The governors of Connecticut : biographies of the chief executives of the commonwealth that gave to the world the first written constitution known to history, Part 1

Author: Norton, Frederick Calvin. 4n
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Hartford, Conn. : Connecticut Magazine Co.
Number of Pages: 598


USA > Connecticut > The governors of Connecticut : biographies of the chief executives of the commonwealth that gave to the world the first written constitution known to history > Part 1


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Gc 974.6 N82 21517


PUBLIC LIBRARY FORT WAYNE & ALLEN CO., INC.


M. L.


GENEALOGY COLLECTION


1


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01104 3020


ANNEX


The Author Affectionately Dedicates This Book Co George Merriman of Bristol, Connecticut "The Truest, noblest and Best Friend T Ever had"


Copyrighted, 1905, by Frederick Calvin Norton Printed by Dorman Lithographing Company at New Haven


Copyrighbal, mor, by Fredence Faliil Norton wer pling Coll at New Star


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015


https://archive.org/details/governorsofconne00nort 0


The Governors of 6921


Connecticut


BIOGRAPHIES OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF THE COMMONWEALTH THAT GAVE TO THE WORLD THE FIRST WRITTEN CONSTITUTION KNOWN TO HISTORY


BY FREDERICK CALVIN NORTON


Illustrated with reproductions from oil paintings at the State Capitol and facsimile sig- natures from official documents


923.2 N82


MDCCCCV PATRON'S EDITION PUBLISHED BY THE CONNECTICUT MAGAZINE COMPANY AT HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT


By Way of Introduction


W HILE I was living in the home of that sturdy Puritan governor, William Lecte,-my native town of Guil- ford,-the idea suggested itself to me that inasmuch as a collection of the biographies of the chief executives of Connecticut had never been made, the work would afford an interesting and agreeable undertaking. This was in the year 1895. I began the task, but before it had far progressed it offered what seemed to me insurmountable obstacles, so that for a time the collection of data concerning the early rulers of the state was entirely abandoned. A few years later the work was again resumed and carried to completion. The manuscript was requested by a magazine editor for publication and appeared serially in " The Connecticut Magazine."


To Rev. Samuel Hart, D.D., president of the Connecticut Historical Society, I express my gratitude for his assistance in deciding some matters which were subject to controversy. Many current but unreliable anecdotes I have omitted after careful con- sideration, and much care has been taken to record entertainingly only facts that are of essential interest and worth to the public-at- large. Knowing the inclination of both dates and data to become distorted, I secured the services of Mr. Frederick E. Norton, of the editorial staff of the "Hartford Courant,"-a name-sake by chance,-to edit my original manuscript by verifying every fact and date herein given by his own original research.


2/517


By


of Introduction


I am under obligation to several persons for many favors shown and valuable assistance cheerfully given in securing the material for these sketches. My thanks are especially due to the late Charles Jeremy Hoadly, LL.D., long time librarian of the Connecticut State Library. One of the ripest historians of this or any other generation, his vast storehouse of historical information was always open to investigators. Dr. Hoadly furnished many facts for the compilation of the following sketches which the author desires to publicly acknowledge.


Professor Franklin Bowditch Dexter, assistant librarian of Yale University, placed at my disposal much valuable information in the shape of rare books, pamphlets, etc., not elsewhere to be found, which assisted materially in the preparation of these sketches. Few scholars of this or any other state are as ready and willing to assist students of history in their investigation as Professor Dexter.


Among the volumes consulted may be specially mentioned the " History of Hartford County," edited by Dr. J. Hammond Trumbull and Mr. Charles Hopkins Clark. This work contains some valuable articles by Miss Mary K. Talcott on the original proprietors of Hartford, and from these articles were obtained many facts of interest regarding the early governors of Connecticut colony. The " Civil and Judicial History of Connecticut," edited by the late Judge Dwight Loomis, contributed many important details regarding the lives of the chief executives who were mem- bers of the legal profession. Trumbull's, Hollister's and Barber's


By Way of Introduction


general histories of Connecticut, were freely consulted, as well as that unique and brilliant volume, "Connecticut : A Study of a Commonwealth Democracy," by the late lamented Professor Alexander Johnston of Princeton University.


All that I have attempted in this the first collected account of the governors of Connecticut is to place in a concise and per- manent form the principal events in the life of each governor from John Haynes of Coddicot to Henry Roberts of Hartford.


Fifty-eight men have been chosen governors of Connecticut in the last two hundred and sixty-seven years. Including the royal governor, popularly known as a usurper, there are therefore fifty-nine biographies in this book, appearing in the consecutive order in which each one was first called to the governorship.


The subject has been more and more fascinating during the years that I have worked at it; and now that I am about to dis- miss the last page of my book it is with the hope that the work will fill a place in the biographical history of our Commonwealth.


It is indeed my own fond intention to make, at some time in years to come, when time permits, a still further study of the lives of the founders of Connecticut.


FREDERICK CALVIN NORTON


BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT FIRST DAY OF DECEMBER NINETEEN HUNDRED AND FIVE


Digest of the Governors of Connecticut


.


Biography


Page Number


Full Name of Governor


Born


Birthplace


Education


I


I


John Haynes


1594


Coddicot, Eng.


II


7


Edward Hopkins


I600


Shrewsbury, Eng.


III


I3


George Wyllys


1570


Fenny Compton, Eng.


University


IV


19


Thomas Welles


1598


*London, Eng.


V


25


John Webster


....


*Warwickshire, Eng.


VI


28


John Winthrop


I606


Groton Manor, Eng.


Trinity College (Dublin, Ire.) For the Bar


VII


35


William Leete


1612


Dodington, Eng.


VIII


41


Robert Treat


1622


*Pitminster, Eng.


Royal


47


Sir Edmund Andros


1637


London, Eng.


Royal Court


IX


57


Fitz-John Winthrop


1639


Ipswich, Mass.


Gurdon Saltonstall


I666


Haverhill, Mass.


X XI XII


63 69


Joseph Talcott


1669


Hartford, Conn.


75


Jonathan Law


1674


Milford, Conn.


XIII


81 Roger Wolcott


1679


Windsor, Conn.


XIV


87


Thomas Fitch


1 700


Norwalk, Conn.


XV XVI


93


William Pitkin


1694


East Hartford, Conn. Lebanon, Conn.


XVII XVIII


107 II3


Matthew Griswold


1714


Lyme, Conn. Windham, Conn.


Self-Educated Self-Educated


XIX


119


Oliver Wolcott


1726


Windsor, Conn.


Yale College


XX


I27


Jonathan Trumbull, 2nd


I740


Lebanon, Conn.


Harvard College


XXI


I33


John Treadwell


I745


Farmington, Conn.


Yale College


XXII


I39


Roger Griswold


I762


Lyme, Conn.


Yale College


XXIII


145


John Cotton Smith


1765


Sharon, Conn.


Yale College


XXIV


151


Oliver Wolcott


I760


Litchfield, Conn.


Yale College


Harvard College Self-Educated Yale College


99


Jonathan Trumbull


1710


Harvard College


Samuel Huntington


1731


Harvard College Harvard College


* Not fully authenticated.


Tabulated Contents of this Volum


Early Occupation


Occupation When Chosen Governor


Residence When Chosen Governor


Age when


Chosen


Date of Service


Years of Service


Died


Ageđ


Biograp


Wealthy Emigrant Merchant


Emigrant


Hartford


72


I


1645


75


III


Wealthy


Hartford


57


1655, 58


2


I660


62


IV


Emigrant


Hartford


. .


1656-57


I


1661


V


Barrister


New London


5I


1657, 59-76


I8


1676


70


VI


Barrister Planter


Guilford


64


1676-83


7


I683


71 89


VII VIII


Military


Leader Military


New York


50


1687-89


I yr.


1714


77


Royal


Military


Military


New London


60


1698-1707


9


1707


69


IX


Theology


Clergyman


New London


42


1708-25


17


I'724


58


Planter


Military


Hartford


56


I725-42


I7


1741


72


XI


Lawyer


Judiciary


Milford


68


1742-51


9


1750


76


XII


Weaver


Military


Windsor


72


1751-54


3


1767


89


Clergyman


Lawyer


Norwalk


54


1754-66


I2


1774


74


XIV


Military


Judiciary


Hartford


72


1766-69


3


I769


75


XV


Clergyman


Merchant-


Lebanon


59


1769-84


15


1785


75


XVI


Farmer


Lawyer


Lyme


70


1784-86


2


1799


85 65


XVII


Cooper


Lawyer


Norwich


55


1786-96


9 yrs.


1796


XVIII


Military


Physician


Litchfield


70


1796-97


I yr.


1797


71


XIX


Military


Statesman


Lebanon


57


1797-1809


II yrS.


1809


69


XX


Merchant


Judiciary


Farmington


64


1809-II


I yr.


1823


78


XXI


Lawyer


Statesman


Lyme


49


18II-12


I yr.


1812


50


XXII


Lawyer


Judiciary


Sharon


47


1812-17


4 yrs.


1845


80


XXIII


Military


Manufacturer (Statesman)


Litchfield


57


1817-27


IO


1833


73


XXIV


1 Ages are given in full years, but in some cases lacked a few weeks of the age recorded.


o e


e


re


Land Owner (planter) Trading Merchant Land Owner (planter) Land Owner (planter) Land Owner (planter) Adventurer and Scholar Magistrate Military


Hartford


45


8


1653-4


59


I


Hartford


40


1639,41,43,45, 47,49,51,53 1640,44,46,48, 50,52,54 1642-43


7


1657


57


II


Wealthy Emigrant


Milford


61


1683-98


I5


1710


XIII


Lawyer


8 mos.


II mos.


8 mos.


9 mos.


5 mos.


7 mos.


6 mos.


X


e


Digest of the Governors of Connecticut


Biography


Page Number


Full Name of Governor


Born


Birthplace


Education


XXV XXVI XXVII


16I 167


Gideon Tomlinson


1780


Stratford, Conn. Hebron, Conn. New Haven, Conn.


XXVIII


177


Samuel Augustus Foote


1780


Cheshire, Conn.


XXIX


183


William Wolcott Ellsworth


1791


Windsor, Conn.


XXX


189


Chauncey Fitch Cleveland


1799


XXXI


195


Roger Sherman Baldwin


1793


XXXII


203


Isaac Toucey


1796


Newtown, Conn.


XXXIII


209


Clark Bissell


1782


Lebanon, Conn.


XXXIV


215


Joseph Trumbull


1782


Lebanon, Conn. Hartford, Conn.


XXXVI


225


Charles Hobby Pond


1781


Milford, Conn.


XXVII


229


Henry Dutton


1796


XXXVIII


237


William Thomas Minor


1815


XXXIX XL


243


Alexander Hamilton Holley


1804


249


William Alfred Buckingham


1804


XLI


259


Joseph Roswell Hawley


1826


XLII


269


James Edward English


1812


XLIII


277


Marshall Jewell


1825


XLIV


285


Charles Roberts Ingersoll


I82I


Winchester, N. H. New Haven, Conn.


XLV


293


Richard Dudley Hubbard


Berlin, Conn.


XLVI


301


Charles Bartlett Andrews


XLVII


309


Hobart Baldwin Bigelow Thomas McDonald Waller


1834


XLVIII


315


Henry Baldwin Harrison Phineas Chapman Lounsbury Morgan Gardner Bulkeley


I821 1841 1837


1827 1836 1831


Newtown, Conn. Mansfield, N. Y. New Marlboro, Mass.


LV


359


George Edward Lounsbury


1838


LVI


365


George Payne McLean


1857


Pound Ridge, N. Y. Simsbury, Conn.


LVII LVIII


337 381


Abiram Chamberlain Henry Roberts


1853


Colebrook, Conn. Brooklyn, N. Y.


Williston Seminary


Yale University


S:


LI


333


LII


34I 347


Luzon Burrett Morris Owen Vincent Coffin


LIII LIV


353


Lorrin Alanson Cooke


1818 1834


1840


Sunderland, Mass. North Haven, Conn. New York, N. Y.


XLIX L


32I


New Haven, Conn.


Ridgefield, Conn. East Haddam, Conn.


Yale College Amherst College Private Academy Bartlett High School, New London Yale College Public School


Hartford High School Yale College Private Seminary Norfolk Academy Yale College Hartford High School


1837


Yale College Self-Educated College of New Jersey Yale College


Yale College Self-Educated Yale College Self-Educated


XXV


219


Thomas Hart Seymour


1808


Waterbury, Conn. Stamford, Conn. Lakeville, Conn. Lebanon, Conn.


Yale College Yale College Military Institute- Middletown Yale College Yale College Yale College Private Seminary Bacon Academy


(Colchester) Hamilton College Public School Self-Educated Yale College


327


John Samuel Peters


173


Henry Waggaman Edwards


1772 1779


Canterbury, Conn. New Haven, Conn.


Stewartsville, N. C. New Haven, Conn.


Tabulated Contents of this Volume


Early Occupation


Occupation When Chosen Governor


Residence When Chosen Governor


Age when


Chosen


Date of Service


Years of Service


Died


Aged


Biography


Tutor


Lawyer Physician Lawyer


Fairfield Hebron


59


54


1833-34, 35-38


4


1847


68


XXVII


Farmer


Cheshire


54


1834-35


I


1846


66


XXVIII


Shipping Merchant


Lawyer


Hartford


47


1838-42


4


I868


77


XXIX


Lawyer


Lawyer


Hampton


43


I842-44


2


1887


88


XXX


Lawyer


Lawyer


New Haven


5I


1 844-46


2


1863


70


XXXI


Lawyer


Lawyer


Hartford


50


1846-47


I


1869


73


XXXII


School Teacher


Lawyer


Norwalk


65


1847-49


2


1857


75


XXXIII


Lawyer


Lawyer


Hartford


67


1849-50


I


I86I


79


XXXIV


Lawyer


Lawyer


Hartford


42


1850-53


3 yrs.


I868


60


XXXV


Lawyer


Lawyer


Milford


72


1853-54


II mos.


I86I


80


XXXVI


School Teacher


Lawyer


New Haven


58


1854-55


I


1869


73


XXXVII


Lawyer


Stamford


40


1855-57


2


1889


74


XXXVIII


Manufacturer


Salisbury


53


1857-58


I


1887


83


XXXIX


Manufacturer


Norwich


54


1858-66


8


1875


72


XL


Lawyer


Editor


Hartford


40


I866-67


I


1905


78


XLI


Carpenter


Manufacturer


New Haven


55


1867-69, 70-71


3


1890


78


XLII


Tanner


Manufacturer


Hartford


44


1869-70, 71-73


3


1883


58


XLIII


Lawyer


Lawyer


New Haven


52


1873-77


3 yrs.


1903


82


XLIV


Lawyer


Hartford


59


1877-79


2


1884


66


XLV


Lawyer Machinist


Manufacturer


New Haven


46


1881-83


2


189I


57


XLVII


Newsboy


Lawyer


New London


42


1883-85


2


-


XLVIII


School Teacher


Lawyer


New Haven


63


1885-87


224 2 4 2


IQOI


80


XLIX


Store Clerk


Manufacturer


Ridgefield


45


1887-89


Office Boy


Insurance President


Lawyer


New Haven


65


1893-95


2


1895


68


LII


School Teacher


Banker


Middletown


58


1895-97


2


-


Manufacturer


Winsted


65


1897-99


2


1903


72


LIV


Manufacturer


Ridgefield


61


1899-190I


2


1904


66


LV


Lawyer


Simsbury


44


1901-03


2


-


LVI


Reporter


Civil Engineer Lawyer


Banker


Meriden


66


1903-05


2


-


L VII


Manufacturer


Hartford


52


1905


-


LVIII


47


1827-31


4


1854 1858


74


XXV


School Teacher Lawyer


85


XXVI


1831-33


2


Lawyer


School Teacher Store Clerk Surveyor


Lawyer Lawyer


Litchfield


45


1879-81


2


I902


67


XLVI


L


--


Hartford


51


1889-93


LI


Blacksmith


LIII


School Teacher School Teacher


Newspaper


9 mos.


I mo.


New Haven


Portraits of the Governors of Connecticut


Reproductions from Official Oil Paintings in the State Library in the State Capitol at Hartford, Connecticut-Collected under the supervision of EDWARD BAILEY EATON and reproduced by the Randall studio at Hartford-Facsimile signatures from official documents in the archives of the State Library- Acknowledgment is here made of courtesies extended by George S. Godard, State Librarian


Portrait Number Opposite


I-JOHN WINTHROP from portrait at State Library by George F. Wright of Hartford from the original, by an unknown artist, in possession of the New York branch of the Winthrop family. 28


2-FITZ JOHN WINTHROP from portrait at State Library painted by an unknown artist 56


3-GURDON SALTONSTALL from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright from a portrait in possession of Yale University. 62


4-JONATHAN TRUMBULL from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright from portrait by the Governor's son, Col. John Trum- bull. 98


5-SAMUEL HUNTINGTON from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright from the painting in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. 112


6-OLIVER WOLCOTT from portrait at State Library painted by Ralph Earle about 1784, and presented to the State by Oliver Wolcott's grandson in 1830. II8


7-JONATHAN TRUMBULL, JR., from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright after the original by Sully. I26


8-JOHN TREADWELL from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright after a portrait in the possession of the Connecticut Historical Society by an unknown artist. ..


I32


9-JOHN COTTON SMITH from portrait at State Library painted by Albert H. Emmons of Hartford, from a miniature 144


IO-OLIVER WOLCOTT, JR., from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright after an original by Stuart .. 150


II-GIDEON TOMLINSON from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright after a portrait by an unknown artist. I60


12-JOHN S. PETERS from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright. I66


Portraits of the Governors of Connecticut


Portrait


Number Opposite


13-HENRY W. EDWARDS from portrait at State Library painted by George . 172


F. Wright from a daguerreotype ..


14-SAMUEL A. FOOTE from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright from an unsigned portrait. 176


15-WILLIAM W. ELLSWORTH from portrait at State Library supposed to have been painted by George F. Wright, but unsigned. 182


16-CHAUNCEY F. CLEVELAND from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright .. 188


17-ROGER S. BALDWIN from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright. 194 18-ISAAC TOUCEY from portrait at State Library painted by unknown artist. 202 19-CLARK BISSELL from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright 208 20-JOSEPH TRUMBULL from portrait at State Library painted by George . F. Wright 214


21-THOMAS H. SEYMOUR from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright 218


22-CHARLES H. POND from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright. 224 23-HENRY DUTTON from portrait at State Library painted by George F. Wright. 228 artist.


24-WILLIAM T. MINOR from portrait at State Library painted by unknown 236 25-ALEXANDER H. HOLLEY from portrait at State Library painted by Henry Wilson. 242 26-WILLIAM A. BUCKINGHAM from portrait at State Library painted by Albert H. Emmons .. 248


27-JOSEPH R. HAWLEY from portrait at State Library painted by Jared B. Flagg, N. A., of New Haven .. 258


28-JAMES E. ENGLISH from portrait at State Library painted by Jared B. Flagg, N.A., of New Haven .. 268


29-MARSHALL JEWELL from portrait at State Library painted by William R. Wheeler of Hartford. 276


30-CHARLES R. INGERSOLL from portrait at State Library painted by Jared B. Flagg, N.A., of New Haven. 284


31-RICHARD D. HUBBARD from portrait at State Library painted by Wil- liam Lazarus of New York. 292


32-CHARLES B. ANDREWS from portrait at State Library painted by .


George F. Wright .. 300


Portraits of the Governors of Connecticut


Portrait Number Opposite 33-HOBART B. BIGELOW from portrait at State Library painted by Harry I. Thompson of New Haven .. 308 34-THOMAS M. WALLER from portrait at State Library painted by Harry I. Thompson of New Haven .. 314 35-HENRY B. HARRISON from portrait at State Library painted by Harry I. Thompson of New Haven .. 320 36-PHINEAS C. LOUNSBURY from portrait at State Library painted by Harry I. Thompson of New Haven. 326 37-MORGAN G. BULKELEY from portrait at State Library painted by Charles Noel Flagg of Hartford. 332 38-LUZON B. MORRIS from portrait at State Library painted by Harry I. Thompson of New Haven 340


39-O. VINCENT COFFIN from portrait at State Library painted by Charles Noel Flagg of Hartford. 346


40-LORRIN A. COOKE from portrait at State Library painted by Charles Noel Flagg of Hartford .. 352


41-GEORGE E. LOUNSBURY from late photograph by Randall-There has since been placed a portrait at State Library by Charles Noel Flagg of Hartford 358


42-GEORGE P. McLEAN from portrait at State Library painted by Charles Noel Flagg of Hartford. 364


43-ABIRAM CHAMBERLAIN from late photograph by Randall-There has since been placed a portrait at State Library by Harry I. Thompson of New Haven. 372


44-HENRY ROBERTS from late photograph by Randall -- A portrait is now being painted for the collection at the State Library .. 380


SIR EDMUND ANDROS from portrait at State Library painted by Charles Noel Flagg of Hartford from a colored photograph of a miniature in posses- sion of his collateral descendants in London and an engraving prefixed to the Andros Tracts of the Prince Society is now in the collection at the state capitol, but could not be conveniently reproduced at the time of this book publication


It is believed that there are no portraits nor likenesses of any kind extant of the following Governors, as thus far the State has been unable to secure portraits of any of them: JOHN HAYNES (1594-1653-4), EDWARD HOPKINS (1600-1657), GEORGE WYLLYS (about 1570-1645), THOMAS WELLES (1598-1660), JOHN WEBSTER (. .... .- 1661), WILLIAM LEETE (about 1612-1683), ROBERT TREAT (1622- 1710), JOSEPH TALCOTT (1669-1741), JONATHAN LAW (1674-1750), ROGER WOLCOTT (1679-1767), THOMAS FITCH (1700-1774), WILLIAM PITKIN (1694- 1769), MATTHEW GRISWOLD (1714-1799), ROGER GRISWOLD (1762-1812).


THE GOVERNORS OF CONNECTICUT


1906 1639


The FIRST GOVERNOR of


CONNECTICUT


was JOHN HAYNES


A wealthy English Emigrant who came to the New World in the ship "Griffin" with Thomas Hooker, the father of American Democracy, and spent much of his family fortune in estab- lishing the government


JO H N


H A Y N E S


T HE first governor of Connecticut was John Haynes, who had previously held the same office in the neighboring colony of Massachusetts. He was the oldest son of John Haynes of Coddicot, County of Hertford, England, and was born in 1594. The Haynes family was old and wealthy, and besides other valua- ble property they owned Copford Hall, a fine country-seat which furnished a large income. The father of Governor Haynes, in his will dated October 20, 1605, describes lands owned by him in the counties of Hertford and Essex.


Governor John Haynes became an admirer of Thomas Hooker and emigrated with him to America. They sailed from England in the Griffin in 1633, and in the party, besides Haynes and Hooker, were John Cotton, the eminent divine, and Samuel Stone, who was destined to take so important a part in the early history of Hartford. They landed in Massachusetts, September 3, 1633. Haynes was made a freeman May 14, 1634. He was chosen an assistant, and finally governor, in 1635. The next year he was made an assistant again; but in May 1637, he, with others, removed to Hartford where he was to be one of the


I


The Governors of Connecticut


foremost men in the infant colony. Hartford, at that time, had a population of eight hundred persons, of which two hundred and fifty were adult men.


Haynes was an original proprietor and owned a lot on the main street, "opposite the meeting-house yard," but previous to February, 1639, he purchased from Richard Webb the lot on the corner of Front and Arch Streets. In November, 1637, Haynes presided over the session of the General Court and continued in that position two years.


The first election of officers of the Connecticut colony, under the Constitution, was held April 11, 1639. John Haynes was elected governor and Roger Ludlow deputy governor. He was so satisfactory as chief magistrate of the colony that he was elected to that high office every alternate year until his death. Haynes was deputy governor in 1640, '44, '46, '50 and '52, interchanging with Edward Hopkins. Originally no one was to be chosen governor two years in succession; but in 1660 this restriction was abolished by the freemen. Governor Haynes' career in Hartford was emi- nently distinguished. He was one of the five who prepared the first Constitution of Connecticut, which embodies the main part of all subsequent state constitutions, and of the Federal Constitution.


In 1646 Governor Haynes made a voyage to England. He died at Hartford, on March 1, 1653-4 .* His will, dated 1646, brought to light the fact that his residence in Connecticut caused a


2


The Governors of Connecticut


serious shrinkage in his property, the estate inventorying only 1540 pounds. General Hezekiah Haynes, his son, wrote in 1675 of his father. "It is sufficiently knowne how chargeable the government was to the magistrates in that first planting wherein my father bore a considerable part to the almost ruin of his family . for he has transmitted into these parts between 7000 and 8000 pounds." Governor Haynes is described as "of large estate and larger affec- tions, and dear to the people by his benevolent virtues and disinter- ested conduct." He was probably the best representative of the republicanism of the period which Coleridge termed "the religious and moral aristocracy." His second wife was Mabel Harlakenden of prominent family and royal descent.


* NOTE: Genealogists in recording the death of Governor Haynes use both 1653 and 1654; therefore in such cases both dates are used throughout these biog- raphies. The apparent conflict of dates arises many times from a misuse of the years as computed old style and the reformed system. The old style was in use previous to 1752. In instances where the two methods are combined in this book the old style will be given first, followed by the new-Author


3


The SECOND GOVERNOR of CONNECTICUT was


EDWARD HOPKINS


A rich British Merchant and trader who emigrated to America in the ship "Hector," and upon returning to England be- came "Keeper of the Fleet Prison," famous in reigns of Mary and Elizabeth


1


EDWARD


HOPKINS


E DWARD Hopkins, the second governor of the colony, was, like his predecessor, John Haynes, a wealthy English land- holder. He was born at Shrewsbury in 1600, and early in life became a merchant. While his headquarters were in London he carried on an extensive business with many foreign countries.


While yet a young man Hopkins had made a comfortable fortune, and when in 1637 he concluded to emigrate to America he was classed as a rich man. For a long period he had worshipped at St. Stephen's parish, in Coleman street, London, where the Rev. John Davenport was the preacher and Theophilus Eaton a member. These three friends, Hopkins, Davenport, and Eaton, sailed for America in the ship Hector in 1637. Hopkins landed in Boston and proceeded to Hartford which he made his future home. Eaton and Davenport remained in Boston a few months and then went to Quinnipiac where they laid the foundation of the present New Haven in 1638. Soon after arriving in Hartford, Hopkins became a prominent citizen, and in 1639 was chosen the first secre- tary of the colony. The next year he was elected governor,


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The Governors of Connecticut




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