USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 21
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occupied the evening. The stately minuet had gone out of fashion, and the cotillion not yet introduced. The lines of a modern song express what was universally felt :
"The reign of pleasure is restored, Of ease and gay delight."
In their apology, if one be needed, let me add, Washington would have approved, and entered the pleasant occurrence in his journal. The musicians knew their hour, and at I the assembly closed. They did not escape the keen edge of satire. The poem of W. P. Turner could be repeated by many emi- grants to the Susquehanna, forty years afterward.
The hum of industry is everywhere. Norwich uptown is a bee hive. Every mechanic, and there are few idlers, with every workman, was employed manufacturing hats, tin ware, pewter ware, boots, shoes, harness, coaches, chaises, small carriages, for slaves to draw the children-everything. The West Indies demanded many cargoes. Such was the prosperity of the country around, nearly every farmer would have his chaise. The fact that there were two coach and chaise manufactories in the town fully employed, showing the activity of one branch, will indicate that of others.
Take your stand on the school house steps, and suppose a circulating panorama. Note that drove of horses dashing by. The driver is Lazelle, from the north. Twenty of the sixty are Canadian. They are for Howland's brig. Jesse Brown will see they are cared for a week, and send them to New London, when the brig is nearly ready to sail. A dozen vessels are preparing at the landing for cargoes, and droves are daily arriving.
Such a demand for horses must create a demand for sires. Luckily, here they pass, each with his groom. That superlatively beautiful bright bay, fourteen hands high, is "Figure," belonging to Haynes, of New London. That monster dark bay following, seventeen hands high, is "Nimrod." The dark chestnut is a favorite Rhode Island pacer. "Count Pulaski" is the last. What mean those two covered carts with tinkling bells? They are our market. The single one, a daily, from Bean Hill. The double is from Wind- ham. a weekly, but loaded with mutton that would tempt an epicure.
Note that dashing gentleman and lady on the fine pair of blacks. They have a foreign air. It is Jackson Brown, supposed to be an agent of the British commissary department. They do not stop to have the gate opened, but bound over it as if in pursuit of a fox.
Note that splendid chariot, with servants in livery as out riders. There are two or three pairs of elegant English hunters. They are bounding away in pursuit of pleasure, to the Bozrah great pond, a fishing. It is the establish- ment of the noted English Lord Bellisais.
Hark! There is music in the court house. An Irish gentleman of titled family, whom the war has embarrassed, with a noble spirit of independence, rather than sit down in indigence and despair, has opened a dancing school, not only here, but in Bozrah, Franklin, and two or three neighboring towns. Ordering his time that he may attend here twice a week, and visit the others once a week, not a minute was wasted.
John C. De Vereaux; that is the gentleman in the open carriage with the hump-backed musician, Howell, by his side. The general prosperity rendered it easy for parents, all round to country, to gratify their children. Would any- one ask -- "How did he succeed?" Enquire who, forty years afterwards, was the wealthiest merchant in Utica, and president of the United States branch bank? The answer would be John C. De Vereaux.
Evening approaches-where are the stages? O! here they come up in
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style to Brown's hotel. That from the east, the horses all in a foam, has come all the way from Providence, since morning !
The one from the west is from Hartford. What is that under the Hart- ford stage? It looks like the fore-top-sail of a brig. Lo! it is a sail cloth, so nailed under the bottom as to hang loose and bring down salmon from Hart- ford, without being bruised, for Brown, like Lathrop, had a pride in setting a capital table, and it is lucky today, as President Adams has just arrived.
Party, the twin sister of freedom, then prevailed, as it ever will, and the morning salute, confidently expected, was marred, as we black cockade federal boys charged, by the intentional failure of our opponents to-"keep their powder dry."
Training day, especially regimental, or brigade, was a great event. The Matross company, commanded then by Roger Griswold, afterwards by Cap- tain Bailey paraded in front of the meeting house; the light infantry, in uniform, near the old Perit house; the common militia company, facing west, on the lower point of the green; companies from the neighboring towns arriv- ing, where the adjutant assigned them their position. From an early hour the plain was thronged; the line formed-mark that fine soldier-like bearing man on that stately war steed-that is General Marvin. Accompanied by his aides, in splendid uniform and nodding plumes, music filling the air, the line is passed, the salute given, the column formed; the march is down east and round the square. The band and the brigade of drums and fifes under Collier and Manning, alternating. . Passing Governor Huntington's, the salute is repeated, and could not be paid to a worthier, unless Washington were him- self present. The windows all round are sparkling with beauty, and we little boys were thrice happy to trudge round on foot, hear the music, and see the pageant.
A marked incident in the exhibition was the assemblage of all Mohegans and Betty Uncas, their queen, with brooms, baskets, blankets, papooses with- out number. They lined the fence from Eli Lord's to Lathrop's. The military dismissed, still the plain is thronged. Here is Captain Griswold, with a dozen of the most active fellows, playing a game of cricket. Yonder is Captain Slocum and a party intent on a wrestling match. Each right hand hold of his opponent's right shoulder. It was a game of skill, rather than of strength- the trip and twitch-the steel trap quickness. The Zouaves could hardly beat them. An adroitness that would seem unrivaled. Let the unpracticed, how- ever strong and courageous, beware how he enters the lists, or he will find himself sprawling in mid-air, seeking a resting place on the green turf, flat on his back, amid the cheers of hundreds.
Look! There is a daring fellow climbing up to the ball on the steeple. It makes one's head dizzy to gaze on him. That is John Post-fearless and spry as a wild cat.
Hark! The sounds of revelry proceed from Lathrop's chamber windows. The officers have dined, and prefer punch, such as Lathrop only could make. to indifferent wine. The choicest Antigua, loaf sugar by the pail full, lemons, oranges, limes. Merrier fellows, within tempered mirth, never wore cockade or feather.
So with "sports that wrinkled care derides," closed the day. The half is not said, yet I feel that I am abusing your patience. When did a native ever begin to talk of Norwich and know when to stop?
From the time the Jewish maidens hung their harps on the willows, and sang of Jerusalem, to the lav of the sweetest modern minstrel, "My native land" has been a cherished theme. Thus with singular pleasure have I run over the scenes of my childhood, and endeavored to sketch, with rapid pencil,
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"Norwich uptown, the plain, and round the square," as memory recalls it, seventy years ago, which, with cordial good wishes, is respectfully sub- mitted.
From Miss Caulkins we quote the following account of the industrial growth of Norwich :
The enterprise of the inhabitants in the line of manufactures has been frequently mentioned in the course of this history. But the subject will here be retraced, and various undertakings chronicled in their order, as far as data for this purpose have been obtained.
Iron works were established in the parish of New Concord in 1750 by Captain Joshua Abell and Nehemiah Huntington. They contracted with Robert Martin, of Preston, to become the overseer or operator of their works, engaging him to make and refine iron into anconie, to be done workmanlike, and binding themselves to remunerate him with 100 lbs. of bar iron for every 200 anconies he shall make.
Elijah Backus commenced a similar work at Yantic nearly at the same time. These are supposed to have been the first forges erected in New London county. They manufactured blooming and bar iron for anchors, mills, and other uses.
In the year 1766, cutlery as a business made its appearance, and various implements of husbandry, that had before been imported, were manufactured in the town. The Backus iron works obtained great repute, and during the Revolutionary war all kinds of iron work necessary for domestic use, and various instruments of warfare, were made and repaired at the Yantic forges. The same year a pottery for the manufacture of stone ware was established at Bean Hill, which continued in operation far into the present century, seldom, however, employing more than four or five hands.
The making of linseed oil was commenced at Bean Hill in 1748 by Hezekiah Huntington. In October, 1778, Elijah and Simon Lathrop gave notice in the "New London Gazette" that they had erected an oil-mill at Norwich Falls, and were ready to exchange a gallon of oil for a bushel of well-cleaned flaxseed. In 1786, Silas Goodell set up another oil-mill near the falls. This was probably the same that in 1791 was owned by Joshua Hunt- ington. Lathrop's mill was destroyed by fire November 9, 1788. The loss was estimated at $1,500, a considerable quantity of oil and flaxseed being con- sumed. It was rebuilt the next year. In these mills flaxseed was used to produce the best kind of oil, but inferior kinds of seed were often substituted. The three mills together produced about 9,000 gallons annually, which sold at three or four shillings per gallon.
During the Revolutionary war, iron wire and cards were made at the falls, under the supervision of Nathaniel Niles. Edmund Darrow established at the same period a nailery, which continued in operation nearly to the close of the century.
The business of weaving stockings was begun in 1766, under the patron- age of Christopher Leffingwell. William Russell, an Englishman, was the first operator. For many years it was a small concern, limited to two or three looms. But in 1791, Leffingwell had nine looms in operation, produc- ing annually from 1,200 to 5,000 pair of hose, and employing in the manufac- ture worsted, cotton, linen, and silk. The silk hose ranged in value from 12s. to 20s. per pair. Gloves and purses were also woven at these mills, the whole business employing only five operatives. At a later period the business was continued successively by Louis Baral, Leonard Beattie, and William
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Coxe. all foreigners, and still later by Jeremiah Griffing, a native of New London.
Stocking-looms were not only employed here, but constructed. Before 1790, looms that had been made in Norwich were set up at Hartford and Poughkeepsie-two at each place. Looms were in operation at that period in New Haven, Litchfield, and Wallingford, and it is not improbable that these also were made in Norwich. To accommodate his stocking-looms and other utilitarian projects, Colonel Leffingwell built, after 1780, the range of shops called Leffingwell's row. In 1785, wool-cards were made by James Lincoln in Leffingwell's row.
Paper .- In the early manufacture of this article in Norwich, Christopher Leffingwell stands pre-eminent. His mill upon the Yantic, near No-man's Acre, was erected in 1766. This was the first paper-mill in Connecticut. Lef- fingwell's mill in a short period produced various kinds of paper for wrap- ping, writing, printing, cartridges, and sheathing. The quantity annually turned out was estimated at 1,300 reams, the prices varying from 4s. 6d. to 45s. per ream. Ten or twelve hands were employed. At the outset of this undertaking, a small bounty was granted by the government, to continue for three years. It was not renewed. After the year 1790, Andrew Huntington engaged in the manufacture of paper, and erected a new mill upon the Yantic, either on the site of Leffingwell's oil mill, or very near it. Ebenezer Bushnell was for a few years his partner.
Chocolate Mills .- Christopher Leffingwell was first in this department also. His chocolate-mill was in operation in 1770. Another was erected in 1779 by Simon Lathrop. They were both moved by water-wheels, and could be tended each by a single workman. The chocolate made was of the best quality and the quantity produced was estimated at 4,000 and 5,000 pounds annually. It sold in considerable quantities at 14d. per lb .; retail- ers asked 18d.
Clocks and Watches .- This business was commenced in 1773 by Thomas Harland, a mechanician of great skill and efficiency. His watches were pro- nounced equal to the best English importations. In 1790 he had ten or twelve hands in constant employ, and it was stated that he made annually two hundred watches and forty clocks. His price for silver watches varied from £4 Ios. to f7 Ios. As at that period watches were far from being common, and it was even a mark of distinction to wear one, Mr. Harland's establishment was a center of the business for a considerable extent of country. Barzillai Davidson, 1775, N. Shipman, Sen., 1789, Eliphaz Hart on the Green by the court house, and Judah Hart at the Landing, in 1812, though not probably to any great extent manufacturers, were yet "workers in gold and silver," and offered for sale handsome assortments of jewelry and time-keepers.
Between the years 1773 and 1780, four fulling-mills with clothiers' shops and dye-houses went into operation-one in the parish of New Con- cord, one in Franklin, a third at the falls, "near Starr and Leffingwell's works adjoining the Paper Mill," and a fourth on Bean Hill.
In a statement made of the industrial pursuits of the town in 1791, in addition to several establishments already noticed, are the following items: Two nailleries, or machines for making nails, employing eight or ten hands. Fifteen blacksmiths, who make annually about 50 dozen scythes, 150 dozen hoes, 50 dozen axes, and other implements for domestic and agricultural use. Three distilleries. Two tobacconists. Two braziers, and a bell-foundry.
Cotton .- In 1790, Dr. Joshua Lathrop established a cotton factory in the town-plot. He began with five jennys, one carding-machine, and six looms.
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This machinery was afterward increased, and a great variety of goods manu- factured, probably to the amount of 2,000 yards per year while the project was continued. In 1793, the firm was Lathrop & Eells. The following is one of their advertisements, March 19, 1793:
Lathrop & Eells have just finished a variety of Cotton Goods, consisting of Royal Ribs, Ribdelures, Ribdurants, Ribdenims, Ribbets, Zebrays, Satinetts, Satin-Stripes, Satin Cords, Thicksetts, Corduroys, Stockinetts, Dimotys, Feathered Stripes, Birds-Eye, Denims, Jeans, Jeanetts, Fustians, Bed Tickings that will hold feathers.
The above Goods are well finished, and for durability undoubtedly superior to European manufactured. Gentlemen, merchants, and others, who feel disposed to encourage home manufactures, are invited to call and see for themselves, and may be assured they shall be supplied as low as they can furnish themselves from any quarter.
This business could not be made remunerative, and after a trial of eight or ten years was discontinued.
The manufacturing spirit had been called into exercise to meet the ex- igencies of the Revolution. Before that time the country had been dependent upon England for all articles that required combination, capital and machi- nery for their production. When the intercourse with Europe was renewed, and commerce again brought the lavish results of foreign labor to our shores, the crude manufactures of the country declined, most of the imported articles being cheaper than those made at home. The spinningwheel and loom still kept their place in families, fulling-mills and carding-machines were patron- ized, ropes and nails were made; but as a general fact, the workshops and factories of the country were in Europe. The spirit and enterprise of Norwich had been wholly diverted into the channels of commerce, and future pros- perity seemed to be expected only from the ocean.
At the commencement of the present century, the paper-mill at the falls was the only establishment of any kind in Norwich worthy the name of a factory.
The Norwich Falls district, now so busy, bustling, and crowded with inhabitants, was then a wild, secluded hamlet, consisting of two or three old mills and the dwelling house of Elijah Lathrop. Beautiful was the place fur all the purposes of romance and lonely meditation-renowned for echoes and evergreens, the chosen resort of moonlight parties, curious travelers, and wandering lovers-but the Genius of Manufacture had only marked it for his own; he had not yet erected his standard and marshaled his legions in the valley. In relation to manufactures, and in some respects it would apply. to the whole business of the town, this was a period when old things passed away, and all things became new.
Hemp .- In the year 1803, Nathaniel Howland & Co. erected a building at the falls for hemp-spinning. Mr. Timothy Lester was engaged as machin- ist; the best of hatcheled hemp was used, and the warps were spun by a recently improved machine. Looms were soon introduced, duck and canvas offered for sale in 1804.
The Howlands appear to have been stimulated to this undertaking by a visit from Mr. Baxter, a noted hemp-spinner from Great Britain, who was engaged in introducing the manufacture of cordage and duck, by machinery, into this country. He came to Norwich to survey the situation, and was satisfied with its facilities, but was not himself sufficiently encouraged to remain and conduct the experiment.
Colonel Howland's mill kept on its way for a few years, employing from twelve to twenty hands, and throwing a considerable quantity of hempen cloth into the market. He was encouraged in his operations by the govern- ment. Proffers were made to him to supply the navy upon cash advances,
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and a small bounty was granted by Congress for every bolt of duck pro- duced. But the business could not withstand the pressure of the times, and was overwhelmed in the general wreck of mercantile affairs, connected with the embargo and other commercial restrictions of that period.
Manufactures at the Falls .- The rise of manufactures after this period is intimately connected with several prominent individuals who removed to the place from other parts of New England-Calvin Goddard in 1807, Wil- liam Williams in 1809, William C. Gilman in 1816, William P. Greene in 1824. These all in their first coming to Norwich were connected with the manufacturing interest at the Falls. Though not natives, they are wholly identified with the place, and by their enterprise and their liberal and enlight- ened course as citizens, have contributed largely to its prosperity.
Mr. Goddard was a lawyer and statesman, connected with the manufac- turing interest only as a proprietor and patron. Having projected an estab- lishment at the Falls, he purchased in 1800 the old Lathrop house and mill- seats of that district, the saw, grist and oil mills, with the ancient distillery and tannery lots and privileges, and formed a partnership with William Williams, Sen., of Stonington, and his sons (Wm., Jr., and Thos. W.), under the firm of William Williams, Jr., & Co., one of the younger partners taking the principal agency in the business. In common parlance, however, the firm was Goddard & Williams.
This company set up the machinery necessary for grinding and bolting "Virginia wheat and Southern corn"; imported their grain, and obtained William Weller, an experienced miller from Pennsylvania, for their foreman. They kept two or three sloops in their employ, sailing to Norfolk, Peters- burg, Fredericksburg, and Richmond. In 1812, they fitted out the schooner "Ann and Mary," and sent her to Cadiz with flour. This was their only foreign adventure. The war with Great Britain throwing obstacles in the way of trade with the South, the flour business was broken up, and the com- pany turned their attention to the manufacture of cotton cloth.
The Howland duck factory was changed by this company into a cotton mill, which began to run in December. 1813, preceding by a few months the cotton factories at Jewett City and Bozrahville. They began with carding and spinning, giving out the yarn from the factory to be woven in hand-looms, but after three or four years the power-loom was introduced, and they turned out mattresses, nankeens and shirtings in a completed state.
This mill, though of small account in comparison with the gigantic opera- tions of modern times, and by no means a money-making experiment to the proprietors, merits notice as one of the first cotton mills successfully estab- lished in the country, and as leading the way to undertakings in the same line far more extensive and important. The title of this company was changed in 1819 to Williams Manufacturing Co. It continued only a few years in active operation, but its affairs were not settled and the partnership dissolved till 1833, when they sold out to Amos Cobb and others, agents of the Norwich and New York Manufacturing Co.
In May, 1813, William C. Gilman, "late of Boston," purchased a privilege at the Falls of Goddard & Williams, and in connection with the Iron and Nail Co. established a nailery, which went immediately into successful opera- tion. In this factory the nails were cut by a newly-invented machine with great rapidity, and while the novelty lasted, visitors were attracted to the falls to hear the clink of the machine and view the continual dropping of the nails.
The next company that was formed commenced business with promising aspects upon a large capital. This was the Thames Manufacturing Com-
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pany, incorporated in June, 1823. It consisted of six members, viz., Wm. C. Gilman, Samuel, Henry and John Hubbard, Wm. P. and Benjamin Greene. Five of these partners were Boston men, to whose favorable notice the water privileges that lay unemployed at the falls had been forcibly presented by Mr. Gilman.
This company purchased the naillery and several other water privileges at the falls, and erected a large cotton factory, preparing for a business of considerable extent and value. The corner-stone of the building was laid with interesting ceremonies, and Judge Goddard delivered an address, wel- coming the new company to that secluded seat. William P. Greene, one of the Boston partners, became a resident in Norwich, and for a few years Mr. Greene and William C. Gilman transacted together the business of the com- pany. Mr. Greene then resigned, and Mr. Gilman was afterward the sole agent of the concern.
The Quinebaug Company, for the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods, was chartered in 1826. The mill erected by this company on the Shetucket river was purchased by the Thames Company before it went into operation, and was considered by its new owners as the most valuable of their possessions. This mill was the beginning of Greenville.
The Thames Company purchased likewise the mill at Bozrahville, built by Messrs. Dodge and Hyde in 1815, and in their best days had the three mills-in Bozrah, at the Falls, and on the Shetucket-in successful operation.
Another company with similar objects and expectations, called the Nor- wich & New York Manufacturing Co., was incorporated in 1829. Some of the partners belonged also to the Thames Company, but they were distinct concerns. To this new incorporation the Thames Company sold the Falls mill. This company purchased also the mills and machinery of Huntington and Backus on Bean Hill.
In 1833, a large cotton mill, two paper mills, an iron foundry, nail fac- tory and rolling mill were reported in successful operation at the Falls.
But this prosperity was of short duration. Both the Thames Company and the Norwich and New York Company became involved in the mercantile disasters that so widely affected the business of the country, and went down in the financial crash of 1837. The two mills belonging to the Thames Com- pany were purchased nominally by Mr. Gilman-the mortgages nearly equal- ing the value-and conveyed by him to other parties: the Quinebaug mill to Mr. Caliph, and the mill at Bozrah to Mr. James Boorman of New York. A period of great depression and stagnation of business ensued.
Fresh undertakings of a more enduring nature arose out of these reverses. Two new companies were formed under the auspices of Wm. P. Greene-the Shetucket Company and the Norwich Falls Company. Both went into pros- perous operation between 1838 and 1842.
The Shetucket Company purchased the misnamed Quinebaug mill on the Shetucket. The building was burnt down in May, 1842, and the present mill, of far greater capacity, standing on the same spot, is called the She- tucket mill. It is the great cotton mill of Greeneville.
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