USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stratford > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 48
USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the old town of Stratford and the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 48
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546
History of Stratford.
five children. Rowland B. Lacey is a descendant through Zachariah (one of the twins above mentioned), and his wife Betty Rowland, and his son Jesse and Edna (Munson) Lacey. Edward Lacey died in North Fairfield (Easton), June 18, 1772, in his 61st year, and a fine old slate stone marks his grave in the cemetery near the Baptist Church, where also lie the re- mains of Zachariah and Jesse Lacey, above named.
His descendants are numerous and widely scattered through the country, but very few of the name remain in Connecticut.
No. 112. Benjamin Lacey, a tanner and currier, and shoemaker, having his shop and vats westerly from the house, convenient to the stream of water. Among his apprentices were Joseph Fayerweather Brothwell, Zachariah Lacey, and his own son David Lacey. Zachariah Lacey and J. F. Broth- well were of the same age and their terms of apprenticeship expired at the commencement of the Revolution. They to- gether enlisted in a company commanded by Capt. Josiah Lacey and marched to New York. On the expiration of their time they re-enlisted and served nearly four years, when they united in hiring a man by the name of Jackson to serve dur- ing the war, by which they were exempted.
Benjamin Lacey married Margaret Hall. In 1767, and for many years thereafter, he was collector of ministerial rates, in Stratfield Parish, for the Church of England. He died in 1784, aged 45 years.
Joseph F. Brothwell married Molly (or Mary), daughter of Benjamin Lacey and removed to Woodbury.
David, son of Benjamin Lacey succeeded his father at the homestead and was known as David Lacey, the shoe- maker. His children were David, Eleazer, Benjamin, Ruth, and Ellen. David was a large owner in, and the well known manager of the Washington bridge over the Housatonic river for many years. Eleazer Lacy was early engaged in the lumber business in Bridgeport; was next the cashier of the Middlesex County Bank, succeeding Charles Foote, who was called to the Connecticut Bank in 1834. At a later pe- riod he was the first cashier of the (Bridgeport) City Bank at its organization. Benjamin Lacey resided in Southport.
547
Bridgeport.
No. 113. Benjamin Brothwell, son of Joseph (No. IIO), married Anna Beach, of Rock House district, in North Fairfield, now Easton. He resided first at No. 110, but after the death of his father he built a new house on this site, and reared a family of four sons and four daughters. Roswell, the third son, was the best known and most thoroughly iden- tified with this community. He was considerable of a farmer as well as his father, much interested in agriculture, and was often engaged as manager at the county and local fairs. His residence was on the site designated as No. 115. He died in 1883, at the advanced age of 81 years. His wife was Julia Ann Hall, who survives him at the age of 83 years. Their only son, Benjamin Beach Brothwell, succeeds his father on the same premises.
No. 114. Error on the map.
No. 115. Amos Merriman was a cooper by trade. He came from Cheshire, Conn., about 1795. One of the early Baptist ministers was Elder Royce, who came here from Cheshire, and it is understood that his acquaintance with and interest in Elder Royce induced Mr. Merriman to remove to Stratfield. He built his house and cooper shop on this spot and resided here until about 1815, when he removed to Ken- tucky and left no representatives here.
Roswell Brothwell afterwards became the owner and made his residence here. He built the house and made the fine improvements which at present appear, some years be- fore his death.
No. 116. Lemuel Bangs was by trade a blacksmith. His residence was in Truck street, a little way south of the first Baptist meeting-house. His children were born there.
Mr. Bangs was a poor man, but a zealous Whig in the Revolution. Two of his sons, the Rev. Nathan Bangs, D.D., of New York City, and Elder Heman Bangs, were school- mates with Capt. Daniel Sterling, at the district school. The family left this part of the country about the year 1790. The two sons were very large men and were in the ministry of the M. E. Church many years.
548
History of Stratford.
Lemuel Bangs met in the time of the Revolution with other Whigs at Nichols' tavern, parson Ross, also a strong Whig, being of the number. During the discussions Lemuel Bangs said, he would be willing to die and suffer eternal pun- ishment if he could be the means of making America free. Mr. Ross replied, " it is a good thing to be zealous but not to be too zealous. Where is my hat, I must be going."
No. 117. The Stratfield Baptist Church was first gathered in October, 1751. It was a result, in part, of the " Great Awakening," or "New Light" movement in 1740 and 41. The Rev. Samuel Cooke of the Stratfield parish was in favor of Whitefield and his preaching, but there was a consid- erable sentiment opposed to Mr. Cooke's views, and some of the opposition went to the Episcopal Church.
Upon the death of Mr. Cooke in 1747, a successor in the pastorate-Rev. Lyman Hall-was secured, who was opposed to New Light methods, and this increased the feeling of dis- satisfaction towards the old parish and church.
The Separatist feeling, finally, took form under the leadership of Capt. John Sherwood and the preaching of the Rev. Joshua Moss (or Morse) in 1751.
Mr. Moss was a convert under the preaching of White- field, in Rhode Island, and had united with the Baptist Church, entertaining its sentiments in regard to baptism, close communion and preparation for the ministry, namely, that a liberal education was unnecessary ; the requisites being, the divine call, hallowed fire and spiritual enlighten- ment.
Mr. Moss had preached in the place repeatedly and on the second Lord's day in October, 1751, being assembled at the house of John Sherwood, he preached and after the ser- mon the following persons, Zechariah Mead, Nathaniel Seeley, Elihu Mash (Marsh), John Sherwood, Ebenezer Sanford and Samuel Beardsley, six men with a number of women, after the covenant services, were baptized by Elder Moss, and the Lord's Supper was administered. These services, as then judged, constituted the organization of the Church.
549
Bridgeport.
From this organization for six years there are found no records of this church. Some difficulty followed, between the members of this Baptist Church and the Old Stratfield Society about the collection of ministerial rates. The former thought that, under the law they should be exempt, the latter claimed of them rates the same as of others, since they were not an organized society, as the law required in order to be exempt, and tradition says that Captain Sherwood suffered his rate to be collected under distraint on his personal prop- erty, and in 1755, brought a suit in the Superior Court to recover sums which had been so collected. The result is not known, except that at the annual meeting of the Stratfield Society, December 29, 1757, shortly after the ordination of Capt. Sherwood as the first resident pastor of this Church, the ministerial rates of John Sherwood, Nathaniel Seeley, Zachariah Mead and Ebenezer Sanford were remitted for the year 1756 and 1757, and that they should be exempt from the rates of the following year.
Captain John Sherwood was ordained as an elder, in the Baptist Church, on the third Tuesday in December, 1757, by the Elders and Messengers of the Churches in New London and Groton, assembled with the Baptist Church in Stratfield, and he became the settled pastor of this church.
At the end of the first ten years, sixteen persons had been received into membership, and these had their residences in Ridgefield, Redding, Wilton and Newtown.
Elder Sherwood died in 1779, aged 75 years. He was a man of strong convictions, and was faithful to them while a member of the old Stratfield Church, as well as after he be- came a Baptist. He labored devotedly and with much energy, and hence successfully, not only in Stratfield but extensively in Fairfield county. He had great physical pow- ers, as appears in his encounter with the Indian, as related in No. 102.
It is no disparagement to either to say that his grit re- appeared remarkably in his well known grandson, Dea. David Sherwood, who died in 1873 at the great age of 94 years.
36
550
History of Stratford.
No. 118. The Parsonage of the Stratfield Baptist Society of the "olden time " was located here. It was the residence of Elder Seth Higby, Elder Royce, and others.
The house was long since taken down and the property now belongs to the estate of the late Roswell Broth well.
The location of the present Parsonage is designated on the map as No. 116, the place formerly occupied by Lemuel Bangs. It was the toll house of the Easton turnpike for many years from about 1835.
No. 116. Capt. John Sherwood, a prominent farmer in the Stratfield Society, became a Baptist Elder, and pastor of the Stratfield Baptist Church in 1757, which he served faithfully about ten years. He died in 1779, at the age of 75 years. See No. 102 and 117.
No. 120. Patrick Keeler, from the north of Ireland, came to this parish during the period of the Revolution. He married first, Anne, daughter of Onessimus Hubbell, and 2d, Sarah Holburton. His daughter, Polly, married Nathan Seeley Meeker, son of David Meeker, who lived at the place designated on the map as No. 105. The 2d daughter, Anne, married Joseph Brothwell, son of Benjamin, and after the death of Patrick Keeler they continued to reside on the place. The children of Joseph and Anne (Keeler) Brothwell are Charles H. (of Bridgeport) and John (of Greenfield, Connec- ticut), and Emily, who married Charles Plumb. Charles H. is the well known agent of Hon. P. T. Barnum, and now a prominent member of the Board of Public Works of the City of Bridgeport. Patrick Keeler was strongly attached to Par- son Shelton and the Protestant Episcopal Church. He was specially helpful to Mr. Shelton in many ways, but particu- larly enjoyed in his younger years the Christmas illumination of the old church, insisting on a candle at every pane of glass in the prominent windows.
120a." John Hopkins came to Stratfield from the north of Ireland in company with Patrick Keeler, who was about three years his senior.
15 Not located on the map.
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Bridgeport.
Hopkins was a strong Presbyterian, and, though differ- ing in religious sentiment from his neighbor Keeler, they ever remained fast friends. Hopkins located on the Valley road, so called, a few rods from where it leaves the upper cross- road leading from Truck Street to Toilsome Ilill school house. He married Mehitabel Smith. Their children were James, John, Mary Ann, and Catharine. James married, first, Sarah Wilson ; and second, Mary Sherwood. He lived on the old homestead, and after his second marriage built a new house. He left no children.
John was a shoemaker and dealer in Bridgeport. He married Abigail Booth, dau. of James Booth of Stratford. His children are Lewis Miles, and Alfred, both well known merchants and manufacturers of stoves, household goods and plumbing. Mary Ann married Nathaniel Thorp of Fairfield. She lived many years a widow at what is now No. 276 Lafayette street. A son Levi survives her.
No. 121. Onessimus Hubbell, son of Daniel, was bap- tized November 16, 1755, was a farmer, and died September 14, 1824.
No. 122. Thaddeus Hubbell, a brother of Onessimus, was a farmer. They descended from the first Richard. through Samuel ; born 1657; Daniel born 1691 ; Daniel born 1724. Thaddeus had children Mary, who married Eli B. Nichols, Esther, who married John Parrott, Joseph and Rebecca.
No. 122ª." Jedediah Wells. His house was on the south side of the highway at Fresh Pond near the district school house-No. 68. He was son of Capt. Jedediah Wells, who was lost at sea about 1758, and grandson of Samuel Wells, located at No. 2 on the map-a large land owner in the south part of the settlement. This family are in direct line from Governor Thomas Wells. Sce genealogy. The only descendants of Jedediah are from his daughter Lucy, who married Abraham Parrott. Frederick Wells Parrott and Henry R. Parrott are (in 1885) owners of the ancestral property on North avenue and North Washington avenue.
15 Not located on the map.
552
History of Stratford.
No. 123. Golden Hill Indians. The spot of ground containing eighty acres where the Golden Hill tribe of Indians lived at the time the parish began to be settled, contained at least one hundred wigwams, and was their cornfield. It was situated in the city of Bridgeport on the old Golden Hill road, now called Washington avenue. Golden Hill was so called by the English from the rocks that contained a yellow isinglass resembling gold. But it is not all gold that shines.
No. 123ª. An Indian Wigwam, occupied about 1798 by an Indian called Tom Sherman. This Indian house stood on, or near, the site of the dwelling house of the late Capt. Daniel Sterling, near a living spring called the Indian spring. It appears that there were about eight acres of land around it, which was the last of the old Indian field, on which the Golden Hill Indians inhabited.
No. 124. Capt. Daniel Sterling, a native of Strat- field, built his house on the east side of Main street, on the Indian lot, so called, in the year 1804, where he resided for many years until his death. He was for a long time a suc- cessful ship-master, from New York in the Liverpool trade.
No. 125. Ebenezer Allen, son of Nehemiah, was a shoemaker. His children were Samuel, James, Justus and Ruth, who married William Parrott, and Edri, who married Nicholas Burr.
No. 126. Dea. Elijah Hawley was a house carpen- ter. He was a deacon of the First Congregational Church until 1790, and died in the State of Ohio in 1825, aged 84 years. He had one son, named Jesse, who was born in the old red house, standing on Main street nearly opposite Gold street. Jesse Hawley removed to the State of New York in early life, where he died aged about 70 years. It is said that he was the projector of the Erie Canal, which project he com- municated to Governor Clinton, which resulted in the build- ing of that great work. Major Aaron Hawley, a brother of Dea. Elijah, became the owner of the place before 1787, and occupied it until his death in 1803. His son, Capt. Samuel, succeeded him. He and his descendants held and occupied it until about 1840.
553
Bridgeport.
No. 127. Samuel Porter was a farmer and weaver. He owned the farm called Porter's Point in the City of Bridgeport, Gold street crossing the same. He married Abiah Hubbell, who had a brother named Abel Hubbell, who lived to the extreme old age of over 103 years. I saw the old man a short time before he died. He was then in good health, but deaf and blind. He could recite hymns and por- tions of the Bible which he had learned in his youth. No other man in this parish has ever attained the age of 100 years. Mr. Elijah Burritt and Ozias Burr both reached 98 years ; and there was a woman buried in the old parish ground by the name of Molly Jackson, who died at the age of 101 years.
Samuel Porter had a son, Samuel, Jr., who married my sister Ellen Sherman. He was a farmer and weaver ; had no children. Samuel, Sen., had a daughter, named Mary, who married Lewis Sturges. They had two sons, Isaac and Joseph P. Sturges. The Rev. Thomas B. Sturges of Green- field is an only child of Joseph P. Sturges.
This Porter property is treated at considerable length on page 489 and following, the reason being that quite a number of historical events cluster around and upon it.
No. 128. Capt. James Hayt owned this property. He came here from Norwalk. Samuel Peet purchased the property of him and erected on it a frame dwelling, which has given place to the present brick block of Mr. L. F. Curtis.
No. 129. Doct. Daniel Clifford was the first resi- dent physician in this parish.
No. 130. Dea. Eljiah Hawley erected a dwelling at this place and sold it about 1796 to Silas Sherman, who was a merchant, and married Abigail, daughter of Thomas Haw- ley. The late Ira Sherman was their son. His daughter, Caroline, married Nicholas Northrop.
No. 130a.16 Capt. David Hawley, son of James, owned this, the first brick house built within the present city
16 Not located on the map.
554
History of Stratford.
limits. It was located on the corner of Water and Gilbert streets.
Capt. Hawley was with Arnold in the battle of the flotillas on Lake Champlain, in the Revolution, and he also led the expedition that captured Judge Thomas Jones, of Hempstead, L. I., who was afterwards exchanged for Gen. G. S. Silli- man, an American officer. Capt. Hawley died in 1807, and his brick house was afterwards occupied as a saddle factory by Seth B. Jones, and was the arena of great theological dis- cussions among the workmen, specially Joshua Lord, William Wright, Edwin B. Gregory and Alexander S. Gordon.
No. 131. Timothy Shaylor resided at this place with his brother. Isaac Sherman wrote of them, " I believe they were seafaring men."
No. 131ª. Capt. Abijah Hawley, was the son of Thomas, No. 133. He was a prominent merchant, and in early life sailed in different vessels in the Boston coasting trade. Among his descendants in 1885 are Munson Hawley, President of the Bridgeport National Bank; Marcus C. Haw- ley, formerly of the hardware firm of Thomas Hawley and Company, now engaged extensively in the same business in California ; Dea. Edward Sterling, and others.
No. 132. Nehemiah Allen was a shoemaker and farmer. He came from Stratford before the Revolution and settled near Baker's Pond. His sons were: Nehemiah, Capt. James, who built the Stanley House, and Ebenezer. He had one daughter, Hannah, who married Capt. Charles Wing.
No. 133. Thomas Hawley, son of Capt. Ezra, No. 90, was a farmer. His son Zalmon is said to have trans- planted the large elm tree on the premises of J. De Ver War- ner, carrying it on his shoulder from the adjacent forest.
No. 134. Mather's Point, purchased from Mrs. Lucy Barlow, daughter of Capt. Samuel Sherwood by Capt. Titus C. Mather from Long Island, about 1829, for a shipyard. It was previously known as Sherwood's Point and earlier as New Pasture Point.
555
Bridgeport.
No. 135. Hon. Pierrepont Edwards, who died in Bridgeport, April 14, 1826, aged 76 years. See list of Bridge- port lawyers.
No. 136. Ephraim Wilcox was a boat builder and came from Stratford. It is said he possessed, for his day, an unsually extensive library, of which he made good use. He. Elijah Burritt, and Philip Nichols, were the literary trio of their period, or what would have been called then, " well read men." Mr. Wilcox had no children. Ira Curtis, from Stratford, was his apprentice and successor, and inherited his property and library, most of it being now in the pos- session of his son Lewis Curtis.
No. 137. The Old Yellow Mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1884. See page 407.
No. 138. An old dwelling, removed on the opening or extension of East Main street in 1800.
No. 139. Hollins; occupation unknown.
No. 140. Capt. Nathan Sherman, a farmer, resided at this place, and died September 10, 1827. He was the an- cestor of Messrs. O. W. and William Sherman, and of the Rev. H. B. Sherman of Torrington, Conn.
No. 141. James Walker was the owner of this home- stead many years, from about 1739, but it is now in the pos- session of Mr. James W. Beardsley by inheritance through his mother, the daughter of James Walker.
The land of this homestead, most of it, was first laid out to Robert Walker, the father of James, described in part thus : " February 25, 1714-15. Then laid out one tract of land to Robert Walker on the east side of Pequonnock River, below the falls, 230 rods from north to south, 36 rods wide at the north end and 16 rods at the south end, and 66 wide in the middle, bounded west with the Pequonnock river, east with the highway, it being 61 acres, and 15 acres on the east side of the highway."
This is the territory now denominated the Beardsley Park, it having been given to the city of Bridgeport for a park by Mr. James W. Beardsley.
556
History of Stratford.
James Walker built the house, now standing, in 1739, and resided in it thereafter until his decease. The house is well preserved after the service of one hundred and forty-six years.
James Walker was the brother of the Hon. Robert Walker of Stratford, one of the most distinguished men that Stratford ever raised. James was Justice of the Peace in Stratford many years, and a prominent man in the society of North Stratford. Many quaint, curious and interesting papers and documents are still preserved which were col- lected by him in his long services as Justice of the Peace.
No. 142. Eben Booth was a farmer at this place quite a number of years since 1800. His family consisted of a wife and eight daughters. His daughter Eliza married Eli Bald- win and removed to Auburn, N. Y .; his daughter Nancy mar- ried Col. Lyman Baldwin, removed to Auburn and thence to Detroit, Michigan, where he was high sheriff, and afterwards mayor of the city ; and his daughter Alice married Peter Hayden, a very wealthy hardware merchant of Cincinnati, O., and more recently a resident of New York city. The other daughters went west with their sisters.
557
Stratfield Burying-place.
The Stratfield (or Pequonnock) Burying Place."
In memory of Ebenezer Allen, who died May 6, 1830, in his 77 year.
Hannah Allen, wife of Ebenezer Allen, died Jan. 18, 1828, aged 68 years, 4 months.
In memory of Ebenezer Allen, who died July 6, 1797, aged II years.
Also
Joseph, Edri, Joseph B., Justus, Joseph & Mary; Children of Ebenezer & Hannah Allen.
Justus Allen, Died Aug. 2, 1863, JE. 63.
Adaline, Died July 12, 1857, JE. 18.
Mary C., Died Aug. 4, 1863, ÆE. 18. Daughters of Justus & Julia Allen.
In memory of
Mr. Nehemiah Allen, who died March 7th, 1810, in the Sist year of his age.
In memory of Mrs. Edru Allen, wife of Mr. Ne- hemiah Allen, who died Feby, 20th, 1809, in the 74 year of her age. In Memory of Nehemiah Allen, who died Sept. 25, 1820, in his 40 year. Here another Guest we bring, Seraphs of celestial wing, To our fun'ral altar come Waft a Friend & Brother home.
In memory of Samuel B. Allen, who died July 18, ISI8, in the 36 year of his age.
In memory of Theodore Allen, who died April 5th, 1810, aged 2 months & 15 days.
Waldomir Backus, son of Joseph Backus, Esqr. and Mrs. Iluldah, his wife, born Jan. 7, 1803, died Dec. 14, ISO9.
In memory of an Infant daughter of Joseph & Huldah Backus, who died Feb. 17, 1799.
Laura, wife of Joseph Banks, & daughter of Philemon Sherwood, died Nov. 17, 1826, aged 28 years & 7 months.
In memory of
Mary Aun, daughter of Elbert & Polly Banks, who died Aug. 5, 1833. JE. 16 yrs. & 3 mno.
In memory of
Jane, who died Jan. 26, 1516, .1 .. 10 mo. & 10 d.
Also of Stephen Henry, who died June 30, 1828, .E. 7 mo.
Son and daughter of John & Sarah Bartlet.
Here lies the body of an
Infant son of James & Huldah Beach, who died Decr 19th, 1806, twelve hours old.
In memory of
Ens" Abijah Beardslee, who de- parted this Life Nov 21, 175g, in the 40th Year of his Age.
In memory of Drusilla, widow of Abijah Beardsley, who died April 1, 1839, in her S; yeat. In memory of Sarah Beardsley. who died Aug. 1, 1850, in her 64 year. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. Our Parents Anson Beardsley, Died May 19, 1866, A. S3.
Nancy Treadwell, his wife, died June 12, 1866, ŻE. 77.
Only resting till the morning.
Thaddeus Benedict. Esqr .. de- parted this life Octo 6th, 1799, in the 51st year of his age.
Thaddeus Benedict. youngest son of Thaddeus & Deborah Benedict, who died 27th March, 1800, Et. S years, 4 months & 4 days.
Gentle Reader what is this life ? Tis nothing. Tis everything. Here lies the Body of Mrs. Hannah, the wife of Mr. Wil- liam Bennitt, who died Novr se 25, 1743. in ye 31st year of her age. In memory of Huldah Bennett, who died Oct. 2. 1839, aged 56 yrs.
17 See page 541 of this book.
558
History of Stratford.
Here lyes ye Body of
Sarah Bennit, Wife to Mr. James Bennit, Decd Novr ye 28th, 1726, in ye 73ª year of her age.
Edwards Blackman, died Oct. 15, 1845, aged 58.
Julia, wife of Edwards Blackman, Died Aug. 5, 1839, ÆE. 45.
Israel Blakeman, died June 5, 1853, E. 72.
In memory of
Polly, Wife of Israel Blakeman, who died Apr. 28, 1848, In her 68th year.
Calm on the bosom of thy God, Sweet spirit rest thee now !
E'en while with us thy foot steps trod His seal was on thy brow.
Here lyeth the Body of
James Blakeman, who departed this life in the 23 year of His Age, October 29, 1709.
In memory of
Susan, Daughter of Israel & Polly Blakeman, who died July 27, 1805, Æ. 2 yrs. & 9 mos.
In Memory of Ebenezer Booth, who died Dec. 29, 1820, aged 47.
In memory of
Comphy, widow of Ebenezer Booth, who died March 11, 1843, aged 66 yrs.
In memory of Elizabeth Booth, who died Dec. 29, 1820, aged 47.
Here lyes Buried the Body of Deacon Joseph Booth, Who de- parted this Life May the 2nd, 1763, in the 75th year of his age.
Here lyes the Body of
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