USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Sharon > A history of the town of Sharon, Litchfield County, Conn., from its first settlement. > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
112
HISTORY OF THE
ton M. Smith, and came to Sharon in 1770. He lived in the house originally built by Job Gibbs, next north of Jay S. Canfield's, now owned by Dr. Robert W. Smith. He was a constable of the town for a great number of years. He died March 28, 1825, at the age of ninety.
Smith, Dr. Phineas was a son of Dan Smith, an elder brother of Rev. Cotton M. Smith. He came to Sharon when young and resided with his uncle Dr. Simeon Smith, by whom he was educated as a physi- cian. He relinquished the practice and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He built the house owned by the late Cyrus Swan, Esq. He died June 4, 1794, at the age of forty.
Smith, Apollos was a younger brother of Phineas Smith, who came to Sharon in early life, and resided with his uncle Dr. Smith, by whom he was assisted in establishing an extensive pottery before the revolu- tionary war, which proved a profitable business. He built the brick house owned by Lovel W. Chapman. He removed to West Haven, Vt. in 1802, where he died a few years after.
Smith, Deacon Paul Jun. was a son of Paul Smith, and was born in Suffield, in 1763. He came to Sharon with his father, and resided here until his death. He was elected a deacon of the church, in 1793, and dis- charged the duties of that office with great fidelity and acceptance for forty-six years. He was a man of great sweetness of temper, modest and unobtrusive in his manners, and the principles of the holy religion which he professed were beautifully exhibited in his daily walk. He died without an enemy, on the 30th day of September, 1838. He had sons, Seabury, Chaun- rey and . Richard. Chauncey died in Missouri, some years since.
113
TOWN OF SHARON.
Smith, David was from Litchfield and came to Sharon in 1801. He lived on the Ousatonic river, where his son, the late Hon. Horatio Smith resided. He joined the society of Friends in 1781, and is sup- posed to be the only member of that society that ever resided in Sharon. He died April 3d, 1825, at the age of seventy-three. He was the father of the late Rev. Gad Smith and Ransom Smith, Esq. still survi- ving.
Spafford, Thomas was an original proprietor from Lebanon, and drew the thirteenth home-lot, on which Horace Reed now lives. Not being satisfied with his lot he availed himself of the privilege accorded to each proprietor of throwing it into the common stock, and in lieu of it laid out a home-lot about half a mile west of the meeting-house, now owned by deacon William M. Smith. He died in 1752. There are some of his descendants in the town.
Spencer, Alexander was one of the first settlers from East Haddam, and he lived where Daniel Woodruff now resides. In 1760 he removed to Oblong, N. Y. where he died the next year. He had but one son, Alexander Spencer, Jun. who was a volunteer in Ar- nold's expedition to Quebec, in 1775, through the wilderness of Kennebeck. He died on the March.
Sprague, Capt. John was from Lebanon, in 1739. He drew the thirty-seventh home-lot, on which the Messrs. Prindle now live. He was a selectman for several years, and what is singular, he could not write his his name. The words " John mark + Sprague" are
appended to many official documents on our records. He built the first framed house in the town. In 1748, he exchanged farms with Cornelius Knickerbacker, and removed to Furnace Village, in Salisbury. He
10*
114
HISTORY OF THE
afterwards removed to Canaan, where he died in 1760. He had three sons, Jonathan, Ebenezer and John, the last of whom went to Canaan with his father. Jona- than settled where our pauper asylum now is, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-four. Ebenezer lived where Osman Heath lives.
Stedman, Robert was one of the first settlers and came to Sharon in 1743. He lived on the road lead- ing west from Anson Boland's, and the barn which he erected is still standing. In 1782 he removed to Ru- pert, Vermont.
Strong Caleb was from Colchester in 1743. He first settled on the mountain near Calvin Jackson's, which place he sold to Thomas Day in 1755. He afterwards lived near Freeman W. Parson's. He was a large landholder at different times, but he died poor. Epitaph. In memory of Mr. CALEB STRONG, who died August 22, 1789, aged seventy-six. Our mortal breath Must yield to death.
Strong, Josiah was originally from Colchester, but lived a while in Litchfield. He came to Sharon in 1747, and settled where David W. Woodard now lives. He died of the small-pox in 1761, leaving sons, Josiah, Elijah, Solomon, David and Joseph. He was a selectman of the town for several years. David was a lieutenant in the continental army.
Strong, Josiah Jun. was a grandson of the prece- ding, and was born in Sharon, June 16, 1758. His life was eventful as illustrating the dangers and suffer- ings of a revolutionary soldier, in the course of two years active service. He enlisted into Capt. Downs' company in 1776, and marched to Canada. He was taken prisoner with the rest of the company, at the Cedars, on the 19th of May following. They were
115
TOWN OF SHARON.
released by General Arnold, on his return from Que- bec, and Mr. Strong returned to Sharon. He imme- diately enlisted into Captain Smith's company, and joined the army under General Washington. He was in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine and Germantown, in which last action he was so severely wounded in the leg as to render am- putation necessary. He was of course, compelled to leave the army, but he carried with him an honorable discharge from General Washington. He was placed upon the roll of invalid pensioners. He died lately at Geneva, N. Y.
Studley, Joshua was from Hanover, Mass. in 1771. He settled in the south part of Ellsworth. He died November 22, 1810, at the age of sixty-eight. He left two sons Gideon and Ichabod, the last of whom is yet living.
Swain, John was from Branford in 1745. He lived near the place where Benjamin Bates now lives. He died in 1755, leaving sons, Daniel, James, Isaac and Jonathan.
Swan, Cyrus Esq. was born in Stonington, in 1770. He was in early life engaged in mercantile pursuits, in the District of Maine. He afterwards pursued the study of law, and established himself in the practice in this town in 1798. He was a successful practitioner, and acquired a respectable standing at the bar. He died August 20, 1835, aged sixty-five.
Swetland, Rowland was the first settler on the place where Eli Rowley lives. He sold his place in 1768, to Daniel Curtice, and removed to the Lyman place, in the Great Hollow, where he died.
Taylor, Gen. Augustine was from New Milford in 1784. He purchased of Robert G. Livingston, who had come to Sharon during the revolutionary war, the
116
HISTORY OF THE
place now called the Taylor place, where he resided until 1815, when he left the town. He rose to the rank of major general in the militia, and for a while commanded the troops which were stationed for the defence of New London, during the late war with England. He died soon after he removed.
Thurstin, Amos lived in the Great Hollow, near the school-house. He came to Sharon in 1768, and remained here until 1785, when he sold his place to Ebenezer Dibble, and removed to Ballstown, N. Y.
Tickner, William was from Lebanon in 1739. He drew the thirty-eighth home-lot, next north of Mr. Sprague's. He was a respectable man. He died in 1760, leaving sons, William, Jonathan and Daniel, who all left the town soon after the death of their father.
Tickner, John was a brother of the preceding, and came from Lebanon in 1749. He settled in the Great Hollow, on land which his father had previously bought of Bezaleel Tyler. He died at the age of forty-nine. He left sons, John, Benajah, Elisha and David. Benajah was the father of Dr. Benajah Tickner of the U. S. navy, and of Dr. Luther Tickner, of Salisbury.
Tobey, Elisha was from the old Plymouth colony. He lived many years where Stephen Knibloe now lives. In 1792 he removed to Alford, Mass. He died in Salisbury, on his way to visit his friends in Sharon. He had sons, Jonathan, Barnabas, Heman, Silvanus, Ephraim, Elisha and Benjamin.
Tyler, Bezaleel was from Branford and was the first settler on the place now occupied by Mrs. Deming. He died August 29, 1760, at the age of seventy-seven. He left sons, Bezaleel, Benjamin, Amos, Charles, Gideon, Timothy and Nathaniel.
Waldo, Cyprian was from Windham in 1770. He purchased of Gideon Hollister, a part of the thirty- sixth home-lot, where Virgil B. Roberts now lives.
117
TOWN OF SHARON.
He resided there till his death in 1797. He left sons, Alfred, Bradford, David R. and Zacheus.
Warren, Lieut. James lived on the place now owned by Benjamin Hollister, Esq. He had no children. He died May 14, 1788, aged seventy-six.
Way, George was from Lyme. He settled opposite the Deforest house in the Gay district, and lived there for a number of years. He was the first grand-juror in the town. He had one son John, who lived on the hill west of Freeman W. Parsons'.
White, George was from Wareham, Mass. and was the first settler on the place owned by the late Ches- terfield Chapman. He came to Sharon in 1747. He had three sons, John, George and Archelaus. John removed to Alford, Mass. where he died in 1775. He was the father of the late Solomon White and grand-father of George White, now living.
White, Israel was from Danbury in 1775. He settled in the Great Hollow, where he purchased a large and valuable farm of David Wood. Mr. White died in 1820, at the age of eighty-nine. He had sons, James, John, Sanford, Israel and Stephen, and his descendants yet remaining in the town are numerous.
Williams, Colonel John was originally a physician and came to Sharon in 1743 from Lebanon. He was for many years a very distinguished inhabitant of the town. He lived nearly opposite Judge Sterling's, and the house which he occupied was standing twenty-five years since. He was elected town-clerk in the fall of 1745, which office he held twenty-nine successive years, till his death. Previous to his appointment the records had been badly kept, and a good part of them are very unintelligible ; but from the time they passed into his hands they were kept with great accuracy. It would seem, that for nearly thirty years, he wrote
118
HISTORY OF THE
almost every deed which passed title to real estate in Sharon, judging from the fact that they were nearly all witnessed by him, and acknowledged before him, and it is interesting to observe with what remarkable accuracy and strict legal propriety they are all ex- pressed. He held the office of selectman seventeen years, and was chosen member of the Assembly at twenty-seven different sessions, being the first ever chosen to that office in the town. When the county of Litchfield was organized in 1751, he was appoint- ed one of the judges of the county court, and in about five years afterwards was made chief judge. He was also the first judge of probate for the district of Sharon, which was established in 1755, which offices he held
while he lived. He also went through several milita- ry grades, and for several years commanded a regi- ment of colonial militia. There are those now living who have a distinct recollection of his personal ap- pearance, and of the very influential character he sus- tained in the affairs of the town. He was a man of tall and slender frame, but of great gravity and very dignified deportment, and his word was law. He was a deacon in the church from June 1766 till his death. He died on Sunday, March 14, 1774, at the age of sixty-eight, and as it was in the exciting times which immediately preceded the revolution, and he had been a military character, he was buried with military honors. His sword was borne upon his coffin, and. vollies of musketry were fired over his grave. The funeral services were performed under the direction of Capt. David Downs. He left a number of children but none remain among us. John A. Elliott is his grand-son.
Wood, Abel was from Wareham, Mass. in 1748. He settled in the valley, on the lot now owned by Henry Hotchkiss, which he purchased of John Gray.
119
TOWN OF SHARON.
He died January 20, 1798, at the age of eighty-six. He had three sons, Ephraim, Elijah and Barnabas, the two latter of whom lived to a very advanced age. Elijah Wood, now living, is a grand-son of Abel Wood.
Wood, David was from Ridgefield, and was the first settler upon what is called the White place, in the Great Hollow. He came to Sharon in 1754, and in 1777, sold his place to Israel White, of Danbury, and removed to Ballstown, N. Y. He had sons, David, Stephen, Caleb and Benjamin. David was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, in 1776, and died in the prison ship at New York. Caleb died in Sharon. Stephen and Benjamin removed to Balls- town with their father.
Woodruff, Elias was from Southampton, Long Island, in 1763. He purchased a part of the ninth home-lot of Amos Tyler, and lived on it till his death, June 17, 1807, at the age of seventy. His house stood a little north of Dr. Deming's present residence. He left sons, Daniel, James, Ithamir, Salmon and Evart, of whom Daniel is the only one remaining in town.
APPENDIX. No. 1.
The following is a roll of the representatives from the town of Sharon, to the General Assembly, com- mencing in 1755, when the town was first represented.
May Session.
1755
1756 John Marvin, ,
1757 John Williams, Josiah Strong, 1753 John Williams, Samuel Dunham.
October Session.
John Williams, Jolm Pardee. John Williams, John Pardee.
John Williams,
Josiah Strong. John Williams, John Pardee.
120
APPENDIX.
1759
.
1760 Samuel Dunham, John Pardee. 1761 Caleb Jewitt, John Gay.
Josiah Strong, Caleb Jewitt.
John Williams,
John Pardee.
John Williams,
1762 John Williams, John Pardee.
Caleb Jewitt.
1763 Jolin Williams, Caleb Jewitt.
John Williams; David Foster.
1764 John Williams, Caleb Jewitt.
David Foster.
1765 John Williams, Caleb Jewitt.
,
1766 John Williams, Caleb Jewitt.
Caleb Jewitt. John Williams, Jeremiah Day. John Williams, Simeon Smith.
1767 John Williams, Jeremiah Day:
1768 John Marvin, Thomas Pardee.
1769 John Williams, James Pardee.
1770 Simeon Smith, Thomas Pardee.
1771 John Williams, Simeon Smith.
1772 John Williams, Simeon Smith: 1773 John Williams, James Pardee.
1774 James Pardee, Ebenezer Gay.
1775 Ebenezer Gay, James Pardee. 1776 John Canfield; Caleb Jewitt.
1777 John Canfield, Simeon Smith. 1778 Ebenezer Gay; James Pardee. 1779 John Canfield, Samuel Elmore. 1780 Samuel Elmore, James Pardee.
1781
1782 David Downs, Joseph Landers.
John Williams, Thomas Pardee. John Williams, Thomas Pardee: John Williams, Caleb Jewitt.
John Williams, Simeon Smith.
Jolin Williams;
Simeon Sınith.
James Pardee. 1
Ebenezer Gay, Thomas Pardees John Canfield, Caleb Jewitt. Ebenezer Gay, James Pardee. James Pardee, Joseph Lord. Ebenezer Gay; David Downs. John Canfield, Ebenezer Gay. Samuel Canfield, David Downs. ", Samuel Elmore: John Canfield, David Downs.
John Williams,
121
APPENDIX.
1783 Simeon Smith, David Downs. 1784 Ebenezer Gay, Josiah Coleman. 1785 John Canfield, Simeon Smith.
Ebenezer Gay, Josiah Coleman. John Canfield,
Simeon Smith,
Jolin Canfield,
Simeon Smith,
1786 John Canfield, Simeon Smith.
Simeon Smith.
1787 Jonathan Gillet, Ephraim Marriner.
Jonathan Gillet. Ephraim Marriner.
1788 Ephraim Marriner, Josialı Coleman.
David Downs.
David Downs,
1789 David Downs, Isaac Pardee.
Isaac Pardee.
1790 David Downs, Isaac Pardee.
Augustine Taylor,
Phineas Smith.
1791 Phineas Smith, Augustine Taylor.
Judson Canfield.
Augustine Taylor,
Judson Canfield.
1793 Judson Canfield, John C. Smith.
David Downs,
Samuel Canfield.
Samuel Canfield,
David Downs.
Samuel Canfield,
Enoch Parsons.
John C. Smith,
Augustine Taylor.
John C. Smith,
Samuel Canfield.
John C. Smith,
Abel Patchen.
John C. Smith, Isaac Pardee.
John C. Smith,
George King.
Augustine Taylor,
Isaac Pardee.
Judson Canfield,
Augustine Taylor.
1803 Judson Canfield, Daniel St. John.
1804 Judson Canfield, Isaac Pardee.
Judson Canfield,
Isaac Pardee.
Isaac Pardee,
Daniel St. John.
Judson Canfield,
John C. Smith.
1792 Phineas Smith, Judson Canfield.
1794 Samuel Canfield, David Downs.
1795 David Downs, James Pardee.
1796 Samuel Canfield, John C. Smith.
1797 John G. Smith. Oliver Kellogg.
1798 John C. Smith, Oliver Kellogg.
1799 John C. Smith, Abel Patchen.
1800 John C. Smith, Oliver Kellogg.
1801 Oliver Kellogg, George King.
1802 Judson Canfield, Augustine Taylor.
Judson Canfield,
Daniel St. John.
1805 Judson Canfield, Isaac Pardee.
1806 Judson Canfield, Isaac Pardee. 11
Phineas Smith,
122
APPENDIX.
1807 John C. Smith, Judson Canfield.
John C. Smith, Daniel St. Jolın.
1808 John C. Smith, Judson Canfield.
Judson Canfield.
1809 John C. Smith, Judson Canfield,
Isaac Pardee, Simeon Blackman. Cyrus Swan,
1810 Simeon Blackman, Oliver Kellogg.
Simeon Blackman.
Simeon Blackman,
1811 Simeon Blackman, Oliver Kellogg.
Samuel E. Everitt. Isaac Pardee,
1812 Oliver Kellogg, Samuel E. Everitt.
Samuel E. Everitt.
1813 Oliver Kellogg, Samuel E. Everitt.
Cyrus Swan,
Samuel E. Everitt.
1814 Oliver Kellogg, Samuel E. Everitt.
Samuel E. Everitt.
Samuel Rockwell,
Daniel St. John.
1816 Oliver Kellogg, Samuel Rockwell.
Israel Camp.
Oliver Kellogg,
Thomas St. John.
1818 Hezekiah Goodwin, Thomas St. John.
Oliver Kellogg, Ansel Sterling.
1819 Oliver Kellogg, Ansel Sterling.
1820 Oliver Kellogg, Ansel Sterling.
1821 Ansel Sterling, Samuel R. Gager.
1822 Samuel R. Gager, Samuel Roberts.
1823 Samuel Roberts, Horatio Smith.
1824 Horatio Smith, Cyrus Swan.
1825 Ansel Sterling, Cyrus Swan.
1826 Ansel Sterling, Horatio Smith.
1827 Cyrus Swan, Calvin Gay.
1828 Cyrus Swan, Calvin Gay.
1829 Ansel Sterling, Samuel R. Cager.
1830 Charles F. Sedgwick, Clark Chapman.
1831 Charles F. Sedgwick, Israel Camp.
1832 Israel Camp, Samuel E. Everitt.
1833 Clark Chapman, John C. Smith, Jr.
1834 Horatio Smith, John C. Smith, Jr. 1835 Ansel Sterling, Ralph Deming. 1836 Ansel Sterling, Zacheus W. Bissell. 1837 Ansel Sterling, Elmore Everitt. 1838 Elmore Everitt, Alanson Wheeler. 1839 Alanson Wheeler, Ralph Deming. 1810 Elmore Everitt, Horace Reed. 1841 Zacheus W. Bissell, Richard Smith.
Cyrus Swan,
1815 Oliver Kellogg, Ansel Sterling.
Cyrus Swan,
1817 Oliver Kellogg, Israel Camp.
John C. Smith.
123
APPENIDX.
No. 2.
'The following persons have officiated as magistrates in the town :
Nathaniel Skinner, Samuel Hutchinson, John Wil- liams, Daniel Griswold, Joseph Lord, John Gay, John Canfield, David Downs, Isaac Pardee, Augustine Tay- lor, Judson Canfield, John Cotton Smith, Daniel St. John, Calvin Gay, Samuel E. Everitt, Oliver Kellogg, Cyrus Swan, Ansel Sterling, Samuel Rockwell, Hora- tio Smith, Samuel Roberts, Stephen Deming, Stephen Heath, Israel Camp, Charles F. Sedgwick, Oliver Kellogg, Jun. Jacob Chamberlain, Ebenezer Black- man, Joshua B. Chaffee, Richard Smith, Benjamin Hollister, Alanson Wheeler, John W. McKoy, Ran- som Smith, Zacheus W. Bissell, Samuel Roberts, Jun. Silas A. Gray, William Everett, Daniel Parsons, Ralph Deming.
No. 3. Town Clerks.
Nathaniel Skinner, Ebenezer Frisbie, John Wil- liams, Daniel Griswold, Samuel Canfield, Israel Camp, George King, Jun. Henry H. Quintard.
No. 4.
The following attorneys and counsellors at law have practised in the town.
John Canfield, Judson Canfield, John Cotton Smith, Cyrus Swan, Joel T. Petit, William G. Williams, Ansel Sterling, Charles R. Brown, Chauncey Smith, Ebenezer Blackman, Charles F. Sedgwick, Frederick J. Fenn, Richard Smith.
No. 5. Physicians.
John Williams, Abner Peck, John Lee, Daniel Griswold, Simeon Smith, Joseph Hamilton, Ashbel Goodrich, David Doty, Jonah Barnes, Phineas Smith, Samuel R. Gager, Samuel Rockwell, Simeon Black-
124
APPENDIX.
man, Nathaniel Lowrey, John W. Smith, John Sears, Curtiss J. Hurd, Elmore Everitt, Milo L. North, Eb- enezer H. Conklin; Jehiel Abbott, Russell Everett, Ralph Deming, Horace A. Buttolph, Nathan S. Perry.
No. 6.
Deacons of the Congregational Churches. First Society.
Nathaniel Skinner, Hezekiah King, Ebenezer Fris- bie, Jonathan Elmer, Matthew St. John, Ebenezer Jackson, Timothy Carrier, John Williams, Daniel Griswold, Gain Miller, Joseph Landers, Benjamin Hamlin, Paul Smith, Jun. Isaac Chamberlain, Aaron Reed, William M. Smith.
Ellsworth.
Silas St. John, Abel Woodard, Amos Seymour, Jabez Swift, Calvin Peck, Nathan Dunbar, William Everett, Abel C. Woodard.
No. 7.
The following Hymn composed by the Hon. JOHN COTTON SMITH, was sung at the celebration of the one hundredth anniver- sary of the first town meeting, December 22, 1839.
O bless the Lord, whose mighty hand Led our forefathers o'er the main,
To spread throughout this distant land, Fair freedom's just and gentle reign.
Not cold, nor want, nor foes array'd, Could the firm Pilgrim's zeal restrain,
They trusted in their Saviour's aid, Nor did flis servants trust in vain.
Through dangers, toils and anxious cares, God was their guardian and their stay ; And gave in answer to their prayers, The blessings we enjoy this day.
One century round these hills and plains, Have the Redeemer's praises rung, Still let them rise in lofty strains, From every heart and every tongue.
.
NGRA
E LIBRARY
1
8
Ļ
DE CONGRE
OF CONGRI
E LIBRARY OF CONGRESS THE LE CONGRES TE MEDRARY 7 R 0
€ 5 THE LIONAR' "CONGRL
V YIERAR;
UNGRESS
OF CONGRESS R HE LIBRARY
OF CONGRESS THE LIBRARY
Hey OF LIBRARY
CONGRESS THE LIBRAR 2 THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS ARF CONGRES HE LIBRARY F A £
A
CONGRESS THE LIBRARY
3 ESS C ALENAIR &D WE LIBRARY,
LIBRARY
ESS
G Z
OF COM
.
.
E
H
100 100%
BRARY OF CONGRES
A
OF CON
a .
HE LIBRARY N ONG S H 4 H 0 E a H S CONGRESS ES E H ₾ SOF CONTRE La202 1 AMERESS THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS F
A
A
H ES OF CONGRESS
THE LIA
K
N ES
THE LIBRARY
4
HZ
BRARY
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
E
THE
. C
R
C
JABRARY
RPSS
C
J
CONG
SS TR
9
2
C
RAKE
0
F CONG
ON
3
80
ND BY
C
AKY
RARY
ARI
A
A
65219K
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
0 014 076 263 5
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.