USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 44
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321
RELIGION IN NEW LONDON COUNTY
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church at Stonington was founded in 1851, and the same year Rev. P. Duffy built a church there by subscriptions from Catholics in Stonington and vicinity. The church was dedicated in 1851 by Bishop O'Reilly, who later was lost at sea with the ship "Pacific." The pres- ent pastor of St. Mary's Church is Rev. James E. O'Brien.
The church property at Mystic Bridge was purchased from the Metho- dist Episcopal congregation there and was dedicated as St. Patrick's Church in 1870, Rev. P. Lalor, the first pastor. The present pastor is Rev. W. J. Fitzgerald.
IX. ADDITIONAL CHURCH HISTORY
A Universalist Society was formed in New London in the year 1835, and occasional services held, but no church was erected or regular minister established until 1843, when a brick church edifice was erected on Hunting- ton street, which was dedicated March 20, 1844, Rev. T. J. Greenwood the first pastor. He continued over the church four years and then resigned, the church being sold by the trustees the following year, the Third Baptist Church purchasing the property. In August, 1849, the Universalist Society bought a former Episcopal church on Main street, that was later sold, the society then worshipping in Allyn Hall until the erection of a new church, corner of Greene and Starr streets, which in 1896 was sold to Brainard Lodge Masonic Corporation and is used as a Masonic Temple. The present beauti- ful church on Huntington tsreet is known as All Souls' Universalist Unitarian Church. A union of the two congregations, Universalist and Unitarian, was subsequently effected. The pastor of All Souls' Church is W. C. Greene, 26 Prospect avenue.
In the fall of 1772, John Murray, a Universalist preacher, visited Nor- wich, and in Dr. Lord's church (First Congregational) preached the first sermon ever delivered in Norwich in open advocacy of Universalism. For several years thereafter, John Murray paid Norwich annual visits, and about 1791 a society was formed and Elhanan Winchester, an eloquent preacher of the Universalist faith, visited Norwich in 1794, Rev. John Tyler, of the Episco- pal church, allowing him, as he had Mr. Murray, to preach in his church. Near the close of 1820 the present Universalist Society was founded under the name, "Society of United Christian Friends in the Towns of Norwich, Pres- ton and Groton." The first meeting of the society was at the home of Paul Harvey, in Preston, with David Tracy as moderator, and Gurdon Bill as clerk. A committee was chosen to draft a constitution, and later at Poque- tanoc the society organized by the election of the proper officers. In 1821, under the preaching of Rev. Charles Hudson, later a congressman from Massachusetts, a deep interest was aroused and the first meeting house of the society erected. That church was dedicated July 21, 1821, Rev. Edward Mitchell preaching the dedicatory sermon. In 1836 the name was changed to the Universalist Society in Norwich, and the present organization of the church began February 6 of that year with eighteen members. A new N.L .- 1-21
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church was dedicated in 1841, and on November 15, 1848, was rededicated, having been enlarged. The present Universalist Society, the Church of the Good Shepherd, is located at 148 Broadway, Rev. George H. Welch, pastor. The present church edifice was erected by the society in 1910.
Other denominations and sects maintain congregations in the county, and all sections are furnished with churches and Sunday schools in which the people may worship according to their own belief. There are two churches dedicated to the faith as taught by Mary Baker Eddy, the First Church of Christ (Scientist) at New London, and the First Church of Christ (Scientist) at Mystic. A society of the same faith has been founded in Nor- wich with reading room in the Thayer building, but a church organization has not yet been effected. The church at New London is located at the corner of Hempstead and Granite streets, the reading room at 315 Plant building. The Mystic church maintains a reading room at No. 5 Grand street.
The churches of all denominations in New London county are admir- able for their beauty, size and furnishings, while the small country churches show by their neat and well kept condition that a love of the church as handed down from their forefathers in this and other lands, exists in the hearts of the people.
CHAPTER XII COURTS AND LAWYERS
"The establishment of courts and judicial tribunals where society is pro- tected in all its civil rights under the sanction of law, and wrong finds a ready redress in an enlightened and prompt administration of justice, is the first necessity of every civilized community. Without such protection the forces of society in their changeable development, even under the teachings of the pulpit, the direction of the press, and the culture of the schools, are exposed to peril and disaster from the turbulence of passion and conflicts of interest; and hence the best and surest security that even the press, the school and the pulpit can find for the peaceful performance of their highest function, is when protected by and entrenched behind the bulwarks of the law, administered by a pure, independent and uncorrupted judiciary.'
The New London County Bar has from its beginning numbered among its members able jurists, talented advocates and safe counsellors. Here many have lived, flourished and died, while others still are upon the stage of action, who have been prominent in the advancement of the interests of the county and figured conspicuously in the councils of State and Nation.
The first county court was held in New London county June 6, 1666, Major Mason presiding ; John Allyn, assistant; Thomas Stanton and Obadiah Bruen, commissioners. A court was also held September 20, 1666, Major Mason, Thomas Stanton and Lieutenant Pratt, of Saybrook, occupying the bench, with Obadiah Bruen, clerk. In June, 1667, Daniel Wetherell was appointed clerk and treasurer. Major Mason was the only magistrate in the county, and when his health broke and he was seldom able to attend on court, the General Court after 1670 nominated assistants to hold the court annually in New London. In May, 1674, Major Palmes was invested with the authority of a magistrate for New London county, but was never chosen an assistant, though often nominated as one.
In 1676, Captain John Mason, eldest son of Major Mason, was chosen assistant, but the same year in December he received his death wound in the Indian fight. The next assistant from New London county was Captain James Fitch, about 1680; Samuel Mason, of Stonington, being appointed soon afterwards. As long as Major Mason lived there was no other magistrate in the county and he generally held his courts at his home in Norwich, a fact which irritated New London, and in October, 1669, County Court Clerk Wetherell, who lived in New London, petitioned the General Court on behalf of the commissioners and obtained an order for an assistant or magistrate to hold a court at New London at stated times. After Major Mason's death there was no chief magistrate resident within the county bounds until May, 1674, when the records show the appointment already noted: "Major Edward Palmes is invested with magisterial power throughout New London county and the Narragansett country."
The first Prerogative Court in the county was held at Lyme, April 13,
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1699, the next at New London, August 28 following, Daniel Wetherell, judge. This court henceforward relieved the county court from the onerous burden of the probate of wills and the settlement of estates. The justices of the peace in New London in 1700 were Richard Christophers and Nehemiah Smith, the former judge of the probate court in 1716.
The Supreme Court was held in New London for the first time in Sep- tember, 1711, the court being held in the meeting house, no court house having then been erected. Prior to 1711 the Superior Court had sat at New Haven and Hartford, but in 1711 it was made a Circuit Court, each county of the State to have two annual sessions. Richard Christophers was one of the assist- ant judges and Captain John Prentiss, county sheriff. After an unsuccessful effort in 1720 Norwich successfully petitioned the General Court that the Supreme Court in March and the Superior Court in November might hold their sessions for New London county in that city, and thus Norwich became a half county seat after a long and determined fight for her share of the courts.
The Connecticut Superior Court is deemed to be open for business for civil business only at New London on the third Tuesday in September and the first Tuesday in February, and for criminal business only on the first Tuesday in May. At Norwich the court opens for criminal business only on the first Tuesdays in January and September. Sessions for civil business only open at Norwich on the third Tuesday in January, the fourth Tuesday in May and the first Tuesday in November.
The Court of Common Pleas for New London county opens at Norwich on the first Tuesdays of October and February; at New London on the first Tuesdays of August and April. For criminal business the court opens at Norwich on the second Tuesdays in February, March, August and September ; at New London on the second Tuesdays in April, May, June, October, No- vember, December and January.
The City Court of New London has civil jurisdiction only, such jurisdic- tion being limited as to amount of claim to $500; return days, the first Tues- day of each month. The police courts of New London and Norwich have criminal jurisdiction only, fines to the amount of $200 or a jail sentence of six months, or both, being the limit of penalty that may be imposed. The town courts of Griswold and Groton have civil jurisdiction in cases not ex- ceeding $300, and in criminal cases may mpose a fine not exceeding $200, a jail sentence of six months, or both. Return days are the first and third Mon- days of each month.
Judges of probate are elected on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the years having an even number. The term of office is two years, beginning the first Monday in January following their election. The following embraces the names of the districts into which New London county is divided, and the towns in each district the year the court was constituted, and the judges elected November 2, 1920:
New London District-New London and Waterford. Constituted at the May session of the General Court held in 1666, as a county court. Judge, Arthur B. Calkins.
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Norwich District-Norwich, Franklin, Griswold, Lisbon, Preston, Sprague, Voluntown. Constituted in October, 1748, from New London. Con- stituted in October, 1748, from New London. Contains the records of Volun- town. Judge, Nelson J. Ayling.
Bozrah District-Yantic. Constituted from Norwich, June 3, 1843. Judge, Wareham W. Bentley.
Colchester District-Constituted May 29, 1832, from East Haddam. Con- tain East Haddam records from October session of 1741 to May 29, 1832. Judge, Harley P. Buell.
East Lyme District-Niantic. Constituted June 2, 1843, from New Lon- don. Judge, Austin I. Bush.
Groton District-Noank. Constituted May 25, 1839, from Stonington. Judge, Arthur P. Anderson.
Lebanon District-Lebanon. Constituted June 2, 1826, from Windham. Judge, George E. Briggs.
Ledyard District-Ledyard. Constituted June 6, 1837, from Stonington. Judge, Samuel E. Holdridge.
Lyme District-Hadlyme, Rural Free Delivery. Constituted July 5, 1869, from Old Lyme. Judge, William Marvin.
Montville District-Constituted June 27, 1851, from New London. Judge, Dan D. Home.
North Stonington District-Constituted June 4, 1835, from Stonington. Judge, Charles C. Gray.
Old Lyme District-Old Lyme. Name changed from Lyme to Old Lyme July 5, 1869. Contains the records of Lyme from June 4, 1830, to July 24, 1868. Judge, Robert H. Noble.
Salem District-Constituted July 9, 1841, from Colchester and New Lon- don. Judge, Henry A. Rogers.
Stonington District-Constituted at the October Session, 1766, from New London. Judge, Elias B. Hinckley.
The number of the justices of the peace in each town may be equal to one- half the number of jurors to which such town is by law entitled. They are elected biennially in each town at the electors' meeting held for the election of State officers and hold office from and after the first Monday succeeding their election. If any person elected fails to take the oath of office before the tenth day of January succeeding his election, he shall be deemed to have declined the office and an election to fill the vacancy may be held. Under this law New London county has elected 174 justices of the peace, apportioned among the towns of the county as follows:
Bozrah
3 New London. 29
Colchester
5
North Stonington ..
3
East Lyme.
5
Norwich
33
Franklin
4
Old Lyme.
7
Griswold
6
Preston
2
Groton
19
Salem 2
Lebanon
3
Sprague
6
Ledyard
3
Stonington
15
Lisbon
5
Voluntown
I
Lyme
3
Waterford
12
Montville
8
174
Before the Revolution, the commissions of notaries public in the colonies emanated from the Archbishop of Canterbury. The commission of Elisha Hall, dated August 30, 1721, is registered in the office of the Secretary of State. The governor was first authorized in 1784 to appoint one or more
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notaries public in the State of Connecticut "as the commercial interests thereof may render it necessary or convenient." In 1838 notaries were empowered to administer oaths and acknowledgements of deeds. In 1800 there were fifteen notaries in the State; in 1812 there were thirty-two; and in 1827, sixty-four. Now there are literally thousands.
The following New London county lawyers have risen to the high office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Connecticut: Gurdon Saltonstall, 1711-12; Jonathan Trumbull, 1766-69; Matthew Griswold, 1769-84; Samuel Huntington, 1784-85; Henry M. Waite, 1854-57; John D. Park, 1874-89.
Of these, Gurdon Saltonstall, Jonathan Trumbull, Matthew Griswold and Samuel Huntington were also Governors of Connecticut ; Jonathan Trum- bull and Samuel Huntington were members of the Continental Congress; Jonathan Trumbull was a United States Senator from Connecticut, having previously served as Congressman. These were the giants of the New Lon- don bar who rose to the highest eminence, but there were many, many others less prominently in the public eye, but men of the strongest intellectual powers, men of learning and culture, who played well their part in the great drama of life and reflected credit upon their ancient and honorable profession. The following names in addition to those already mentioned won recognition and fame through their splendid powers, and will long be remembered :
Asa Spalding, who with his brother, Judge Luther Spalding, settled in Norwich in 1797, at the time of his death in 1811 was counted one of the richest men of his section. He was without patrimony or special patronage, but by force of native ability, sound judgment and integrity built up an extensive practice and filled many offices of trust. Asa Spalding, Judge Luther Spalding and Dr. Rufus Spalding were contemporaries in Norwich, and there they were buried, all in the same burial ground.
Elisha Hyde, a lawyer of good repute and mayor of Norwich fifteen years, was most deeply beloved for his genial spirit and great benevolence. He died December 16, 1813, aged sixty-two years.
Joshua Coit, Harvard 1776, practiced in New London, was a member of the Legislature several times, and congressman 1793-98, his death occurring September 5, 1798.
Elvin Perkins, Yale 1786, was presidential elector, member of congress, judge of the County Court, mayor of New London when he died, September 27, 1845.
General Elisha Sterling, born in Lyme, Yale 1787, and Cyrus Swan, of Stonington, men of a high order of talent, practiced outside New London county. Major Nathan Peters, a Revolutionary hero, after the war became a learned and able lawyer. He died in Norwich in February, 1824.
Jeremiah Gates Brainard, judge of the County Court for twenty-two years, resigned in 1829, his health failing. He was most democratic, affecting little dignity on the bench, but was regarded as an excellent judge, one who dis- patched business promptly and won public confidence. His son, William E. Brainard, was for a long time a leading lawyer of New London.
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Richard Law, Yale 1751, practiced in New London and attained the highest eminence. He was prosecuting judge of the County Court, justice of the Supreme Court of Connecticut, delegate to the Continental Congress 1777-78, and 1781-84, United States district judge after the adoption of the Constitution, a friend of Washington, long mayor of New London, and with Roger Sherman revised the Connecticut Code. He died while United States circuit judge, January 26, 1806. He was a son of Jonathan Law, a colonial governor of Connecticut, and father of Lyman Law, Yale 1791, speaker of the Connecticut Legislature and member of Congress, 1811-1817. He studied law under his honored father, and practiced in New London, where he died, February 3, 1842.
James Stedman, Yale 1801, settled in Norwich in 1806, and there died May 18, 1856, aged seventy-six. He was for many years clerk of the County Court.
George Burbank Ripley, Yale 1822, did not practice his profession very long, but turned to the soil. He filled a number of municipal offices, was judge of probate a number of years between 1850 and 1858, in which year he died. He was a man of high literary and scientific attainments, warm- hearted and generous, one of the best known and best loved men in his county.
Calvin Goddard, Dartmouth, settled in Plainfield, Connecticut, in 1791 and was a member of Congress, 1801-05. He settled in Norwich in 1807, and in 1815 became a member of the Connecticut Supreme Court. He was elected mayor of Norwich and held that office seventeen years. He died May 2, 1842, aged nearly seventy-four.
James Lanman, born in Norwich, June 14, 1769, son of Peter and Sarah (Coit) Lanman, was graduated from Yale, class of 1788, studied law, and rose to prominence. Ile was United States Senator 1819-1825, judge of the Su- preme Court of Connecticut three years, and mayor of Norwich, 1831-34. He died August 7, 1841, aged seventy-two.
Benjamin Huntington, LL.D., Yale 1761, was one of the most honored and honorable men of his period. He was State Counsellor during the Revo- lutionary War, member of the Continental Congress in 1784, member of the Constitutional Convention of 1789, and in 1793 was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut. He died in Rome, New York, October 16, 1800, and was buried in Norwich by the side of his wife, who was a daughter of Colonel Jabez Huntington, of Windham.
Roger Griswold, LL.D., settled in Norwich when first admitted to the bar in 1783, and soon acquired distinction as an able advocate and vigilant public official. He was a member of Congress, 1795-1805, and in 1801 declined appointment as Secretary of War. Later he was a justice of the Supreme Court of Connecticut, lieutenant-governor, and in May, 1811, was elected governor, receiving the honor of a re-election in 1812. He was also a presi- dential elector. Judge Griswold received the degree of LL.D. from Harvard University. He died in Norwich, October 25, 1812, aged fifty years.
Joshua Coit, born in New London, October 7, 1758, died there September 5, 1798, of yellow fever. He was a graduate of Harvard, 1776, studied law,
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and practiced in New London until his death. He served in both the Con- necticut Legislature and the National Congress.
Joseph Williams, of Norwich, Yale 1798, was admitted to the New London county bar in 1801 and practiced in Norwich about thirty-three years, retiring from practice in 1833, then becoming a partner in the Merchants' Bank. After seven years of banking he returned to the office practice of law, and was also secretary-treasurer of the Norwich Fire Insurance Com- pany, 1819-55. During the last years of his life he was president of the Norwich Savings Society, the oldest bank in Norwich. For twenty-five suc- cessive years Joseph Williams was treasurer of New London county ; for thirty-nine successive years he was a justice of the peace; for twenty-two years he was an alderman of Norwich, and a member of the Legislature four terms. He was a director of the Norwich Bank over thirty-five years, and president of the Norwich Savings Society from its organization in 1824 until his own death, November 28, 1865, aged eighty-six, being at the time of his death the oldest native male citizen of the city.
Jeremiah Halsey was born in Stonington, Connecticut, in 1743, died August 25, 1829, and is buried in Preston, Connecticut. He was admitted to the New London county bar in June, 1770, and began practice in Preston, where he married Esther Park. He enlisted shortly after the battle at Lex- ington, was at Crown Point and Ticonderoga, and on May 1, 1775, was com- missioned a lieutenant by Governor Trumbull. He was commissioned a captain of the armed sloop "Enterprise," June 21, 1775, and continued in service on Lake Champlain until December, 1775, when he was commissioned a captain in the Continental army. He was commissioned lieutenant-colonel, February 29, 1780, and was in service until the war closed. After the war he returned to the practice of law. He is described as a man of tall, commanding figure, of sanguine temperament, persuasive address, combined with great force and energy of character.
Marvin Waite was born in Lyme, December 16, 1746, died in New Lon- don, June 21, 1815. He was admitted to the bar in 1769, and the same year settled in New London. He was an easy and effective speaker, and stood high in his profession. It was said of him that he studied men as carefully as he studied books, and that his thorough knowledge of human nature gave him a great advantage in the trial of jury cases. He won friends easily, his pleasing personality aiding him greatly in the public career which he began very early. He was nineteen times elected to the Legislature, was for sev- eral years judge of the old county court for New London county, was a presidential elector in 1793, and voted for General Washington. When Wash- ington retired, Judge Waite became a disciple of Thomas Jefferson and was one of the leaders of that faith in Connecticut. Throughout his entire pro- fessional and public career he was held in the highest esteem as a man of highest integrity.
Jirah Isham, born in Colchester, Connecticut, in May, 1778, died in New London, October 6, 1842. He was a graduate of Yale, class of 1797, and was admitted to the bar in 1800, locating in New London. He was for several
t
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COURTS AND LAWYERS
years State's attorney for New London county, was judge of probate for the New London district, and mayor of the city. He stood high in his profession, was fluent, ardent and graceful as an orator, and popular socially. During the War of 1812 he was commissioned major general of State militia, and for a time was in command of troops stationed at New London.
The acknowledged leader of the Eastern Connecticut bar for many years prior to his death, it may further be said of Henry Strong that he was with- out a superior in the State. He was the youngest son of Rev. Joseph and Mary (Huntington) Strong, his father an LL.D., who prepared his son for college. Henry Huntington, born in Norwich, August 23, 1788, entered Yale at the age of fourteen and was graduated with honors, class of 1806. For two years after graduation he taught school and studied law, then for two years was a tutor in Yale and a law student. In 1810 he was admitted to the bar in New Haven, but at once returned to Norwich, where he was in practice until his death, November 12, 1852. He is described by contemporaries as "one who by the ability, integrity, fidelity and diligence with which he dis- charged his various duties, imparted dignity and respectability to the pro- fession, and caused his own name and memory to be held in honored remem- brance." He was naturally well adapted for a lawyer, being quick, logical and able to separate the false from the true in evidence. He seized upon the strong salient points of a case and presented them in the most convincing manner. He scorned all trickery or deception, and met his opponents in a case fairly. As a public speaker he was earnest and at times impetuous. He was most eloquent, and possessed a wonderful power of language which he well knew how to command at the bar or elsewhere to rebuke, commend, or in vindication of the right. He refused all offers of political preferment and they were many, with the exception of a seat in the State Senate. Yale con- ferred upon him the honorary degree of LL.D. in 1848, he having declined a law professorship in Yale Law School. He was a consistent Christian and a liberal contributor to charity.
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