USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 1
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 1
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2
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of
HISTORY
OF
REW FLAVIEN
OUNTY,
CONNECTICUT.
Edited by J. L. ROCKEY, Assisted by a corps of writers.
In two volumes, Illustrated.
VOLUME II.
Catholic University of Amp
LIBRARY
D.
NEW YORK! W. W. PRESTON & CO.
1 8
RELEASE
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
CATHOLIC UNNERSITY OF AMERICA
24596
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
THE TOWN OF BRANFORD. PAGE
Settlement and Early History .- Civil Government .- Town Officers .- Town Buildings .- Branford Borough .- Probate District .- Public Highways .- General Industrial Interests .- Branford Village .- Beach and Shore Re- sorts .- Stony Creek Village .- Secret and Beneficial Orders .- The G. A. R. and the Soldiers' Monument .- Education .- Congregational Church and Society .- Trinity (P. E.) Church .- Baptist Church .- Methodist Church .- Lutheran Church .- St. Mary's (R. C.) Church .- Cemeteries .- Biographical Sketches
1
CHAPTER II.
THE TOWN OF NORTH BRANFORD.
Location and Description .- Settlement and Settlers .- Civil Organization .- General Industrial Interests .- Bare Plain. - North Branford Village .- Northford. - Masonic Lodge. - Patrons of Husbandry .- Educational Affairs .- North Branford Congregational Church .- Northford Congrega- tional Church .- The "Enrolled " Church. - Zion (Protestant Episcopal) Church .- Bare Plain Union Chapel .- Cemeteries .- Roster of Captain Eells Company in the Revolution .- Soldiers' Monument .- Biographical Sketches.
72
CHAPTER III. THE TOWN OF GUILFORD.
Location and Description .- Natural Features and Points of Interest .- The Pioneers .- Civil Government .- Probate District .- Magistrates and Jus- tices .- Town Buildings .- Cemeteries .- Roads and Bridges .- Industrial Pursuits .- Guilford Borough .- Lodges and Societies .- Religious Inter- ests .- Educational and Literary .- Some Distinguished Citizens .- Physi- cians and Lawyers .- Military Matters .- Soldiers' Monument .- Biographi- cal Sketches 108
CHAPTER IV.
THE TOWN OF MADISON.
Location and Description .- Settlement and Settlers .- Old Houses .- Civil Organization and Civil Officers .- Madison Green .- Highways .- Industrial Interests .- East River .- North Madison .- Madison Village .- The Beach. -Physicians .- Educational and Religious .- Lodges .- Cemeteries .- Mili- tary Affairs .- Biographical Sketches
183
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V. THE TOWN OF MILFORD. PAGE
Geographical and Descriptive .- The Indians .- The Early Settlers .- Civil Government .- Roads, Ferries and Bridges .- Shipbuilding, Commerce and Trade .- Milford Village .- Woodmont .- Wheeler's Farm .- Public Houses .- Manufacturing Interests .- Banks .- Newspapers .- Post Office. -Fire Company .- Agricultural Society .- Secret Orders .- Soldiers Monuments .- Educational and Professional .- Churches .- Cemeteries. -Military Affairs .- 250th Anniversary .- Biographical Sketches 210
CHAPTER VI. THE TOWN OF WOODBRIDGE.
Location and Natural Features .- Geology and Mineralogy .- Flora .- Indus- tries .- The Regicide Judges .- Amity Society .- Union Society .- Chapel. -Ministers .- Burial Grounds .- Prominent Citizens .- List of Early In- habitants .- First Town Meeting .- Town Officers .- Town House .- Roads. -Physicians .- Biographical Sketehes. 382
CHAPTER VI1. THE TOWN OF BETHANY.
Location and Description .- Civil Organization .- Town Officers .- Business Interests .- Physicians .- Religious and Educational Interests .- Cemeter- ies .- Revolutionary Incident .- Biographical Sketches 311
CHAPTER VIII. THE TOWN OF ORANGE.
Location and Natural Features .- Incorporation .- Civil List .- Highways. - West Haven Village and Its Various Interests .- The Village of Orange. -Tyler City .- Allingtown .- West Haven Congregational Church .- Christ Church (P. E.) .- West Haven M. E. Church .- St. Lawrence Church (R. C.) .- Orange Congregational Church .- Orange Cemetery .- Biographical Sketches. 330
CHAPTER IX. THE TOWN OF DERBY.
Location .- The Indians .- Early Trading Post .- Purchase of Lands .- The Proprietors .- Civil Government .- Extracts from Town Records .- Fer- ries, Roads, Bridges, etc .- Early Commercial Interests and Shipbuilding. -Derby Village .- Burtville .- Birmingham and Its Manufacturing Inter- ests .- Merchants .- Hotels .- Banks .- The Press .- Post Office .- Physi- cians and Lawyers .- The Borough .- Fire Department .- Water Com- pany .- Gas Company .- Street Railways .- Driving Park .- Societies and Lodges .- Soldiers' Monument. 365
CHAPTER X. THE TOWN OF DERBY (CONCLUDED).
Educational Interests .- Early Religious Interests .- First Congregational Church in Derby .- Birmingham Congregational Church .- Young Men's Christian Association .- Episcopal Churches .- The Methodist Episcopal Denomination .- Union Chapels .- African M. E. Church .- Roman Catho- lic Church. Cemeteries .- Biographical Sketches
417
V
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XI.
THE TOWN OF ANSONIA. PAGE
Location and Description .- Civil Government .- The Borough of Ansonia .- West Ansonia .- Manufacturing Interests .- Banks .- Post Office .- The Press .- Opera House .- Water Companies .- Physicians and Lawyers .- Lodges and Societies .- Soldiers' Monument .- Congregational Church .- Christ Church .- Young Men's Christian Association .- Emanuel Free Church .- Methodist Episcopal Church .- Baptist Church .- Second (Col- ored) Baptist Church .- Roman Catholic Church .- Schools .- Biographical Sketches. 476
CHAPTER XII.
THE TOWN OF OXFORD.
Description .- Purchase of Lands from the Indians .- Early Settlers and Their Descendants .- Civil Organization .- Town Officers .- Business Interests. -Oxford Village and Its Various Interests .- Physicians .- Religious and Educational .- Sheldon Clark .- Burial Places .- Samuel Candee .- Militia. -Biographical Sketches. 531
CHAPTER XIII.
THE TOWN OF SEYMOUR.
Geographical and Descriptive .- The Indians .- The Settlers .- Civil Organi- zation .- Public Thoroughfares .- Village of Seymour .- Hotels .- Mer- chants .- Post Office .- Banks .- Physicians and Attorneys .- The Press .- Libraries .- Lodges and Societies .- Manufacturing Interests .- Schools .- Churches .- Cemeteries .- Biographical Sketches 551
CHAPTER XIV.
THE TOWN OF BEACON FALLS.
Location and Description .- Land Purchases .- Settlement and Settlers .- Civil Organization .- Town Officers .- Pines Bridge .-- Cemetery .- Indus- trial Interests .- Societies .- Methodist Episcopal Church .- High Rock Grove .- Biographical Sketches. 615
CHAPTER XV.
TOWN AND CITY OF WATERBURY.
Location and Description .- Settlement and Early Events .- Waterbury City. -Other Business Centers .- Civil Organization of the Town .- Probate District .- Courts .- Waterbury Borough .- First City Charter .- Charter of 1867 .- Mayors and Clerks .- City Hall .- Police Department .- Street Improvement .- Fire Department .- Water Works .- Gas and Electric Lighting. - Parks. - Statistics .- Manufacturing Enterprises. - Banks .- Insurance Company. - Horse Railway Company .- The Periodical Press. -Post Office .- Public Houses .- Prominent Merchants .- Physicians and Lawyers .- Lodges and Societies .- Educational Matters .- Churches. - Hospital. - Cemeteries .- Military Matters .- Biographical Sketches .....
626
vi
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE TOWN OF NAUGATUCK. PAGE
Location and Description .- Allotment of Lands and Settlement .- Civil Or- ganization .- Town Officers .- Probate Court .- Town Hall,-Town Farm. -Roads and Bridges .- Manufacturing Interests .- Straitsville .- Nauga- tuck Village .- Savings Bank and Building Association. - Naugatuck Na- tional Bank .- Electric Light Company .- Gas Company .- Water Com- pany .- Fire Company .- Telephone Company .- The Periodical Press .- Post Office .- Inns and Hotels .- Stores and Merchants .- Physicians .- Secret and Social Orders .- Schools .- Libraries .- Congregational Church. -St. Michael's (Protestant Episcopal) Church .- Methodist Episcopal Church .- Union City Mission Chapel .- Swedish Lutheran Chapel .- Baptists .- St. Francis (R. C.) Courch .- Soldiers' Monument .- Cemeter- ies .- Biographical Sketches. 699
CHAPTER XVII.
THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBURY.
Description and Natural Features .- Settlement and Settlers .- Civil Organi- zation .- Town Officers .- Roads and Bridges .- General Interests .- Mid- dlebury Village .- Physicians .- Quassepang Lake .- Schools .- Religious Interests .- Cemetery .- Biographical Sketches 757
CHAPTER XVIII. THE TOWN OF SOUTHBURY.
Location and Description .- The Pootatuck Indians .- The Early Settlers .-
Civil Organization .- Business Interests .- South Britain .- Southford and its Various Interests .- Physicians and Lawyers .- Religious Interests .- Cemeteries .- Military Affairs .- Biographical Sketches. 774
CHAPTER XIX.
THE TOWN OF WOLCOTT.
Settlement .- Civil Organization .- First Town Meeting .- Town Clerks .- Pnb- lic Green .- Publie Highways .- Schools .- Industrial Interests .- Wolcott Center. - Woodtick. - Physicians .- Religious Matters. - Cemeteries .- Biographical Sketches 808
PORTRAITS.
Allerton, George M 736
Alling, Charles B. 434
Augur, Reuben N 96
Bartholomew, Arthur H
Bartholomew, Dana 506
504
Bartlett, Egbert.
Bassett, Robert N 508
Bassett, Royal M 436
438
Beattie, John. 166
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
vii
Birdseye, Thomas S
PAGE 442
Blake, Rufus W.
444
Blakeman. George
446
Bristol, Charles E
510
Camp, Robert.
768
Chaffee, Charles S.
448
Clark, Charles E
450
Colburn, James M
452
Coupland, Charles.
594
De Wolfe, Alva G
598
Fagan, James.
732
Farrel, Franklin.
512 600
Gager, Edwin B.
454
Gardner, John B
514
Gaylord, Charles W
66
Hall, Ransom B
825
Hallock, Edwin
456 102
Holden, Frederick W.
492
Jackson, Charles C.
518 604
Kellogg, Stephen W
688
Kingsbury, Frederick J.
690
Leete, Calvin M
178
Leete, Rufus N
176
Lewis, Edward C.
692
Limburner, Robert B.
546
Lines, John M.
304
Lounsbury, Charles H.
606 104
Merwin, William M.
972
Peck, George H
458
Peck, Henry H.
694
Phillips, Albert W
460
Plant, Samuel O.
68
Platt, Alfred L
696
Platt, David.
358
Plumb, David W
463
Rogers, Henry
70
Sanford, Samuel P.
549
Schaffer, Frederick F
747
Schneller, George O
522
Shelton, Edward N
464
Smith, Charles H
748
Stevens, David S., Jr.
106 Stiles, David J.
802
Storrs, Carlos H.
610
Swan, James
613
Tomlinson, Charles A.
278
Torrance, David.
466
Tuttle, Joel.
182
Twitchell, Homer
French, Raymond.
Hill, Alden H.
James, Thomas.
Maltby, William H.
viii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
PAGE
Upson, Evelyn M. .
826
Wallace, Thomas, Sr.
468
Wallace, Thomas.
528
Wallace, William
526
Ward, William.
754
Wheeler, Elisha.
806
Williams, William H
472
Wooster, William B.
474
VIEW.
" Stillwood," Residence of John M. Lines
305
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
VOLUME II.
CHAPTER I.
THE TOWN OF BRANFORD.
Settlement and Early History .- Civil Government .- Town Officers .- Town Buildings .- Branford Borough .- Probate District .- Public Highways .- General Industrial In- terests .- Branford Village .- Beach and Shore Resorts,-Stony Creek Village .- Secret and Beneficial Orders .- The G. A. R. and the Soldiers' Monument .- Educa- tion .- Congregational Church and Society .- Trinity (P. E.) Church .- Baptist Church .- Methodist Church .- Lutheran Church .- St. Mary's (R. C.) Church .- Cemeteries .- Biographical Sketches.
B RANFORD is one of the shore towns of the county. It is be- tween seven and eight miles, along the sound, between Guil- ford on the east and East Haven on the west. From North Branford south to the coast line the distance is between four and five miles. The surface is uneven, there being in some localities high hills. Many of these having a smooth surface, are tillable to the stim- mit. In the western part some of the Branford hills attain consider- able elevation and are designated by local names. In the southeast outcroppings of granite are manifest and the soil is less fertile than in other localities. Along Stony creek that rock has been extensively quarried for building purposes. That stream empties into the sound at a cluster of numerous islands, several hundred in number, large and small, called Thimble islands. Farther west is still another clus- ter, called Indian islands. The streams are small, Branford river, flowing through the central part, being the most important. Near the sound its course is winding, and for several miles it is a tidal stream, admitting vessels of from 50 to 75 tons burden. In the vales and low- lands the soil is strong and very productive. It has been found, with proper fertilization, to be admirably adapted for garden crops, and a number of inhabitants have lately engaged in that pursuit. The up- lands are better for grazing and fruit. Agriculture is still a leading occupation of many citizens. Formerly property was much more equalized than at present, and in consequence the town was long ex-
1
2
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
empt from an indigent population. In 1835, according to J. W. Bar- ber, there was but one town pauper. In the last half century this con- dition of things has been changed to a considerable extent by the in- troduction of new industries and the use of much of the area for suburban and summer residences.
Concerning the early settlers of the locality first known as Totoket* there is much diversity of opinion. Some writers insist that the town was depopulated by the going away of Mr. Pierson and his followers, and Doctor Trumbull says that for a long time no organic existence was maintained, Branford being reinvested with town privileges in 1685. These assertions do not appear to be sustained by the investi- gations of the Reverend Elijah C. Baldwin, whose account of early events is given in the following annals:
"In the month of December, 1638, the New Haven settlers bought an additional tract of land of the Indians. It was ten miles in length, north and south, and extended eight miles east of the Quinnipiac river. It was bought of Montowese, son of Sowheog, the sachem of Mattabeseck Indians. Sowheog was a powerful sachem. His fort was at Middletown, on a hill, where, by means of his whistle, he could call around him 500 warriors very quickly. His dominion embraced a portion of this county. The Indians of Branford were governed by his son. The deed was signed by Montowese and Sausounck. Their tribe then was very small (ten men with their families). Montowese's signature was a bow and arrow. Sausounck's was a rude hatchet. This tract of land included the present territory of Branford. Its boundaries were Lake Saltonstall and the river on the west, Stony river (not Stony creek) on the east, the sound on the south, and a line ten miles back from the sound on the north. The boundaries have never varied much from these original lines. On the east, Guilford has a small tract that once belonged to the original Branford. This territory was then called Totoket, from the Indian name of a range of hills in the northern part. Its shores were a favorite resort for the Indians of the neighboring settlements, as well as of Totoket. Fish and clams were abundant. For some years after its purchase little use was made of it except for hunting. The Indians were allowed to hunt and plant also. A few squatters occasionally pushed in along the shore. Notable among these was a Thomas Mulliner, and he thus became a cause of considerable trouble to the early settlers. From him comes the name 'Mulliner's neck,' long applied to the region now called 'Branford Point.'
"September 3d, 1640. the general court at New Haven made a grant of Totoket to Mr. Samuel Eaton, brother of Governor The- * Some writers interpret Totoket to mean " The place of the Tidal River," i. c., Branford river ; others say with equal positiveness that the name was derived from the range of mountains terminating in North Branford. The present name, Branford, is said to have been derived from Brentford, a village in England, where some of the early settlers lived before coming to America.
3
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
ophilus Eaton, upon the condition of his procuring a number of his friends from England to settle on its lands. Mr. Eaton failed to fulfill this condition. He went to England to procure settlers, but never returned.
"In 1643 Totoket was granted to Mr. William Swaine and others of Wethersfield. The record read thus: 'Totoket, a place fit for a small plantation, betwixt New Haven and Guilford, and purchased from the Indians, was granted to Mr. Swayne and some others of Weth- ersfield, they repaying the charge which is betwixt 12 and 137, and joyning in one jurisdiction with New Haven and the forenamed plan- tations, upon the same fundamental agreement settled in October, 1643, which they duely considering, readjlye accepted.'
" The removal from Wethersfield was the result of divisions in the church there. There were several ministers in the Wethersfield settlement. Each naturally desired to be the minister, and each had his special friends. They had not then learned the more modern pol- icy of leaving each faction to gather around its own choice and sup- port him as well as they could. They could support only one, but which should he be ?
"Advice being sought from Davenport, of New Haven, and others, a separation was advised. Some went to Stamford; others, and the larger number, came to Branford.
" The men who had bought Totoket for a settlement came to oc- cupy their purchase early in 1644. Their names were: Samuel Swaine, William Swaine, Luther Bradfield, John Plum, Robert Abbott, John Robbins, William Palmer, Samuel Nettleton, Roger Betts, John Lins- ley, Robert Rose, John Morris, Michael Palmer, Francis Linsley, Thomas Whitehead, John Hill, Daniel Dod, Richard Harrison, Sigis- mond Richalls, Thomas Blachly, John Edwards, Robert Meaker, Rich- ard Mather, Jonathan Sargent, Richard Williams, Jonathan England, William Merchant, Edward Frisbie, John Horton, Samtiel Pond, Thomas Lupton, Richard Richards, Edward Treadway, Samuel Plumb and Charles Taintor. These were mostly from Wethersfield.
" Thomas Mulliner was already on hand. And from New Haven came Jasper Crane, Lawrence Ward, George Ward, Richard Lawrence and Reverend John Sherman. Several had their wives and children with them. These were the first year's inhabitants.
"Coming early in the year 1644, they began to clear off the forests, build shelters for themselves and their cattle, prepare land for culti- vation, gather hay from the fertile meadows, and organize society. The abundance of shell fish found along the shores no doubt made it comparatively easy to procure food. By the first of October they have a minister who resides with them and serves them regularly; this was Reverend John Sherman. He was born in Dedham, county of Essex, England, December 26th, 1613. He entered the University of Cam- bridge at an early age, but left college when ready for his degree, un-
4
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
der the character of a college puritan. In 1634 -5 he came to New England. He preached his first sermon at Watertown, Mass., under a large tree. His preaching was much admired. One minister said: ' Brethren, we must look to ourselves and our ministry, for this young divine will outdo us all.' He spent at least one year in Totoket. He preached in several places. He also acted as judge and magistrate for the colony. He died August 8th, 1685. His great-grandson, Roger Sherman, was one of the signers of the declaration of inde- pendence.
" The new inhabitants make their first division of lands in June, 1644. This is the first thing recorded upon the ancient records of the town. It reads thus: ' June 18th, 1644, this dai it is ordered that the meadow in this plantation shall be divided into 4 parts, and then divided by lott, viz .: all the meadow that lyeth on the right hand side of the town that is earliest settled shall be in the first dividend, and all the meadow that lyeth by the river on the left side and all upwards from that place where it is considered a bridge must be, is for the 2d divi- dend; Also 3dly all the meadow that lyeth downe the river from the place where it was considered a bridge must be, and all that lyeth within the compass of that piece of ground called the plaine shall be in the 3d dividend. 4thly all the meadow left beside in the towne that is knowne shall be in the 4th dividend. This meadow is to be bounded and prized by Robert Rose, William Palmer, Samuel Swaine, John Horton, Richard Harrison, and Thomas Blachly, with all convenient speede, and then the lott to be cast.'
" The people first settled along the river, mostly on the western and northern side. Indian Neck was left to the Indian inhabitants. The new settlers very soon had trouble with Mulliner. The court record is, '3d of Feb., 1644, Thos. Moulenor, sen'r, and Thomas Moulinor, his son, being charged with sundry miscarryages and breach of peace but nott issued. Itt was referred to another court and the meane time it was ordered that they shall both enter into a recognisance of each man 100 /, to keep the publique peace and be of the good behavior to- wards all people, and especially towards the inhabitants of Totoket.'
"To show some of the vexations of that first year an instance is here given. November 11th, 1644, 'Upon complaint made by some of the planters of Totoket, that the Mohegin Indians have done much dam- age to them by setting their traps in the walke of their cattell, itt was ordered that the marshall shall goe with Thomas Whitway to warnne Uncus or his brother, or else Foxen, to come and speake with the Gov- ernor and the magistrates.'
" This name Foxen shows the origin of the title given to a well- known section in the northwestern part of the town.
" Among the first buildings which the settlers put up were a house for the minister, and a meeting house. The minister's house may have been near the present residence of William Russell. The meet-
5
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
ing house was built in the front part of the present burying yard. It was a kind of block-house, and was surrounded by palisades, as a de- fense against possible Indian attacks. During the hours of worship some one or more of the settlers stood guard near the entrance of the stockade. All carried their firearms when they went to meeting. They were not afraid of Totoket Indians, but of raiding bands of other tribes, who attacked Indians and whites alike in the town. It is a tra- dition that the Totoket Indians had to resist attacks of that kind in defense of their hunting and fishing grounds. A sort of fort was built by them near the present residence of William Bryan (of the Monto- wese Hotel), and once, at least, a sanguinary battle was fought there.
" The houses first built by the settlers were rude and small,-the common houses of to-day are palaces in comparison, both in size and appearance, and furniture. The work for both men and women was hard. Their vigilance must be constant; their crops were meagre and uncertain; their methods of cultivating the soil were rude; their tools were few and clumsy. They also had to guard individuals from pur- chasing or receiving gifts of land from any Indian without the con- sent of the town. They also required all new-comers to agree to bear their proportion of expenses for sustaining a minister.
"'Samuel Swaine complayned of Mr. Mullyner for neglecting of traynings, watchings, and bringing of his arms when it was his turne on the Lord's Days.' Mr. M. makes acknowledgment and promises to do better.
"During the second and third years of life in this new settlement a number of other familics came in to join those already here. The most notable of the new-comers was the Reverend Abraham Pierson, from Southampton, Long Island. He came with his wife Abigail and at least two children, one of which was a son Abraham, afterward the first president of Yale College. Several other families came with him or soon afterwards, from the same place. Reverend Abraham Pierson was born in Yorkshire, England; he was graduated at the University of Cambridge in 1632; he was Episcopally ordained while in England; he preached for some years in his own country. He came to Boston in 1639 and joined the church there. For a time he preached at Lynn, Mass., where he was again ordained. In 1640 a portion of the inhab- itants of Lynn, 'finding themselves straitened,' removed, with Mr. Pierson, to Long Island. They made an ineffective attempt to settle on the west end of the island. They then went to the east and settled Southampton. When they came to decide whether they would be un- der New Haven jurisdiction or that of Connecticut colony. the larger part chose the latter, because, in their view, more liberal.
" Mr. Pierson and some others were dissatisfied, and, therefore, re- moved to Totoket, which was under New Haven jurisdiction. Sprague says, ' Mr. Pierson agreed with John Davenport in wishing to rest all civil as well as ecclesiastical power in the church, and to allow none
6
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
but church members to act in the choice of the officers of government. or to be eligible as such.' Accordingly, he desired to be under the New Haven jurisdiction, which sustained this view of civil govern- ment. Coming to Totoket he was chosen pastor. The people give him a liberal share of the land and provide otherwise for his support. This is seen by a record a little later. September 22d, 1650, ' It was ordered that the minister's pay shall be brought each half year. For every milch cow he shall have two pounds of butter, in part pay every year; for the rest, for the first half year in beef, or pork, or Indian corn, or wampum-for the second half year in wheat and pease, good and marketable.'
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