A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II, Part 41

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor]
Number of Pages: 904

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II > Part 41

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1 A picture of it may be seen in this book in connection with the Wells family genealogy.

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different grades of pupils, were held in one or both rooms of the Academy. They did not flourish and none of the teachers remained over a year. In the summer of 1847 Mr. Frederick Sedgwick took charge of the Academy and established an English and classical school for boys and girls. During the succeeding twenty-five years nearly a thousand children of Stratford received from him a part or all of their education. The school took rank among the first in New England. Many pupils were attracted from other towns. The attendance averaged, year after year, from 80 to 100, and the seating capacity of the building was taxed to the utmost. Many young men were fitted for Yale, Williams and West Point, and in recognition of their excellent preparation and the high stand which nearly all of them subsequently attained in con- sequence, Mr. Sedgwick, though not a college graduate, received from the Faculty of Yale the honorary degree of A.M.

The education afforded at the Stratford Academy was of the most substantial character. No superficial accomplish- ments, no meretricious display, satisfied the high requirements of the principal. The pupils were firmly grounded in English studies and mathematics, and the classical students became familiar with Latin and Greek in form, construction and literature. They all acquired not merely the facts and formu- las of the school books, but the power of applying them readily and successfully to all the varied requirements of practical life. They were trained to clear thought and accurate ex- pression. The tone of the school was as high morally as intellectually. Mr. Sedgwick's uniform justice and kindness, his stern truth and uncompromising scorn of meanness and wrong, impressed deeply all who came in contact with him. The influence for good of such a character upon the minds and hearts of the young is simply incalculable. Men and women, whether their lot is cast beneath the Stratford elms or in busier walks of life, turn back to the principal of the Academy with an honor which strengthens and deepens as the years pass. To the students of the old Latin classes Virgil's noble enconium upon his countrymen recalls their teacher's life and work.

Tu regere imperio populos, Romane, memento !

" Be it thine, O Roman, to mould with kingly power, a race of men."

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History of Stratford.

Capt. John W. Sterling, son of David and Deborah (Strong) Sterling, was born in Bridgeport, September 4, 1796.

His intense love for the sea was of early development, and his father, after vainly offering him a college education as an inducement to remain at home, shipped him before the mast, under his uncle, Capt. Daniel Sterling, on board the Aristomenes, bound for Liverpool and Archangel, in the hope that the length and hardships of the voyage would cure him of his boyish fancy. England was then searching our decks for her seamen, and the "protection" which he carried is still in existence. It bears date October 15, 1810, and describes him as "an American Seaman, aged fourteen years, of the height of four feet, eight inches and a half, dark complexion, dark hair, black eyes."

The ship lay at Liverpool three months, during which he attended a night school and studied navigation. Afterwards, at Archangel, he was enchanted with the wonders of the bursting Arctic summer, and his eleven months of absence only served to fix more firmly his choice of "a life on the ocean wave."

At eighteen years of age he sailed as second mate of the cartel ship Fingal, which carried General Proctor back to England after the disastrous defeat of the British and Indian army at Tippecanoe. It was a stormy passage and night after night the old general came on deck, fearful lest the ship should founder, entrusted to the charge of the "boy. of eighteen."

In the summer of 1817 he was offered the command of a brig. He accepted it, engaged his crew and superintended the loading of the cargo; but upon making application at the custom house for clearance papers, just before the vessel was ready for sea, it transpired that the captain was but twenty years old, and the underwriters refused to insure either vessel or cargo. The owners desired to retain him as first mate, but he declined, saying that " where he had once been master he could not be man," and shipped as mate on the Nestor, for another firm.

At twenty-one years of age Captain Sterling was master of the ship Garonne, between New York and Havana, a post

" Jelen I. " Herling'

Stratford.

IIOI

of danger and responsibility, as that part of the Atlantic was then infested by pirates. He made many subsequent voyages to Europe, South America, the Philippine Islands and Canton. He was in Buenos Ayres during one of the wildest outbreaks of its years of Revolution; and learning one day that the mob was burning and pillaging the business portion of the city, he went to the banking house where his ship's moneys and papers were deposited, withdrew them all and carried them, with loaded pistols, through streets swarming with an enraged populace to the protection of the United States flag which floated from his mast-head. In 1823 he commanded the Splendid, of 800 tons, the largest ship which had till then been built. She sailed to New Orleans, thence to Havre de Grace and Canton ; and at each port was visited by thousands and excited as much wonder and admiration as the famous clippers and the Great Eastern of later periods. .

It was Captain Sterling's rare fortune to witness several of the events which have a place in history. Allowed, when a mere child, to make a pleasure trip to New York with the elder Capt. John Brooks, he stood on the dock on the mem- orable Sunday afternoon in 1807 when Robert Fulton's Cler- mont started on her first trip up the Hudson. He was at Havre de Grace when Napoleon returned from Elba, 'and witnessed the wild enthusiasm of the French and the pre- cipitate flight of the English ships from harbor. A few days later Bonaparte's sister, the Princess Bacciocchi, came with her daughter on board the Fingal, and the lively French girl was charmed with the young American sailor, who spoke with her in her own language and ran up the masts for her amusement. He was in Canton and witnessed the great fire, November 1, 1822, and in 1830 saw the first train start on the Liverpool and Manchester railway.

Captain Sterling left the sea in 1835 with a reputation for seamanship, integrity and humanity unsurpassed among the merchant captains of his time. During his twenty-five years of sea-faring he never met with a serious disaster. He sailed for the most prominent merchants in the South Amer- ican and China trades, the Howlands, Minturns, Aspinwalls and Grinnells. Among seamen he was known as just and generous-" the kindest hearted captain upon the seas." Yet

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History of Stratford.

his discipline was perfect and his ship, after months on the ocean, would come into port in splendid condition, clean and trim as a man-of-war. He was widely known as a most skill- ful navigator, his magnificent seamanship being in request on both sides the Atlantic. He retired in the prime of life, in full health and vigor, and for years after he left the service was in constant receipt of letters from the wealthiest mer- chants both of this country and England, offering him their largest and finest ships.

Captain Sterling was a man of great mental power, fine literary acquirements and retentive memory. He not only spoke French and Spanish fluently, but was well read in the classics of both languages, and he possessed an unusually extensive and accurate knowledge of the best English litera- ture and a love for it rare even among scholars. Modest to a fault, and reticent among strangers, he was a delightful com- panion in the circle of his intimate friends and at his own fireside. His love for home and country was as deep as his early passion for the sea. There were few who more clearly foresaw the civil war or more fully comprehended the magni- tude and significance of the struggle, than Captain Sterling. He had been too generous to his friends, too ready to assist those in need, and too devoted to the interests of his children, ever to have accumulated a large fortune; but all that he could command he turned to the service of the government, even when the credit of the nation was lowest, saying that "if the Union were lost there would be nothing left worth saving." He sincerely regretted being too old to enter the naval service and fight for the flag under which he had sailed so many years and which he loved with a true sailor's devotion.

Captain Sterling married, January 18, 1832, Mary R., daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Plant) Judson, who died June 2, 1838; and August 20, 1839, Catharine T., daughter of Hon. David and Catharine (Tomlinson) Plant.

In 1836 he bought of the heirs of Abram Tomlinson the corner south of the Congregational Church in Stratford. Here he spent the last thirty years of his life and died Febru- ary 11, 1866. The spot is still occupied by his family and known as the Sterling Homestead. Captain Sterling was four years, from 1854, a director in the Bridgeport Bank.

- -

HELIOTYPE PRINTING CO.

BOSTON, MAIS

THE STERLING HOMESTEAD, STRATFORD, CONN. BUILT 1885-6.

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Stratford.

Gov. Gideon Tomlinson was born at Oronoque, De- cember 31, 1780. He graduated at Yale College, 1802 ; was admitted to the bar at Greenfield, 1807; was successively member of the State Legislature, Congressman and Speaker of the House of Representatives, 1823-24-25-26-27; he was Governor of the State of Connecticut, 1827-28-29-30; and United States Senator from 1831-1837. He married Miss Sarah Bradley, of Greenfield Hill, Fairfield, where he resided. To them was born one son, Jabez Huntington, on July 28, 1818, who died while a member of Yale College, April 21, 1838. Gov. Gideon Tomlinson died October 8, 1854. Mrs. Sarah Tomlinson died December 25, 1842, aged 56 years.

Catee Gold, the second daughter of the Rev. Hezekiah Gold, was born at the Stratford parsonage, August 31, 1725. All the traditions speak of her remark- able beauty. Her long hair, loosened, fell to her ankles.

The minister's salary was small and his family large. The elder girls at the parsonage must have led a busy life. There was always a delicate mother and every year or two a new baby. Once a little girl died and was laid to rest in the large burial-place which skirted the minister's farm. The tract had been but recently laid out and there were not many graves in it then. The child was buried in the corner nearest her father's house, and the other children in their daily work and play looked through the rail fence at their dead sister's little grave.

On the Monday afternoon, October 27, 1740, when Whitefield preached on the steps of the meetinghouse on Meetinghouse (now Academy) Hill, Catee Gold was one of his listeners. The church record states that his sermon was blessed to the conversion of many souls. Catee was numbered among the "converts." She was then fifteen years old, a bright, gay hearted girl.

Many joyous days were gathered into her brief life. She was engaged to be married to a young minister, the pastor of a neighboring church, who at one time had studied with Mr. Gold, according to the custom of the day.

Then came the end-a heavy cold near the close of the winter, hemorrhage, and quick consumption. On the 30th of September, 1742, Catee Gold was dying. A message had been sent for her lover, and when he came on that last day, she unclasped from her neck the string of Gold beads which her grandmother had brought from England and gave them to him at parting.

No tie was strong enough to make her cling to life. With the same gladness with which she had met the joys of life she turned from them to the world beyond. The old people who used to tell the story always said " She died triumphant."

In the course of years her lover married and had sons and daughters. One by one wife and children passed away, and the close of the old man's life was spent among his grandchildren. After his death one of them found clasped around his neck the quaint beads which Catee Gold had given him a half century before.

Molly Gold, the eldest daughter of Rev. Hezekiah Gold, was married a few years after Catee's death, and among her descendants, even to the present day, the eldest daughter of the family has been called, according to the fashion prevail-

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History of Stratford.

ing at the time, Catee, or Catharine, in memory of the young girl who died in 1742. On the spot where Catee Gold lived and died there plays to-day a Catha- rine of the sixth generation.

John Bruce was for many years one of the best known citizens of Stratford. He claimed descent from the " Royal Bruces" of Scotland, and the "aristocratic Langleys" of Virginia.

His father, Robert Bruce, was born at Inverary, near Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1747 ; he came to New York about 1768 and married Mary Langley, at Norfolk, Va., in 1777 ; he engaged in mercantile business in New York and became very wealthy. John was born August 13, 1787. He attended the Wall street Church. of which his father was deacon, and was educated .at private schools. The family coach, with the famous horses Tartar and Traveler, made a grand team, and when the French general, Moreau, was exiled by Bonaparte in 1812, the citizens of New York honored him with a place in the Fourth of July celebration and provided for his use the horse Traveler. John assisted in the funeral services at the death of Washington ; witnessed the eclipse of 1805. when a man at Peck Slip placed himself on a keg of powder and applying a torch blew himself to atoms; saw Robert Fulton in his shirt sleeves, his face black with dirt, make his first attempt at steam navigation on the Hudson, and he stood upon a pier and with the crowd cheered the brave Captain Decatur as he sailed up the East River in the United States frigate United States, having in tow the British frigate Macedonia, which he had captured near the Canary Islands, after a fierce contest.

On December 16, 1816, John Bruce sailed on the sloop Lapwing, Captain Goodsell, from New York to Bridgeport, leaving at 10 o'clock A. M. and arriving at 7 o'clock P. M. On landing he went to Ephraim Knapp's boarding house on the corner of Wall and Water streets.

Returning to New York in March following he arranged his affairs with a view of permanently staying in Connecticut, and after a few days' absence came up in the stage, paying five dollars for his fare to Bridgeport. While boarding at Isaac Hurd's on Old Mill Hill, he met Comphy Nichols. On September 21, 1818, they were married, and after boarding around awhile they bought the house built by General Foote and then (April 21, 1821), standing near the Nesumpaw's Creek, now called " Bruce's Brook." This house became known as "Bruce's House," and remained until about 1870.

For a New York gentleman this location was lonesome, and for his wife it was damp and unhealthy, so on April 1, 1839, he removed to David Hubbell's house, next to the Rev. William B. Weed's house, and north of the old Episcopal burying ground, in Stratford village. He joined the Congregational Church, of which Mr. Weed was the learned and eloquent pastor. The next house east of Mr. Weed's was that of ex-Lieut -Gov. David Plant, a man of stately dignity and ruffled shirt. On April 1, 1843, he moved into the house now near the depot and thenceforth that street became "Bruce's Avenue."

In September, 1849. he and his wife were stricken down with dysentery. The family physician, Dr. John Goulding, was called, but his efforts were unavailing to save her life ; she died after a week's illness. Mrs. L. S. Booth was at her bedside when she died. This left Mr. Bruce alone, but fortunately he was able to procure his wife's niece, Mrs. Sarah Wilcox, for his housekeeper. On Septem- ber 24, 1849, she came with her daughters and mother, remaining with him until his death, on May 10, 1870. Perhaps the trait which distinguished Mr. Bruce, was

Stratford.

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that of gathering and of disseminating news. He gained his first laurels while clerk in his brother William's store, during the war of 1812. It was then his practice to go to the Gazette office and others, and collect the latest dispatches from the seat of war and then hasten back to the store, where most of the public officers of the city would wait his coming. This grew upon him until it became the business of his life. The practice of going from house to house for this pur- pose, with his genial, bright face, ever betokening something interesting to relate, made him familiar with the whole community ; and he was always welcome.

Having a competent but not liberal income, he sometimes increased it on the line of his peculiarities. For some years he was the agent of Mr. Booth, of New- town, a charcoal dealer, very much to the convenience of the people, and during the exciting times of the " Stratford Knockings" he sold the little newspaper which made a specialty of reporting daily "the doings" in the Phelps mansion, and which made Stratford known the world over.

In 1852 Mr. Bruce made two visits to Albany on a sloop commanded by his wife's nephew, Captain Miller. In addition to the pleasure of the trips he attended the marriage of his nephew, Langley Bruce, at Albany. They had some perilous incidents on the last trip, and at his request, on the next Sabbath after his return, the Rev. Mr. Weed, in the public services, offered public thanks to the Almighty for Mr. Bruce's safe return, which was one of the last observances of that ancient practice. In politics he was a Whig, but in the exciting canvass of 1856 he was familiarly known as the "ardent Fremonter." In every public and charitable movement he was the right-hand man of the ladies, working untiringly for its success. To the stranger he was always obliging and attractive, to the poor and unfortunate helpful and generous ; and to his friends true as steel. His gentle- manly manners, neat and cleanly appearance, fluent and well informed conversa- tion, made him a conspicuous figure. He lost his sight and for the last seven years of his life was unable to read but was kindly watched and comforted by his niece and her daughters.

Physicians in Stratford.

Doct. James Laborie came to Stratford about 1714 and established him- self as a physician. His father was a French Huguenot, came to America and after spending some years in New York came to Fairfield and practiced as a phy- sician. A grave stone in the Stratford Episcopal burying place says : " Dr. James Laborie, Physician, died Decr. 26, 1739, in ye 48th year of his age."

Agur Tomlinson, son of Zechariah, born in 1720, was graduated at Yale College in 1744, resided and practiced as a physician in Stratford. He died Feb- uary 15, 1774, aged 53 years. He was quite noted as a physician and many anecdotes were told of his excentricities in practice.

Hezekiah Tomlinson, son of Agur, born in 1747, was a physician. His. grave stone says : "Dr. Hez. Tomlinson, A.M., a learned and eminent Physician, who departed this life on the 12th day of May A. D. 1781, in the 34th year of his age. He lived much esteemed and died greatly lamented."

William Agur Tomlinson is recorded on his grave stone as "an emi- nent Physician who departed this life on the 20th day of August, A. D. 1789, in the 27th year of his age."

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History of Stratford.

Joshua Poor came to Stratford as a young physician and married Rebecca Lewis, daughter of Thomas, in November, 1777. His grave stone says : "Joshua Poor, M.D., died 1792, aged 42."

Doct. Charles Tomlinson died July 10, 1830, aged 55, so says his grave stone.

Doct. Ezra Curtis died at Litchfield, November 17, 1797, aged 32 years. His grave stone is in Stratford, where he was born.

H. T. Judson, M.D., died February 23, 1851, aged 50, so says his grave stone in Stratford.

Doct. Joseph Clark was a practicing physician in Stratford in 1791, according to a town vote.

William T. Shelton, M.D., was a practicing physician here about fiffy years, and died about 1870.

Doct. John Goulding was a practicing physician in Stratford many years, during the same time with Doct. Shelton.

Hezekiah Beardsley, son of John, of Stratfield, born about 1740, was a physician.

Ebenezer Beardsley, son of John, of Stratfield, born about 1738, was a physician and settled in Cheshire as a druggist.

The Ancient Town Clerks in Stratford.

Joseph Hawley,' served from 1650 to 1666.

John Minor, elected June 2, 1666, and served until December 31, 1777.

Lt. Joseph Curtiss,' elected in 1678, and served until March, 1727-8.

Dea. John Thompson, elected December 16, 1728, and served until Decem- ber 17, 1759.

Robert Fairchild, elected December 17, 1759, and served until December 21, 1789.

Robert Walker, Jr., elected December 21, 1789, and served until December 17, 1804.

Aaron Benjamin, elected December 17, 1804, and served until December 21, 1812.

Elijah Ufford, elected December 21, 1812.

Silas Burton, elected December 6, 1824.

David Brooks, elected April 2, 1827.

Josiah Gorham, elected November 16, 1835.

' Mr. Hawley's style of penmanship was that recognized by the government of England at the time as the legal or Court style for recording public documents, the capital letters being those of the French language.

* He was a well educated man and always wrote the name Curtiss with two s's ; and the name Blakeman, and not Blackman ; and Wilcockson, not Willcoxson.

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Stratford.

Post Masters in the town of Stratford, Fairfield County, Conn., with the date of their appointment.

Stratford.

Robert Walker, February 16, 1790. Victory Wetmore, March 20, 1793. David Brooks, December 18, 1803. Isaac J. Booth, August 7, 1841. David Brooks, January 28, 1843. John D. Gilbert, September 16, 1857.

Alfred B. Judd, September 21, 1859. Claudius B. Curtis, May 16, 1861. Legrand Wells, April 16, 1867. Claudius B. Curtis, April 19, 1869. George H. Spall, May 21, 1878.

Putney Heights.

Sterling S. Booth. This office was established between January 1, 1876, and April 1, 1876 ; and discontinued between July 1, 1878, and October 1, 1878.

A Company of Militia in the Revolution that went to Ticonderoga.

"5th Regiment, ad Company commanded by Lt. Col. Samuel Whiting of Stratford-Com- mencing 26th June, 1775, and ending 29th November. Returns for Back Pay.

Lt. Col. Samuel Whiting.

Lt. Elijah Beach.

Lt. Robert Walker.

Ens. Judn. Whiting. Samuel Ward, drummer. Aaron Benjamin, drummer.

Ephrm Beardsley, drummer. George Benjamin, fifer.

Jas. Hughs.

Wm. Grant.

Jno. Davenport. Wm. Deforest. Henry Deforest.

| Hezekiah Ward. Wm. Berton, Jr.

Jas. Burton.

Wm. Gorham.

Isaac Brown.

Daniel Hall.

James Downs.

Danl. Peet.

Nathl. Hawley.

Ephm. Jones. Bryan Kollekelly.

Saml. Edwards. Abel Edwards. Abel Fairchild. Jonas Hinman.

David Beardsley. Ephrm. Bears. Leml. Beardsley. Silas Bears. Geo. Borough. Josiah Beers.

Jos. Hubbard. Joel Judson. Robt. Lines.

David Phippeney. Samuel Whiting. Samuel Wakeley. David Whiting.

Abram Hawley. Samuel Hows. Beach Judson. Jno. Munrow.

Enoch Bailey. Thad. Birdsey. Enoch Coger. Jona. Curtiss. Barabs, Cunningm. Jno. Cramfoot. Joseph Beers. Wm. Russell, Jr. Jesse Smith.

Jas. Liniham. Mansfd. Nichols.

Joseph Wakeley. Hezk. Whitmore. Nathanl. Lamson. Aaron Benjamin.

James Norton. Nathl. Osborn. Wm. Osborn. Benjm. Watkins. George Benjamin.

R. Chauncey Beardsley. Jno. Downs.

Wm. Burton.

Saml. French. Gideon Hawley.

Wm. Curtiss.

Isaac Brooks.

Jno. Downing.

Jno. Curtiss Fairchild.

Tos. Fairchild. Tos. Fulford.

Jno. Smith.

Wm. Russell. Wm. Wainwright.

Nehem. Thompson.

" TICONDEROGA, Sept. 2, 1775. "This is to certify that Ephm. Beardsley hath worked 20 days at Gun work under my command.

" Thomas Escott, Armourer in the 5th Regt.

"Sd. Beardsley a fifer in Col. Whiting's Company-Armourer Assistant's Wages, 20 Days- £2 .- 13-4. Deduct fifer's wages £1-9-2. Allowed £1-4-2." (From the Records in State Library).

Nathl. Osborn. Jno. Peck. Abel Walker. Levi Whiting. Jno. Whitelus. James Beebe. Ephm. Johnson .: Joseph Birdsey. Jno. Bassett. Roger Crary. James Curtiss. Wm. Southworth. Peleg Sunderland. Jno. Slawtry.

Ephm. Beardsley David Beers. Nathì. Booth.

David Curtiss.

Jones Curtiss. Ebnr. Vose.

Thos. Straton.

Mead Hurd.

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History of Stratford.

Stratford township in New Hampshire was first settled by persons from Stratford, Conn. Among the first proprietors of that township were the following men, then resident in Stratford, Conn., only a few of whom removed to New Hampshire, but others sent their sons to settle there.

Samuel Beard.

Samuel Curtiss.

: Agur Judson, Jr.

Stephen Curtiss, Jr.

Stephen Curtiss.

Capt. Joseph Tomlinson.

Judah Kellogg.

Agur Tomlinson. Stephen Tomlinson.

Capt. Isaiah Brown.

Beach Tomlinson.

William Agur Tomlinson.

Mr. Samuel Johnson.

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A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II, Part 41

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893 Publication date: 1886 Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor] Number of Pages: 904

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: [New Haven, Conn.], [Press of Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor]
Number of Pages: 904