "      Marian  Ambler  Southbury,  Conn. 

Ch.  SNancy  Johnson  and  Thomas  Stillman  Bridgeport,    " 

6  Mary    E.    Stillman  m.  1st  E.  W.  Pond  "  « 

"  2nd  E.  Smith  Hubbell  "  * 

6  Amelia  "  unm. 

6  *Franklin  P.     "  m.  Emma  M.  Wilson 
Their  Ch. 

7  Rav  W.  Stillman  "  Elizabeth  Meleady 

7  *William  T.      "  "      Helena  RadcliflFe  Shelton,  Conn. 

In  U.  S.  Service 

Wm.  T.  Stillman  was  one  of  seven  who  lost  their  lives  Aug.   13th,  1918 
when  the  oil  tanker  Richard  R.  Kellogg  was  blown  up  off  Barnegat. 

Ch.  Mary  E.  Stillman  and  E.  W.   Pond 

7  Lillian  S.  Pond  m.     Dr.  G.  F.  Williams 
Their  Ch. 

8  Frances   S.  Williams 

4  Ezra  Hurd  Johnson  m.     Rebecca  Northrop  Newtown,    " 
Their  Ch. 

5  *Charles        Johnson  "      Julia  Merritt  "  " 

5  *John  "  "       Mary  Dibble 

Ch.  Charles  Johnson  and  Julia  Merritt 

6  Adaline  "  m.     Wm.  Fairchild  (see  Fairchild)   "  " 

6  *Ezra  Levan        "  "      Jane  Eliza  Camp  "  " 
Their  Ch. 

7  William  Camp  "  "  Katherine  A.  Lake  (no  ch.)  "  " 
7  Charles  Beach  "  twins  "  Alma  M.  Camp  "  " 
7  *Levan  Merritt  "  "  Nellie  A.  Hartshorne  "  " 
7  Rt.  Rev.  Fred.  F.  "  "         1st  Susan  Lynn  Beers  "  " 

"      2nd  Elizabeth  Louise  Beers       "  " 

7  Dora  Northrop    "  "      John  C.  Keeler  Bethel,        " 
Adopted  dau. 

Ch.  Charles  B.Johnson  and  Alma  M.  Camp  Newtown,    " 

8  Ruth  Rebecca  "  m.  Sereno  F.  King  Milford,  " 
8  Elsie  Merritt        "                                                                                 Newtown.    " 

8  Frank  R.  Lemuel  "  Trinity  College  Hartford,  1917 
Master  St.  Paul's  School  Concord,  New  Hampshire. 

Ch.  Ruth  R.  Johnson  and  Sereno  F.  King  Milford,  Conn. 

9  *Sarah  King 

9  Irene  Alma  "  "  " 

9  Howard  Randall 

Ch.*  Levan  M.  Johnson  and  Nellie  Hartshorne  Painesville,  Ohio 

L.  M.  Johnson  fatally  injured  by  an  enraged  bull,  d.  May  14,  1917.      "      " 
8  Earl  Levan  "  Supt.  Stock  Farm  "  " 

8  Merritt  Camp  "  In  U.  S.  Service  Camp  Decatur,  Great  Lakes,  111. 

8  Ralph  Emerson  "  d.  in  childhod 

Ch.  Rt.  Rev.  Frederick  F.  Johnson  and  Susan  Lynn  Beers,    St.  Louis,  Mo. 
8  Frederick  Foote  Johnson  Jr. 

Ch.  Dora  N.  Johnson  and  John  C.  Keeler  Seymour,  Conn, 

8  Katherine  Johnson  Keeler  "  " 

8  Irene  Elizabeth  "        twins  "  " 

Ch.  John  Johnson  and  Mary  Dibble 
6  *Betsey  Rebecca  Johnson  d.  unm. 

6  *Edward  Dibble  "  d.  in  young  manhood 

6  *Emily  "  d.  in  infancy 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


89 


Ch.  4Clarissa  Johnson 

Their  Ch. 
5  Rebecca  Northrop 
5  Isaac  " 


m.     1st  Samuel  Northrop  Newtown,  Conn. 

m.     Walter  Northrop 

Went  to  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

m.     Huldah  Judson 


Anna    Sherwood 
Mary  Louise  Wheeler 
Marcus  McEwen 


4  Joseph      Johnson 
Their  Ch. 

5  Zenas  Johnson 
5  Albert 

5  Sophia  " 

Ch.   Zenas  Johnson  and  Anna  Sherwood 

6  Elizabeth  Johnson  m.  Rev.  Hawley  Sanford 
6  Mary  Sophia  "  "  Thomas  Burr  Fanton 
6  David                      "  "      Jane  Clark 

6  Joseph  "  "       Martha    Nickerson 

Desc.  of  6Elizabeth  Johnson  and  Rev.  Hawley  Sanford 
Mary     Louisa     Sanford       m.    *John  T.  Burrell 


Alsimore  Meade 
Wilbur  Young 
Harriet   Anna 
John  S. 
Nellie  E. 
Martha    Jane 
Charles  H. 


Amanda  Gilbert 
Nancy  Beckley 
Charles  Webster 
Callie  Moore 


Easton,   Conn. 
Monroe,    " 


Redding,  " 

Danbury,  " 

Redding,  " 

Bridgeport,  " 

Jesup,  Iowa 
It  « 

Milwaukee,  Wis. 
Waterloo,   Iowa 

Memphis,  Tenn. 


Charles  A.  Paul      Huntington,  Beach,  Cal 


♦William  H.  Gilbert 
Luella  Velvin 


Ch.  Mary  Louisa  Sanford  and  John  T.  Burrell 
8  Clarence     J.     Burrell 


8  Frank  T. 
8  *Mary  Louise 
8  Myrta  Elizabeth 
8  Tay  S. 

8  Blanche 

Ch.  Clarence  J. 

9  Paul  D. 
9  Gates  U. 
9  Philip 


1st  Linda  Underwood 
2nd  Laura  Keller 
Ethel  McClain 
A.  Clinton  Sayles 
George  Arnold 
Cora  Sabin 
unm. 


Rock  Island.  111. 
Atlanta,  Ga. 


Overland,  Cal. 

Jesup,  Iowa 
West  Branch,    " 
Jesup,     " 
Birch  Island,  Minn. 
Jesup,  Iowa 


Burrell  and   Linda  Underwood   1st. 
"  In  U.  S.  Artillery  Serivce, 


Overland,  Cal. 


ch.     Laura  Keller  2nd  wife 


Ch.  *Mary  L.  Burrell  and  A.  Clinton  Sayles 
9  Margaret      Sayles 
9  Burrell  C. 

Ch.  Jay  S.  Burrell  and  Cora  Sabin 
9  Robert  Sabin    " 


Amanda  Gilbert 
m.     Margaret    Seager 

m.    Alice  Tynan 


Ch.  Alsimore  M.  Sanford  and 
8  Harold 

8  Arthur  H.  "  m. 
Their  Ch. 

9  Raymond 

9  Hawley 
Their  Ch. 

lOWilber  O. 

10  Earl  H. 

Ch.  7Wilbur  Young  Sanford    and  Nancy   Beckley 
8  Rollin    E.  "  m.     Nina  Akin 

8  Tay  G.  "  "      Ora  Edwards 

8  Hawley  ** 

8  Edna    M. 

Ch.  Rollin  E.  Sanford  and  Nina  Akin 

9  Bernita 


West  Branch,  Iowa 


Birch  Island,  Minn. 

Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Rochester,    Minn. 


St.  Paul, 


Sioux  City.  Iowa 
Waterloo,      " 
Sioux  City,    " 


Waterloo, 


90  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

9  Marguerite       Sanford  Waterloo,  Iowa 

9  Quinten 
9  Lloyd 

Ch.  Jay  G.   Sanford  and  Ora   Edwards  Sioux  City,     " 

9  Dwight  Story      " 

Ch.  Harriet  A.  Sanford  and  Charles  Webster  Waterloo,    " 

8  Alorris  S.  Webster 

Ch.  Nellie  E.  Sanford  and  Charles  A.  Paul  Huntington,  Beach,  Call. 

8  Harold  S.  Paul 
8  Wesley   Lee  In  U.  S.  Navy 

Ch.  Martha  J.  Sanford  and  Wm.  H.  Gilbert  Rock  Island.  111. 

8  Georgie  Louise  Gilbert         m.     *Francis   Gordon  "  " 

8  Elizabeth  "  "      James  Hobkirk 

8  Robert  Scott      "  U.  S.  Art.  "     Vera  Seybert 
8  *Ruth 

8  Ralph  W.  "  In  U.  S.  Aviation  Service 

Ch.  Georgia  L.  Gilbert  and  Francis  Gordon  "  " 

9  Gilbert   Francis   Gordon 

Ch.   Elizabeth   Gilbert   and  James  Hobkirk  "  " 

9  James  Wm.  Hobkirk 

Ch.  Robert  Scott  Gilbert  and  Vera  Seybert  "  " 

9  Robert  Seybert 

Ch.   7Chas.   H.   Sanford   and  Luella  Velvin  Atlanta,  Ga. 

8  Cassie  Luella  " 

6  Mary  Sophia  Johnson  m.    Thomas   Burr   Fanton 
Their   Ch. 

7  Minnie    Elizabeth    Fanton  m.     Simon  Stebbins  Edmond  (no  ch.) 

Danbury,   Conn. 
7  Charlotte    Louise  "        "     Willim   Cullen    Bryant  "  " 

7  Rev.  William  Morrison "        "      Carrie  Shann  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Ch.  Charlotte  L.  Fanton  and  William  C.  Bryant 

8  William  C.   Bryant,  Jr.        m.     Ellie  Grant  Blaisdell  Bangor,  Maine 
8  Howard  Leon     "          U.S.A.  "      Eleanor  Carlock 

8  Carleton  Fanton"  U.S.N         on   Battleship  Wyoming 

8  Donald   Reid    "  U.S.A.         Am.   Ex.  Forces. 

Ch.  Wm.  C.  Bryant  Jr.  and  Ellie   Blaisdell  Bangor,   Maine 

9  George   Blaisdell   Bryant 

Ch.  Howard  L.   Bryant  and  Eleanor  Carlock 
9  Howard   Leon   Jr.    Bryant 
9  Katharine    Louise  " 

Ch.  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Fanton  and  Carrie  Shann  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

8  Lloyd  Fanton 

8  Gladys  Louise      "  "  " 

6  David  Johnson  son  of  Zenas  m.  Jane  Clark  Redding,  Conn. 
Their  Ch. 

7  Frank  C.     Johnson  m.     Cornelia  Haugh 

7  Harriet  "  "      Henry  A.  Haugh  Derby 

Ch.  Frank  Johnson  and   Cornelia   Haugh 

8  David  Chester    "  m.     Elizabeth  Bishop  in  U.  S.  Navy 
8  Kenneth  Clark    "                    m.     Miss  Burr 

Ch.   Harriet  Johnson   and  Henry  A.  Haugh  Derby,  Conn. 

8  Willard  P.  Haugh  m.    Anna  Roberta  Taylor        Philadelphia,  Pa. 

8  Henry  A.  "  Jr.  •« 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  9> 

6  Ch.  Joseph  Johnson  and  Martha  Nickerson  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

7  *Anna    Carrie  Johnson         d.  in  infancy 

7  *Lorenzo  Nickerson       "      m.     Nellie  Spalding  Boulder    Colo 

7  Percy    Lincoln                  "        ''^     1st  Katherine  Judson  Bridgeport.' Conn. 

2nd  Edna  Thompson 

7  Ella  Augusta                    "               Normal  School,  West  Chester,  Pa. 

Ch.  Lorenzo  N.  Johnson  and  Nellie  Spalding 

8  Mildred   Johnson 

Ch.  Percy  L.  Johnson  and  Katherine  Judson 
8  Wilbur  Judson  Johnson  In  U.  S.  Service  in  France 

5  Albert   Johnson  m.    Louise  Wheeler 
Their  Ch. 

6  James  Clark  "  m.  Marietta  Beardsley  Monroe,  Conn. 
6  Mary  Jane                         "        "     Orville  Hull  " 

6  Huldah   Frances  "        "     Henry  Edwards  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Ch.    James    C.   Johnson    and  Marietta  Beardsley  Monroe      " 

7  Miles  Beardsley  "  m.  Jennie  Hanscome  St.  Peters,  Minn. 
7  Mary  Eloise  "  "  Prof.  Herbert  Drake  Providence,  R.  I. 
7  Seymour   James               "        "      Mary  Alice  Payne  New  Milford,  Conn. 

7  Merwin  Wheeler  "        "      Martha  Hurd  Monroe,  Conn. 

Ch.   Miles   B.  Johnson   and  Jennie  Hanscome  St.  Peters,  Minn. 

8  Marie  Catharine  "  Bucyrus,  Ohio 
8  Arthur    Hanscome          "               U.  S.  N. 

8  Floyd    Beardsley  "  U.  S.  A. 

8  Mabel  Eloise  "      m.     Percy  Olsen,  U.  S.  A. 

8  Elliott   Miles  "  St.         Peters.  Minn. 

Ch.  Seymour  J.  Johnson  and  Mary  Alice  Payne  New  Milford,  Conn. 

8  Homer  Miles  " 

8  Walter    Seymour  "      U.  S.  A.  m.  Helen   Zimmerman 

8  Clara    Marrietta  " 

Ch.  Merwin  W.  Johnson  aud  Martha  Hurd  Monroe,  Conn. 

8  Herbert  Hurd  "  "^ 

8  Marion   Frances  " 

Ch.  6Mary  Jane  Johnson  aud  Orville  Hull 

7  Elbert    Orville         Hull  m.      Minnie    Ward  ]|  ^ 

7  *Cora    Louise  "  "     Wilbur  French 

7  *Mary  Lillian  "  "     Charles  Nichols 

7  Arthur    Johnson  "  "     Ellen    Bridle 

Ch.  Mary  Lillian  Hull  and  Charles  Nichols 

8  Elbert  Perkins  Nichols  U.  S.  A.  in  France 
8  Irma  Electa 

Ch.  6Huldah  Frances  Johnson  and  Henry  Edwards       Bridgeport.  Conn, 
7  Minnie    Frances    Edwardsm.    John   Sherwood  Monroe.       || 

7  George    Henry  "        "     Helen   Seelye  ,, 

7  Alfred    Shelton  "        "     Alice  Botsford 

7  Rev.  Harold  Johnson     "  unm. 

Ch.  John  Sherwood  and  Minnie  F.  Edwards 

8  Elinor    Frances    Sherwood  Monroe.   Conn, 

5  *Sophia  Johnson,  dau.  of  Joseph,   m.    Marcus    McEwen 

6  ^Marietta    McEwen  m.     Edwin    Stevens 

7  Albert   Stevens  "     Ida    Dykeman 
Their  Ch. 

8  Zaida  Stevens  "  George  Burr  Monroe,  Conn. 
8  Dorothy 


92 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Harry  C.  Beers 
Mabel  E.  Greenwood 
Gertrude  Tooke 


Ebenezer  Johnson  son  of  3John  m.  Hepsa  Shelton 
Their  Ch. 

Edwin    Clark        Johnson     m.     Sarah   Grace  Hubbell 
Lucy  "  "     William  Shelton 

Ch.  Edwin  C.  Johnson  and  Sarah   Grace   Hubbell 
Mary    Jeannette    Johnsonm.     Herbert  P.  Smith 
Their  Ch. 

Mabel    Grace           Smith  m. 

Ellsworth  Johnson       "  " 

Herbert   William           "  " 
Martha  Jeannette         " 

Ch.  Mabel  Grace  Smith  and  Harry  C.  Beers 
Sherman   Johnson       Beers 
Jeannette    Elizabeth        " 

Ch.  Herbert  W.   Smith   and  Gertrude  Tooke 
Mary    Parker        Smith 
Herbert    Wm.,    Jr.  " 

Ch.  5Lucy  Johnson  and  William  Shelton 

Charlotte  Shelton  m.    Charles   Hubbell 

Charles  "  "     Cornelia  Hubbell 

Ch.  Charlotte  Shelton  and  Charles  Hubbell 


Derby,  Conn. 


North  Haven,  Conn. 


Amanda    Hubbell 
Theresa  " 

Warren  C.         " 

Their  Ch. 

Elsie   M.  Hubbell 

Sterling   B. 

Their  Ch. 

Elinor    S.   Hubbell 

Virginia  " 

Ch.    Amanda    Hubbell 
Charles  H.  Bidwell 
Their  Ch. 
Bedford  Bidwell 


George  P.  Bidwell 
William  H.  Jones 
Annie  Shelton 


m.     Elma  Buckingham 


and  George  P.   Bidwell 
m.     May  Bidwell 


Ch.  William  H.  Jones   and  Theresa  Hubbell 
8  Helen    C.      Jones 

8  Philip  H.  "  m.     Joan   Newell 

Their  Ch. 

9  Newell  Jones 

Ch.    6Charles    Shelton    and  Cornelia  Hubbell 
7  William       Shelton 

7  Edwin   C.  "  m.     Alice  French 

Their  Ch. 

8  Lester  M.  Shelton 

4  John  Johnson  son  of  3John  m.  Clarissa  Peck 
Their  Ch. 

5  Cornelia  Johnson 
5  Susan    Jane  " 

David  H. 


Lanesboro,  Mass. 


White  Hills,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


6  Susan  Jane  Belden 


"  David  H.  Belden,  1st  wife 

"  David  H.  Belden,  2nd  wife 

"  1st  Esther  Beers  (no  ch.)  "  " 

"  2nd  Rebecca  Beers   (no  ch.)     "  " 

m.  Rev.  Dr.  Berry  Litchfield,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


93 


6  Susan  Jane  Belden 


SCornelia  Johnson 
ch.  & 

David  H.  Belden 
Ch.  SSusan  J.  Johnson  and  David  H.  Belden 

6  Cornelia      Belden  m.     Dr.  Maddox 

6  Clarissa  "  unm. 

6  David  "  m.     Elizabeth  Farrell 

An  eminent  lawyer,  See  Lawyers,  Newtown,  Conn. 

6  John  Belden  desc.  not  located 

Susan  J.  Belden 

7  John  Johnson  Berry,  M.  D.ch.  & 

Rev.  Dr.  Berry 

He  with  Mrs.  Belden  published  a  memorial  volumne   of    David    Belden   of 
San   Jose,   Calif. 

4  Daniel   Johnson    m.   Lamira  Wheeler 
Their  Ch. 

5  Emeline       Johnson  m.     Barzillai   Kellogg  Brookfield,  Conn. 
5  Elizabeth               "                     "                  Washburn  (no  ch.)  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


Newtown,  Conn. 
San  Jose,  Calif. 


Portsmouth,  N.  H. 


Sophia  E.  Beers 

Charles  S.  Hawes 

Annie  S.  Terrill 

unm. 

unm. 

unm. 


Tillie  M.  Beach 

Dr.  Howard  P.  Mansfield 


Charles  R.  Clarke 
Janet  Hodge 


Ch.    Emeline   Johnson    and  Barzillai   Kellogg 

6  *Angeline  Lamira  Kellogg  m.     Benjamin    Griffin 

6  *WilIiam  Johnson  "        " 

6  *Florence   Ann  "        " 

6  *Charles    Daniel    H.       "        " 

6  *Emeline  " 

6  Sarah  E.  " 

6  *Elizabeth   Washburn    " 

Ch.  Angeline  L.  Kellogg  and  Benjamin  Griffin 

7  Edward  Griffinm.     Ida  Rogers 
7  Ernest  Barzillai  twins    " 
7  *Edith  Emeline 
7  Martha  Elizabeth  " 
7  Henry  Washburn  " 

7  Florence    Sophia  " 

Ch.  Ernest  B.  Griffin  and  Tillie  M.  Beach 

8  Helen  Edith  Griffin 
Ch.    Edith    E.    Griffin    and  Dr.  Howard  Mansfield 

8  Ernest  Griffin  Mansfield 

Ch.  Martha  Griffin  and  Charles   R.   Clarke 

8  Philip    Griffin       Clarke 

8  Elizabeth 

8  Charles  Robert,  Jr.  " 

Ch.   Henry   W.   Griffin   and  Janet  Hodge 

8  Marjorie    Angeline    Griffin 

Ch.   Wm.   J.   Kellogg   and  Sophia  Beers 

7  Florence    Emily    Kellogg    m.     Arthur  S.  Mansfield 

7  Herbert  Beers  "  "      Mary  Amelia  Bateman 

Their  Ch. 

8  Genevieve    Kellogg 
8  Eloise  ** 

8  Ruth 

Ch.  Florence  E.  Kellogg  and  Arthur  Mansfield 
8  Lina  Beers  Mansfield 

Ch.  Florence  A.  Kellogg  and  Charles  E.  Hawea 


Brookfield  Conn. 

Bridgeport,  Conn. 
Brookfield,  Conn. 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 


Bridgeport,   Conn. 


Brookfield,   Conn. 
Pittsfield,  Mass. 

«  M 

«  M 

M  M 

Brookfield,  Conn. 


94 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 


7  Grace   Florence   Hawes  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Ch.  Chas.  D.  H.  Kellogg  and  Annie  S.  Terrill  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

7  Hanford   Barzillai   Kelloggm.  Emma  Roy  "  " 

7  Stanley  Terrill  "        "  Nellie  G.  Clarke 

7  Louise    Fairchild  "        "  Willard  M.  Taylor  " 

7  Charles  D.  H.  Jr. 

7  Mary   Skidmore  "        "  Arthur  J.  Millington  "  " 

Ch.  Hanford  B.  Kellogg  and  Emma  Roy 

8  Hanford  B.  Jr. 

Ch.  Stanley  T.  Kellogg  and  Nellie  G.  Clarke 

8  Clarke  Terrill 

Ch.  Louise  F.  Kellogg  and  Willard  M.  Taylor 

8  Dorothy  Taylor  twin 

8  Doris 

8  Mary  Elizabeth  " 

4Elias  Johnson  son  of  3John  m.  Hepsa  Judson 

Their  Ch. 
5  *Cornelia  Johnson         m.     John  Knowles 

5  *Henry  M.  "  "      Lois  Jones  (no  ch.) 

5  *Stiles   Wheeler       "  "      Henrietta  Hanly  (no  ch.) 

Ch.   Cornelia  Johnson   and  John   Knowles 

6  Cornelia  Knowles  m.     Francis  E.  Fitch 
Their  Ch. 

7  Mallory    Knowles        Fitch         d.   1904  aged  26  yrs.  "  " 
7  John    Knowles                   "     m.     Lillian   Whitehead                            "  " 

7  *Marion  "  d.  1916  aged  33  yrs. 

Ch.  John  Knowles  Fitch  and  Lillian   Whitehead 

8  John    Knowles   Jr.       Fitch 

8  Marjorie  "  "  " 

8  Muriel 

4  Sally  Johnson  dau.  3John  m.  John  Fayerweather 
Their  Ch. 

5  *Walter    B.    Fayerweatherm.    Abby  Post  Austin  Danbury,  Conn. 
5  *John                                   "         ■      Abigail  Oakley 

5  *William  "  unm. 

5  Julia  **      m.    Samuel  B.  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

Ch.  Walter  B.  Fayerweather  and  Abby  Post  Austin  Danbury,    Conn. 

1.     Daniel  Barnes 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 


Passaic,  N.  J. 


6  Ellen  G.    Fayerweather 
6  S.  Isabelle 


7  Margaret    Barnes  ch. 

7  Margaret  Barnes  m. 

8  Walter  Wilson  ch. 

8  Charles  G.  Clifford  ch. 

9  Clifford  Barnes  ch. 


Capt.  Chas.  Colcord 

Ella   G.  Fayerweather 

& 
Daniel  Barnes 

1st  Geo.  Wilson 
2nd  Walter  CHfiford 

Margaret  Barnes 

& 
George  Wilson 

Margaret  Barnes 

& 
Walter  Clifford 

Elsie  Wilkins 

& 
Walter  Wilson  Barnes 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  96 

Ch.   John   Fayerweather   and  Abigail  Oakley 

6  *Julia    Fayerweather  m.  Seelye 

6  *Oakley  "  "      Lavinia  Cook 

Their  Ch. 

7  *John  Fayerweather 
7  Blanche  " 

7  Frederick  " 

7  Charles 

Ch.  SJulia  Fayerweather  and  Samuel  B.  Peck  Sandy  Hook,  Conn. 

6  *Tulia         Peck  unm.  "  " 

6  *"George        "  m.    Emma  J.  Clarke  Newtown,  Conn. 

6  Edward  S.  "  "     Lilla    Lockitt  Patchogue    L.    I. 

Ch.  George  Peck  and  Emma  J.  Clarke  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

7  *Samuel    Clarke  Peck         d.  in  young  manhood 

7  Elizabeth  Fayerweather  "  unm.  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

7  Walter  Toucey  "     m.     Elizabeth  Chester  Backus  "        '       " 

7  Susan  "      "     Willard  Merrill  Burdick 

Their  Ch. 

8  Priscilla  Burdick  "  •* 
8  Ruth  MacBride  "  "  " 
8  Merrill  Clarke                  "  "  « 

Ch.   Walter   T.    Peck   and  Elizabeth  Chester  Backus  "  ** 

8  Elizabeth  Chester         Peck  "  * 

8  Samuel   Clarke  "  "  " 

Ch.    Edward   S.   Peck   and  Lilla  Lockitt  Patchogue  L.  I. 

7  Edward    Stanley       Peck  "  ** 

7  *Grace  " 

4  Eli  Johnson  son  of  3John     m.     Sally  Watkins  Ballsten   Spa,  N.  Y. 
Their  Ch. 

5  Louisa  Johnson  m.     Rev.  M.  Williams  *  * 
Their  Ch. 

6  Emma       Williams  m.    Chas  T.  Dunwell  *  * 

6  Allan  S. 

7  Elsie        Dunwell  Emma  W^illiams 
7  James             "                          ch.  & 

7  Ruth  "  Chas  T.  Dunwell 

4  Benjamin   Johnson    son   of  3John  m.  Dorcas  Morse 

Their  Ch. 

5  Lucy  Johnson  m.  Kline 

5  Benjamin         " 

6  William  Kline  ch.  Lucy  Johnson  Kline 

6  Benjamin  Johnson  ch.  SBenjamin  (no  desc.  located) 

KIMBERLY 

The  name  Kimberly  appearing  so  often  in  Newtown's  early  records  has 
disappeared  from  the  names  of  the  present  generation,  but  the  descen- 
dants in  Newtown  of  Abraham  2nd,  3rd  and  4th  are  very  numerous. 

1  Thomas  Kimberly  came  from  London  and  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
New  Haven  Colony. 


96  GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 

2  Eleazer  Kimbcrly  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  white  male  child  born  in 
New  Haven. 

2  Abraham   Kimberly   1st         m.  Hannah 

3  Abraham  "  2nd         "     Abigail   Fitch  Newtown,  Conn, 
Their  Ch. 

4  Hannah  Kimberly  "  James  Hard  (See  Hard)  "  " 
4  Abigail  "  "  John  Lake  (see  Lake)  "  " 
4  Gideon  "  "  Mary  Osborne  "  " 
4  Abraham  3rd              "  "  Abigail   Adams  "  " 

4  Sarah  "  "     3Joseph   Prindle   (see   PrindleJ  " 

Ch.   Abraham   3rd    Kimberly   and   Abigail   Adams 

5  Anah  Kimberly         ni.     John    Duniiinp: 

5  Sarah                              "  "  Ebenezer    Fairchild    (see    Fairchild) 

5  Abiah                              "  "  Michael    Dunning 

5  Fitch  Kimberly  m.  .\bigail  Woodruff 

5  Abraham  4th                "  "  Tamar    Burritt                       Newtown,  Conn 

5  Sabra                             "  "  Joel  Prindle 

Ch.  Abraham  Kimberly  4th  and  Tamar   Burritt  "  " 

6  Mary  Kimberly       m.     George    Northrop 

6  Abel   Burritt  "  "      Currence    Prindle  "  " 

6  Polly  "  "      Ephraim   Piatt    (see   Piatt) 

7  Betsy   Ann  "  "     Abram   Prindle 

Fitch  Kimberly  and  his  brother  Abraham  4th  served  in  the  French  War 
in  1756;  also  Abraham  4th  was  appointed  by  the  Assembly  Jan.  7th,  1777, 
"Lieut,  of  the  Western  Alarm  List  Company  in  the  town  of  Newtown  in  the 
Iftlh  Regt.  of  this  state.  Fitch  Kimberly  served  as  private  in  Revolutionary 
War. 


LAKE 

Desc.  of  IThomas  Lake  and  Sarah  Peat 

2  John  Lake,  b.  1688  m.  Abigal  Kimberly  dau.  of  Abigail  Fitch  and  .Abraham 
Kimberly,  settled  in  Newtown  early  in  1700. 

Their  Ch. 

3  Sarah         Lake  m.     Ebenezar  Bristol 

3  Charity  "  "  Nehemiah  Skidmore 

3  Nathaniel  " 

3  Ephraim  "  "  Mary  Bristol 

3  Thomas  "  "  Betty  Jackson 

3  Abigail  "  "  Thomas  Lattin 

Ch.  Thomas  Lake  and   Betty  Jackson 

4  Ezra  Lake  m.     Hannah  Thompson 
4  John               "  "     Susanna  Hubbell 

4  Peter  "  "     Temperance  Thompson 

4  David  "  " 

4  Isaac  "  "     no  desc. 

Ch.  Ezra  Lake  and  Hannah  Thompson 

5  Philo   Lake  m.     Polly  Ann    Birch 

Their  Ch. 

6  *Hannah   Ann         Lake        m.     John  S.  Hubbard  Meriden,  Conn. 
6  *Catharine                    "              "     Amos  Hard  (see  Hard) 

6  *Ezra   Birch  "  "      Melissa  Saxton 


6  *Lamson  Birch 


GENEALOGICAL  SECTION 
Lake 


1st  Sarah  M.  Beers 
2nd  Sylvia  M.  Beers 

Ch.  Hannah  A.  Lake  and  John   S.   Hubbard 

7  John  B.  Hubbard  d.   in   young   manhood 

Ch.  Ezra   Birch  Lake  and  Melissa   Saxton 


97 


Mi-ridcn.   Conn. 


7  Nora  Belle  Lake  twins 
7  *Ora  E.  "        twins 


.      .  Cherry  Creek.  N.   Y. 

d.  in   infancy 

Ch.  Lamson  B.  Lake  and  Sarah  M.  Beers  1st  wife 

7  Carrie    Louise  Lake     m.     Frank  Mallett     no  ch. 

7  Frederick  Beers  "  d.  in  younp  manhood 

7  Katherine  Augusta       "        m.    Wm.  C.  Johnson  no  ch. 

Ch.  Lamson  B.  Lake  and  Sylvia  M.  Beers 

Lake  unm. 

"  unm. 

4  ch.  John  Lake  and  Susanna  Hubbell 


7  Grace   Elizabeth 
7  Florence  Amelia 


Newtown.  Conn. 

Monroe,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Passaic,  N.   I. 


5  Legrand    Seabury    Lake 
5  Walter 
5  John 
5  Clara 

5  Susan  " 


Newtown.  Conn. 

Deborah   McLean  Newtown,  Conn. 

Polly  Ferris  "  " 

Maria  Skidmore 
Oman   Sherman   (see  Sherman) 

Danbury,  Conn 


John   R.   Smith 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Walter  Lake  and  Polly   Ferris 


6  Isaac  Lake 

6  D.   Jackson    " 
6  Ferris  " 

6  Harriet  " 


m.     Alargaret  Dibble 
"     Katharine    Hiiinnn 

desc.  not  located 
m.     Aloulthrop 

Ch.  Isaac  Lake  and  Margaret  Dibble 

Lake 


7  Frederick 
7  *Robert 
7  *Annabelle 


m.     Ella  Oliver  no  ch. 
"      Julia  Warner  no  ch. 
"     Howard  Banks 


Ch.  D.  Jackson  Lake  and  Katharine    Hinman 

7  Rev.   Clarence    Lake 
7  Florence  " 

5  Ch.  Susan  Lake  and  John  R.  Smith 

6  John    Russell    Smith 

6  Eliza 

6  Susan  " 


Newtown,  Conn. 

Bethel,  Conn. 

Monroe,   Conn. 

Colusa,  Calif. 

Newtown,  Conn. 


m.     1st   Lucia    Camp  " 

2nd  Susan  Hawley 
"     Marcus  Camp,  ch.  d.  in  infancy 
"     Henry  Weed  no  ch 


Ch.  John  R.  Smith  and  Susan  Hawley 

7  Mary  Eliza   Smith  m.     H.  Wilbur  Bristol 

8  Laura   Bristol,  their  ch. 

\{    Ch.  4Peter  Lake  and  Temperance  Thompson 

5  Nichols     Booth     Lake 
."^  Thompson  " 

5  Amos  " 


Newtown.  Conn. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Newtown  Conn. 


5  Abbie 
Ch.  Nichols  B.  Lake  and  Charlotte  Curtis 


m.     Charlotte  Curtis 
desc.   not   located 

m.     1st  Catharine  Blackman  Bethlehem. 
"     2nd  Marv  Ann  Bennett  " 

"     Abraham  Ferris  Shepard      Brookfield, 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


6  Joseph  Thompson  Lake 
6  Birdsey    Curtis  " 

6  Mary  A. 
6  Daniel    B. 


Hannah  R.   Smith         ..    Newtown,  Conn. 
Jane  Sherman  1st 

Phebe  Warren  Peck  2nd    New  Haven  , 
Robert  S.  Peck  (see  Peck)  Newtown, 
desc  not  located 


Ch.  Joseph  T.  Lake  and  Hannah  R.  Smith 

m 


7  Mary    Josephine    Lake 
7  Nettie 


Chas.  F.  Beardsley 
d.  in  childhood 


Ch.    Mary  Josephine   Lake  and  Charles  F.  Beardsley 


8  Clarence  Lake  Beardsley 
8  Paul   Joseph  " 


m.    Viola  May  Gamsby 

u  n  m. 


Ch.  Birdsey  C.  Lake  and  Jane  Sherman 

7  Ives      Levi  Lake 

7  Birdsey  Curtis  Jr.  " 

Ch.  Amos  Lake  and  Catharine   Blackman   1st  wife 


New  Haven, 


Bethlehem, 


6  Norman    Lake 
6  Julia 


Louisa  Beach 
Joseph   Hawley 


Ch.  Amos  Lake  and  Mary  Ann   Bennet  2nd  wife 


Lake 


Lake 


6  Walter    B. 

6  Benjamin 

6  Peter 

6  Mary 

6  Sarah  Jane  " 

6  Horation  Nelson" 

6  Caroline  Cynthia" 

Ch.  Norman  Lake  and  Loui 

7  Elizabeth  Lake 
7  Ellen 
7  Norton   B. 
7  Herbert  W. 
7  Arthur    B. 
7  George  Tuttle 


Alma  Nettleton 

Hannah    Bradley  " 

Susan  Pierce 

Thomas  Bennett  no  ch.  Nunda,  N.  Y. 

Lemuel  Camp  (see  Camp)  Newtown,  Conn. 

unm. 

Samuel  B.  Camp  (see  Camp)  "  " 


Beach 


m.     Tennie  Belden 


Ch.  6Walter  B.  Lake  and  Alma  Nettleton 


7  Amos  Caleb 
7  Royal  Bennett 


Lake 


Amanda    Bloss 
Josephine  Bacon 


Ch.  Benjamin  Lake  and  Hannah  Bradley 
7  *Annie  Bradley  Lake  d.  unm. 

Ch.  6Peter  Lake  and  Susan  Pierce 

7  Franklin    Rudolph    Lake     m.     Jennie  Beach 

7  Origen    Toucey  " 

Ch.   Herbert  W.   Lake   and  Jennie  Belden 

8  G.    Irving       Lake 
8  Arthur 

8  Frederick  " 

8  Gordon 

Ch.  7Amos  Caleb  Lake  and  Amanda  Bloss 

8  *Elsie  Lake 

8  Ina 
8  Walter 


Bethlehem,  " 

Waterbury,  " 

Bethlehem,  Conn. 

«  i< 

Torrington,  " 

Bethlehem,  " 
Northfield 

Waterbury,  " 


Bethlehem,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


99 


Ch.  7Royal  Lake  and  Josephine  Bacon 

8  Edna  Lake 

8  Robert 
8  Edith 

Ch.7Frank  R.  Lake  and  Jennie  Beach 

8  Grace   Lake 
8  Clara 

Ch.  6Julia  Lake  and  Joseph  Hawley 

7  Catherine    Sophia    Hawley 

7  Hannah    Adelaide 

7  Philo 

7  Sarah   Elizabeth 

7  Amos  Lake 

7  Hobart    Melville 

7  Franklin    Joseph 

Ch.   Amos    L.    Hawley    and  Alary  Bills 

8  Ernest  Hawley  in.     Cornelia   Morehouse 

SLyman  Lake  son  4David      m.     Abba  Foote  1st. 

"      Sophia  Hawley  2nd. 

Ch.    Lyman    Lake    and    Abba  Foote 

6  3Charles  "  m. 

6  Julia  A.  "  "  Henry  W.  Oliver 

6  *Lamira  "  "  Mason  Thorpe 

6  *Nelson  "  "  Mary  A.  Glover 

Ch.   Lyman   Lake   and   Sophia    Hawley 

6  *Abba  Lake  unm. 

6  *Elizabeth 


m.     Edwin  Camp  no  ch. 


Mary   Bills 
Flora  Trumbull 


Torrington,  Conn. 


Thomaston, 


Newtown,  Conn. 
Bridgewater      " 

Hawleyville,       " 


Newtown, 


Danbury        " 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y, 
Danbury,  Conn. 
Newtown,  " 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.   Charles  Lake  and  wife 

7  Ella  "  m.     Frost 

7  Frank 

Ch.  6Julia  A.  Lake  and  Henry  W.  Oliver 

7  *Wallace  L.  Oliver  m.     Amelia  Brown 

7  *Eugene  H.       " 

7  *Addie  J. 

7  Charles  A. 

7  Ella   J. 

7  Carrie  E 


m.     Reuben  Starr  Blackman   (See   Blackman) 

Danbury,  Conn. 


*Ida  Crawford 
d.  in  infancy 
Jennie  Stephenson 
Frederick  Lake 
unm. 


Mrs.  Julia  A.  Oliver  92  years,  Oct.  1918. 
Ch.   Lamira   Lake    and   Mason  Thorpe 


*John  Walling 
Orlando  Starr 


7  Emma  D.  Thorpe 
7  Julia  E. 

Ch.    Nelson    Lake   and   Mary  A.  Glover 

7  Edward  G.  " 

7  *Wilbur 

7  Martin    N.  " 

7  Robert  A. 

7  *Ada  "  m. 

7  Anna  " 

7  *Julia  " 

Ch.  Edward  G.  Lake  and  wife 

8  Ada  "  m. 
8  Anna                        "  " 
8  *Mary  Belle 


Newtown, 

M 

Danbury, 
Newtown, 


Lucius  G.  Norton 
U.  S.  Booth 
Albert  Cole 


Charles  Buell 

2nd  wife  Charles  Bacbath 

1st  wife  Charles  McBath 


100  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

Ch.  Martin  H  Lake  and  wife 

8  Rose  "  m.     Devine 

8  Nelson  "  In  U.  S.  Service  in  Army 

8  Robert  "  In  U.  S.  Service  in  Army 

8  Harry 

Ch.  Robert  A.  Lake  and  wife 

8  Arthur  L.  "  In  U.  S.  Service  in  Army 

8  Doris  A. 
8  Alary   A. 

Ch.  *Julia  Lake  and  Albert  Cole 

8  Tulia  Cole 

8  "Edith 
8  Albert 
8  Richard 

Ch.   Anna   Lake  and   U.   S.  Booth 

8  Jessie     Booth  m.    Hummiston 

8  Rachel     " 

8  Harold     " 

8  Herbert  " 

8  Arthur     " 

8  Clarence"  In  U.  S.  Serivce 

MERRITT 

1  John  Merritt  came  from  the  north  of  Ireland  to  Stratford  date  unknown. 
He  was  frozen  to  death  on  Stratford  Beach.  His  son  John  settled  in 
Newtown  on  what  is  still  known  as  Merritt  Hill. 

2  John   Merritt   m.   Deborah  Wheeler. 

The    town    records    show    that    their    son    3Abijah    Merritt    filled    many 
offices  of  public  trust.    He  m.  Hannah  Sanford. 

Their  Ch. 

4  Julia  Merritt  m.     Charles  Johnson  (See  Johnson) 

4  Levan  Wheeler "  "      Cynthia  Patience  Loomis        Medina,  N.  Y. 

Their  Ch. 

5  *Charles  Johnson  Merritt    m.     1st  Esther  Fairchild  Newtown,  Conn. 

2nd  Julia  Chase  Medina,  N.  Y. 

5  Julia                                 "                  d.  unm.  Washington,  D.  C. 

5  *Henry                            "                  d.  in  childhood  Medina,  N.  Y. 

5  Cynthia  A.                      "                  unm.  Washington,  D.  C. 

5  *Elsie  Henrietta  "  d.  unm.  Medina,  N.  Y. 
5  *Henry  Sanford           "          m.     1st  Urilla  Swingley  Phelps    Elkader,  Iowa 

2nd  Ella  Havens  "                " 

5  *Lee  Wheeler               "                   d.  in  young  manhood  Medina,  N.  Y. 

Ch.   Charles   J.   Merritt   and  Esther  Fairchild  Chicago,  111. 

6  *Ida  "  d.  in  childhood 

6  *Charles  Henry  "  m.     Annie  Crawford  "  " 

Tlieir  Ch. 

7  Marjorie  Merritt  Urbana,  Ohio 
7  Crawford 

Ch.  Henry  S.  Merritt  and  Urilla  S.  Phelps  Elkader,  Iowa 

6  Frank  Henry  "  m.     Bertha  Emory 

6  James  Levan  "  "      Irene  Seattle,  W^ash. 

Ch.  Frank  H.  Merritt  and  Bertha  Emory  Milford,  Iowa 

7  Ruth 


HON.  UAxXlEL  X.  xMORGAxX 

See    Page   101    (Genealogical    Section) 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  101 

7  Bernadine  Merritt  Milford,  Iowa 

Ch.  Henry  S.  Merritt  and  Ella  Havens  Elkader        " 

6  Isaac  Havens  "  m.  Mary  Ethel  Carpenter  Denver,  Colo. 
Their  Ch. 

7  Helen  Merritt  "  " 
7  Robert  Homer  "                                                                                        «               " 

MORGAN 

IZedekiah  Morgan  was  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  a  field  in  Hopewell 
district  in  Newtown  where  he  kept  cavalry  horses,  is  still  called  "Cavalry 
field."     So  says  Hon.  D.  N.  Morgan. 

2  Hezekiah  Morgan,  son  of  IZedekiah  Morgan  Newtown,  Conn. 

6  m.     Elizabeth  Sanford      6th  in  descent  from  Rev.  John  Beach 

7  Ezra     Morgan  Elizabeth  Sanford  Newtown,  Conn. 
7  Fanny        "                              ch.                   & 

7  Zera  '  Hezekiah  Morgan  "  " 

7  *Ezra   Morgan  m.     Hannah  Nash  Westport,  Conn. 

Their   ch. 

8  Elizabeth   S  Morgan    m.     Rufus  D.  Cable 

8  *Mary  Tamp  "  d.  unm.  Newtown,  Conn. 

8  Daniel  Nash  "  m.Medora  Huganen  Judson  Huntington,  Conn. 

8  *Harriet    Louise  "  d.  unm.  Newtown,  Conn. 

8  *Cornelia  Jane  "  d.  unm.  "  " 

8  *Hannah  Sophia  "  d.   young  "  " 

8  *Frederick  Ezra  "  d.  in  boyhood  "  " 

8  *Edward  Kemper  "  m.     Charlotte  Adelaide  Judson  Bridgeport,  " 

Ch.  Elizabeth  S.  Morgan  and  Rufus  D.  Cable 

9  Mary     Eilzabeth     Cable      m.     Marcus  B.  Butler  Westport,  Conn. 
9  Hannah    Louise               "      m.     Edward   F.   Buchner  Baltimore   Md. 

9  Antoinette  Cornelia       "      m.    Rev.  George  A.  Robson    E.  Lansing  Mich. 

10  Dorothy  Morgan  Butler  Mary  E.  Cable  Bridgeport,  Conn. 
10  Virginia  Lacey            "          ch.                    & 

10  Marcus    Bayard.Jr.       "  Marcus  B.  Butler                         "               " 

U.  S.  N. 

10  Edward  F.  Buchner,  Jr.  Baltimore,  Md. 

10  Morgan  Mallory      "  Hannah  Louise  Cable                        "           " 

10  Elizabeth  Sanford  "  ch.                   & 

10  Margaret  Louise      "  Edward  F.  Buchner                         "            " 

10  Janet  Elizabeth  Robson  Antoinete  C.  Cable     East  Lansing,   Mich. 

10  Edward  John  "  ch.  & 

10  Faith  "  Rev.  George  A.  Robson  "  " 

Ch.  Medora  Judson  and  D.  N.  Morgan.  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

9  Mary  Huntington  Morgan  m.     Daniel  Edwards  Brinsmade  Shelton,  Conn. 
9  *FIorence  Newton         "  d.  in  infancy  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

9  William  Judson  "        m.    Helen  Jeanette   Brinsmade        "  * 

Helen  Jeannete  Brinsmade       "  " 

10  Marjorie  Brinsmade  ch.  & 

William  Judson  Morgan  "  ** 

HON.  DANIEL  NASH  MORGAN 

Besides  those  Newtown  born  who  became  lawyers,  doctors  or  clergymen, 
some  attained  prominence  in  other  and  equally  large  fields. 

Hon.  Daniel  Nash  Morgan,  son  of  Hannah  Nash  and  Ezra  Morgan,  was 
born  Aug.  18,  1844;  received  his  education  at  the  public  school,  Newtown 
Academy,  and  Bethel  Institute. 

He    was    assistant    in    his    father's    country    store    until    attaining    his 


102 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


majority,  when  he  assumed  control  for  one  year.  Like  most  country  stores 
in  those  days  it  was  the  custom  to  sell  by  the  dram,  pint,  quart  or  gallon, 
spirituous  liquors  to  customers.  Upon  assuming  control  of  the  business, 
he  caused  to  be  emptied  into  the  ditch  all  containers  of  the  liquor;  and 
when  later  he  became  a  partner  in  the  old  stand  of  David  H.  Johnson,  of 
the  firm  of  Morgan  and  Booth  he  made  it  one  of  the  conditions  that  no 
liquor  should  be   sold. 

Upon  removing  to  Bridgeport  he  was  elected  Mayor,  1880-1884;  for 
thirteen  years  was  Parish  Clerk  of  Trinity  Parish,  Bridgeport,  then  Junior 
and  later  Senior  Warden.  He  was  President  of  Bridgeport  Hospital.  Presi- 
dent of  City  National  Bank,  1887-1893,  President  of  Mechanics  and  Farmers 
Bank,  State  Senator  from  14th  disrict  1885-86,  and  again  in  1892,  and  was 
United  States  Treasurer  from  June  1,  1893  to  July  1,  1897.  He  is  a  Mason 
and  connected  with  many  offices  of  trust  in  the  city  of  Bridgeport. 

Charlote  Adelaide  Judson 
ch.  &  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Edward  Kemper  Morgan  " 

Sally  Underbill  Newtown,  Conn, 

ch.  & 

Zera  Morgan  Boston,  Mass. 

Morgan  Polly  Peck  Newtown,  Conn, 

ch.  & 

"  Charles  Morgan  "  " 


9  Daniel  Judson  Morgan 
9  Frederick  Edward     " 


8  Charles        Morgan 
8  Rev.  Henry      " 


9  Henry  P. 
9  Ormel 
9  Merwin  D 
9  Edith   L. 


10  Arthur  Briscoe  Morgan     -u 
10  Grace   Edith 

9  Agnes  Banks 

9  Elizabeth  **  bh. 

9  Alma  L. 

10  Eva  Banks  Whitehead        ch. 

11  Hazel   Elaine  Sherwood 

ch. 


10  Charles  Henry  Lee 

10  Julian 

10  Coley  Fanton  " 

10  Elsie  May      Cook 
10  Flora  Edith 
10  William  M. 
10  Edward  R. 


ch. 


ch. 


Esther   P.   Briscoe 

& 
Ormel  E.  Morgan 

Sophia  Bradley 

& 
Charles   Morgan   Banks 

Agnes  Banks 

& 
Henry  Whitehead 

Eva  Whitehead 

& 
James  Arthur  Sherwood 

Alma  Louise  Banks 

& 
Francis  Coley  Lee 

Edith  Louise  Morgan 

& 
William  James  Cook 


Redding,  Conn. 
«  « 

Redding,  Conn. 


Easton,  Conn. 
Redding,  Conn. 


MORRIS 


First  Morris  settler  in  Newtown. 
IDaniel  b.  1750  m.  Mary  Salter  Burritt. 


Their  ch. 
2  Sally        Morris 


Eli  Gould 
Polly 

Nancy 
Eunice 


1st  Sylvester  Beers  (See  Beers) 
2nd  Ezekial  Beers  Newtown,  Conn 

m.     Lydia  Bennett                                "  " 

m.     John  Blackman                              "  " 

m.     Silas  Norman  Glover                   "  " 

(See  Glover) 

m.     John  Blackman  2nd                     "  " 


Ch.  Eli  Gould  Morris  and  Lydia  Bennett 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


103 


3  *EIi   James 
3  Luzon  Burritt 
3  *Martha  Jane 


Morris        m,    Jane  Chambers  Newtown,  Conn. 

"  m.     Eugenia  Tuttle  New  Haven,  Conn. 

"  A  successful  teacher,  unm.  Newtown,  Conn. 


Luzon  B.  Morris  elected  Governor  of  Conn.  1892.    Took  office  Jan.  1893 
Ch.  Luzon  B.  Morris  and  Eugenia  Tuttle  (see  Lawyers.) 


4  Dr.  Robert  Tuttle  Morris     m.    Aimee  Reynaud 

4  Mary  Seymour 

4  Helen  Harrison 

4  Emily  Eugenia 

4  Charles  Gould 

4  Ray 


5  Eugenia  R.  Morris 


m.     Charles  Millard  Pratt 
m.     Arthur  T.  Hadley 

unm. 
m.    Elisabeth  Woodbridge 
m.     Katherine  Grinnell 

Aimee  Reynaud 
ch.  & 

Dr.  Robert  T.  Morris 


Ch.  Chas.  Millard  Pratt  and  Mary  Seymour  Morris 
5  Morris  Pratt 


New  York 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

New  Haven,  Conn. 

New  Haven 
New  York,  N.  Y. 


New  York 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


5  Lieut.  Theodore 
5  Margaret  R. 
5  Katherine  E. 


m.     Laura  Merrick  (no  ch.)    New  Orleans,  La. 


5  Lieut.  Richardson  " 

6  Morris  Pratt  Frost 


m.     Frank   J.    Frost 
"     Burton  P.  Twitchell 

Infantry  in  France 


Margaret  R.  Pratt 
ch.  & 

Frank  J.  Frost 
Ch.  Arthur  T.  Hadley  and  Helen  Harrison  Morris 
6  Maj.  Morris  Hadley 


St.    Louis,    Mo. 
Nordhoff,  Calif. 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 


6  Capt.  Hamilton 
6  Laura    Beaumont 
Arthur  T. 


5  Laura  Wylie  Morris 

5  Woodbridge  Edward  " 
5  Martha  Cartwright  " 
5  Daniel  Luzon  " 

5  Charles  Lester  " 

5  Elisabeth  Woodbridge" 


youngest  Maj.  in  the  Army  Art.  in  France 
Aviation   in   France 

President  Yale  University  New  Haven  and 

Newtown 


Elizabeth  Woodbridge 
ch.  & 

Charles  G.  Morris 


5  Virginia  Morris 

5  Grinnell  " 

5  Stephen   Burritt       " 


Katharine  Grinnell 

ch.  & 

Ray   Morris 


New  Haven  and 
Newtown 


New  York 


NICHOLS 

Richard  Nichols  m.     Comfort    Sherman 

First  Nichols  settler  in  Newtown 


1  Nathaniel  Nichols 
Of  their  ten  children 

2  Esther  Nichols 
2  Peter 

2  Phedima  " 

2  Richard 
2  Theophilus 


m.     Ann  Booth 


m.  John  Holbrook,  Jr. 

m.  Rebecca  Camp 

m.  Benjamin    Curtis 

m.  Abigail  Gold 

m.  Sarah  Meeker 


Ch.  Esther  Nichols  and  John  Holbrook,  Jr. 
3  Abel    Holbrook  m.    Hannah  Clark 


Newtown,   Conn. 


Derby,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Derby,  Conn. 
Oxford      « 


104 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


4  Abel  Holbrook  Jr. 

5  Esther 
Their  Ch. 

6  Frank  Mitchell 
6  Nellie 

6  Jessie  Pauline  " 

6  Vivan 


m.    Olive  Pierce 


Southbury,  Conn. 


Chas.  Lawrence  Mitchell 


Emma  Judson 
Charles   Parsons 
J.  Percy   Blackman 
Alice  Babcock 


Ch.  Frank  Mitchell  and  Emma  Judson 


7  Laura 
7  Wallace 


Mitchell 


m.     George  Camp 
"     Edith   Ganung 


Ch.  Laura  Mitchell  and  George  Camp 

8  Merwin       Camp 
8  Nelson 

Ch.   Nellie  Mitchell  and  Charles  Parsons 


7  Herbert 
7  Birdsey 
7  Ethel 


Parsons 


m.     Florence  Watson 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Waterbury 


Newtown,  Conn. 
Albany,  N.  Y. 


Vivian  Wetmore  (see  Wetmore) 


1st  Chas.  Finch 
2nd  Lindsay  Polly 
Wm.  Stevens 


7  Pearl 
Ch.  Herbert  Parsons  and  Florence  Watson 

8  Ruth  Nichols  Parsons 

Ch.  Ethel  Parsons  and  Charles  Finch 

8  Esther  Finch 

Ch.  Pearl  Parsons  and  Wm.  Stevens 

8  William        Stevens 
8  Heman 

Ch.  Jessie  Pauline  Mitchell  and  J.  Percy  Blackman 


Albany,  N.  Y. 


Albany,  N.  Y. 


7  Pauline  Frances  Blackman 
7  Olive    Mitchell 


(b.  Newtown) 
(b.   Newtown) 


Newtown,  Conn. 

Passaic,  N.  J. 
Passaic,  N.  J. 


Ch.  2Peter  Nichols  and  Rebecca  Camp 


3  Phedima   Nichols 
3  Nathaniel 
3  Sarah 
3  Polly 


m.     Simeon  Beers 
m.     Grace  Sherman 
m.    Reuben  Hull  Booth 


Danbury,  Conn, 
m.     Lamson  Birch  (See  Birch)Newtown,  Conn. 

Ch.  3Nathaniel  Nichols  and  Grace  Sherman 


4  Henry  Nichols 
Their  Ch. 

5  *David  M.  Nichols 

5  *Mary 
5  *Philo 


Their  ch. 

6  Frank  B. 

6  Grace 

6  Ruth    Amelia 

Ch.  David  M. 

6  John   Henry 


Nichols 


m.     Sarah   Blackman 


m.     1st  Caroline  Crane  New  York,  N.  Y. 

2nd   Phebe   Crane  Tompkins        "  " 

m.     Samuel   Curtis    (See   Curtis)Newtown,  Ct. 
m.     Sarah  Esther  Glover  "  " 


d.  in  infancy  "  " 

d.  in  infancy  "  " 

m.    Hobart  H.  Curtis  (See  Curtis)  " 

and  Caroline  Crane  New  York,  N,  Y. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


105 


Ch.  David  M.  Nichols      and  Phebe  Crane  Tompkins  New  York,  N.  Y. 
6  David   Arthur         "  "  " 

2  Ch.  Theophilus  Nichols  and  Sarah  Meeker  Newtown,  Conn. 

3  Capt.  James  Nichols  m.    Lucy  Beach  "  *• 
Their  Ch. 


4  Theophilus    B. 
4  Isaac 

4  William 
4  Drusus 
4  Rev.  Abel 
4  Thaddeus    H. 
4  James  A.  F. 
4  John 
4  Philo 
4  Susan 


Nichols  Lost  at  sea  no  ch. 

"  m.  1st  Betsey  Piatt                           "               " 

"  "  2nd   Louisa   Bartlett 
« 

"  "  Rebecca  B.  Graves      English  Prairie,  Ind. 

"  "  Elizabeth  Saunders  no  ch.,  Lost  at  sea 

no  ch. 

"  Killed  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 

"  m.  Julia  Ann  Sheldon 

"  "  Melinda  Carr                       La  Grange,  Ind. 

"  "  Wm.  B.  Glover  no  ch.    Sandy  Hook,  Conn. 


Ch.  4Isaac  Nichols  and  Betsey  Piatt  1st  wife 
Nichols 


5  Henry 

5  James 

5  William 

5  Mary    Betsey 


Newtown, 

Orland,  Ind. 


m.     Elizabeth  Sharp 
"     Isabella  Starkweather        Hartford,  Conn. 
Drowned  in  Taunton  Pond 
d.  in  young  womanhood 


Ch.  Isaac  Nichols  and  Louisa  Bartlett,  2nd  wife  Newtown,  Conn. 

Nichols  m.     Daniel   Camp    (see   Camp)         "  " 


5  Augusta 
5  Sarah 
5  Margaret 
5  Beach 
5  Louisa 
5  William 
5  Arthur 
5  Grace 


Silas  N.  Beers   (see  Beers)       "  " 
Edson  Hawley  (see  Hawley)Brookfield" 

Adelia    Fairchild                   Newtown,  " 

d.  unm.                                            "  " 

d.  in  boyhood                                 "  " 

d.   in    infancy                                  "  " 

Homer  Hawley  (see  Hawley)  "  " 


Ch.  SHenry  Nichols  and  Elizabeth  Sharp 
6  Arthur  Nichols  m.     Belle   Cause 


6  Emma 
6  Fred 
6  *Alice 
6  *Fanny 
6  Lizzie 
6  Susan 
6  *Tames 
6  *"Willie 
6  *Anna 
6  *Margie 


Charles   M.  Clark 
Elizabeth  Jellay 
Benjamin  Barber 

Rev.  Alvin  Weaver 
James  A.  Turner 


Huestis    Beers 
Charles   Dirrim 


Ch.  Arthur  Nichols  and  Belle  Canse 


Orland,  Ind. 
«  << 

Friend,  Nebr. 
La  Grange,  Ind. 


Jonesboro,      " 
Fenton,  Mich. 


Orland,    Ind. 


m.     Earl  Faulk 
Herbert  Faulk 


7  Clara 

Their  Ch. 

7  Ray  Nichols 

7  Mabel 

7  Ralph 

7  Julia 

7  Martha  Alice 

7  Mary 

7  Ch.  Fred  Nichols  and  Elizabeth  Jellay 

7  Walter  Nichols 

7  Margie  " 

7  Harry 


La  Grange,  Ind. 
Orland,      Ind. 


106 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Jonesboro,  Ind. 


Ch.  Lizzie  Nichols  and  Rev.  Alvin  Weaver 

7  *Charles    C.    Weaver 
7  Martha 

Ch.  Susan  Nichols  and  James  A.  Turner  Fenton,  Mich. 

7  Fanny   Nichols  Turner  "  " 

7  Stanley   Raymond 
7  James    Donald 
7  Anna   Louise 

Ch.  Anna  Nichols  and  Huestis  Beers 

7  Bruce       Beers 
7  Henry 
7  Homer 

Ch. Margie  Nichols  and  Charles  Dirrim  "  " 

7  William  Dirrim 

Ch.  SJames  Nichols  and  Isabelle  Starkweather  Hartford,  Conn. 

accidentally  shot  in  boyhood 
1.     Harry   A.    Smith  " 


La  Grange,  Ind. 


6  James   Loomis   Nichols 
6  Helen  C. 


Their  Ch. 

7  James  Nichols 
7  Harriet  Helen 

5  Beach  Nichols 
Their  Ch. 

6  Harriet 

6  James  Beach 
Their  Ch. 

7  Helen  Rachel 
7  Bessie    Louise 


Smith 


Nichols 


Nichols 


m.    Adelia  Fairchild 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Dr.  Henry  Nichols  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Bessie  Louise  Dickinson      Roxbury,      " 


Ch.  4Drusus  Nichols  and  Rebecca  B.  Graves 
5  *Charles   Graves  Nichols     m.     Ella    Burnell 
Their   Ch. 

Nichols  " 


Newtown,  Conn. 
<<  <( 

Sherman,  Conn. 
English    Prairie,    Ind. 


6  *Drusus   Burnell 
6  Mary 

6  Charles   Stuart 
6  Samuel    Burnell 
6  *Frank  Morse 
6  *Gunther  C. 


Jane   Louise   Shipman 


"      m.     Mary  A.  Samson 
"        "      Rachel  May  Kenyon 
"        "     Grace  Pauline  Tryall 

Ch.  Drusus  B.  Nichols  and  Jane  Louise  Shipman 

7  James    Howe  Nicholsm.     Edith    French 

7  Drusus  Holbrook  "        "      Irene   Anna   Whiting 

7  Marion    Williams  "        "     Chas.  H.  Evenson 

Ch.  Frank  Morse  Nichols  and  Rachel  May  Kenyon 

7  Charles  Kenyon        " 
7  Frank  Morse,  Jr.,      " 

Ch.  Gunther  C.  Nichols  and  Grace  Pauline  Tryall 

7  Margaret  Ellen  " 

Ch.  Marion  W.  Nichols  and  Chas.  H.  Evenson 


Homer,  N.  Y. 

Lima,  Ind. 

La  Grange,  Ind. 

Chicago,  111. 

Baker,  Oregon 
Duluth,  Minn. 
Baker,  Oregon 

Lima,        Ind. 


La  Grange,  Ind. 
«  <i 

Baker,  Oregon 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


107 


8  Eleanor  Nichols   Evenson 

Ch.  4Philo  Nichols  and   Melinda  Carr 


5  Lucy  Alice   Nichols 
Their  Ch. 

6  Mary  Nichols  Talmage 
Ch.  IPeter  Nichols 


m.    Joseph  W.  Talmage 


2  Theophilus  Nichols 

m. 

Lucinda  Noble 

2  Peter 

m. 

Polly  Blackman 

2  Hester 

m. 

William  Edwards 

2  Margery            " 

m. 

David  Griffin 

2  Sally 

unm. 

2  Simeon               " 

m. 

Anna  Curtis 

2  John    B. 

m. 

Harriet  Fairchild 

Ch.  Theophilus  Nichols 

and  Lucinda  Noble 

3  *Charlotte  Nichols 

unm. 

3  *William  N.      " 

m. 

Belle  Blackman 

3  *Ann 

d.  young 

3  *Frances            " 

m. 

Rev.  George  Rumney 

3  *Henry  T. 

m. 

Abigail  Skidmore 

Ch.  William  N.  Nichols  and  Belle  Blackman 

4  William  T.  Nichols  m.    Helen  Hull 

4  Henry  D. 

Ch.  3Henry  T.  Nichols  and  Abigail  Skidmore 

Nichols        m 


4  Dr.  Henry  S. 

4  Philo  Hurd 

4  Stella  L. 

4  Jessie  A. 

4  Walter  Monroe 

4  Arthur 


Harriet  Nichols 

unm. 
m.    Frederick  Hall 

d.  young 
m.     Eva  Birdsall 

d.  young 


Ch.  Dr.  Henry  S.  Nichols  and  Harriet  Nichols 

5  Jessie  Nichols  m.    William  Gilbert 
Their  ch. 

6  Margery  Nichols  Gilbert 
6  Janet   Nichols  " 

Ch.  Stella  Nichols  and  Frederick  Hall 

5  Pauline  Nichols  Hall 
5  *Harold  Hatch      " 
5  Ruth  Skidmore      " 

Ch.  Walter  M.  Nichols  and  Eva  Birdsall 

5  Hazel  Nichols 

Ch.  2Peter  Nichols  and  Polly  Blackman 


Baker,   Oregon 
La  Grange,  Ind. 


New  Milford,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Bethel,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 

New  Haven,  Conn. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 


New  Haven,  Conn. 
New  Haven,  Conn. 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 


3  *Harriet    Nichols 
3  *Charles   B.       " 
3  *Julia  Ann         " 


m.     Smith  Botsford(no  ch.)  Huntington,  Conn, 
m.     Mary  Botsford  (no  ch.)     Newtown,  Conn, 
unm.  " 


Ch.  2Margery  Nichols  and  David  W.  Griffen 
3  ♦John   Griffin  m.    Julia  Summers 

Their  ch. 


108  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

4  *George  Griffin                        m.     Isabel  Gilbert  Shelton,  Conn. 
4  Bruce  N.      "                             m.     1st   *Annie   Hinman 

2nd  Ida  Uaulley 

4  Sarah  "  m.     Marshall  Sears 

5  Clarence  Sears,  their  ch. 

Ch.  Bruce  Griffin  and  Ida  Dawley  Shelton,  Conn. 

5  Clarence  Griffin  "  " 
5  John  C.              " 

2  Ch.  Simeon  Nichols  and  Anna  Curtis  Newtown,  Conn. 

3  Mary  Alice   Nichols  m.     Dr.  Alfred  Starr  (no  ch.)  Brooklyn,  Conn. 
3  George                     "  unm. 

3  Charlotte                 "                  m.     Henry  C.  Miles  Milford,  Conn. 

3  Caroline                    "                        d.  in  girlhood    ,  "                " 

Ch.  Charlotte  Nichols  and  Henry  C.  Miles 

4  Henry  C.  C.Miles  **              « 
Ch.  2John  B.  Nichols  and  Harriet  Fairchild  Newtown,  Conn. 

3  Catharine  Nichols  m.     Charles  Bouton  (no  ch.)         Bethel,  Conn. 

3  George  H.          "                        m.     Elizabeth  Gunn  "              " 

3  John  F.              "                       m.     Kate  M.  Schoonmaker  "              " 

Ch.  George  H.  Nichols  and  Elizabeth  Gunn  "             " 

4  George  C.  Nichols  "  *' 
4  Julia  E.  "  "  " 
4  ♦Alary                 "  «              « 

Ch.  John  F.  Nichols  and  Kate  M.  Schoonmaker  "             " 

4  S.  Alice  Nichols  "             " 

4  John  L.          "  « 

4  Kate  S.          "  "             « 

4  Chas.  B.          "  " 

4  Grace              "  "              " 

Gr.  Ch.  George  H.  Nichols  and  Elizabeth  Gunn  "              " 

5  Louise     Steck       Nichols  Bethel,  Conn. 
5  Mary                              "  "              " 

5  George  Richard         "  "             « 

5  Philip                           "  " 


NORTHROP 

1  Jospeh  Northrop  first  Northrop   settler   in    Milford  about    1640, 
m.  Mary  Norton. 

2  Jeremiah  their  son  b.  1654  m.  Phoebe 

Their  two  sons  first  of  the  name  in  Newtown  had  home  lots  assigned  to 

them  in  1712.  Newtown,  Conn. 

3  Lieut.  John  Northrop            m.      Mary  Porter  " 

3  Benjamin              "                     "      Sarah  Piatt  " 

Ch.  3Lieut.  John  Northrop  and  Mary  Porter  " 

4  Jonathan  Northrop                m.     Ruth  Booth  " 
4  Ruth                     "                         "       Peter  Ferris  " 
4  Mary                         "                   "       Daniel  Sherman 
4  John  Jr.                   "                  "      Lois  Northrop  " 

Lieut.  John  and  John  Jr.  held  the  office  of  Town  Clerk  for  25  years. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


10^ 


Of  the  ten  ch.  of  John  Jr.  and  Lois  Northrop 
Peter  Northrop  m.     Lucy  Sherman 


Mary 

Amy 

John 


Newtown,  Conn. 
Solomon  Glover  (Sec  Glover)    "  " 

John  Sanford  (See  Sanford)      "  " 

Nabby   Baldwin  "  " 


Ch.   Peter   Northrop   annd   Lucy   Sherman 

Walter  Northrop  m.  1st  Rebecca  Northrop 

"  2nd  Sally  Piatt 

"  3rd  Mrs.  Volucia  Botsford 

"  4th  Mrs.  Emily  L.  Hoyt 

Norman  "  "  Eliza  Sellcck 

Ch.  Walter  Northrop  and  Rebecca  Northrop 

m 


♦Charles    Northrop 
♦Norman  " 


Sophia  Amelia  Banks 
d.  in  infancy 


Ch.  Walter  Northrop  and  Sally  Piatt 

m 


♦Walter  Northrop,  Jr. 
*Norman2  " 

♦William  N.      " 
♦Jerome  " 


Emily  Botsford 
Julia    Sanford 
Julia  Lamberton 
Sarah  Stuart 


Ch.  Walter  Northrop  and  Emily  Botsford 


8  Sarah  Eliza   Northrop  m. 

8  ♦Annie  Belle  "  m. 

8  ♦Emeline  A.  "  " 


Birdsey  Glover  (See  Glover)      " 
Orrin  B.  Smith  Bethel, 

William  Rowcll  Newtown, 


Conn. 
Conn. 


Ch.  Norman  Northrop  and  Julia  Sanford 

m 


Sarah   Maria  Northrop 
♦Charles   Wm.  " 

Maud  A.  Northrop 
Julia  Loretta      " 

♦Charles  Henry  Northrop 
John  J. 
Mary  Hattie 

♦Mary  Grace  Northrop 
Eleanor  Louise       " 
Nelson  William      " 

John  Arthur  Northrop 
Cora 

♦Nellie  L.  Northrop 
Sarah  Frances  " 


Walter  Glover  (See  Glover) 
Alice  Kewes 


Sarah   Frances  Northrop 
Ch.  John  Northrop  and  Nabby  Baldwin 

m 


Alice  Kewes 
ch.  & 

Charles  W.  Northrop 

Julia    Lamberton 
ch.  & 

Wm.    N.    Northrop 

Mary  Grace  Hammond 
ch.  & 

Charles  H.  Northrop 

Hazel  Pierce 
ch.  & 

John  J.  Northrop 

Sarah  Stuart 
ch.  & 

Jerome  Northrop 

m.    John   Schermerhorn 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn- 


Nancy  Northrop 
Alonzo  " 

Nelson  " 

David 

Benjamin    Northrop 

Of  their  eleven  ch. 

Benjamin  Northrop  Jr. 
Nathaniel  " 


Capt.  Oliver  Northrop 
Mary  Ann    Skidmore 
Mrs.  Abigail  Walker 
Sarah  Emily  Johnson 

Sarah  Piatt 


Sarah  Prindle 
1st  Esther  Gould 
2nd  Rebecca 


no 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Ch.  4Nathaniel  Northrop  and  Esther  Gould 


5  Grace  Northrop 

5  Samuel 

5  Jerusha  " 


m.    William  Birch  Newtown,  Conn. 

"      Clarissa    Johnson  " 

"      Jacob  Johnson  (See  Johnson)  "  " 


Ch.  Samuel  Northrop  and  Clarissa  Johnson 

m 


6  Rcbecc^i  Northrop 
6  Isaac  " 


Walter   Northrop 

Went  to  Wilmington  N.  C. 


Ch.  4Benjamin  Northrop  and  Sarah  Prindle 


5  Alanson  Northrop 
Their  ch. 

6  Oliver  Northrop 
6  Cyrenius         " 

6  Lvdia  Ann     " 
6  Elizur 


m.     Lydia  Hull 


Nanny    Northrop 
Phoebe  Ann  Parmelee 
Timothy  Benedict 
1st  Charlotte  Johnson 
2nd  Delia  Sherwood 


Ch.  Oliver  Northrop  and  Nanny  Northrop 


7  Heman  Northrop 
7  Horatio  " 

7  Hosea  " 


m.     Fanny  Dimon 
"      Louisa    French 
"      Juliette  Fairchild 


Ch.  Heman  Northrop  and  Fanny  Dimon 

m. 


8  *Annie  Eliza  Northrop 
8  *Lucy  Amelia  " 

8  George  Wilbur       " 

Their  ch. 

9  Raymond   G.  Northrop 
9  *Roland  D. 

9  Mabel   F. 


10  Francis  T. 


m. 
m. 

ch. 


Francis  W.  Piatt 

unm. 

Frances  E.  Merrill 


Caroline  Tucker 
John  Gilbert 

Caroline  Tucker 

& 
Roland  Northrop 


Waterbury, 
Newtown, 


Conn. 
Conn. 


Ch.  Horatio  Northrop  and  Lniiisa  French 

m 


8  Ella  Louise  Northrop 

8  *01iver 

8  Turney  " 


9  Edith  Hazel  Northrop         ch. 


9  Moses  Stanley  Northrop 
9  Elliot  Sherwood       " 


ch. 


Laqra  Skidmore  (no  ch.) 
Mary  Elizabeth  Mallett 
Novella  Thorp 

Mary  E.  Mallett 

& 
Oliver  Northrop 

Novella  Thorp 

& 
Turney  Northrop 


Easton,  Conn. 


Ch.  Hosea  Northrop  and  Juliette  Fairchild 

m. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


8  Caroline  E.  Northrop 

8  Annie  C.  " 

9  *JuIiette  F.  Sanford 
9  Eva   L. 


ch. 


10  Albert  Sanford  Boyson       ch. 


Frederick    C.    Sanford 
Arthur  Wilson 

Caroline   E.  Northrop 

& 
Frederick  C.  Sanford 

Eva  L.  Sanford 

& 
Albert   Boyson 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


111 


9  Annie  Caroline  Wilson 
9  Mildred 


Annie  C.  Northrop 
ch.  & 

Arthur  Wilson 


Ch.  Cyrenius  Northrop  and  Phcbc  Ann  Parmelee 


7  *Mary  Elizabeth  Northrop 
7  *Horace  "  m. 

7  *Lydia  Ann  "  " 

8  *Mary  Elizabeth  Northrop 
8  Emma  Jane  " 

8  Lydia  Augusta  "  ch. 

8  Clara  Louise  " 

8  William  Nichols 


d.  unm. 

Sylvia   Nichols 

Homer  Dikcman  (no  ch.) 

Sylvia  Nichols 

& 
Horace  Northrop 


Ch.  Elizur  Northrop  and  Charlotte  Johnson 

m 


7  Juliette  Northrop 
7  Emily  " 

7  Harriet  " 

7  Charlotte  " 

Ch.  Elizur  Northrop 

7  John  Northrop 

7  Phcbe  Ann  Northrop 


& 
m. 


Dr.  Wm.  H.  Bronson 

Jerome  Botsford  (See  Botsford) 

Dr.  Oliver  .M.  Allen 

Hiram  Pulling 

Delia  Sherwood  2nd  wife 

Mary  Tomlinson 
Prosper    Beach 


PARMELEE 

Stephen  Parmelee  was  born  in  Guilford,  Conn.,  in  1699,  and  moved  to 
Newtown  early  in  1700. 

1  Stephen  Parmelee 

2  Nathaniel  b.  1694 


m.  Elizabeth   Baldwin 

"  Althea  Whitmore 

Their  Ch. 

3  Rufus  Parmelee  "  Diama  Bundy  no  ch. 

3  Olive  "  "  Burr   Turney 

3  Levi  "  "  Polly  Beers 

3  Hiram  "  "  Betsey   Wintoii 

3  Eloise  "  "  Bradley    Hull 

3  Hermon  *  m.  1st  Polly  Fairweather 

"  2nd  Polly  Peck 

3  Polly  Ann  "  "  David  Corning 

Ch.  Levi  Parmelee  and  Polly  Beers 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


4  *Julia  Ann 
4  *Grandison 
4  *George 

4  *Theodore 

4  *Fanny 

Ch.  Julia  A. 

5  *Edwin 

5  *:^Iary 
5  *Rufus 
5  *Louise 
5  Alfred 


Parmelee 


Charles    Short  Derby,    Conn. 

Phebe  Lattin  no  ch.  Newtown,  Conn. 

1st  Rebecca  Benedict  no  ch.     "  " 

2nd  Ada  Summers  no  ch.  "  " 

1st  Margaret  Morehouse  no  ch.  '  ' 

2nd  Lydia   Patterson   no  ch. 
George  French 


Parmelee  and  Charles  Short 


Short 


1st  Augusta  Blackmail  Bethel,  Conn. 

2nd  Mary  Blackman  (see  Blackman)     " 
d.  unm.  Bethel,  Conn. 

Susan    Blackman  "  " 

Robert    Brown 

1st  Sarah  Warner  Plymouth,  Conn. 

2nd  Sarah  Wilson  no  ch. 
3rd  Sarah  Whitaker  no  ch 


112  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

5  Emily  Short  m.  Robert  Dauchy  Bethel,  Conn. 

5  *Levi  "  "  Emily   Durant  "            " 

5  Arietta  "  "  George    Welch  Meriden,    Conn. 

5  Charles  "  "  Irene  Ferry 

Ch.  Rufus  Short  and  Susan  Blackman 

6  Julia  Short  m.     Theodore  M.  Ferry 

6  Bennett  "  "      Laura  Kyle 

Ch.  Julia  Short  and  Theodore  Ferry 

7  Royal  Ferry 
7  Harold 

7  Leonard  " 

7  Ruth 

Ch.  Bennett  Short  and  Laura  Kyle 

7  Rufus  Short 

7  Julia 

7  Helen 

7  Samuel  " 

7  Bennett  " 

Ch.  Louise  Short  and  Robert  Brown 

6  Robert  Brown 

6  Alfred  W.  "  m.     Hattie  Haugh 

Their  Ch. 

7  Leon  Brown 
7  Edward 

Sarah  Warner 
6  *Jessie  Short  Ch.  & 

Alfred  Short 

Ch.  Emily  Short  and  Robert  Dauchy  Bethel,  Conn. 

6  Samuel  E.  Dauchy  m.     Sophia  Comstock  Westfield,  N.  J. 

6  William  O.  "  "      Emma   Foulds  Stamford.  Conn 

Sophia  Comstock 
Catherine  S.  "  ch.  & 

Samuel  E.  Dauchy 

Emma  Foulds 

7  Leila  G.  Dauchy  ch.  & 

William  O.  Dauchy 

Emily  Durant 
6  Frank  Short  ch.  ^        & 

Levi  Short 

Ch.  Arietta  Short  and  George  Welch  Meriden.  Conn. 

6  George  Welch 

6  *Gertrude  "  d.  in  young  womanhood  "  ' 

Ch.  Charles  Short  and  Irene  Ferry  Bethel,      * 

6  Mabel  Short  m.     George  A.  Osborne 

6  Susie  "  "     James  G.  Matthews 

6  Charles  •*  "     Ruth  K.  Hamm 

Ch.  Mabel  Short  and  George  A.  Osborne 

7  Marion   Irene  Osborn 
7  Elizabeth    Grace  " 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  113 

Ch.  Susie  Short  and  James  G.  Matthews 

7  James  Gordon      Matthews 
7  Susie  Gay  " 

7  Jean   Short  " 

3  ch.  Hiram  Parmclee  and  Betsey  Winton  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  John  Parmclee  m.     Mary  B.  Sherman  "  " 

5  David  "  their  ch. 

3  Ch.  Hermon  Parmclee  and  Polly  Fairweather  "  " 

4  Peter  Parmclee  m.     Abba  J.  Leavenworth  no  ch.     **  " 

Ch.  Hermon  Parmelee  and  Polly  Peck 

4  Marietta  Parmelee  m.  Abram  J.  Whitney  Bethel,  Conn. 

4  Sarah  .             "  "  Jerome   Green                                    "            " 

4  *Angeline                    "  "  Chas   Hubbell  Stepney,       " 

4  Emma                          "  "  Chas  Barnum  Norwalk,      " 


PECK 

IJoseph  Peck  and  2Joseph  resided  in  Milford  having  removed  there  from 
New  Haven  in  1649. 

Of    the    many    children  of  2Joseph    only    3Joseph,    3Ephraim    and    3Heth 
came  to  Newtown. 

The  name  of  3Joseph  appears  as  Town  Clerk  on  many  of  the  early  records. 

3  Joseph     Peck  m.    Abigail  Baldwin                   Newtown,  Conn. 

3  Ephraim     "  m.     Sarah  Ford                                      "               " 

3  Heth           "  m.     Hannah  Camp                                "               " 

Ch.  of  3Joseph 

4  Joseph  Peck  m.  Rebecca  Shepard  "  " 
4  Moses  "  m.  Elizabeth  Baldwin  "  " 
4  John                "  m.     Bethiah  Booth 

Ch.  of  3Ephraim 

4  Henry        Peck  m.     1st  Ann  Smith                                 "               " 

2nd  Hannah  Leavenworth 

4  Ephraim         "  m.     Sarah  Porter 

4  Gideon            "  m.    Abiah  Smith 

4  Ebenezer       "  m.     Sarah   Booth 

Ch.  of  3Heth 

4  Heth        Peck  m.     Mary  Skidmore                    Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Samuel        "  m.     Sarah  Skidmore                            "               " 

4  Amos          "  m.     Sarah    Lobdell                              "               " 

Ch.  of  4Joseph 

5  Violet  Peck  m.  Job  Northrop  "  •* 
5  Grace  "  m.  Jotham  Sherman,  1st  wife  "  " 
5  John          "  m.     Emily  Burritt                                  "               " 

5  David       "  m.     Mary  Stilson                                  "               "■ 

Ch.  of  SDavid 

6  David  Peck  m.     Prudence  Glover 
Ch.  of  6David 


114  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

7  Dillison  Peck  m.     Sarah  Ann  Crofut 
Their  ch. 

8  Augustus  Peck  m.     Louise  Gillette  Newtown,  Conn 

8  Eliza    Jane       "  m.     George  Botsford 

Ch.  Augustus  Peck  and  Louisa  Gillette 

9  Ella        Peck  m.     Cornelius  B.  Taylor 

9  Bertha      "  m.    Carlos  Stilson   (no  ch.) 

Ch.  Ella  Peck  and  Cornelius  Taylor 

10  Mabel  Taylor  m.     Frederick  Duncombe 
10*Jessie        "  m.     Leonard  M.  Johnson 

Ch.  Mabel  Taylor  and  Frederick  Duncombe 

11  Frederick  Taylor  Duncombe 
11  Raynor  Lockwood  " 

Ch.  *Jessie  Taylor  and  Leonard  M.  Johnson  "  " 

llByron  Taylor  Johnson 

Ch.  SEliza  J.  Peck  and  George  Botsford 
9  Mary  Botsford  m.     Hobart  Fairchild  (See  Fairchild) 

Ch.  4Moses,  son  of  3Joseph 

5  Enos  Peck  m.  Sibyl  Griffen                          Newtown,  Conn. 

5  Dan       "  m.  Hannah  Peck 

Son  of  4Henry 

5  Zalmon  Peck  m.  Zilpha  Hard,   1st 


Mrs.  Sarah  Booth,  2nd 


Their  ch. 


6  Zerah  S.  Peck  m.     Clara  Smith  Brookfield,  Conn. 

6  Ezekiel        "  m.     Sarah  Ann  Johnson,  1st     Newtown,  Conn. 

Betsey  Briscoe,  2nd 

Ch.  Zerah  S.  Peck  and  Clara  Smith 

7  Ralph  B.  Peck  m.  Caroline  Merwin  Brookfield,  Conn. 
7  Harriet  "  m.  Wm.  B.  Glover  Newtown,  Conn. 
7  Sophia          "                             m.     John  Cornwall                    Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Ch.  6Ezekiel.  son  of  SZalmon 

7  Zilpha  Peck  m.     Alva  B.  Beecher  Newtown.  Conn. 

7  Zalmon  Peck  m      Polly  Lum  Newtown,  Conn. 

Served  as  postmaster  26  years. 

Their  ch. 

8  Henry  S.  Peck  m.     Isabella  Barton  Waterbury,  Conn 

Served  in  civil  war. 
8  Austin  L.  Peck  m.     Susan  Root  Hartford,  Conn. 

Served  in  Civil  War. 

8  Mary  Frances  Peck  m.     *Col.  R.  Cheves  Macon,  Ga. 

Served  in  Civil  War. 

_  _,  n     ,  Isabella  Barton 

9  Florence  Peck  ^^j.^  ^ 

9  Burton        "  "    ^enry  S.  Peck 

9  Edward  A.   Peck  Susan  Root 

9  Harry  H.  "  ch.  & 

9  Theodore         "  Austin   L.   Peck 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


115 


Ch.  of  4Ephraiin 

5  Nathan  Peck 
5  Levirus       " 
5  Isaac  " 


m.     Hulda  Fabrique 
m.     Anna   Wheeler 
m.     Lucy   Ferris 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  4Gideon,  son  of  3Ephraim 


5  Oliver      Peck 
5  Gideon        " 
5  Ahner  " 

Ch.  4Ebenezer 

5  Eunice    Peck 

|5  James 

Ch.  of  4Heth 
5  Einathan    " 


m.     Lucy   Sickles 
m.     Betsey  Briscoe 
m.    Jane  Botsford 


m.     Philo  Blackman.  Brookfield,  Conn. 

(See  Blackman) 
m.    Sarah  Coburn  Newtown,  Conn, 

dau.  d.  in  young  womanhood 


m.    Jerusha   Blackman,   1st 

Sarah   Beers   Merwin,  2nd 


Ch.  4Samuel,  son  of  3Heth. 

5  Isaac     Peck 
5  Annis  " 

S  Clarissa       " 
5  David 

5  Joanna        " 
Ch.  SDavid 

6  Simeon  B.  Peck 


m.  Aurelia  Botsford  "  " 

m.  Richard  Botsford  (See  Botsford  " 

m.  Benjamin  C.  Glover   (See  Glover)  " 

m.  Rebecca   Beers,  1st  Newtown,  Conn, 

m.  Mrs.  Harriet  Booth,  2nd  "  " 

m.  Gould  Curtis   (See  Curtis)        "  " 


Caroline  Curtis,  1st 
Elizabeth  Curtis  Peck,  2nd 


7  *Abner 
7  *Henry 
7  David  Curtis 


7  Charles  Gould 


Peck 


ch. 


ch. 


Caroline  Curtis 

& 
Simeon  B.  Peck 

Elizabeth  Curtis  Peck 

& 
Simeon  B.  Peck 


Montgomery,  Ala. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Montgomery,  Ala. 
Savannah,  Ga. 


Ch.  Abner  Peck  and  Mary  Smith,  1st  wife 
8  Caroline  Rebecca  Peck        m.    Charles  F.  Ashurst 

Ch.  Abner  Peck  and  Sarah  E.  C.  Thompson,  2nd  wife 
8  Clara  Pauline  Peck  m.    Chester  Curtis  (no  ch.) 

8  William  Dingley  Peck  m.     Eugenia  Dillard,  1st         Montgomery,  Ala 

8  Charlotte  Curtis  " 

Ch.  Caroline  R.  Peck  and  Chas.  F.  .A.shurst 


m.     Eugenia  Dillard,  1st 

Mrs.  Edson,  2nd 
m.    A.  L.  Greene,  (no  ch.)  Atlanta,  Ga. 


9  Tulia  Ashurst 

9  Mable 

9  *Charles  Curtis  Ashurst 


m.     F.    M.  Oliver 
m.     R.  B.  Flinn 


10  Joseph  McDonald  Oliver       Julia  Ashurst 
10  Frances  Whitington     "       ch.  & 

10  Caroline   Louise  *  F.  M.  Oliver 


Savannah,  Ga. 
Savannah.  Ga. 


116 

10  William  Flinn 


9  Emily  Peck 

9  Weenona        " 


9  Margaret 


8  *Ada     Peck 
8  *Cora       " 


Ch.  5Dan,  son  4Moses 

6  Marcia     Peck 
6  Charles         " 
6  Hezekiah     " 
6  Hermon 
6  Lorin  " 


7  *Charles  Flenry  Peck 

*Lewis  Henry  Peck 
Drowned  in  Housatonic  river 

Arthur  Treat  Nettleton 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

Mable  Ashurst 
ch.  & 

R.  B.  Flinn 

Eugenia  Dillard  1st  wife 
ch.  & 

William  Dingley  Peck 

Airs.  Edson,  2nd  wife 
ch.  & 

William  Dingley  Peck 

Helen  Booth,  1st  wife 
ch.  & 

David  C.  Peck 

Agnes  Booth,  2nd  wife 


unm. 
m.     Freelove  Nash 
"       Maria  W.  Hubbell 
"      Maria  Hawley 
"      Jane    Ann    Lawrence 

Freelove   Nash 
ch.  & 

Charles    Peck 

m.     Hannah    D.    Fairchild 
Adopted  by 
Hannah  D.  Fairchild 

& 
Adopted  by 
Charles  H.  Peck 


New  York  ,N.  Y. 
Montgomery,  Ala. 


7  John  Howard  Peck 


m.     *Jennie  Morris 
ch. 


Maria  W.  Hubbell 

& 
Hezekiah  Peck 


John  Howard  Peck  m.     Amie  Burr 

Ch.  Hermon  Peck  and  Maria  Hawley 


7  *Svlvia  Peck 

7  *Elizabeth 

7  *Edward  " 

7  Hermon  H. 

8  *Frank  Clark 


8  *Edward,   infant   son 
8  Annie  Morris 


8  Sylvia  Marion  Peck 

7  Arthur  L.  Peck 
7  Edward      " 


8  Edith        Peck 
8  *Arthur,  Jr.     " 


m.     Edward  T.  Clark 
"      James  Ashman  Morris 

Died  at   18  years, 
m.     Emma  French 

Sylvia  Peck 
ch.  & 

Edward  T.  Clark 

Elizabeth   Peck 
ch.  & 

James  A.  Morris 

Emma  French 
ch.  & 

Hermon  H.  Peck 

Jane   Ann    Lawrence 
ch.  & 

Lorrin  Peck 

Cornelia   Lamberton 
ch.  & 

Arthur  L.  Peck 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Brookfield,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 

Newtown,  Conn. 

Bridgeport       " 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Bridgeport,        " 
Newtown,  Conn. 


G  Robert    S.    Peck 

7  Ch.  Charlotte  " 

Their  Ch. 

8  Edith   Barnum 

8  Robt.  G. 

Their  Ch. 

9  Russel  Peck  Barnum 
9  Robert  G.  Jr.     " 

9  Donald  Curtis     " 


m.  Mary  Lake 
"  Eli  C.  Barnum 


m.  Myrta  Russell 


Orange,  N.  J. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  117 

9  Ethel  May        Peck  Bertha  Mead  Newtown,  Conn. 

9  Harold  Arthur     "  ch.  & 

9  Evelyn  Marion     "  Arthur  Peck,  Jr.  "  " 

8  Ada  Marsh  Peck  Stella  Judd  Brookfield,  Conn 

8  Alice  Judd     "  ch.  & 

8  George  "  Edward   Peck  "  " 

Ada   Marsh   Peck  "  " 

9  George  Hatch  ch.  & 

George  Hatch  *  • 

Alice  Judd  Peck  "  " 

9  Edward  Burr  ch.  & 

Willis  Burr  ••  •• 

9  Dorothy     Peck 

9  Alice  "  Miriam  Smith  "  *♦ 

9  George  "  ch.  & 

9  Miriam  "  George  Peck  "  *• 

9  Marguerite    " 

Ch.  SAbner,  son  4Gideon 

6  George  C.     Peck  m.     Ann  Tomlinson 

6  Jane  Ann     "  "       Daniel  Lewis  Booth  (See  Booth) 

Ch.  George  C.  Peck  and  Ann  Tomlinson  Newtown,  Conn. 

7  John  F.  Peck  served  in  Civil  War;  was  2nd  Lieut.;  promoted  to  1st  Lieut. 
Captured  June  24,  1863. 

7  *Lieut.  John  F.  Peck  m.    Nellie  Ackley 

7  *Gideon  "  unm. 

7  Homer  A.  "  "       Mary  Ann  Tuthill 

7  Cornelius  "  "      Mary   Brown    (no   ch.) 

7  Abbie  L.  "  unm.    Librarian  for  many  years  of  Beach 

Memorial  Library. 
7  Harriet  M.  "  unm. 


8  Ira  J. 


Nellie    Ackley 
ch.  & 


8  Myra  Ackley  "  •    Lieut.  John  F.  Peck 

"  "  "  m.     John  Curtis  Medcalf 

o  /-  A  T71-   4.  TD«  1  Mary  Ann  Tuthill 

8  George  Anna  Eliot  Peck        ,  & 

8  Louise  H.  "  '    Homer  A.  Peck 

Louise  H.  Peck 

9  Elizabeth  Eliot  Higby  ch.  & 

Edward  J.  Higby 

Ch.  SIsaac  Peck,  son  of  4Samuel 

6  Tabez  Botsford   Peck  m.     Henrietta  Jarvis  Newtown.  Conn. 

Charles  Beers  (See  Beers)  " 

1st  Abigail  Booth  (no  ch.) 
2nd  Mary  Lake  (see  Lake)         " 
3rd  Elizabeth  Curtis  (See  CurMs> 

George  Beers  (See  Beers)Xewtown.  Conn. 


6  Harriet 
6  Robert  C. 


6  Sarah  E. 

Ch.  6Jabez  Botsford  Peck  and  Henrietta  Jarvis 

7  *Charles  A.  Peck  m.     Mary  E.  Oliver  Brooklyn.  N.  V. 
7  *Elizabeth  J.    "                         "      Samuel   J.   Pinckney 

7  ♦'Mbert  W.        "  "      Louise   Booth  Newtown.  Conn. 

7  *Nelson  J  "  d-  J"  service  of  his  country  in  Civil  War. 


118 

8  Charles  B.  Peck 
8  *William   J.      " 
8  Mary  E. 

8  *Henry  W.  Pinckney 
8  Jennie  E.  " 

8  *Elizabeth  T.     " 

8  Robert  N.  Peck 
8  Dr.  Charles  H.  Peck 
8  Grace  L. 
8  Albert  W.  Jr.     " 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Mary  E.  Oliver 
ch.  & 

Charles  A.  Peck 

Elizabeth  J.  Peck 
ch.  & 

Samuel  J.  Pinckney 


Brooklyn.  N.  Y. 


Bridgeport.  Conn.  ' 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Louisa  W.  Booth 
ch.  & 

Capt.  Albert  W.  Peck 

With  Mackay  Unit  of  Roosevelt  Hospital 

in  France. 

Capt.  Peck  enlisted  as  private  in  Co.  D,  17th  Conn.  V.  I.,  July  1862.  Was 
soon  made  Sergeant;  was  next  made  2nd  Lieut,  and  after  the  battle  of 
Chancellorsville  was  promoted  to  be  1st  Lieut.  His  next  promotion  was 
June  29,  1865  when  he  became  Captain.  He  is  now,  March  1918,  proud  of 
the  fact  that  two  of  his  sons  and  one  grandson  are  doing  great  things  in 
France  for  their  country  and  the  Allies  against  Germany.  He  died  at 
Port  Chester,  N.  Y.  April,  1918. 


9  Eugene  Curtis  Peck 
9  Louise  " 

9    Margaret  " 


Helen  Curtis 
ch.  & 

Robert  N.  Peck 


New  Britain,  Conn. 


9  ♦Charles  Howard  Peck.Jr.  Betsey  Chaffee 

9  Nelson    Chaffee  "  ch.  & 

9  Dexter  "  Dr.  Charles  H.  Peck 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Peck,  as  Director  of  the  Mackay  Unit  of  the  Roosevelt 
Hospital  of  New  York  City,  comprising  a  large  company  of  Surgeons,  Phy- 
sicians and  Nurses,  sailed  July  2,  1917  for  France  to  establish  a  Base  Hos- 
pital close  to  the  American  Headquarters  in  France.  His  oldest  son, 
Charles  Howard  Peck,  Jr.  and  his  younger  brother,  Albert  W.  Peck,  Jr., 
Capt.  Albert  Peck's  youngest  son,  accompanied  him.  Since  his  arrival  in 
France,  Dr.  Charles  H.  Peck  has  been  appointed  Asst.  General  Director  of 
Surgery  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France.  Newtown  feels 
honored  by  the  honor  so  worthily  bestowed  upon  him.  Charles  Howard  Jr. 
d.  in  hospital  in  France,  March,  1918. 

Dr.  Peck  was  commissioned  Lieut.  Col.  while  in  France.  Since  returning 
to  U.  S.  he  received,  August  24th  1918,  his  commission  as  Colonel. 


9  *Eugenia  Minor 

9  Ralph 

9  Marion  " 

Ch.  SIsaac,  son  4Eph. 

6  *Polly  Ann  Peck 
6  *Fanny  " 

6  *Lucy 
6  *Levi  " 


7  ♦Cornelia  Peck 


8  Anna  Cornelia  Judson 

8  Anna   Cornelia   Judson 
Ch.  SLevirus,  son  4Eph. 

6  Thomas   W.    Peck 
6  Polly 
6  Richard 


Grace  L.  Peck 
ch.  & 

James  Minor 


m.  Ebenezer    Griffen 

m.  David   Blackman 

m.  Gershom    Dimon 

m.  Marcia    Beers 

Marcia  Beers 
ch.  & 

Levi   Peck 

Cornelia  Peck 
ch.  & 

John  Judson 

m.     Henry  Tucker 


m.     Sarah  Ann  Toucey 
m.     Jeremiah  Beers   (See  Beers) 
unm. 


Port  Chester,  N.  Y. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Newtown.  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


119 


Ch.  6Thomas  Wheeler  Peck  and  Sarah  Ann  Toucey,  1st  wife. 

Theodosia  Coe,  2nd  wife 


7  *Fanny 
7  *Alosia 
7  ♦Richard    W 
7  *Abel  T. 
7  *John    B. 


Peck 


m.  Noah  Smith 

m.  Harley  Sanford 

m.  Sarah  Cadwelder 

m.  Huldah  Hawley 

m.  Charlotte  Colt 


Bridgewater,  Conn. 

Hillsville,  Pa. 

Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  John  B.  Peck  and  Charlotte  Colt 


8  Fanny  C.  Peck 
8  John   R. 


m. 
m. 


Levi    C.    Morris 
Fanny  Taylor 


Ch.  Fanny  C.  Peck  and  Levi  C.  Morris 


m.     Mabel  Denton 
m.     Howell  Wright 


9  Curtis  Peck  Morris 
9  Mabel 

9  Levi  Phillips      "  m.     Maylah  Hawley  Hallock  Bridgeport.Conn. 

With  American  army  in  France. 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 
Cleveland,  Ohio 


10  Curtis  Denton  Morris        ch. 


10  Edwin  Kingsbury  Wright 
10  Francis  Howell  "  ch. 

10  Morris 


Mabel   Denton 

& 
Curtis    P.    Morris 

Mabel   Morris 

& 
Howell  Wright 


Cleveland,  Ohio 


Ch.  John  R.  Peck  and  Fanny  Taylor 


9  Harley  Taylor  Peck 
9  Ethel 

9  *Richard 

9  James  " 

9  Wesley  "  m. 

10  Harley  Taylor  Peck,  Jr. 
10  John   Murray  "  ch. 
10  Katherine  Campbell  Peck 

Ch.  SJohn,  son  of  4Joseph 

6  Comfort  Peck  m. 

6  Lavinia         "  " 

6  Clara  "  " 

Ch.  SDavid,  son  of  4Joseph 

6  David      Peck  m. 

6  Hannah        "  " 

6  Daniel 

Ch.  SEnos,  son  of  4Moses 

6  Wooster  Peck  m. 

6  Esther  "  " 


m.    Augusta   Campbell 
m.     Jesse  Woodhill 

With  American  Army  in  France 

d.   in  infancy 

With  American  Army  in  France 
m.     Louise  Mary  Dubret  Newtown,  Conn. 

Augusta   Campbell 

& 
Harley  T.  Peck 


Oliver  Toucey  (See  Toucey) 

Joseph    Burritt 

John  Johnson   (See  Johnson) 

Newtown,  Conn. 

Prudence    Glover  "  " 

Chauncey    Botsford    (See    Botsford) 
Sally  Ann   Sherwood         Newtown,  Conn. 


Elizabeth  Marshall 
Rufus  Somers 


Ch.  6Wooster  Peck,  and  Elizabeth  Marshall 

7  Elizabeth         Peck 

7  Elliott    M. 

7  Henrietta    M.     " 


Frederick  Lathrop 

Ch.  Elliott  M.  Peck  and  Jane   Gray 

8  Fanny  Peck  rv..     Charles  Sherman 

8  Henry  "  "       Margaret   Reynolds 


Henry  Fairchild  (no  ch..  Newtown.  Conn. 
Jane   Gray 


8  Elliott 


1st  Cora  Booth 
2nd  Flora  Curtis 


Roxbury, 

Monroe 
Newtown, 


120 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


8  William        Peck 

8  John  Somers  " 

8  Dr.  George      " 

9  Elliott  Marshal  Peck 
9  Marion  " 

9  Dorothy  " 

9  John 


9  Jennie  Peck 
Ch 


1st  Jane  Colgan 
2nd   Dorothy  Vincent 

Minnie  B.  Hubbell  Brookfield.  Conn. 

New  Rochelle,  N.  Y. 


Margaret  Reynolds 
ch.  & 

Henry  Peck 

Jane  Colgan 
ch.  & 

William  Peck 


Newtown, 


Elliot   Peck  and   Cora  Booth  1st  wife 
m. 


9  Eugene  Marshall  Peck 
9  Tracy  Booth  " 

9  Cora  May 


9  Madge  Peck  ch. 

9  Dr.  Earl     " 

10  Benjamin  Russell 

10  Anna    May         "  ch. 

10  Sterling 


10  Elliott  Peck  Brown  ch. 


Florence  Clarke  (no.  ch) 
Maude  Estelle  Ives  (no  ch.) 
Clifford  Russell 

Flora  Curtis  2nd  wife 

& 
Elliot  Peck(See  Doctors) 

Cora  May  Peck 

& 
Clifford  Russell 


Madge  Peck 

& 
Homer  Brown 


Ch.  7Henrietta  Peck  and  Frederick    Lathrop    b. 

8  Tames   Marshall  Lathrop     m.     *Kate  A.  Lawrence 
8  "Emma   Frances  "  "         -      -  -  _ 

8  Annette  Augusta  " 
8  *Frederick  Amasa  " 
8  Herbert  Wooster      " 


9  *Marie  Henrietta  Jones 

9  Gwendolin  M.  " 

10  David   Allen   Giddings 
10  Edwin   Lathrop     " 

10  Frances    Keep       " 
10  Mary  Marshall     " 

9  Jessie  Florence  Young 
9  Chas.  W.  Russell       " 
9  Mary   Marshall 
9  Walter  Fred.  Lear    " 
9  Annette  V.  H. 


Rev.  David  Evan  Jones 
"     Walter   H.   Young 

d.  in  15th  year 
"      1st  Laura  Young 
2nd  Sarah  Beck 

Emma   F.   Lathrop 
ch.  & 

Rev.  David  E.  Jones 

Gwendolin   M.  Jones 
ch.  & 

David  Allen  Giddings 


Annette  A.  Lathrop 
ch.  & 

Walter  H.  Young 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Roxbury,    Conn. 


Ellington,      " 
Hebron,  Va. 


Ellington.Conn. 


Hartford, 


Hebron,  Va. 


PERRY 

Desc.  of  IDr.  Bennett  Perry.     (See  Doctors) 

2  Sally  Perry  m.  Hon.  Curtis  Hinman 
Their   Ch. 

3  Caroline  P.  Hinman  m.     Barnabas    Root 

3  *Robert   Curtis 
3  *Catherine  E. 


Newtown,  Conn. 
Southbury,  Conn. 

Thomaston,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


121 


Ch.  Caroline  P.  Hinman  and  Barnabas  Root 

m.    Amelia  Renfree 


Thomaston,   Conn. 


4  *Charles   W.    Root 
4  Edward  Curtis     " 
4  *Howard  Perry     " 


Ch.  Edward  Curtis  Root  and  Amelia  Renfree 


Rev.  Louis  I.  Belden 
Dr.  John  M.  Robinson 
Edward  Hotchkiss 


5  *Walter    Edward    Root 
5  Lena  Caroline 
5  Fannie  Maria 
5  Grace    Mary 
5  *Ethel 

5  *Theodore  Edward 

Ch.  Lena  Caroline  Root  and  Rev.  Louis  I.  Belden, 

6*Beulah  Belden 

6  Edward  Root  " 
6  Richard  Louis  " 
6  Francis  Root  " 
6  Elizabeth 

Ch.  Grace  Mary  Root  and  Edward  Hotchkiss 

6  Gardner  Hinman  Hotchkiss 
6  Hayden    Renfree  " 

6  Dorothy  Grace  " 

6  Stanley  Root 
6  Frances  Amelia  " 


Hartford,  Conn. 

Duluth,  Minn. 

Thomaston,  Conn. 


Hartford,  Conn. 


Thomaston,  Conn. 


PLATT 

Richard  Piatt  came  to  this  country  from  England  in  1638  and  settled  in 
Milford.  Among  the  capstones  of  the  Memorial  Bridge  in  Milford  is  one 
with   this   inscription  : 

"Deacon  Richard  Piatt 

Obit,  1684. 

Mary  His  Wife." 

It  is  stated  that  it  was  placed  there  "by  the  liberality  and  thoughtfulness 
of  two  of  his  descendants.  Prof.  Johnson  T.  Piatt  of  New  Haven,  and 
Theron  E.  Piatt  of  Newtown. 


2  Isaac  son  of  IRichard          m. 

3  Jonas  Piatt                     m. 

4  Obadiah 

5  Obadiah  " 

6  Jarvis  " 

7  David 

8  Philo  Toucey   " 

9  Johnson  T.       " 

9  Theron    E.         " 

Their  son 

10  Philo  T. 

11  Raymond     Piatt  ch. 


Elizabeth  Wood 

Sarah  Scudder 

1st    Mary   Smith 

2nd  Thankful  Scudder 

Ann  Nichols 

Lucretia  Toucey 

Jeanette  Tuttle 

Mary  Jay  Pettee  (See  Newtown  Lawyers) 
Mary  E.  Russell  Newtown,  Conn. 


Elsie  Sanford 

Elsie  Sanford 

& 
Philo  T.  Piatt 


122 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


1  "Richard  Piatt  and  Mary  his  wife  were  among  the  original  proprietors  of 
Newtown." 


2  Josiah 

3  Josiah 

4  Nathan 

5  Levi  Smith 


Piatt 


Sarah  Canfield 
Sarah  Sanford 
Ruby  Smith 
Patty  Hawley 


Bethel,  Conn. 


Ch.  Levi  Smith  and  Patty  Hawley 


6  Emmon 
6  Mary  Ann 
6  William 
6  Lorin 
6  Elizabeth 


Piatt 


unm. 

unm. 
m.  Fanny  Sherman 
"      Sarah   Sherman 
"      Harrison  Weed  (See  Fairchild  record) 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  William  Piatt  and  Fanny  Sherman 

m.     Annie  Northrop 


Newtown,  Conn. 


7  *Francis  William  Piatt 
7  *Emily  Jane  " 

7  Charles  Smith 
7  *Fannie  E.  " 

7  ♦Roger  Sherman  " 

8  Charles  Roy       Piatt 
8  Arthur  Ingraham  " 
8  Agnes  Electra        " 


8  Arthur  Ingraham 


1  Ephraim 
Their  Ch. 

2  Harry 


2  Bennett 
2  Charlotte 
2  Laura 


Piatt 


ch. 

m. 
m. 


Ella  Eoline  Ingraham  North  Adams,  Mass 

d.  young 

d.  at  18  years.  Newtown.  Conn. 

Ella  E.  Ingraham 

& 
Prof.   Charles  S.  Piatt 
Many  years  organist   of  Trinity  Church. 

Elizabeth  Walker  Rylands,    Bridgeport  Ct. 


Polly  Kimberley 


1st  Tryphena  Crofut 
2nd   Hannah   Barnum 
3rd  Julia  Perkins 
Augusta    Shepard 
Capt.  Hart  Shepard 
William  Scudder 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Harry  Piatt  and  Tryphena  Crofut 
Piatt  m 


3  Jerome 
3  Jerome 
3  Charles 
3  Elizabeth 


1st  Martha  Joyce 
2nd  Ida  McLaughlin 
Bassett 


"  "      Bennett  Blackman 

Ch.  Jerome   Piatt  and   Martha  Joyce 


Kalamazoo,  Mich. 


Newtown,  Conn. 
New  York,  N.  Y. 

Newtown,  Conn. 


4  Caroline  Piatt 

4  Alice 

4  Lillian  " 

4  Henry  " 

4  Edmund  " 


5  Jerome    Bennett 


5  Percival  Camp  Piatt 


ch. 


ch. 


1st  Ambrose  Taylor 
2nd  George  Soper 
Dr.  W.  Downs 
Frank  Bennett 

Alice  Camp 

Lillian    Piatt 

& 
Frank  Bennett 

Alice    Camp 

& 
Edmund  Piatt 


Bridgeport 
New  York,  N. 


Y. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn, 


Percival  Camp  Piatt  in  U.  S.  Hospital  Service  under  Dr.  Charles  H.  Peck. 
Assistant  Director  of  Surgery  of  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


123 


1  Eli  Piatt 
Their  Ch. 


m.     Betsey  Underbill 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Wanzer        Piatt 

Louisa  "  "      Donald  Blackman   (see  Blackman) 

Horace  "  "       Mabel  Hill  Newtown,  Conn, 

Horace  Piatt  and  Mabel  Hill 

Piatt  m.     Mary  Sherwood  (no  ch.)  "  " 

Redding,  Conn. 


Ch. 

Gershom 
Moses  Hill 
Francis  Wm. 


"       Frances  Crane 
Mary  Sweezey 

Frances  Crane 
ch.  & 

Moses  Hill  Piatt 


Newtown,  Conn. 
Redding,  Conn. 


Mary  Sweezey 
ch.  & 

Francis  Wm.  Piatt 


Newtown,  Conn. 


4  Howard  Crane  Piatt 
4  Arthur  " 

4  Clarence  " 

4  Francis  Horace      " 

4  Charles  Wilbur       " 
4  Elliott  Hill 
4  May  Adella  " 

4  Russell  Lawrence  " 

John  Piatt  was  an  early  settler  in  Newtown.  The  records  show  that  he 
conveyed  land  in  the  town  to  his  sons,  Ebenezer,  John  and  Moses  in  1741. 
Probably  the  Moses  whose  family  record  was  dicovered  some  time  ago  in 
Nora,  III. 

"December  6th  1770,  Moses  Platt  and  Hannah  Judson  joined  in  marriage^ 
I  in  the  24th  year  of  my  age,  she  in  her  18th." 

Mehitable      Platt  b.    Jan.  10th,  1772 

Anna  "  b.    Oct.  28th,  1775 

Agur  "  b.    Oct.  31st,  1775 

Pollv  "  b.    Sept.  13th,  1777 

Betsey  "  b.    Aug.  24th,  1779 

David  "  b.     Sept.  6th,  1781 

Sallv  "  b.     March  2nd.  1783 

Mos"es  "  b.    Jan.  29th,  1785 

Prarnel  "  b.    Nov.  8th,  1786 

Mercy  "  b.     March  31st,  1788 

m.     Lieut.  Thomas  Toucey 
Ely  "  b.    Aug.  24th,  1789 

died  Jan.  12th,  1790 
Ely  2nd  "  b.     Sept.  13th,  1790 

died  Jan.  2nd,  1791 
Judson  "  b.    Nov.  8th,  1791 

m.     Laura   Mallory 

b.    Feb.  5th,  1793 

b.    Dec.  22nd,  1795 

died  Oct.  25th,  1796,  aged  17  yrs. 

b.    Nov.  28th,  1798 

m.     Isaac  Nichols  (see  Nichols) 

died  Jan.  26th,  1799 

died  Sept.  11th,  1816 
and  11  days,  the  mother  of  seventeen  children. 

died  Sept.  18th,  1819 

son  of  Moses  &  Hannah  Platt 
m.     Laura    Mallory 


Zerah 

Livy 

Betsey  " 

Betsey &Nanie  " 

Betsey  " 

Nanie 

Hannah 

aged  63  yrs.  11  mo, 

Moses  Platt 

aged  72)  yrs. 

Judson  Platt 

Their  Ch. 

Emily  Platt 

Their  Ch. 

Levi  C.  Morris 
*Jennie  " 

Emily  Platt  Morris 
George  Couch,  their  ch. 


m.     1st  Eli  Morris 


Fannie  C.  Peck  (See  Peck) 
Arthur  Treat  Nettleton 
2nd  George  Couch 


124  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

PRINDLE 

1  William  Prindle  m.  Mary  Desborough 

2  Ebenezer  Prindle  was  born  at  New  Haven,  Conn,  in  1661,  m.  Elizabeth 
Hubby.  They  first  removed  to  Milford,  Conn,  in  1703.  Then  removed  to 
Newtown,  in  1709-10.  He  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  Newtown 
in  1710.  The  minutes  of  town  meetings  contain  many  references  to 
Ebenezer  Prindle  as  a  prominent  citizen  as  well  as  to  his  children. 

2  Joseph,  b.  1663,  in  New  Haven  is  believed  to  have  been  with  Rev.  Samuel 
Johnson  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  West  Haven. 

He  m.  Mary  Brown. 

3  Samuel,  m.  Mary  Smith.  His  father  deeded  him  land  in  Newtown  in  1715. 
3  Joseph  jr..  son  of  2Joseph,  m.  Elizabeth  Thomas  Newtown,  Conn. 

3  Joseph  Prindle  son  of  ZEbenezer  m.  1st  Mary  Adams  "  " 

2nd  Sarah  Kimberly 

4  Ann  ch.  3Joseph  and  Mary  Adams  m.  Thomas  Sharpe  "  " 

ch.  3Joseph  and   Sarah  Kimberly  "  " 

4  Mary  Prindle  in.  John  Skidmore(See  Skidmore)"  " 

4  Sarah  "  m.  Benjamin   Northrop  (See  Northrop) 

4  Capt.    Joseph       "  m.  Huldah   Glover  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Lieut.  Abel  "  m.  Amaryllis  Toucey 

4  Joel  "  m.  Sabra  Kimberly 

4  Jonathan  "  m.  Damaris  Peck  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Experience  "  m.  Jeptha    Hubbell  "  " 

4  Ebenezer  " 

4  Eliada  "  m.  Sarah   Beers  "  " 

4  Nathan  "  m.  Ann    Bristol  "  " 

4  Joanna  "  m.  1st  Zachariah  Brinsmade 

2nd  Richard  Peet 

4  Ch.   Capt.  Joseph    Prindle  and  Huldah  Glover  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  Zada  Prindle  m.     David  Hinman  "  " 


5  Phedemia 
5  Cyrus 
5  Lazarus 
5  Philemon 
5  Huldah 


m.  Clark    Baldwin 

m.  Polly  Beers  "               " 

m.  Joanna    Glover  "               " 

m.  Nannie  Ferris  "               ** 

m.  Joel  Sanford  New  Milford,  Conn. 


Ch.  Cyrus  Prindle  and  Polly  Beers  Newtown,  Conn. 

6  *Lewis    Beers     Prindle        m.     Betty  Ferris  "  " 

6  *Maria  "  unm. 

6  *Polly  Ann  "  unm. 

Ch.  Lewis  B.  Prindle  and  Betty  Ferris  Newtown,  Conn. 

7  *Albert  Lewis  Prindle  m.     Polly  Ann  Thorpe  "  " 

7  *Maria  "  m.     Daniel  Picket  Bethel,  Conn. 

7  *William   Beers       "  m.     Maria  Shepard  Newtown,  Conn. 

7  *Angeline  "  m.     1st   Czar   Plumb;  2nd  Homer  Hayes;   3rd 

Harson  Twitchell ;  4th  C.  C.  Warner. 

7  *Mary  "  m.     Samuel  W.  Trowbridge      Newtown,  Conn. 

Polly  Ann  Thorpe 

8  Sarah  Maria  "  ch.  & 

Albert  L.  Prindle 

"  "  m.     Asaph  Hodges  Waterbury,  Conn 

Their    Ch. 

9  Miriam  Hodges  d.  in  infancy  " 
9  Albert  E.                    "             m.    Nellie   Hughes 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


125 


9  William  M.  Hodges  m. 

9  George  Frederick     "  twins 
9  Mary  Faustina  "  twins 

9  Charles  Howard       " 
9  Samuel    Lewis  " 


8  Mary  A.  Pickett 

9  Myron      Clark 
9  Charles  " 
9  Clarence         " 
9  Mary 

8  William  Hurd 

William  Hurd 

8  *Charles  Trowbridge 
8  *Julia  Frances     " 

8  Frank  W. 

9  Frederick  J.  Trowbridge 
9  William 

9  Florence  " 

9  Amy 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


Miriam  H.  Miller 

unm. 

unm. 

unm. 

unm. 

Maria    Prindlc 

& 
Daniel   Pickett 

Mary  Ann   Pickett 

& 
Levi   S.  Clark 

Maria  Shepard 

& 
7William  Beers  Prindle 


Waterbury,  Conn. 


Bethel,  Conn. 


Cleveland,  Ohio 


Newtown,  Conn. 


m.     Elizabeth  Ford 


Mary  Prindle 
ch.  & 

Samuel  Wm.  Trowbridge 

Katherine   Jarvis 
ch.  & 

Frank  W.  Trowbridge 


Waterbury,  Conn. 


4  Lieut.  Abel  Prindle,  son  of  3Joseph,  m.  Amaryllis  Toucey,  dau, 
Rev.  Thomas  Toucey.    Was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bennington,  1777. 
Their   Ch. 

m. 


5  Armenal  Prindlc 
5  Phebe 

5  Currence  " 

5  Josiah 


Asa  Stoddard 

unm. 

Nathan  Preston 

unm. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Jonathan  Prindle  and  Damaris    Peck 


5  Abel      Prindle 
5  Keziah  " 

5  Jerusha         " 

5  Sarah  " 

6  *Mary   Ann   Prindle 
6  *Abel  Booth 


7  Julia  M.      Prindle 
7  *Robert  Morris  " 


m.  Ruth  GriflFen 

m.  Capt.   Enos  Johnson 

m.  Abel  Stilson 

m.  Daniel  Terrill 


ch. 


Ruth    Griffen 

& 
Abel  Prindle 


Betsey  A.  Glover 
ch.  & 

Abel  B.  Prindle 


6  Ichabod  Johnson 

5  Huldah  Prindle 
Their   Ch. 

6  Harriet  Sanford 
6  Judge  David  Curtis 

6  Julia  Maria  Sanford 

6  Charles  Grandison  Sanford 


SKeziah   Prindle 
ch.  & 

Capt.  Enos  Johnson 

m.    Joel  Sanford 


New  Milford,  Conn. 


m.     Oliver   Mead 
m.     1st  Caroline  Merwin  no  ch. 
m.    2nd  Amelia  Selima  Seym.^i:!- 
m.     3rd  Emily   Bull 
m.     Albert  Gaylord 
unm. 


126 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


7  Henry  Seymour  Sanford    ch. 


7  Sarah  Northrop  Sanford 

7  Caroline  Selina  " 

7  Sarah   Northrop  " 

7  Henry  Seymour  " 

Their   Ch. 

8  Jennie  Daniels  " 
8  David  Curtis  " 

8  Henry   Seymour  " 

9  David  Curtisjr.  " 


ch. 

m. 
m. 

m. 
m. 
m. 

ch. 


Amelia  Selima  Seymour,    New  Milford,  Ct. 

& 
David  C.  Sanford 

Emily   Bull 

& 
Judge  David  C.  Sanford 

William  D.  Black,  no  ch.  New  York,  N.  Y. 
Sophie  Claflin  Daniels  New  Milford,  Conn. 


William  Black  Pell 
Goldie  A.  McMahon 
Alice    Bostwick   Buck 

Goldie  A.  McMahon 

& 
David  C.  Sanford 


Newtown,  Conn. 


6Zenas,  SZalmon,  4Joel,  3Jo5eph,  2Ebenezer,  IWilliam 

4  Joel       Prindle  m.     Sabra  Kimberly 

5  Zalmon       "  m.     Mary  Williams 

6  Zenas  "  m.    Hannah  Cogswell 

7  Hawley       "  m.Olive  Andrew 

8  Franklin  Cogswell  Prindle,         Rear  Admiral,  Retired 

Civil  Engineer,  U.  S.  Navy,  Washington,  D.  C. 

m.     IstGertrude   Alida   Stickle  "  " 

m.    2nd  Sarah  Amelia  Cranston 
m.    3rd   Mrs.   Fidelia   E.   Mead 

Ch.  Gertrude  Alida  Stickles  and    Franklin   Cogswell   Prindle. 

New  York,  N.  Y. 


9  Roscoe  Stickles  Prindle 
9  *01ive  twin  " 

9  Minnie       twin  " 

9  *Frank  C 
9  Harry  Augustus         " 
9  Gertrude  Elizabeth  " 
9  Allan 


111. 
m. 


d.  at  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
d.  at  Philadelphia,  Pa. 
d.  at  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Frederica  Patterson 
Francis    Gilbert 
d.  E.  Arlington,  Vt. 


SElijah,  Jr.,  4Elijah,  .^Joseph,  Jr.,  2Joseph,   IWilliam 


Newtown,   Conn. 


New  Haven,  Conn. 


2  Joseph     Prindle  m. 

3  Joseph,    Jr.    "  m. 

4  Elijah  "  m. 

5  Elijah,    Jr       "  m. 

6  Harriet  "  m. 

7  *George  H.  Tuttle  m. 

8  Roger  Walker  Tuttle  m. 
8  Marjorie  Allison  Tuttle 

7  George  H.  Tuttle  of  Tuttle,  Morehouse    &    Taylor,    New    Haven,    Conn., 
was  instantly  killed  by  a  trolley  car  May,  1918. 


Mary  Brown 

Elizabeth  Thomas 

Elizabeth   Benham 

Sally  Ward 
George  Tuttle 

Bessie  Stanwood  Collins 
Lillian  May  Hopton 


SANFORD 

1  Thomas  Sanford  came  from  England  to  Boston,  Mass.,  in  1631,  to  Dor- 
chester, Mass.,  in  1634,  to  Milford,  Conn.,  in  1639. 

Ch.  Thomas  Sanford  and  Sarah  his  wife 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


127 


Samuel       Sanford 
Ephraim  " 


Hannah   Bronson 
Mary  Powell 


Ch.  Samuel  Sanford  and  Hannah   Bronson 

Samuel  first  settler  in  Newtown  in  1711,  m.  Esther  Baldwin 

Their  Ch. 


Samuel3 
John 

John  Jr. 

Their  Ch. 

David 
Elijah 
Charlotte 


Sanford 


Hannah   Gilbert 
1st   Rebecca   Northrop 
2nd  Abiah  Deming 
Amy   Northrop 


Newtown,  Conn. 


unm. 

Abigail    E.    Townsend  "  " 

Rev.  Birdsey  G.  Noble    Bridgeport,  Conn. 


Ch.  Elijah  Sanford  and  Abigail  Townsend 

7  Juliet  Sanford  m.    George  A.  Townsend    New  Haven,  Conn 

7  David  "  "     Emily  A.  Townsend  "  " 

7  Elizabeth  C.         "  "     Edmund  T.  H.  Gibson 


Ch.  David  Sanford  and  Emily  A.  Townsend 


Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


8  John  Townsend      Sanford  m. 

8  *William  Isaac 

8  *Jane   Elizabeth 

8  *George   Morton 

8  *Grace    Stanfield 

8  Paul  James 

Ch.  Elizabeth  C.  Sanford  and  Edmund  T.  H.  Gibson  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


Hattie  Mills 
Annie    Manning 
Rev.  Wm.  H.  Moore 
d.   in   boyhood 
d.  unm. 


Edmund  T.   H.   Gibson,  Jr.m. 

Charles  Dana 

John  Cotton 

Emily   C. 

Elizabeth  C. 

Wm.  Hamilton 


Frances  P.  Burbank 

Mamie  Tugwell 

d.  unm. 

d.  unm. 

d.  unm. 

Emma  L.  Blanchard 


He  was  a  celebrated  Naturalist  and  Artist 


Juliet  Gibson 

Henry    Stockwell  " 

Hubert   Temple  " 


m.     Clarence  Meigs  Noble 
"     Augusta  Louise  Foust 


5  Ch.  Samuel  Sanford  and  Abiah  Dunning,  1st  wife 
6 


Washington,  Conn. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Newtown,  Conn. 


Isaac   Sanford 

Their  Ch. 

Elias  B.  Sanford 


m.     Anna    Bristol 


1st   Sally   Lockwood 
Lucretia  Fayerweather 


Their    Ch. 

Rev.  Isaac 

Lockwood 

Joseph  B. 

Edson 

♦.'Vnn 

Luman 

Elias 


Sanford 


In  Civil  War 
Rev.  James  Taylor 
In  Civil  War 
In  Civil  War 


8 
8 

5  ch.  4Samuel  Sanford  and  Charity  Foote  Bristol  2nd  wife  Newtown,  Conn. 


Middlefield.  Conn. 
New  Haven,      " 

Preston,  Penna. 

Meriden,  Conn. 

Newtown,       " 
Gibson,  Penn. 

Salisbury,  Conn. 


128 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


6  Josiah  Sanford 
Their  Ch. 

7  *Edwin  Sanford 

7  *Capt.  Julius,  In  Civil  War 
7  *Henry  " 

7  *Frederick  " 

7  *Charlotte 

7  Margaret  " 

7  *Josiah  " 

7  *Augusta  " 


m.     Polly  Johnson 


Newtown,  Conn. 


d.  in  young  manhood  " 

Mary  Parsons,  " 

Mary  Booth  " 

unm.  " 

Georg^e  B.  Wheeler   (see  Wheeler) 
Dyersville, 
Albert    Northrop  Pittsburg, 

unm.  Newtown, 

unm.  " 


Iowa 
Penn. 
Conn. 


Ch.  Capt.  Julius  Sanford  and   Mary  Parsons 
8  *Ellen    Louise    Sanford         m.     Sherwood  Thompson     New  Haven, 


8  Gertrude  "  "      Clarence  Bolmer 

Ch.  Henry  Sanford  and  Mary   Booth 

8  Annie  Sanford  unm. 

8  Sarah  "  m.     Robert   Beers   (see   Beers) 

2  ch.    Ephraim    Sanford    and  Mary  Powell 


Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


3  Samuel  Sanford 
Their  Ch. 

4  Jonathon    Sanford 

Their  Ch. 

5  Jonathan  Jr.,  Sanford 
Their  Ch. 


m.     Esther  Baldwin 


1st    Phebe   Piatt 
2nd  Hannah  Piatt 


Newtown,  Conn. 


m.     Rebecca 


6  *Lavina 
6  *Lucrelia 
6  *Hannah 
6  *Zalmon 
6  *Abha 
6  *Huldah 
6  *Polly 
6  *Lucinda 


Sanford 


m.     Daniel    Scott    no    ch.  Winsted, 

twins  "     Abijah  Merritt  (see  Merritt 
twins  "      Hannah    Curtis  Newtown, 

Foote  no  ch. 

m.     Oliver   Peck  no  ch.  " 

Seabury  Booth  (see  Booth) 


Conn. 
Conn. 


Ch.  Zalmon  Sanford  and  Hannah  Curtis 


7  *Tohn  Albert   Sanford 
7  *}ulia 


unm. 
m.     Bethel  Booth  no  ch. 


SCUDDER 

The  "Commemorative  Biographic  Record"  states  that  Capt.  Isaac  Scudder 
was  born  in  Newtown,  April,  11th,  1776.  "He  was  the  leading  carpenter 
and  builder  of  the  country  in  his  day.  The  first  Methodist  Church  dedicat- 
ed in  1831  was  constructed  by  him. 


1  Capt  Isaac  Scudder 
Their  Ch. 

2  *Isaac       B.       Scudder 
2  *William 

2  *Samuel 


3  *Lucinda 


m.    Sarah  Banks 


m.     1st  Lucinda  Hickock 
"       Laura   Piatt 
m.     Mary  Miller 

Lucinda  Hickock 
ch.  & 

Isaac  Scudder 


Newtown,  Conn. 

Bethel,  Conn. 
Cedar  Rapids 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


129 


Ch.  2Isaac   Scudder  and   Betsey  Skidmore  2nd  wife 


3  *Sarah  Scudder 

3  *Saniuel    Starr        " 
3  *Lucy 


Rochester,  N.  Y. 


m.    Charles  Lamoureaux 
"      Jennie  Wright 
"       1st  Henry  Lake  Brookfield,  Conn. 

2nd  William   Smith   Lamoureaux 


4  Lillian   Lamoureaux 
Their  ch. 
Ch.  Sarah  Scudder  and  Charles  Lamoureaux 


4  *Lucy  Lamoureaux 
4  *Julia  " 

4  Susan  " 

4  Hattie 


5  *Rev.  Charles  Fairman 


unm. 

unm. 
m.     Harry  Fairman 
"      George  Atkinson 

Susan   Lamoureaux 
ch.  & 

Harry  Fairman 


Ch.    Hattie    Lamoureaux    and  George  Atkinson 


5  May      Atkinson 
5  Herbert  " 

5  Ward 

4  Susan     Jane     Scudder 
4  Mary  Elizabeth      " 

4  Frances  Carolyn     " 

5  Paul    Scudder    Smith 
5  Earl  Wright 

5  *Robert  Stedman  " 


4  nVilliam  Lake 


4  Lillian  M.  Lamoureaux 


3  Theodore    Scudder 
3  *Emma  " 


4  Addie 
4  Fanny 


Scudder 


4  Flora  Milham 


m.     Delos    Rose 
"       Martha  Bowlby 


ch. 
ch. 
ch. 
ch. 
ch. 
ch. 
ch. 


Jennie  Wright 

& 
Samuel  S.  Scudder 

Frances  Carolyn  Scudder 

& 
Arthur  J.   Smith 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Lucy  Scudder  1st  m. 

& 
Henry  Lake 

Lucy  Scudder  Lake2nd  m. 

& 
William   Lamoureaux 

Laura  Piatt 

& 
William  Scudder 

Sarah  Robinson 

& 
Theodore  Scudder 

Emma  Scudder 

& 
William  Milham 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


SHEPARD 

1  John  Shepard  m.  Mary  Parsons  and  moved  to  Newtown,  1737. 

2  Abraham     Shepard  m.     Rhoda  Ferris 
Their  Ch. 

3  Betty 

3  Truman  " 

3  Lazarus  " 

3  Nathan  " 

3  Samuel  ** 


130 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


5  Sueton        Shepard 

3  Abraham  Ferris  " 
3  Rufus 


m.     Dymah  Ann  Hurd 

"      Abba  Lake 

"     Lucy  Ann   Peck 


Ch.  Sueton  Shepard  and  Dymah  Ann  Hurd 

4  Harriet  Shepard  d.  young 

4  Mary 


4  Elizabeth  Jane 

4  Delia 

4  Lazarus  Clarke 

4  Juliaette 

4  Maria 

4  Samuel   Ferris 

4  Grant 


Brookfield,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 
Nunda,  N.  Y. 


Lyman   Smith 
Damman   Blackman 
Benjamin   White 
Emily  Strong 
unm. 

Wm.  B.  Prindle  (see  Prindle)  Newtown,  Ct. 
Sarah  Maria  Weed 
d.  young 


3  Ch.   Abraham   F.   Shepard  and   Abba   Lake 


4  Avis 

4  Edson 

4  Rev.   Peter   Lake 


m.     Isaac  N.  Hawley  (See  Hawley) 
"     Jane  Terrill  Brookfield,  Conn. 

"       Mary  Anne  Burr 


unm. 
unm. 
m.     Cornelius  C.  Corson  (no  ch.) 


New  York 


Ch.   Rufus   Shepard   and   Lucy  Ann  Peck 

4  *Frances  Sophia  Shepard 
4  Anne   Elizabeth       " 
4  **Caroline  W.  " 

4  *George    W. 

Ch.    Edson   Shepard   and  Jane  Terrill  Brookfield,  Conn. 

5  *Carrie  "  m.     Daniel  G.  Beers  1st  wife  Newtown,  Conn. 
5  Eugene                      " 


"  m.     Adelaide  Street 

Ch.  Rev  Peter  Lake  Shepard  and  Mary  Anne  Burr 


5  Horace     B.     Shepard 
5  Mary   Hard 
5  Anne  Campbell       ** 
5  Margaret  McLeod  " 
5  Louis  Jennings       " 
5  Finley    Johnson      " 


d.  in  young  manhood 


m.     Helen  Gould 


Saybrook,  Conn. 


New  York,  N.  Y. 


Rev.  Peter  L.  Shepard  was  for  many  years  Principal  of  a  Church  School 
for  boys  at  Saybrook,  Conn. 


4  Lewis 
4  Samuel 
4  Rufus 
4  Sabra 


m.  Sarah    Glover 

"  Betty  Hawley 

"  Amy    Booth 

"  Stephen   BiirwoU 


Newtown,  Conn. 


SHERMAN 

1  Daniel   Sherman,  b.   1668,  m.   Rebecca  Wheeler  and  settled  in  Newtown 
at  an  early  date.    Was  selectman  in  Newtown,  in  1738. 

Of  their   six  ch. 

2  Samuel  m.     Elizabeth 
Of  their  eight  ch. 

3  Jotham  m.     1st  Grace  Peck 

2nd    Amy    Beers 
"      3rd  Cynthia   Beers 
"      4th   Rhoda 

Ch.  3Jolham  Sherman   and  (irace  Peck 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


131 


Ch.  3Jotham  Sherman  and  Amy  Beers 

4  Grace  "  m.     Nathaniel    Nichols 

4  Jotham  Beers      "  "       Hephsibah  Sherman 

4  Cyrus    Beers        "  "      Huldah  M.  Booth 

Ch.  Lewis  Sherman  and  Sarah    Glover 


Newtown,   Conn. 


5  Esther 
5  Sabra 
5  Anna 
5  Justin 
5  Marcia 
5  Oman 


Eben  Tyrrill  (See  Tyrrill) 
Daniel  Booth      (See  Booth) 
Isaac  Briscoe  (See  Briscoe) 
Senea   Sherman 
N.  S.  Beers 
Clara   Lake 


Wakeman,  Ohio 
Bridgewater,  Conn. 
Danbury,         " 


Ch.  Justin  Sherman  and  Senea  Sherman 

6  Lewis    J.  " 

6  Nathan  G.  "  m.     Elizabeth  Otis 

Their   Ch. 

7  Mary  Nancy        "  m.     B.  A.  Hayes 
Their  Ch. 

8  *Rutherford  B.  Hayes 
8  Sherman  Otis      " 

8  Webb    Cook 
8  Walter    J. 

Ch.   Marcia   Sherman   and  N.  S.  Beers 

m 


Wakeman,  Ohio 


Toledo,  Ohio 


Bridgewater,  Conn. 


6  Sylvia       Beers 
6  Philo   S. 


Lewis    Frost 
Susan  Tomlinson 


Their  Ch. 

7  Estelle  J. 

7  Carrie  A.        " 

5  Marcia  Sherman  Beers  d.  Dec.l890,nearly  102  years  old. 

Ch.  SOrnan  Sherman   and  Clara  Lake 


Danbury, 
Newtown, 


6  Charles  L.  "  m  Eliza  Blackman  (no  ch.) 

6  Fanny  "  "  William  Piatt 

unm. 

"  Lorin  L.  Piatt  Waterbury,        " 

"  Alfred  L.  Piatt 

"  Winters  Day  Somers      Leominster,  Mass. 

"  William  Hoy  (no  ch.)        Newtown,  Conn. 

"  1st  Caroline  A.  Benedict    Danbury,        " 

"  2nd  Sarah  E.  Wildman 

"  3rd  Jane  A.  Lockwood 
Three  others  d.  in  infancy 

Ch.    Fanny    Sherman    and  William  Piatt  Newtown,  Conn. 

7  Frank  Piatt  m.  Annie  Northrop  (no  ch.)  Waterbury,      " 


6  Harriet , 

6  Jane 

6  Sarah 

6  Phebe 

6  Clara 

6  Samuel  Justin 


7  Charles    S. 
7  Emily 
7  Roger 


Ella  E.  Ingraham 

no  desc. 

d.  in  boyhood 


Newtown, 


Ch.     Charles     S.     Piatt  and  Ella  E.  Ingraham 


New  York 


8  Roy 

8  Arthur  Ingraham 

8  Agnes  Electra 


m.     Elizabeth  Walker  Rylands  Bridgeport,  Ct. 

New  York,  N.  Y. 


Ch.  Phebe  Sherman  and  Winters  Day  Somers  Leominster,  Mass. 

7  Tulia   Frances   Somers 


7  Clara  Medora 


m      Alexander  Sinclair  Paton 


132 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


Their  Ch. 

8  Phebe  Sherman   Paton 
8  Somers  Sinclair        " 
8  Agnes  Frances  " 

8  Pauline  Parmelee     " 
8  Clara    Lake  " 


Leominster,  Mass. 
m.     Ferderick  Langlcy  Perry      Redding,  Conn. 

"      Harry  Fulton  Sturges  "  " 


Ch.  Phebe  S.  Paton  and  Frederick  L.  Perry 

9  Frances   Irene   Perry 
9  Alender    Paton       " 

Ch.    4Samuel    Sherman    and    Betty  Hawley 

m 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


5  Lucy 

5  Betsey 

5  Lemuel 

5  Vashti 

5  Amy 

5  Abel 

5  Sally  Minerva 


Eli  Baldwin 

Eleazer   Hawley 

Brittania  McManus  no  ch. 

unm. 

Lemuel  Peck  no  ch. 

Sarah  Bradley 

Rev.  Benj.  Benham 


Ch.     SAbel     Sherman     and  Sarah  Bradley  "                " 
6  Hon.    Samuel           "                m.     Mercedes  Montejo,  Puerto  Principe,  Cuba 
Ch.    Sally    M.    Sherman   and  Rev.  Benj.  Benham                Brookfield,  Conn. 

6  Candace   Vashti    Brittania  McManus  Benham  " 

m.     Dr.  Augustus  Boream  '*               " 

Their  Ch. 

7  Anna  Boream  "  " 
7  Benjamin  "  "  " 
7  Florence        "  " 

Ch.  4Rufus  Sherman  and  Amy  Booth  "                " 

5  Olive                   "                       m.     Eldrad  Ruggles  " 
Their  Ch. 

6  Sherman    Booth    Ruggles     "      Sarah  Oakley  " 
Their  Ch. 


7  Elizabeth       Ruggles 
7  *Henry  B. 
7  *Almon   B. 
7  *01ive  J. 


Charles  Randall 
Emma  E.  Cole 
Susan   Shelton 
d.   in   girlhood. 


Bridgewater,  Conn. 

Kent 

Southbury,        " 


Ch.  Elizabeth  Ruggles  and  Charles  Randall 


8  Dr.    William     Randall 
8  Grace  Elizabeth      " 


m.     Hattie  L.  Beers 

"      Alfred  Charles  Sperry 


Shelton 


Ch.  Dr.  William  Randall  and  Hattie  L.  Beers 
"  m 


9  Harold  Beers 
9  Helen  Starr 


Helen   Davis 
Charles  R.  Williams 


Ch.   Harold   B.   Randall   and  Helen  Davis 

10  Harriet   Elizabeth     " 
10  Jean 

Ch.    Henry    B.    Ruggles   and  Emma  E.  Cole 
8  Henrietta  Ruggles 

Ch.  Almon  Ruggles  and  Susan  Shelton 
8  Annie  "  m.     Albert  Welton 


Kent, 
Shelton, 
Redlands,  Cal. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION  133 


8  Henry     Ruggles  unm.  Redlands,  Calif 

8  Elizabeth 

8  Nellie 

8  Frederick 

8  Charles 

8  Susan 


unm. 

unm.  "  " 

m.     Mary  Barton  "  " 

Amelia  Smith  San  Francisco,  Cal. 


"      Claude  Rhoades  Redlands 

Ch.   Annie   Ruggles   and   Albert  Welton 
9  Harold  Welton  m.     Isabel  Elliott  "  " 

9  Frances  "  Harold  Welton 

10  Margaret  Isbell"  ^h'     j^.bel  Elliott 

Ch.    Charles    Ruggles    and  Amelia  Smith  San  Francisco,  Cal. 

9  Gertrude  "  «  « 

9  Priscilla 

9  Louise  "  u  u 

9  Elizabeth 

Ch.    Frederick   Ruggles   and  Mary  Barton  Redlands,  Cal. 

9  Almon    Barton    " 

Ch.  4Jotham  B.  Sherman  and  Hepsibah  Sherman 

5  Major  Charles        "  m.     Sally  Foot  desc.  not  located  Newtown,  Ct. 

5  Harry  "  "      Flora   Sherman  "  " 

Their  Ch. 

5  George  Hubbell      "  "      Eliza  Stilson  Noroton,  Conn. 

Was   in  Civil  War  d  at  Soldier's   Home. 

5  Nancy   Sherman  m.     George  Andrews  Bethel,  Conn. 

Their  Ch. 

6  George  Edward  Andrews 
6  Caroline  Frances       " 

6  Nancy  Amelia  " 

6  Henry  Ashton  " 

6  Elgin  Sherman  " 

6  Martha   Eliza  " 

6  Lillie  Eudora  " 

6  Jennie  Thomas  " 

6  Fred  Thomas  " 
6  Gertie    C 
6  Clifford  Stowe 

Ch.    4    Cyrus    Sherman    and  Huldah  Matilda  Booth  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  Jotham  "  m.     Mary  Ann  Bostwick 

5  Cyrus  Beers  "  "      Caroline   Beers    (no  ch.) 

5  Mary  "  "      E.   Benedict   Price  Norwalk 

Ch.    Jotham    Sherman    and  Mary  Ann  Bostwick  Newtown.  Conn. 

6  Mary  Jane  "  m.  Franklin  Fairman  (see  Fairman)  Chicago, 
6  Cyrus  Lynson  "  d.  in  young  manhood  Newtown,  Conn. 
6  Frances   Augusta   "                        d.  in  childhood 

Ch.  Mary  Sherman  and  E.  B.  Price  Norwalk 

6  Dr.  Sherman  Price  m.     Ellen  Beardsley  Clark  " 
Their  Ch. 

7  Jannet  Alden  Price 


134  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

1  Benjamin,  2Job,  3John,  4Daniel,  SLinus  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  Linus    Sherman  m.    Artemisia  Curtis 
Their  Ch. 

6  Daniel  Sherman  Has  three  ch.  living  in  the  West 
6  Hannah          "                           m.     Nathan  Prince 

6  Aurelia  ';  "      William  S.  Whiting  Urbana,  Ohio 
"  ^nebe                                                  Hermon  Beers,  See  Beers,  Newtown,  Conn. 

Ch.  Hannah  Sherman  and  Nathan  Prince  '  ■  • 

7  *Nathan  Prince 

7  Hannah  Sherman      "  m.     Charles  Robertson 

7  *Mary   Louisa  " 

Ch.  Aurelia   Sherman   and  Wm.  S.  Whiting 

7  *Stephen  Betts  Whiting      m.     Kate  Draper 
7  *Sarah  Maria  "  m.    John   Church 

7  *William  Samuel        " 
7  *Edward  Sherman     " 

7  *Charles   Wilcox        " 

Ch.   Sarah   M.  Whiting  and  John  Church 

8  Lewis    Whiting    Church 

8  Stephen  Betts  "  Seymour.  Conn. 

SKIDMORE 

Lieut.  4Thomas  Skidmore  son  of  John  3rd  was  born  at  Stratford  in  1693 
and  with  his  wite  Martha  settled  in  Newtown  as  early  as  1715  He  was 
ensign  of  the  military  "train-band"  of  Newtown  in  1723. 

Ch.  of  Thomas  Skidmore  and  wife  Martha 

5  Nehemiah  Skidmore  m.  Charity  Kimberly  Lake 

5  Jedidah  "  m.  Ensign  Richard  Hubbell  (see  Hubbell) 

5  Thomas  Jr.  "  Cynthia  Beers 

5  John  "  "  Mary  Prindle 

I  Mary  "  "  Heth  Peck  Jr.  (See  Peck) 

c  f^°"^  u  ""^  1  "      L'^"t  ^"^05  Terrill  (See  Terrill) 

5  Martha  "  "      Unknown 

5  Rebecca  "  "      Unknown 

Ch.    SNehemiah    Skidmore  and  Charity  Kimberly  Lake 

6  Elnathan     Skidmore  m.     Eunice  Wakeley 

6  Sarah  "  "      Samuel  Peck   (See  Peck) 

6  Joanna  "  unm. 

6  Lemuel  "  "      Annie   Burtis 

6  Amos  "  "      Esther  H.  Blackman 

Ch.  SLieut.  Thomas  Jr.  and  Cynthia  Beers 

6  Dr.  James  Skidmore  m.  Polly  Sherman 

6  Daniel  "  "  Currance  Baldwin 

6  John  "  "  Polly  Baldwin 

6  Abiah  |'  "  Nathan  Ferris 

6  Amy  "  "  Ebenezer  Sherman 

6  Anne  "  "  James    Bristol 

6  Zada  "  "  Mr.  Nash 

6  Mary  "  "  Sueton  Baldwin 

Ch.  6Amos  Skidmore  and  Esther  Hitchcock  Blackman 

7  Wheeler  "  m.     1,  Miss  Lake,  2,  Lucy  Lake  Brookfield,  Ct. 
/  James  Blackman     "  d.  unm. 

7  Hannah    A.  "  "       PhUo   Baldwin 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


135 


7  Rufus  Skidmore         m.     1st  Esther  Terrill 

2nd  Maria  Clark  Hawley 

Ch.  Wheeler  Skidmore  and  1st  Miss  Lake  Brookfield,  Conn. 

8  Burtis  Skidmore,  m.     Hannah  Bradley  (no  chJNewtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Wheeler   Skidmore  and  Lucy  Lake 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


8  Betsey 
8  Starr 


m. 
m. 


Isaac  B.  Scudder  (See  Scudder) 

Harriet  Ferris  (no  ch.)  Brookfield,  Conn. 


Ch.  Rufus  Skidmore  and  Esther  Terrill 


8  Eliza 
Their  Ch. 

9  Abigail  E.  Walker 
9  Emmon  Terrill  " 
9  James  Nelson  " 
9  William  Rufus  " 
9  Lizzie  ' 
9  Alfred  Jr. 


10  Jennie  Ogden  Walker         ch. 


10  Clarke  Skidmore  Walker    ch. 


m.     Alfred  Walker 


Ossining,  N.  Y. 


d.  young 

m. 

Mary  Halliday 

Elmira, 

N.  Y. 

m. 

Jennie  Ogden 

Sing  Sing 

.N.  Y 

unm. 

Elmira, 

N.  Y. 

twins 

m. 

William  I.  Townsend 

Ossining, 

N.  Y 

twins 

m. 

Flora  Clarke 

Newtown, 

Conn 

Jennie  Ogden 

& 
James  N.  Walker 

Hon.  Charles  H.  Knipp 

Flora  Clarke 

& 
Alfred  Walker,  Jr. 

m.    2nd  Maria  C.  Hawley 


7  Rufus  Skidmore 
Their  Ch. 

8  Esther  Maria  Skidmore 

8  *William   Henry 

Ch.  Esther  M.  Skidmore  and  Henry  B.  Hawley 

9  Emily  Carrie  Hawley 
9  William  Henry        "  m. 
9  Dr.  George  Rufus  "  m. 


Elmira,  N.  Y. 

Newtown,  Conn. 

Ossining,  N.  Y. 
Brookfield,  Conn. 


m.     Henry    B.    Hawley 
m.    Julia  G.  Williams 


.Author  of  "Skidmore  Genealogy" 
Victoria  Barnum  Adams 


9  Benjamin 
9  Grace  Skidmore 
9  Henry    Benjamin 
9  Lucius  Skidmore 


twms 
twins 


Alice  B.  Beebe 
d.    in    infancy 
d.  in  infancy 
unm  . 
unm. 


Brooklyn.  N.  Y. 


Danbury.  Conn. 
Brookfield.  Conn. 


Ch.  Julia  G.  Williams  and  William  H.  Skidmore 

9  *William  Rufus  Skidmore  d.  in  infancy  "  " 

9  Julia  Wilhelmine        "  unm.   engaged   in   teaching        "  " 

9  Anna  Theodora  "  unm.  engaged  in  teaching      Newark,  N.  J. 

Ch.  6Dr.  James  Skidmore  son  Lieut.  Thomas,  Jr.  and  Polly  Sherman 

7  Dr.    Rufus    Skidmore  m.     Jerusha  Ferris  (See  doctors)  Newtown.Ct. 
Their  Ch. 

8  Jane  Ann  Skidmore  m.  Barak  Burr  (no  ch.)  Fairfield,  Conn. 
8  Marietta                    "                m.     Alanson    Lyon  Redding,   Conn. 

8  Elizabeth  "  m.     James  Johnson  (no  ch.)  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Ch.   Marietta  Skidmore  and  Alanson  Lyon 
She  is  living  (1918)  aged  93  years. 

9  Mary  Ella  Lyon  m.  Hobart  Brinsmade  St.  Louis,  Mo. 
9  Rufus  Alanson  "  unm.  Redding  ,Conn. 
9  *Elizabeth  F.      "                               d.  young 

9  Jennie  L.  "  m.     John   C.   Read 


136 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


Mary  Ella  Lyon 

& 
Hobart  Brinsmade 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 


Helen  Christine  Steenboch     Pueblo,  Mex. 

& 
Robert   Bruce   Brinsmade  "  " 


10  Robert  Bruce  Brinsmade 

10  Louis  Lyon  " 

11  Virginia  Skidmore  " 
11  Robert   Turgott 
11  Harold  Steenbock  " 
11  Akbar  Lyon  " 

11  Eleanor  Louise  " 

11  Hobart  Louis  " 

10  Herbert  Read 

10  Elizabeth  Skidmore  " 
10  Ferris  Lyon  " 

Ch.  Elnathan  Skidmore  and  Eunice  Wakeley 
7  Lois  Skidmore  m.     Daniel  Blackman  (See  Blackman) 

6  Abel  Skidmore  son  of  SJohn  Skidmore  and  Mary  Prindle  Newtown,  Conn. 

Ch.  Abel  Skidmore  and  Bethia  Glover  ** 


Claribel  Green 

& 
Louis  Brinsmade 

Jennie  L.  Lyon 

& 
John   C.   Read 


St.  Louis,  Mo. 


Redding,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


7  Daniel 

7  Zerah 

7  Glover 

7  Bennett 

7  Annis 

7  Eunice  Ann 

7  Mary  Ann 

7  Maria 

7  Abel  Booth 

7  John 

7  Charles 


Bethlehem,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


m.  Marjory    Blackman 

m.  Bernice  Hurd 

m.  Sarah  Blackman 

m.  Eliza    Berry 

m.  Henry  Jackson  '"  " 

m.  Samuel  Blackman  (see  Blackman)"        " 

m.  Glover  Botsford  Newtown,  Conn 

m.  John  Lake 

m.  Lucy  Berry  "  " 

m.  Molly  Wheeler 

m.  Mary   Fairchild   no   ch.  "  " 


8  *Lauren  Skidmore   son   of  Daniel  and   1st  wife  Marjory  Blackman 
"  d.    unm. 


8  Lauren  B.  Skidmore  2nd 
8  *Sarah  Ann 


8  Lauren 


Sarah  Ann  Dibble,  2nd  wife 
ch.  & 

Daniel  Skidmore 


m.     Ella  Northrop   (no  ch.) 


Ch.  7Zerah  Skidmore  and  Bernice  Hurd 


8  Homer 
8  Julia 
8  Wealthy 
8  Philo  Hurd 


m.  Annis    N.    Raymond 

m.  Roswell    Morse 

m.  Lucius    Shelton 

m.  Abigail  Ives 


Ch.  Philo  Hurd  Skidmore  and  Abigail  Ives 


9  *Stella  Amelia  Skidmore      m. 
9  Julius  Wordsworth  "  m. 

9  Abigail  Louise  "  m. 

9  *Philo  Hurd  Jr.         "  m. 

9  *William  A. 
9  *Edward   Ives 
9  *Herbert  Monroe 


Edward  L.  Beard 
Marion  E.  Lewis 


Bethlehem,  Conn. 


Cheshire,  Conn. 

Newtown,  Conn. 

Cambridge,  Mass. 
Bridgeport,  Conn. 


Henry  Nichols  (See  Nichols)  Newtown,  Ct. 

Irene   Brown  Bridgeport,   Conn. 

d.  young 

d.  young 

d.  at  twenty-two  years       Newtown,       " 


Ch.  Stella  A.  Skidmore  and  Edward  L.  Beard 


Cambridge,  Mass. 


10  Bessie  Woodbury  Beard 
10  Florence  " 

10  Mabel  Montgomery  "  m. 

10  Amy  Wentworth       "  m. 

10  Edward  Leonard  Jr.  " 


unm. 
unm. 

Francis   Mitchell   Smith     Providence,   R.I. 

George  S.  Chappell     Pelham  Manor,  N.  Y, 

Cambridge,   Mass, 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


137 


11  Caroline   Rhodes  Smith 
11  Francis  Mitchell      "    Jr. 


ll*Barbara    Chappell 
11  George  Shepard  "    Jr. 


10  Lewis  P.  Skidmore 
10  Maud  Bernice  " 

10  Nellie  Skidmore 

10  Laurie  " 

10*Amy 

10*PhiIoHurd3rd" 
10  Preston 

7  Glover  Skidmore 
Their  Ch. 

8  John  Russell  Skidmore 
8  Caroline  " 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


ch. 


Mabel   M     Beard 

& 
Francis  M.  Smith 


Providence,  R.  L 


Amy   Wentworth    Beard 

& 
George  S.  Chappell,  Pelham  Manor,  N.  Y. 


Marion  Lewis 

& 
Julius  Skidmore 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 


Irene  Brown 

& 
Philo    Hurd    Skidmore,    Jr 


m.     Sarah   Blackman 


m. 
m. 


Julia    Botsford 
Ammon  B.  Blackman 


Newtown,   Conn. 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


Ch.  John   R.   Skidmore   and  Julia  Botsford 


9  *William  Botsford  " 
9  *William  Russell      " 
9  *Robert    Edwin 
9  *Mary  Caroline        " 


d.  young 
unm. 
m.    Grace  Walker,  no  desc. 
d.  1918  unm. 


9  Philo  Booth  Blackman        ch. 


10  William   H.   Blackman 

7  John         Skidmore 

8  Elizabeth  M.    " 
Their  Ch. 

9  *Emma   E.  Thornhill 
9  John 

9  Amelia  B. 
9  Fannie  O. 


ch. 


Caroline   Skidmore 

& 
Ammon  B.  Blackman 

Antoinette    Carpenter 

& 
Philo  B.  Blackman 


m.Molly  Wheeler 

m.     Samuel  Thornhill 


m.     *Charles  E.  Beers 

m.     Anna  Tibbals 

m.     George  W.  Stuart 


Newtown,  vJonn. 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


m.     Charles  D.  Ferris  (see  Ferris) 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.   Charles  E.  Beers  and  Emma  Thornhill 


lOHattie    E.    Beers 
10  Edgar  H. 
10  Susie  O. 
10  Clara   L 

10  Clinton  T. 

11  Emma   M.  Fennell 
llHenrv  B. 

11  Joseph    B. 

11  *Charles    E.    Beers 

11  Dorothy  " 

11  Ruth 
11  Morris 
11  Helen 


m.  Peter  H.  Fennell 

m.  Georgia  M.  Ferry 

m.  John  A.  Carlson 

m.  Leonard  A.  Taylor 

m.  Grace  E.  Stapleberg 


ch. 


ch. 


11  Emily  Elizabeth  Carlson       ch. 


Hattie  E.  Beers 

& 
Peter  H.  Fennell 

Georgia  M.  Ferry 

& 
Edgar  E.  Beers 

Susie  O.  Beers 

& 
John  Carlson 


Brookfield,      " 

Newtown,      " 
Detroit,  Mich. 

Brookfield,  Conn. 


Newtown, 


138 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


11  Harold    B.    Taylor 
ll*Lina   M. 


11  Harold  G.  Beers 


10  George  F.  Stuart 


Clara  I.  Beers 
ch.  & 

Leonard   A.   Taylor 

Grace  E.  Stapleberg 
ch.  & 

Clinton  T.  Beers 

Amelia  B.  Thornhill 
ch.  & 

George  W.  Stuart 


Detroit,    Mich. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


STILSON 

IVincent  Stilson  of  Scotch-English  descent  originally  settled  in  Milford 
ZVincent  Stilson,  Jr.  came  to  Newtown  early  in  the  settlement  of  the  town. 

He  m.  Abigail  Peck,  Newtown,  Conn. 

Their  Ch. 

3Abel,  Elnathan,  Jean,  Parthenia,  John,  Sarah   Ann  Newtown,   Conn. 

The  original  house,  added  to  in  1812  by  3Abel,  is  still  standing  (1918),  the 
oldest  house  in  town;  owned  and  occupied  by  James   Egan. 

3  Abel  Stilson 

Their  Ch. 


m.    Jerusha   Prindle 


Newtown,  Conn. 


4  Dothy  J. 
4  David 
4  Abel,  Jr 
4  Elnathan 
4  Anan 
4  Jonathan 
4  Sarah   A. 
4  Isaac 
4  Asa 


Stilson 


d.  young 
m.     Betsey   St.   John 
m.     Sarah  Wetmore 
m.     Polly  Wetmore 

d.  young 
m.     Ellen  Wells 

unm. 

unm. 

unm. 


Easton,   Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  4David  Stilson  and  Betsey  St.  John 


5  Mary   Ann    Stilson 

5  Phoebe  Ann  " 

5  Jerusha  " 

5  Abby 

5  John  " 

5  Betsey 

5  Horace  " 

5  Sidney  " 

5  Alfred 


David  Hawley 


Easton,  Conn. 
Trumbull,  Conn. 


m. 

m.     Philo  B.  Sherwood,  1st  wife 
3rd  wife  of  Philo  B.  Sherwood,  Redding,  Conn 

m.     Perkins  French 

Mary  E.  Sherman 

Henry   Wakeman 

unm. 

unm. 

unm. 


m. 
m. 


Easton,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 

Easton,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  4Abel  Stilson,  Jr.  and  Sarah  Wetmore 


5  *Dr.  Joseph  Stilson 

5  *Polly  Ann 

5  *Abel    3rd 

5  *Mary    A.  " 

5  *Anan 


6  Gertrude  Stilson 


7  Marion  Lawrence 
7  Stilson  " 


ch. 


Residence  unknown 

unm. 

unm. 

unm. 

1st    Georgiana   Merchant 

2nd  Sarah  Stoddard 

& 
Anan    Stilson 

Gertrude  Stilson 

& 
Wilder  F.  Lawrence 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


139 


4  Elnathan   Stilson 
Their  Ch. 

5  William       Stilson 
5  Phebe  Ann  " 

5  Antoinnette  " 

6  David   Henderson 


6  *AbeI  Stilson 
6  George        " 
6  John  " 

6  Frank 

Ch.  SMary  Ann  Stilson 

6  Frances     Hawley 
6  Mary  " 

6  Emmeline  " 

6  Josephine  " 

6  Joseph  " 

6  Julia  " 

5  Phebe  Ann  Stilson 
Their  Ch. 

6  Phebe  Ann  Sherwood 

Sjerusha  Stilson,  3rd  wife 

Their  Ch. 

6  *Eugene         "" 
6  Juliet    Sherwood 
6  Hannah  " 

6  Lavinia  " 

6  Ella 

6  Mary  " 

6  Milfred 

6  John 

7  Elsie  Sanford 
7  Lucy 


m.     Polly  Wetmore 


Newtown,  Conn. 


m. 

Martha  Ward 

" 

4< 

unm. 

" 

« 

m. 

James  Henderson 

" 

" 

Antoinnette  Stilson 

Milford, 

Conn 

ch. 

& 

James  Henderson 

Newtown, 

Conn, 

Martha  Ward 

« 

u 

ch. 

& 

William  Stilson 

« 

« 

No  descendants 

m. 

David  Hawley 

Trumbull, 

Conn 

m.     John  Hunt  (no  ch.) 
m.     Edward   Borroughs   (no  ch.) 
m.     Harlan    Phillips 
m.     Birdsey  Thompson 
m.     Lenora  Toucey  (no  ch.) 
unm 


m.    Philo  B.  Sherwood 

m.     William  Patchin 
Philo  B.  Sherwood 


Easton,  Conn. 
Redding  ,Conn. 


d.  in  infancy 
m.     Hobart  Mallet  (no  ch.)      Trumbull, 
m.     Charles  Sanford  Redding, 

m.     William  Ward  (no  ch.)  " 

m.     George  Gillette  " 

2nd  wife  Wm.  Ward  (no  ch.) 
m.     Charles  Ferris 
m.     Minnie   Odgen 


8  Raymond  Piatt 


8  Earl  George  Sanford 


7  Willard   Gillette 


8  George   Sterling 


7  Minnie   Sherwood 


Hannah  Sherwood 
ch.  & 

Charles  Sanford 

Philo   Piatt 
ch.  & 

Elsie  Sanford 

Lucy  Sanford 
ch.  & 

George  Sanford 

Ella  Sherwood 
ch.  & 

George   Gillette 

Dorothy  Mallette 
ch.  & 

Willard  Gillette 

Minnie  Odgen 
ch.  & 

John  Sherwood 


Easton, 
Redding, 


Newtown, 
Redding, 


Conn. 
Conn. 


Conn. 
Conn. 


Conn. 
Connr 


140 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


8  John  Sherwood  Edwards     ch. 


7  Mary  Sherwood  Ferris 

Ch.  SAbby  Stilson 

6  Harriet  French 

6  Electa 

6  Emma  " 

6  John 

6  Charles  " 

6  Antoinette  " 

6  *George  " 

6  Ch.  6Electa  French  and 

7  Charles   Nichols 
7  Flora 

7  Elsie 
7  Mildred 

7  Jerome  " 

8  Perkins  French  Nichols 
8  Irma  French  " 

7  Sylvia  Marion   Peck 

7  Inez      French 
7  Harry  " 

7  John 
7  Sidney 

6  Carlos   D.    Stilson 


m. 
m. 


Minnie    Sherwood 

& 
Erwin  Edwards 

Arthur   Wheeler 

Perkins  French 

unm. 

m.    Jerome  Nichols 
m.    Hermon  H.  Peck 

unm. 
m.     Emily  Nichols 
m.    Wilbur  Tomlinson 

d.  in  infancy 

Jerome  Nichols 

m.     Lillian  Hull 

m.    Horace  Lyon  (no  ch.) 

unm. 
m.     George  Sturges   (no  ch.) 

d.  in  infancy 

Lillian  Hull 
ch.  &  In  U.  S.  S. 

Charles  Nichols  " 


Easton,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 

Monroe,  Conn. 
Danbury,  Conn. 


Monroe,  Conn. 


Carl^  D.  Stilson 


Emma  French 
ch.  & 

Hermon   H.   Peck 

Emily  Nichols 
ch.  & 

Charles  French 


Mary  Sherman 
ch.  & 

JohnStilson 

m.     Bertha  Peck  (no  ch. 


in  France 
it 

Newtown,  Conn. 
Monroe,  Conn. 

Newtown,  Conn. 


1  Abijah   Summers 
Their  Ch. 

2  Daniel    Summers 
Their  Ch, 

3  David   Summers 


Their  Ch. 

4  Phebe  A. 

Summers 

4  Harriet 

« 

4  Mary 

« 

4  Julia 

« 

4  John   H. 

« 

4  *Charles 

" 

4  Ella 

« 

4  Ada 

" 

4  Lizzie 

« 

4  Andrew  J. 

" 

4  *George 

It 

SUMMERS 

m.     Phebe   Pixlee,   1776 

"     Sally   Gilbert 
"     Jane  Avery 


Adoniram  Fairchild   (see  Fairchild) 

W.  Waterhouse  served  in  Navy  Civil  War 

Irving  Goodsell  (see  Hubbell) 

Smith  Lewis 

Ella  Mellen  Newtown,  Conn. 

d.  young 

Thomas    Perkins  " 

George  Parmelee   (no  ch.) 

Chauncy  Wakeman 

Martha  Towell  Newtown,  Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


141 


Ch.  Harriet  Summers  and  Wm.  Waterhouse 


Newtown,  Conn. 


5  *Laura 

Wat 

erh 

ouse 

5  Ernest 

" 

5  Fannie 

« 

m. 

Reginald  Smith 

5  Alice 

« 

unm. 

5  Irving 

(( 

m. 

Blanche    Boucher 

6  Lucile 


Blanche  Boucher 
ch.  & 

Irving  Waterhouse 


Ch.  Julia  Summers  and  Smith  Lewis 
5  *Irene  Lewis 

Ch.  John  H.  Summers  and  Ella  Mellen 
5  George  Summers 

Ch.  Ella  Summers  and  Thomas  Perkins 

5  Harry  Perkins 

5  Adoniram  " 

5  Raymond  " 

Ch.  Lizzie  Summers  and  Chauncy   Wakeman 

5  Arthur  Wakeman 

5  Angeline  " 

Ch.  Andrew  J.  Summers  and  Martha  Towell 

Summers 


5  E.  Marion 
5  Bertha  E. 
5  Maude  N. 


m.     George  Hartley 


Newtown,  Conn. 


New  Rochelle,  N.  Y. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Bertha  Summers  and  George  Hartley 

6  Marian    Elizabeth   Hartley 

George  Hartley  took  part  in  the  Revolution  in  Hayti  in  1914,  and  re- 
ceived a  medal.  Also  was  in  the  Mexican  trouble  in  service  during  the  war. 
Was  subordinate  officer  on  S.  S.  George  Washington  which  conveyed  Pres- 
ident Wilson  to  Peace  Conference. 


1  Stephen   Taylor 
Their  Ch, 

2  David  Taylor 
2  Jabez 
2  Alonzo 
2  Sherman 
2  Thomas   B. 
2  Hannah 
2  Aurilla 
2  Philo 
2  Sally 
2  Polly 
2  Rebecca 


TAYLOR 

m.    Betsey  Hull,  1786 


m.    Louisa  Peck 


m.  Elizen  Hayes 

"  E.  Granniss 

"  William  Taylor 

"  Wait  Plumb 


Ch.  Alonzo  Taylor  and  Louisa  Peck 


3  Lucy 
3  Francis 


Taylor 


m.     Birdsey  McEwen 
"     Nellie  R.  Perry 


142  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

3  Edward  Taylor  m.     Susan  S.  Botsford 

3  Marcia  "  d.  unm. 

Ch.  Edward  Taylor  and   Susan  S.  Botsford 

4  George  Francis  Taylor         m.     Lorena  Glover 

Alonzo  Taylor  was  a   successful  teacher;  one  of   the   best   of   the   local 
teachers  of  the  time. 

Edward   Taylor   for    many   years   the    popular    proprietor   of    the    Sandy 
Hook  Hotel  and  held  many  offices  in  the  town. 

George  F.  Taylor  for  many  years  of  the  firm  of  Taylor,  Curtis   &  Co. 
has  retired  from  active  mecantile  business. 


TERRILL 

1  Roger          Terrill  m.     Patience  Foote                    Newtown,  Conn. 

2  James                 "  "      Esther  Booth                                "               " 

3  Abel  Booth       "  "       Sophia  Botsford 

Their   Ch. 

4  Mary   Sophia   Terrill  "      Wm.  Botsford  (see  Botsford)    "                " 

4  Emily                         "  "      Horace  Beers  see  Beers  Brookfield  Conn. 

4  Caroline                    "  "      Daniel  Morris  Beers  no  ch.  Vineland  N.  Y. 

4  Hannah   M.              "  "      Wm.  Terrill                           Newtown,  Conn. 

4  James                        "  unm. 

2  Reuben                     "  m. 

3  Botsford                   "  "     1st  Sophia  Glover 
Their   Ch. 

4  *Edwin       Terrill  m.     Emeline  Fairchild              Brookfield,  Conn. 
4  *Jane               "  "      Edson  Shepard  (see  Shepard)  "                " 

4  *Henry           "  "      Delia   Fairchild                    Newtown,  Conn. 

Ch.  3Botsford   Terrill   and   Julia   Glover  2nd   wife 

4  *William     Terrill  m.     Hannah  Terrill 

4  *Frederick         "  "       Elizabeth  Wilcox          (no   ch.) 

4  *Beach                "  Desc.  not  located. 

Ch.  Edwin  Terrill  and  Emeline  Fairchild                            Brookfield,   Conn. 

5  Mary  Frances  Terrill  m.    Wm.  Hawley  (see  Hawley)  Newtown      " 
5  Alice                         "  "       Rev.  Frank  Hawley  (see  Hawley) 

5  Annie                       "  m.     Chas.  D.  H.  Kellogg  (see  Johnson) 

Ch.  Henry  Terrill  and  Delia  Fairchild                                    Newtown,  Conn. 

5  *Robert    Terrill  d.  young 

5  Mortimer       "  m.     Ella  J.  Clarke  (see  Adams)  Ansonia,  Conn. 

Ch.  William  Terrill  and  Hannah  Terrill  Newtown,  Conn. 

5  *Ella    J.              Terrill  unm. 

5  William  B. 

5  *Emily    F. 

5  Frederick    A. 

5  Reuben   B. 

5  Henry  B. 


Los  Angeles,  Cal. 
unm.  "  " 

Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Ch.  Frederick  A.  Terrill,  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 


6  Josephine  A.  Terrill 
^  Carolin    F.  " 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


143 


TOUCEY 

Richard  Toucey  came  from  England  to  Saybrook,  date  not  certainly 
known.  Thomas  Toucey,  his  son,  came  to  America  in  1679.  Thomas 
Toucey,  Jr.  b.  1688  jomed  in  1709  the  little  colony  of  settlers  in  Newtown 

See  Newtown's  first  settled  minister,  1713. 


1  Rev.    Thomas    Toucey 
Their  Ch. 


2  Hannah 

2  Arminal 

2  Elizabeth 

2  Oliver 

2  Mehitable 

2    Sarah 

2  John 

2  Ann 

2  Lieut.  Thomas 

2  Zalmon 

2  Amaryllis 


Toucey 


m.     Hannah  Clark 


m.     josiah   Hooker    (no   ch.) 


m.     Donald  Grant 

m.     John  Cooke 

ni.     Deborah   Wilcox 

m.     Agur  Judson 

m.     Ebenezer  Ford 

m.     Rebecca  Booth 

m.     Daniel   Baldwin 

m.     Mercy    Piatt 

m.     Jerusha    Booth  " 

m.     Lieut   .Abel    Prindic 

(Sec  Prindic") 
Lieut.  Abel  Prindle  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Bennington,  1777. 


Newtown.  Conn. 


Huntington.  Conn, 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Arminal  Toucey  and  Donald  Grant 

3  Sueton        Grant,  b.  1744.  d.  1760 

3  Elizabeth       "         b.  1746.  d.  1762 

3  Donald  "        b.  1747.  d.  1767 

3  Thomas  "        b.  1751,  d.  in  infancy 

3  Thomas.  2nd  "        b.  1753  d.  in  infancy 

See  "Inscriptions  and  Epitaphs" 


Buried  Newtown  Cemetery 


m.     Stephen   Mix  Mitchell  New  Haven.  Conn. 


Stephen  Chester 
Sophia  Coit 
Daniel  Buck 


3  Hannah    Grant 
Their  Ch. 

4  Elizabeth  Mitchell  m. 
4  Capt.  Donald  Grant  Mitchell 
4  Stephen  Mix,  Jr.  Mitchell  m. 
4  Judge  Walter  " 
4  Julia  "  m. 
4  Harriet 

4  Rev.    Alfred  "  m.     Lucretia   Woodbridge 

Rev.  Alfred  Mitchell  was  the  father  of 

5  Donald   Grant    Mitchell,  "Ike  Marvel" 
Author  of  "Reveries  of  a  Bachelor." 

Ch.  301iver  Toucey  and  Deborah  Wilcox 
4  Philo  Toucey  m.     Esther  Shelton 


New  Haven,  Conn. 


Westviile,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


4  Isaac 
4  Zalmon 
4  Oliver,  Jr. 
4  Hannah 


m.  Sarah    Burwell 

m.  Phebe    Booth 

m.  Comfort  Peck 

m.  Zechariah  Clarke   (See  Clarke) 


5  Lucretia  Toucey 
5  Esther 
5  Flora 


Ch.  Philo  Toucey  and  Esther  Shelton 

m      David   Piatt   (See   Piatt)  Newtown.  Conn. 
m.     Israel  Beardslcy  (See  Beardsley) 
m.     Asa  B.  Beardsley 

Ch.  401iver.  Jr.  Toucey  and  Comfort  Peck  Newtown,  Conn 

5  Hon.   Isaac  Toucey  m.     Catherine  Burrci!  (no  ch.)  d.  Hartford,  Ct 

See  "Lawyers,  Newtown  born" 

Ch.  2John  Toucey  and  Rebecca  Booth  Newtown,  Conn. 


144  GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 

3  Abel  Toucey  m.  Esther   Glover  Newtown,  Conn. 

3  Donald            "  m.  Betty  Ferris  "  " 

3  Rebecca          "  m.  Eli  Beers  (See  Beers)  "  " 

3  Huldah           "  m.  Joseph   Blackman   (See  Blackman) 

Ch.  3Abel  Toucey  and  Esther  Glover 

4  Sarah  Ann  Toucey  m.     Thomas  W.  Peck  (See  Peck) 

4  Marcia  "  m.     Jeremiah  Hubbell  (See  Hubbell) 

Their  Ch. 

5  Ruamy  Hubbell  m.     Benjamin    Burr 
5  William          "                           m.     Jane  E.  Winton 

Their  ch.  (See  Hubbell) 

Ch.  Donald  Toucey  and  Betty  Ferris  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  Laura   Toucey  m.    Jacob  Beers  (no  ch.)  "  " 

4  Samuel  "  m.     Harriet  Birch  "  " 

4  Sinclair         "  m.      Sylvia  Beers 

Their  Ch. 

New  York.  N.  Y. 


5  *Henry  Sinclair  Tou 

cey 

d.  unm 

5  *Edward                      " 

d.  unm. 

5  *Mary    Beers 

** 

d.  unm. 

Ch.  2Zalmon  Toucey 

and  Jerusha  Booth 

3  Lazarus           Toucey 

m. 

Lucretia  Wood 

3  Donald  Grant 

m. 

Lucretia    Beers 

3  Phebe 

m. 

Ebenezer  Turner 

3  Jerusha                    " 

m. 

Peter  Finch 

3  Sarah 

m. 

Samuel   C.    Blackman 

3  Joseph 

m. 

Hannah    Curtis 

3  Mary 

m. 

Dr.  Nathan  Thompson 

Ithaca,  N.  Y. 
Newtown,  Conn. 

Galway,  N.  Y. 
Ch.  3Donald  Grant  Toucey  and  Lucretia  Beers 

4  Ann  Eliza  Toucey  m.     Richard   Mansfield  White 
Their  Ch. 

5  Richard  Grant  White  New    York,   N.   Y. 

Ch.  3Phebe  Toucey  and  Ebenezer  Turner  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

4  Mary  Blackman  Turner  m.  Edward  Starr  (no  ch.)  Newtown,  Conn. 

4  David  Booth                "  m.  Susan    Enders  Ithaca,,    N.    Y. 

4  Ebenezer,  Jr.              "  m.  Mary  E.  Williams  "                " 

4  Phebe   Jane                 "  rn.  1st.   Samuel   Bates   (no  ch.)       "                " 

m.    2nd  John  McGraw  (no  ch.)        "  " 

Ch.  David  Booth  Turner  and  Susan  Enders  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

5  Florine  Enders  Turner        m.     Richard  Starr  Dana  "  " 
Their  Ch. 

6  Richard  Turner  Dana 
6  David  T.   Dana 

Ch.  Ebenezer  Turner  and  Mary  E.  Williams  Ithaca,  N.  Y. 

5  Samuel  Bates  Turner  d.  in  infancy 

5  John  Williams       "  d.  in  infancy 

5  "Mary  Elizabeth     "  d.  in  infancy 

5  Ebenezer  Toucey  Turner  m.     Martha  Thompson   Mairs     Galway,  N.  Y. 

Ch.  3Sarah  Toucey  and  Samuel   C   Blackman  Newtown,   Conn. 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


145 


4  Caroline    Black 
4  Sarah 
4  George 
4  Samuel   G. 
4  Alfred 


ni.     Eliza  \V.  Richmoiul 
m.     Miss    I'ield 
m.     Abby   Beers 


Newtown,  Conn. 

••  44 

Watcrbury,  Conn. 


Ch.  3Polly   (Mary)   Toucey  and   Dr.  Nathan  Thompson         Galway.  N.  Y. 

4  Emma  Thompson  m.     Thomas   Mairs  **  " 
Their  Ch. 

5  Nathan  Thompson  Mairs  "  «* 
5  Margaret  Montgomery  "  "  •• 
5  Julia  Montgomery  " 
5  Martha  Thompson  "  m. 
5  Charles  Frederick            " 


Ebenezcr    Toucey    Turner 


TYRRILL 

Ch.  SEsther  Sherman  and  Eben  Tyrrill 

6  Sally  Tyrrill 

6  Abby 

6  Isaac  " 


Newtown,  Conn. 


m.     Andrew  Shelton  (no  ch.) 
"       Burton    Clark 
Harriet  S.  Blake 


Ch.  Abba  Tyrrill  and  Burton  Clarke 

7  Edward  Clarke  m.     1st  Sylvia  Peck  "  " 

"  "  "      2nd   Susan    Burritt   Hyde 

7  Juliette  Clarke  "      George  Northrop  Roxbury        " 

Ch.  Edward  Clarke  and  Sylvia   Peck  Newtown.  Conn. 

8  Frank  Clarke  d.   in   childhood  "  " 
Ch.   Juliette    Clarke   and  George  Northrop                                     "               " 

8  Grace    Northrop  d.  in  childhood. 


8  Mary  "  m.     Frank  Allen 
Their   Ch. 

9  Marjorie  Allen 

Ch.  6Isaac  Tvrrill  and  Harrriet  S.  Blake 


7  Elmer   Tvrrill 

7  Alfred      '  " 

Their    Ch. 

8  *Gertrude  Tyrrill 

8  Dwight 

9  Reginald   Reid 
9  Marion         " 


m.     Letitia  Clingan 
"       Martha  Dikeman 


ch. 


\Vm.  Reid 
Anna  


Gertrude  Tyrrill 

& 
William  Reid 


Ch.  Dwight  Tyrrill  and  Anna. 
9  Raymond  Tyrrill 
9  Dorothy 
9  Phyllis 


Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Newtown,  Conn. 
New  Haven      " 


WARNER 

5  Dr.  William.  4Dr.  Eph.,  Jr.,  3Dr.  Ephraim,  2John  Jr.,  IJohn  of  Hartford. 
5  Dr    William  Warner  m.     Mary  Chambers  of  Newtown 


146 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


9  William  Warner 
9  Mabel 

Their  Ch. 

6  Austin  Warner 
6  Loretta         " 
6  Hermon      " 


ch.     William  Warner  and  wife 


no  desc.  located 
no  desc.  located 
m.     Rebecca  Camp,  1st 
Deborah  Curtis,  2nd 


Newtown,  Conn. 


7  Charles  Camp  Warner,  son  of  Hermon  Warner  and  Rebecca  Camp,  served 
as  Probate  Judge  17  years;  selectman  six  terms;  was  Town  Clerk  from 
1863  to  1870;  representative  in  State  Legislature  several  terms;  also  a 
Justice  of  the  Peace.    He  m.  1st  Ann  Maria  Clarke. 

2nd  Angeline   Prindle  Twitchell 

Ch.  by  1st  m. 


8  *James  Hobart  Warner 

8  *Austin  W. 

8  *Augustus  " 


m.     Flora  Jane   Beers 
m.     Belle  T.  Lawrence 
m.     Rissa  J.  Beers 


Ch.  J.  Hobart  Warner  and  Flora  Jane  Beers 

unm. 

d.  in  young  manhood 

Anna  Teresa  Driggs 

a  successful  teacher 

Mary  Hawley 

d.  in  infancy 

Anna  Teresa   Driggs 

& 
Paul   B.   Warner 

Mary  Hawley 

& 
Hobart  G.  Warner 


9  Mary  S.             Warner 

9  *Howard  C. 

9  Paul  B. 

m 

9  Florence  A. 

9  Hobart  Glover 

m 

9  nVilliam  A. 

10  Sherman   Driggs  Warner     , 
10  Flora   Teresa  " 


10  Hobart   G.  Jr.,  Warner 
10  Austin  " 

10  Henry    Hawley         " 


ch. 


Ch.  Austin  W.  Warner  and  Belle  T.  Lawrence 


Newtown,  Conn. 

Vicksburg,  Miss. 

Chicago,  111. 

Newtown,  Conn. 


New  Britain,  Conn. 
Newtown,  Conn. 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Vicksburg,  Miss. 


9  C.  Lawrence  Warner 
9  Jessie  C.  " 

9  Austin  " 

9  Howard  S. 


m.     Harriet  P.  Glover  "  " 

unm. 
m.     Milly  Elizabeth  Carter  Port  Gibson,  Miss. 
Capt.  in  U.  S.  Service  at  San  Antonio,  Texas 


10  Glover  Lawrence  Warner    ch. 


9  Charles    C.    Warner 

9  Raymond  "  ch. 

9  Catherine  " 

6    Ch.   Hermon   Warner   and  Deborah  Curtis,  2nd  wife 


Harriet  P.  Glover 

& 
C.  Lawrence  Warner 

Rissa   Beers 

& 
Augustus  Warner 


7  John       Warner 
9  David  C. 

8  Tane  Marilla  Warner 

8  William 

9  *Laura  Fairchild 
9  Elgin  Squires 


m.     Jane  Lord 


Vicksburg,  Miss, 


Chicago,  111. 

Newtown,  Conn. 

New  Haven,  Conn. 


Jane  Lord 
ch.  & 

John  Warner 

Jane  Alarilla  Warner 
ch.  & 

George  Fairchild 

Jane   M.  Warner  Fairchild 
ch.  & 

Squires 


GENEALOGICAL    SECTION 


147 


WETMORE 

1  James  Wetmore 

Wetmore       m.     Sophia  Griffen  Newtown,   Conn. 

"  "     Abel  Stilson  (see  Stilson)  " 

"  "    Elnathan  Stilson  (see  Stilson)  " 


2  Ephraim   P 
2  Sarah 
2  Polly 


Ch.    Ephraim   Wetmore   and  Sophia  Griffen 
Wetmore     m 


3  Mary  Jane 
3  Emeline 
3  Sarah 
3  Cyrus 
3  Lemuel   P. 
3  Henrietta 
3  Harriet 
3  Roxy 


Wheeler  Wilcoxen  Stratford,  Conn. 

Wheeler   Fairchild    (see   Fairchild) 

unm.  Newtown,   Conn. 

Sylvia  Glover  Brookfield,  Conn. 

Sarah  Anna  Reed  "  " 

Walter  Simpson 

Parmelee 

1st  Frederick  Henderson  Newtown,    Conn. 

2nd  Chas.  Middlebrook      Trumbull,   Conn. 

William   Simpson 


3  Cornelia  " 
Ch.  Cyrus  Wetmore  and  Sylvia  Glover 

4  Frank  E.  Wetmore     m.     1st   Isabella  W^ickham       Newtown,   Conn. 

"  2nd  Mattie  Holden 

4  Julia  A.  "  "  George  McLean 

4  Charles    P.  "  "  Augusta  Warner 

4  Albert    A.  " 

Ch   Frank  E  Wetmore  and  Isabelle  Wickham  "  " 

5  Florence   E.         Wetmore     m.     Edgar  F.  Northrop 

5  Edward  "  "     Rosa  Blendenbacher 

5  Vivian  "  "      Birdsey  Parsons 


Ch.  Lemuel  P.  Wetmore  and  Sarah  Anna  Reed 

5  Helen  Wetmore     m.     John  Bateman 

5  *Mary 
5  John  C. 

5  Vornon   C. 

Ch.   Florence  Wetmore  and  Edgar  F.  Northrop 

6  *Aurelia    W.        Northrop 
6  Edgar   W. 

Ch.    Vivian    Wetmore    and  Birdsey  Parsons 

6  Isabella    W.  Parsons 

6  Sylvia  G.  " 

6  Ellen 

6  Frances  " 

6  Bradford   Mitchell 

Ch.  Frank  E.  Wetmore  and  Mattie  Holden 

5  James  Russell    Wetmore 
5  Julia  Elender  " 


Brookfield,  Conn. 


Newtown,   Conn. 


WHEELER 

2  Obadiah  Wheeler  son  of  IThomas  Wheeler  of  Milford,  came  to  Newtown, 
before  1739.  In  that  year  he  was  commissioned  by  the  Governor  of  the 
Colony  of  Connecticut,  1st  Lieut,  of  the  2nd  Company  of  "Trainband"  of 
Newtown.     He  m. 


\4S 


GENEALOGICAL     SECTION 


3  Joscpli  Wheelor  son  of  Obadiah,  was  commissioned  Capt.  of  2nd  Com- 
pany of  "Trainband"  in  Newtown,  by  William  Pitkin.  Captain  General 
and  Commander  in  1766. 

He  married  Keziah  Botsford. 

Ch.  Joseph  Wheeler  and  Keziah  Botsford 

4  John  Wheeler 


4  Joseph  B. 
4  Ely 


m.     Anna    Botsford 
"      Ann    Terrill 


Newtown,  Conn. 


Ch.  Joseph  B.  Wheeler  and  Anna  Botsford 

5  Lucy  W'heeler  m.  Sturges    Fairchild(see    Fairchild) 

5  John    Botsford             "  "  Polly  Blackman 

5  Anne   Maria                  "  "  William  Hoyt 

5  Molly                               "  "  John  Skidmore 


Ch.   John    B.   Wheeler   and   Polly  Blackman 

6  Russell  Wheeler     m.     Lydia  Ann  Botsford 

6  Sally  "  "      Elizur  Keeler 

Their  Ch. 

7  Homer       Keeler  "     Martha  Drake 
Ch.    Russell    Wheeler    and  Lydia  Ann  Botsford 


7  John  B. 
7  Ellen 


Wheeler    m.     Mary  Wilcox 
"  d.    in    childhood 


Newtown,  Conn. 

«  u 

tl  ii 

Waterbury,  Conn. 
Newtown,        ** 


Ch.   John    B.   Wheeler   and  Mary  Wilcox 


8  Hervey  W. 

9  Russell 


9  Ruth 


m.     Nellie  Hubbell,  1st  wife 
ch.  & 

Hervey  W.  Wheeler 

Mary  Hubbell,  2nd  wife 
ch.  & 

Hervey  W.  Wheeler 


4  Ely  Wheeler,  son  of  3Joseph  m.  Anna  Terrill 
Their  Ch. 

5  Joseph  Davis  Wheeler         m.     1st   Miss  Bradley 

Their  Ch. 

Bradley  " 

6  Joseph  B.  " 


Ch.  SJoseph  D.    Wheeler 

6  George  B.  " 
Their  Ch. 

7  Emily  Alice  " 
7  Hattie 


m.     Sabra 
"     Clarissa  Dick,  no  ch. 

and  Delia  Bradley,  2nd  wife 

m.     Charlottte  Sanfora 


m. 
m. 


Their  Ch. 


McKee 


8  *Estelle 
8  *Hattie 
8  Walter  Howard  "  m. 

8  Gertrude  "  m. 

8  Ernest  W.  "  "i 

8  Charlotte  Elizabeth  McKee  m. 


George  M.  McKee  Dyersville,  Iowa 

Walter  McKee  (no  ch.)  Minneapolis,  Minn. 


1st.  Grace  Hall 

2nd  Grace  Lee 

Otis  Harn 

Adaline  Consuela  Vetter 

Elgar  C.  Martin 


Ch.  Gertrude  McKee  and  Otis  Harn 


JO^lFiPH  T^^COTT   Efq; 
Ggvernpiir  and  Commander  in  Chief  of  His 
Majeity's  Colony  o£ciMm||tut 

To     V.V^illE'^Uv'^K^v  ,    Gent,  <5fa*ng.  j  »» 

U  being  by  the  GeneralWcrabqf  o(  this  Colony,  aAli  ted  to  %:  /'\iU^'^- 
of  the  ,/y>»r^      Compar  •  or  Tt^^^^'^  in  the  1  tivo  of^-»>'.---     R^j- 
pofing  fpccial  Ttuft  and  (  )ntidencc  in  your   Lofairi  Cour.gc  iiid  gocxl 
ortdu(»,  I  do,  by  Virtue  of  the  L  ttcis   Patents  Irom  theCt^'n  ol  En^Mil  to  th^s 
florpos^n,  Me  thereunto  Enablirv  .Appoint  and  ImpowLt  *u  to  t^ke  the  faiJ  ^ 
T\.„..„.y  into  your  Care  and'Cha   Jc,  as  Their  .^^^-^'—^'/^  C:i 
to  difcli^rge  that  Truft,  ExcrciCng  '  jur  Infeiiour  Officers  andti 
of  thcir;Arms,  according  to  the  Dif(  plinc  of  War  -,  keeping  the 
Government,  and  Commirdmg  Th  m  to  Ob^y  Ynu  as  Their 
MajeftJ^  Service.     And  Yoii  arc  to  ^bfetvc  all  fuch  Orders  an<J 
Tiaieta  Time  you  fhall  Receive, eiti  er from  Me, or  (rem  other  yburbup^jourtJmtcr,' 
puifuinr  to  the  Tiull  hereby  Repofu  ,  in  You.    Given  under  ms-jHand  -nd  the  S--mI'oi 
this  Colbny,  in ,  .^^^/^    the        ■■? '^- —  Day  of  >^^        In  the      /Z'^'— .  Y.arVi 
theReifjn  ol  Our'Sovercign  Lord  GEORGE 
Bii  T  a  N,  &c,   annomie  BoqjUif J  i  7  3 


I. 


fully  -i:d  Diligently  ''' 

^t>r->     ill  the  u(e    H 

in  gord  Older  and 

•.f^.„.,j.     (or  His  _ 

L'tc6ions,  :s  iforn 

rOlTie       ■■' 


my 

thcr  Seco 


id,  KING  of  Gut/,  r- 


m 


triLLIAM    P  I T IC  T  N,  ^s<i. 

Captain-General,  and  Commander  in  Chief,  (/His.Majefty's  Colon}''  of 
Cotmecbcuty  inNEW-ENCLAND. 
T'   '    y/Ji^  9fyyi^^-  ■ — —    c«t  r; 

You  bcin^^y  the  Gepctal  AHcnJiK' of  this  Colonj^  accepted  toJ 
and  Confident  in  your  Loyalty,  Courage  ,ind  nood Cojidudt,  I  j 
the  Letters  Patcntj  from  tlic  Crosvn  of  England,  t()lhis  Corporation,  M 
bling,  appoint  and  impower  you  to  take  the  laidi^^K*^*^    into  your  ( 
as  tlicir    {tjT/aiH  —      carefully  and  diligently  to  diftharije  that  Trufb; ' 
inferior  Officers  and  1  't^^t'        in  the  L'fe  of  their  Anns,  accordiivg  to  iTi 
VV'arjiKecpin"  thcin  in  good  Oriitr  and  Government ;    :ind  commandii 
you  as  their    (^/ar/,<  |or  his  ,\l.i|clly's  .ServiLC.     And  you  are  to  oblcrvcall  ..-; 

Orders  and  Direifions  as  from  T  ime  to  Time  yo'i  Ihall  receive  cither  from  Mr,  or  i  . 
other  your  luperior  Otijcer,  purfuant  to  the  Ciull  hereby  rewfed  in  \cni,     Gucn  i'. 
my  Hand  and  the  Seal  of  this  Colony,  in.'^wie*"  the     '->7      'D.iy  akd/il^    In  ■': 
y^ — >      Year  of  the  Reign  of  Our  .Soverei-'n  Loid  iihORGE  the  Thiid,  Ki.  c 
Giciit-Eritain,  &c     Ann'xiiie  Domini,  i  7  66'  ■■  ,1  !.,._- 


GENEALOGICAL  SECTION  149 

9  Richard  Eugene  Ham 

Ch.  Ernest  Wheeler  McKec  and  Adaline  Consuela  Vetter 

9  Doris  Olive  McKee 

8  Lieut.  Com.  Ernest  McKee  was  graduated  from  Naval  Academy,  Annapolis, 
in  1908.  Was  Commander  of  the  Governor's  private  ship  when  the  U.  S. 
took  over  the  Danish  Islands(now  Virgin  Islands).  Is  now,  1918,  Lieut. 
Commander  on  the  battleship  Utah. 

1  Obadiah  Wheeler  b,  1784    m.     Patience  Judson   1804 
Their  Ch. 

2  Norman  Wheeler  b.  1806 
2  Russell  "  b.  1810 
2  John  J.              "  b.  1812 

2  Betsey  "  b.  1819     m.     Nathan  Couch 

Their  Ch. 

3.  Ella  M.  Couch  m.  1st  Henry  Botsford. 

m.  2nd  Samuel  J.  Botsford  (see  Botsford) 

3  George  Couch  m.  Emily  Piatt  Morris. 
Their  Ch. 

4  George  Couch 


WHITNEY 

1  James   Whitney    born    in    Stratford   came    to   Newtown    in    1771.     He   m. 
Eunice  Johnson.     Of  their  twelve  children  only  Philo  lived  in  Newtown. 

He  was  a  blacksmith,  his  shop  being  at  the  head  of  Newtown  street  at 
(the  foot  of  Mt.  Pleasant).  Ives  Glover  the  well  known  blacksmith  of 
South  Center  learned  his  trade  of  him. 

2  Philo  Whitney  m.     1st  Jerusha  Wheeler 

2nd  Aurelia  Wheeler. 

Ch.  of  Philo  Whitney  and  Jerusha  Wheeler 

m.     Edmund  Fairchild  (See  Fairchild) 


3  *Harriet 

3  *Joseph  Botsford 

3  *James  Wheeler 

3  *Emily 

3  Aurelia 

3  Ruth  Ann 


m.     Anna  Maria  Lewis 

"      Legrand  Fairchild   (See  Fairchild) 

"      Oliver  Warner  Moore  (no  ch.) 

"       1st  Truman  Hubbell  Bethel,  Conn. 

"      2nd  Mark  Leavenworth  Hubbell 

3  Abraham  Johnson   "               "       Marietta  Parmalee  Bethel,  Conn. 

Ch.  James  W.  Whitney  and  Anna  Maria  Lewis 

4  Anna  Maria  "  Staten  Island 
4  Joseph  Botsford  "  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
4  *Isabella  Lewis        "                      d.  young 

Ch.   *Ruth   A.   Whitney   and  Mark  L.  Hubbell  Bethel,  Conn. 

4  Truman    Johnson   Hubbell  "               " 

4  Mary  Estella               "  "               " 
4  Philo  Whitney 

Ch.  *Abram  Johnson  Whitney  and  Marietta  Parmalee  "                " 

4  Harriet  Aurelia  Whitney 

4  James  Wheeler        "  Ohio 

4  Frederick  Moore     "  Rochester,   N.    \. 

4  Bertha   Belle              "  Bethel.  Conn. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 


Ezra  L.  Johnson  7i  yrs.  of  age 

Frontispiece 
Jane  Eliza  Johnson,  82  yrs.  of  age. 

Page 

Jane  Eliza  Camp,  facing  page..  10 

Ezra  Levan  Johnson    "        "  10 

Ezra  L.  Johnson,  facing  page..  11 

Jane  E.  Johnson,         "        "  11 

Quanneapague   (2  views) 18 

South   Main   Street 19 

Smith-Scudder   Residence    19 

Johnson    House 51 

Rev.  Wm.  H.  Moore 78 

Rev.  Henry  B.  Smith 78 

Rev.  James  P.  Hoyt 79 

Rev.  Otis  W.  Barker 79 

Rev.  Edward  O.  Grisbrook 79 

Congregational  Church    79 

Old    Newtown,    facing 80 

Memorial   Boulder,   facing 81 

Rev.  Daniel  Burhans  D.  D 84 

Rev.  Newton  E.  Marble  D.  D...  84 

Trinity    Episcopal    Church 85 

Silas   N.   Beers 85 

The  Two  Churches  1793  &  1870  85 

Rev.   George  T.  Linsley 86 

Rev.  James  H.  George 87 

Rev.  William  C.  Cravner 87 

Beach   Camp    87 

Daniel  G.  Beers 87 

Rev.  Francis  W.  Barnett 88 

The  three  sons  of   Rev.  F.  W. 

Barnett     88 

Rev.  David  Botsford 89 

Rev.  George  L.  Foote 89 

Rev.    Sylvester    Clark 90 

Rt.  Rev.  Frederick  F.  Johnson..  91 

William  B.  Prindle 92 

St.  John's  Church 93 

Methodist  Church    93 

Rev.  Otis   Olney  Wright 94 

St.   Rose   Church 95 

Rev.  James   Mc  Cartan 95 

Mrs.  Mary  Ann  Birch 141 

Caleb   Baldwin   Inn 144 

William  A.  Leonard 145 


Page 

Willson    M.   Reynolds 171 

Governor   Isaac   Toucey 199 

Governor  Luzon  B.  Morris 201 

William   J.    Beecher 203 

Frederick   P.   Marble 203 

Dr.   Monroe  Judson 211 

Dr.  Charles  H.   Peck 213 

Miss  Susan  J.  Scudder 230 

Mrs.  Edith  G.  Mitchell 231 

Prof.  Charles  S.  Piatt 234 

Main  St.  Looking  South 235 

Beach   Memorial  Library 235 

Newtown  Savings  Bank 236 

Simeon  B.  Peck 237 

Philo   Clarke    238 

David   C.   Peck 238 

Arthur  T.  Nettleton 240 

Cornelius   B.  Taylor 241 

Masonic    Temple 242 

Capt.   Julius    Sanford 245 

Louis  T.   Briscoe 246 

Fabric  Fire  Hose  Co 248 

Dennis    C.    Gately 248 

Wm.  T.  Cole 249 

Office  of  Newtown  Bee 250 

Reuben   H.   Smith 250 

Allison   P.  Smith 251 

Arthur    J.    Smith 251 

Zalmon  S.  Peck 252 

Factory  of  S.  Curtis  and  Son...  260 
Residence  of  Wm.  T.  Cole....  262 
The    Country   Club 263 

MILITARY  RECORD 
SECTION 

Dr.  Wm.  C.  Wile 274 

Edward    Troy 275 

GENEALOGICAL  SECTION 

Franklin    Fairman 66 

Frederick    W.    Foote 70 

Rev.  Charles  H.  Gardner 71 

Daniel  N.  Morgan 100 

Wheeler   Commissions 148 


CONTRIBUTORS'  LIST 

Mrs.  Franklin  Fairman Chicago 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Peck New  York  and  Newtown 

Alfred    Walker Newtown 

The    Misses    Beecher Newtown 

Arthur   Reynolds Newtown 

Willson    M.   Reynolds Newtown 

Congregational    Church    Society Newtown 

Frederick    I.    Marble Lowell,    Mass. 

Mrs.  S.  N.  Beers Pittsfield,  Mass. 

Trinity    Parish Newtown 

Mrs.  George  F.  Taylor Sandy  Hook 

Mrs.   Frank   H.    Mitchell Newtown 

Mrs.  Julia  Hawley Sandy  Hook 

Rev.  George  T.  Linsley Hartford,  Conn. 

Miss   Grace  Clark Bridgeport,   Conn. 

Miss  Anna  McCartan Newtown 

Mrs.  William  K.   Stone Kent,   Conn. 

William  Camp  and  Charles  Beach  Johnson Newtown 

Levan  Merritt  Johnson Painesville,  Ohio 

Earle  Levan  and  Merritt  Camp  Johnson Painesville,  Ohio 

Rt.  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Frederick  Foote  Johnson St.  Louis,  Missouri 

Mrs.  Harriet  Foote  Toles Elizabeth,  New  Jersey 

Clarence    L.    Beardsley New    Haven,    Conn. 

Mrs  William  A.   Leonard Newtown 

Theron    E.    Piatt Newtown 

Charles  G.  Morris New  Haven,  Conn. 

Mrs.  Stanley   M.  Ramsey Cincinnati,  Ohio 

Miss   Susan   J.   Scudder Newtown 

Mrs.   Edith   G.   Mitchell Newtown 

William   T.    Cole Newtown 

Mrs.  Charles  S.  Piatt New  York 

Newtown  Savings  Bank Newtown 

David  C.   Peck Newtown 

Arthur    T.    Nettleton Newtown 

Cornelius    B.   Taylor Newtown 

Hiram  Chapter  and  Lodge Sandy  Hook 

Mrs.  Clarence  Bolmer New  Haven,  Conn. 

William    R.    Curtis Newtown 

Mrs.  Dennis  C.  Gateley Mamaroneck,  N.  Y. 

Mrs.  William  Samuel  Johnson Mamaroneck,  N.  Y. 

Newtown    Bee Newtown 

Mrs.  Mary  F.  P.  Cheves Macon,  Georgia 

Miss  Mary  E.  Hawley Newtown 

Miss  Alice  Wile Danbury,  Conn. 

Mr.  Edward  Troy Sandy   Hook 

Hon.   Daniel   N.    Morgan Bridgeport,   Conn. 

John    B.   Wheeler Newtown 

Mrs.  Charles  H.  Gardner Washington,  D.  C. 

Frederick    P.    Sherman Monroe,   Conn. 

Mrs.  E.  P.  Taylor Oakland,  Cal. 

David  Curtis New  Haven,  Conn. 

In  dear  and  loving  memory  of  our  daughter,  Hattie  L.  Curtis. 


CONTENTS 


Page 

Foreword  3 
Mr.  Johnson's   Own   Foreword       4 

I  Reuben  Hazen  Smitli's  Tribute      7 

I  The  Bridgeport  Farmer's  Tribute  9 

The  Newtown   Bee's  Tribute  9 
Resolutions   by   Vestry   of 

Trinity   Church  11 

I  His  Epitaph  12 

Copy  of  Deed  13 

Quiomph's  Purchase  14 
Bearing  Each  Others   Burdens     \7 

Quanneapague  18 

First   Grist    Mill  21 

First   Sawmill  24 

Granting  Town  Rights  25 

Pitching  for  Land  29 

)  Pitching  for  Meadow  Land  32 
Newtown's  First  Meeting  House  35 

j  Newtown's  Town   Houses  43 

Sabbath   Day   Houses  44 

I  Disputes  Over  Town   Lines  45 

Brookfield's  Origin  48 

Layout  of  Country  Roads  50 
Newtown's  First  Call  for  a 

Minister  53 

Mr.  Phineas  Fisk  53 

I  Newtown's  First  Settled 

Minister  54 

Mr.  Thomas  Tousey  54 
Newtown's  Second  Settled 

Minister  59 

Rev.  John  Beach  59 

Rev.   Elisha   Kent  63 

Rev.   David  Judsun  69 

Rev.  Zephaniah  Smith  74 

Rev.  John   Clark  74 

Rev.  Wm.   Mitchell  75 

Rev.   N.   M.  Urmston  75 

Rev.  Alexander  Leadbetter  76 

Rev.   Jason   Atwater  78 

Rev.  Wm.  H.  Moore  78 

Rev.   Wm.    M.  Arms  78 

Rev.  Daniel  W.  Fox  78 

Rev.  Henry  Bagg  Smith  78 

Rev.  James   P.   Hoyt  79 

Rev.   Samuel   Delzell  79 

Rev.  Otis  W.  Barker  79 

Rev.  Ralph  Danforth  79 

Rev.  Alexander   Steele  79 

Rev.  T.  J.   Lee  79 

Episcopal    Churches  80 

Rev.  John   Beach  81 

Rev.  Philo  Perry  83 

Rev.  Daniel  Burhans  84 

Rev.  Samuel  C.  Stratton  84 

Rev.    S.    S.    Stocking  84 

Rev.  Horace  Hills  84 

Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  M.  CarmichacI  84 

Rev.  Benj.  W.  Stone  84 

Rev.   Dr.  Newton   E.   Marble  84 
Building  of  Fourth  Church 

Edifice  85 

Rev.  Thomas  W.  Haskins  85 


Page 

Rev.  Governcur  Morris  Wilkins  86 

Rev.  George  Thomas  Linsley  86 

Rev.  James  Hardin  George  87 
Resolutions  Adopted  by  Vestry 

of  Trinity  Church  on  Death  of 

Chas.   S.   Piatt  88 

Rector's  Assistants  88 

Rev.   Wm.  Ackley  88 

Rev.   Thomas   Mallaby  88 

Kev.  Francis  W.  Barnett  88 
Those  Newtown  Born 

Who  Entered  the  Ministry  89 

Rev.    David    Botsford  89 

Rev.   Abel   Nichols  89 

Rev.   George   L.   Foote  89 

Rev.  Sylvester  Clarke  D.  D.  90 

Rev.   Arthur   Thomas    Parsons  91 

Rev.  Edward  Egan  91 
Rt.  Rev.  Frederick  Foote 

Johnson  91 

Rev.  James  Hardin  George  Jr.  92 

St.  Jame's  Church  93 

St.  John's  Church  93 

The    Methodist    Church  94 

The  Baptist  Church  95 

St.  Rose's   Church  95 

Sandemanian    Church  95 

SCHOOL   DISTRICTS 

North  Center  96 

iMiddle  99 

Taunton  and   Zoar  100 

Land's  End  101 

Palestine  102 

Hanover  103 

South  Center,  Kettletown, 

Deep  Brook  104 

Lake  George  105 

Flat  Swamp  and  Sandy  Hook  106 
Pohatuck  107 

Bear  Hills  and  Middle  Gate  108 
Gray's  Plain  and  Head  of 

Meadow  109 

Wapping  110 

Gregory's  Orchard  and 

Walker's   Farms  111 

Toddy  Hill  and  Huntington  112 
Walnut  Tree  Hill  113 

Hopewell  114 

Half  Way  River  115 

The  Southerly  Highway  116 

Those  Who  Took  Freeman's  Oath, 

1742  to  17%  119  to  121 

Those  Who  Took  Freeman's 

Oath,  Also  Those  Who  Took 

"Oath    of    Fidelity", 

177-1791  121   to   124 

Those  Who  Took  Freeman's 

Oath,  1778-1833  124-130 

Newtown   During  The 

Revolution  130-138 

Passing  of  French 

Soldiers  Through  Newtown  139 
The   Roadside  Tavern  143 


2  CONTENTS 

Page  Page 

Care  and  Keep  of  Newtown's  Dr.  John  Judson  210 

Dependents  147  Dr.   Cyrenius   H.   Booth                 210 

Bridgeport   and  Uewtown  Dr.  William   Edmond   Booth       210 

Turnpike   Co.  152  Dr.  Thomas  Dutton                       210 

Old  Days  of  the  Stage  Coach  157  Dr.  Russell  B.  Botsford                211 

Highway  Reconstruction  159  Dr.    George  Judson                         211 

Building,  Equipment,  Running  Dr.   Monroe  Judson  211 

Expenses  etc.  of  the  Dr.  Erastus  Plrwin  211 

Housatonic  Railroad  Dr.  Moses  Botsford  Beers  212 

1835-1843                                    165-170  Dr.    Henry    Hawley    Foote  212 

Newtown's  Post  Offices  and  Dr.  William  Camp  212 

Post    Masters    1800-1912  170  Dr.  James  W.  Gordon                   212 

Restrictions  to  Domestic  Dr.  Ralph  N.  Betts  212 

Animals  176  Dr.  Andrew  Egan                           213 

Newtown's    Sheep    Industry  180  Dr.  Charles  Howard  Peck            213 

God's  Acre  189  Dr.  Earle  Peck                                 214 

Epitaphs  and  Inscriptions  192  Dr.  Clement  Botsford 

Newtown's    Lawyers  198  34  of  Genealogical  Section 

Judge    William    Edmond  198  Grand  Levy  for  1739                       214 

Samuel    Curtis    Blackman  198  Grand  Levy  for   1769                     217 

Asa  Chapman  198  Ratable    Estates    for    1809            221 

Holbrook  Curtis  198  Newtown    Borough                          222 

Reuben    Booth  199  Newtown's    Fire    Companies, 

Henry    Dutton  199  1803-1913                                          224 

Hon.  Isaac  Toucey  199  Newtown   Academy,   1837-1902     226 

David  Hull  Belden  199  Newtown   High   School, 

Charles   Chapman  200  1902-1917                                          231 

David    B.   Beers  200  The  John  Beach  Memorial 

Isaac  M.  Sturges  200  Library 

Alfred  Blackman  200  Sandy  Hook  Free   Library 

Hon.  Amos  S.  Treat  200  Newtown    Savings    Bank 

Judge    Daniel    Blackman  201  Free   Masonry  in  Newtown 

Julius  B.  Curtis  201  The   Rubber   Industry 

Luzon  B.   Morris  201  The   Newtown    Bee 

Richard    Botsford  201  Pohtatuck    Grange 

Judge   James   Nichols  202  The  Domestic  Economy  of 

Hon.    Charles    H.    Briscoe  202  our   Mothers 

Judge   David    Belden  202  Berkshire 

Austin  N.  Botsford  202  The   Men's  Club 

Johnson  Tuttle  Piatt  202  The  Water  Company 

Julius   C.   Cable  203  The    Country    Club 

William    J.    Beecher  203  A  40  Year  Lease  of  Mountain 

Charles    H.    Northrop  203  Land  in  Sandy  Hook 

Frederick  Parker  Marble  203  The  Conservation  of  Timber 

Nichols    Curtis    Downs  204  Newtown's    Military    Record 

James  M.   Betts  204  The  Red  Cross  Work 

Doctors  of  the  Old  School  and  ^         1*0          a     t  c   \a- 

of  Later  Years  205  ^""J^^W.^  ^^'°'"'^  °^  Soldiers 

Dr.    Lemuel    Thomas  205 


of   1812 


Dr.  Gideon  Shepherd                     205  ^  Index  to  Newtown's   Military 

Dr.   Bennett   Perry                          207  Record  285 

Dr.  Oliver  Bwicmpft  <-v   ^    ^209  Preface  and  Index  to 

Dr.    Rufus    aIli(Uiof&  O  Q   ^209  Genealogical  Section       149  pages 

In  the  Index  to  the  Main  Book  the  following  Errata  occurs  on  page  194, 
it  should  read  Mr.  Daniel  Booth  instead  of  David. 


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