USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 52
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Dr. Benjamin Fordyce Barker was in practice in Norwich, and a member of the County Medical Association from 1842 to 1849. In the latter year he moved to New York, where he later attained a national reputation.
Dr. Benjamin Butler was born January 30th, 1764. In 1787 he issued a circular announcing that he had been "regularly educated by the learned Dr. Philip Turner in the sciences of Physics and Surgery." He afterward moved and settled in New York State. His name is among the charter members of the County Medical Association. At the time of the yellow fever epidemic in New London, the "Connecticut Gazette," issue of October 24th, 1798, published among the list of donors the name of Dr. Benjamin Butler as con- tributing "ten fat sheep."
Dr. Ashbel Woodward, one if the most distinguished physicians of eastern Connecticut, was born in Willington, June 26th, 1804. Having taken his medical degree at Bowdoin in 1829, he immediately settled in Franklin, and there he lived and worked for the remainder of his long life. He joined the County and State Medical Societies in 1830, was always greatly interested in their welfare, and to near the close of his life took a prominent part in their meetings. He was elected chairman of the County Medical Association fre- quently, and was Fellow of the State Society no less than fifteen times. He was also president of the Connecticut Medical Society in 1859-60-61, deliver- ing very able presidential addresses, "Historical Account of the Connecticut Medical Society," "Medical Ethics," and "Life." In the Civil War he was examining surgeon of volunteers, and also saw service at the front as surgeon of the 26th Connecticut. The following is taken from the obituary notice by P. C. Woodward, M.D.10 (1886) :
"As a physician Dr. Woodward was known for quickness and accuracy of perception. In the sickroom nothing escaped his attention. He was espe-
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cially successful in desperate cases, detecting with the rapidity of intuition the slightest change in the condition of the patient and anticipating every emergency."
Notwithstanding his arduous practice, Dr. Woodward found time to follow up certain extra-professional hobbies which interested him, and considering his limited time did a remarkable amount of writing. Be- sides his medical papers, he wrote biographies and memoirs, and a treatise on Wampum. He took the keenest interest in local history and genealogy, the results of which appear in his "History of Franklin" and in his sketches of early Norwich physicians. The latter are models of their kind, and we medical men of this generation owe a deep debt of gratitude to Dr. Woodward for rescuing from oblivion so many of these old-time predecessors of ours and making them live for us again. He possessed the joy of the collector, too; rare books and pamphlets, coins, Indian relics, and especially town and county histories and genealogies all came his way.
"During his long term of active service Dr. Woodward ministered in sickness to at least six successive generations, and from the beginning to the end commanded the unqualified confidence of his clientage. Often appealed to for counsel and guidance, he was never known to discuss or even mention a matter that came to his knowledge in the sacredness of profesional inter- course. Scrupulous in performing the work of each day, thorough in all undertakings, intolerate of sham and pretense, direct in aims and methods, he pursued uncompromisingly the paths marked out by his conceptions of duty."
There were not a few other medical men who were for a longer or shorter time before 1860 identified with Norwich, and it is a matter for regret that their names only can be entered here. Some of these were: Drs. Robert Bell, George and Nathan Tisdale, William P. Eaton, Chauncey and Reuben Burgess, Elisha Dyer, Jr., Jonathan W. Brooks, Benjamin F. Roath, John P. Fuller, John D. Ford, Jeremiah King, Benjamin D. Dean, Horace Thurston and Daniel F. Gulliver.
Of the other towns surrounding Norwich, Preston is conspicuous as the home of the two Downers. Dr Joshua Downer was born in Norwich, August 6, 1735, married, February 25, 1762, Hulda Crary, and died July 11th, 1795. He was one of the memorialists of 1763, an incorporator of the Connecticut Medical Society and an original member of the County Medical Association. He was surgeon of the 8th Regiment in the Revolutionary War, and assisted in caring for the wounded at Fort Griswold in 1781. He lived in Preston City, in a large old house at the north end of the village.
His son, Dr. Avery Downer, was born in 1763, and succeeded his father. He was present and assisted his father in ministering to the wounded after the battle of Groton Heights. He was assistant surgeon in 1782. An original member of the County Medical Association, he always took a prominent part in all its activities. He was chosen Fellow of the State Society every year from 1800 to 1816, inclusive, and frequently after that. He was also elected chairman of the County Medical Association no less than twenty times. In 1817 the Connecticut Medical Society granted him the honorary degree of
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M. D. He was the last survivor of the battle of Fort Griswold. His death occurred in 1854 at the age of 91.
Dr. Bishop Tyler was a member of the County Medical Association from ISII to 1816 and again in 1842-43. But beyond that I have no knowledge of his career.
Dr. Eleazer Butler Downing was born in Canterbury, December 15, 1786. He studied with Dr. Fuller of Plainfield, and at Philadelphia, and began practice in Preston City in 1811. He joined the County Medical Asso- ciation in 1814, was elected Fellow a number of times, and continued a mem- ber until his death, January 20th, 1870. He was surgeon in the army in the War of 1812. At one time he seems to have kept a tavern, as the Medical Association met in 1838 "at the Inn of Doct. Eleazer Downing, Preston." The little village in the south part of Preston called Poquetannock had its physicians in old times. Of these may be mentioned Drs. Benjamin Harris, Thomas W. Gay, Henry C. Randall, and Phineas Hyde.
Griswold had several substantial physicians in early times, among them Dr. Rufus Smith, who was a member of the Medical Association from 1813 to 1830. Dr. Lucius Tyler lived in Jewett City. He joined the Medical Society in 1817 and continued a member until his death in 1847. He was chosen Fellow of the State Society for ten of those thirty years.
Dr. John C. Tibbitts was also a resident of Jewett City. He joined the Medical Society in 1824, served as clerk in 1828-29, and was several times chosen Fellow of the State Society. He appears to have moved away in 1841.
In the town of Lisbon one of the leading physicians was Dr. Jedidiah Burnham. He was born in Lisbon in 1755, "studied with Dr. Joseph Perkins, Sr., and for a time practiced in his, native town. Late in life he removed to Ohio, where he died in 1840." He was an original member of the County Medical Association.
Dr. Luther Manning was born in Scotland, Connecticut, in 1748. He settled in Lisbon, and continued there in active practice until near the time of his death, May 7th, 1813. According to the "History of New London County,""" he was assistant surgeon in the Revolutionary army, and was on duty at New London when the town was burned, September 6th, 1781. He was an original member of the County Medical Society, continuing until 1812. He had two sons who became physicians-Luther in Scotland, Con- necticut, and Mason, whose long and active professional life was mostly passed at old Mystic. Dr. Vine Smith was a member of the County Medical Association from Lisbon from 1824 till 1852.
The fine old town of Lebanon was seldom without one or more solid practitioners. Dr. Joseph Comstock was a member of the County Medical Society from 1826 to 1861, and was several times chosen chairman and Fellow of the State Society.
Dr. Erastus Osgood joined the Medical Society in 1826, and continued a member until 1867. The latter part of his life he practiced in Norwich. Drs. Charles H. Dutton and Elisha Hutchinson were practitioners in this town from about 1828 until 1835.
Dr. Ralph E. Greene was the son of Dr. Daniel Greene of Auburn, Massa-
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chusetts, and was born September 15, 1815. He was a graduate of Amherst in 1835. After completing his medical studies he assisted his father several years, and then settled in Lebanon. He joined the Medical Society in 1844, continuing a member until his death. July 30, 1845, he married Sarah C. Dutton. He died in Lebanon, May 20, 1874.
At Bozrah, the first physician would appear to have been Dr. Christopher Huntington. He was born in Norwich West Farms, and was "grandson of Christopher the first male child born in Norwich. Dr. Huntington appears to have been the sole physician of New Concord (Bozrah) during its early history." (Woodward.11)
A later and better known physician was Dr. John Scott. He was born in Groton, "studied with Dr. Elisha Tracy and settled in Bozrah. He possessed great professional merit, taught many students, and died at an advanced age." He died February 3rd, 1834, age 88.
Of Dr. Earl Knight, not much is known. He joined the County Medical Society in 1824 and died in 1832. Something seems to have interfered with his success, as in the 1830 record he is noted as "bankrupt," and his dues abated.
Dr. Samuel Johnson was born in Bozrah, July Ist, 1805. He studied with Drs. Earl Knight and Joseph Peabody of Montville, attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1828, and graduated from Yale, M. D., in 1829. He immediately settled in Bozrah, where he continued to practice during the rest of his long life. He married in 1836 and left three sons. He had students at various times. His obituary notice by Dr. S. L. Sprague1 (1879) of Norwich ends as follows: "Dr. Johnson was sincere and earnest in his convictions of duty. He possessed a quick perception of the nature of disease, and was keen in diagnosis. He was an agreeable man to meet in consultation, having kindness of manner, honesty of purpose, good judgement and practical common sense."
Colchester has been distinguished for several remarkable physicians. The Rev. John Bulkley, son of the Rev. Gershom, was one of the earliest, joining the two professions as his father did before him. His son John, though more conspicuous in the law, is also said to have practiced medicine to some extent.
Dr. John Richard Watrous was in his day one of Connecticut's shining lights in the medical profession, as well as one of Colchester's most distin- guished citizens. He was born in Colchester, March 16th, 1754. He saw mili- tary service during the whole of the Revolutionary War, and was one of the committee of eighteen appointed to examine candidates for the positions of surgeon and surgeon's mate. Such experience combined with marked native ability gave him a lasting prestige. He was an incorporator of the State Medi- cal Society, of which he was president from 1807 to 1812. He was also an original member of the County Medical Society, served as clerk twice, was chairman six times, and was repeatedly elected Fellow of the State Society. In 1804 he received the honorary degree of M. D. from the Connecticut Medical Society. He maintained a high standing in the community, was most success- ful as a practitioner, and was widely consulted, especially as a surgeon. Dr. N.L .- 1-25
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Watrous was three times married. He died December 13th, 1842. A full and interesting account of his life is contained in Dr. Russell's article.3
Dr. Thomas Skinner was an original member of the County Medical Society, was chosen Fellow in 1794, and had his tax abated in 1802. A little later Drs. Elijah Butts and John Billings were physicians in Colchester, but of them little is thus far known.
Dr. Frederick Morgan was born in Groton, September 6, 1791. He was a graduate of Yale in 1813, after which he taught, and from 1816 to 1818 was a tutor in Yale College. Having in the meantime been reading medicine with Dr. John O. Miner, of his native town, he was able to secure his medical degree from Yale in 1819. He settled in Colchester in 1820, where, except for the years 1824 to 1831, which were passed in Middletown and Ellington, he lived and practiced the remainder of his life. He early married the daughter of Dr. John R. Watrous, and they had six sons and two daughters.
Dr. Morgan took a keen interest in the welfare of his home town, was trustee of Bacon Academy for many years, and deacon of the church for about forty years. He was a member of the County Medical Society from 1822 to 1876. "Dr. Morgan brought to his profession a high order of intellect, a sympathetic heart, and a conscientious fidelity to duty. He preserved throughout life the studious habits formed in his youth, and these, aided by a tenacious memory, gave him a well-stored and highly cultured mind. . . . His patients felt that with professional skill he brought to them a heart tenderly alive to suffering, and his kindly sympathetic face brought sunshine to many a darkened home. The poor had always a friend in him. He gave them freely his professional skill, and often went beyond his means in supplying them with food and raiment." (Woodward,19 1878.) He was also greatly interested in antiquarian lore, and was "the standard authority on all matters of local history." He died June 18th, 1877.
Other physicians of Colchester were Drs. Ezekial W. Parsons, Jonathan Dodge, and James R. Dow.
Dr. Melancthon Storrs may be mentioned here, although his life belongs mostly to Hartford county. New London county, however, claims the first decade. He was a graduate of Yale in 1852, and M. D. '53. Soon afterward he settled in Colchester, where he continued to practice until the breaking out of the Civil War. In 1861 he was appointed surgeon to the 8th Con- necticut Regiment, and continued in service until July, 1865, being staff surgeon during the last year. At the close of the war he settled in Hartford, which continued his field of work until his death in 1900. He was a member of the New London County Medical Association from 1856 to 1865.
At Montville, two physicians are listed among the original members of the County Medical Association-Dr. David H. Jewett and Dr. George Rogers. The former has already been mentioned in connection with inocula- tion for small pox. Dr. Joseph Peabody was a prominent physician of the town for many years, and the latter part of his life was spent in Norwich. Other physicians who practiced here in the '30s and '40s were Ephraim Fellows, Henry C. Beardsley, and Jedediah R. Gay.
Dr. John C. Bolles is well remembered by the older medical men now
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living. He was a graduate of the Vermont Medical College in 1840. He joined the County Medical Association in 1841, was clerk in '46, several times elected Fellow of the State Society, but withdrew in 1861. In 1885 he rejoined the society and continued a member until his death.
New London .- In the early part of its history, following John Winthrop, New London had as a resident one who later acquired much reputation as physician and surgeon. The Rev. Gershom Bulkley became the second minister of the First Church of New London in 1661, and while he was never regularly settled or ordained, he remained and preached until 1667, when he removed to Wethersfield. There is no evidence that he practiced medicine while living in New London. He must, however, have taken it up not long afterward, for by 1675 he had obtained sufficient experience and reputation as a practitioner to be sent out as surgeon of the force against the Narragansett Indians. He was largely employed in that capacity during the Narragansett War. In October, 1686, he was licensed to practice by the General Court (Russell,3 p. 94). He was a man of extensive learning, marked ability and force of character, and exercised great influence in the colony. Two of his sons, while far less distinguished than their father, were well known as practitioners of medicine.
According to Miss Caulkins® (p. 231) the first notice of any physician in New London was in 1662. On May 19th that year a man named Robert Chanell "died suddenly, having been well in the morning and at 2 o'clock P. M. he lay dead. The verdict of the jury was rendered in accordance with the opinion of 'John North, professor of Physick,' who being summoned on the occasion, declared that his death was occasioned by unseasonable bathing after inordinate drinking." She states also that "he was probably the Dr. John North that died in Wethersfield in 1682."
The New London County Court Records contain the following : "1687. · This court grants liberty unto Mr. Charles Bulkley to practice physic in this county, and grants him license according to what power is in them to do." He was a son of the Rev. Gershom, born in New London, in 1663. He settled in his native town but died young, leaving one child. "His father speaks of him as deceased in an instrument dated Dec. 2nd, 1709." (Russell,' p. 115). His daughter Hannah married, May 18th, 1709, Richard Goodrill of Glastonbury.
Joshua Hempstead in his diary, May 6th, 1715, notes: "Doctr Stephen- son Died," and the next day: "I was at home & made ye Docters Coffin & yn at his funeral." Nothing further is known of him. In 1716, Hempstead's wife became very ill following child-birth on July 30th. August 4th he writes : "my wife very Ill Mr Winthrop came to visit her in ye Evening used means for her Relief & Mr Miller Let her blood in. Sund 5 fair. My Dear Wife Died about half an hour before Sunrise." A few days later, two of his children were taken very ill, Joshua with "a Sore Throat & fevar," Rashel with "a feaver & flux." Joshua was taken Extream bad about Midnight. I called Mr Jer Miller ye Schoolmaster and physition who readyly gat up Came to See him & tarryed al night using Such Means as he thought most proper." The next day, however, he records : "my Dutyful Son Joshua Died
t
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about Noon like a Lamb being 17 years & 20 days old a patren of patience." "Mr. Jer Miller" was Jeremiah Miller, graduate of Yale in 1709. He "studied medicine, and in 1711 settled in New London." (Dexter," Vol. I, pp. 83-84.) Miss Caulkins® (p. 399) states that "he was engaged as principal of the grammar school in New London, in 1714, and continued in that situa- tion for twelve or fifteen years." March 2nd, 1717-18, he married Mary, second daughter of Governor Gurdon Saltonstall. He was one of the leading citizens of the town and held several positions of much responsibility. From 1732 to '47 he was Representative in the General Assembly, and was justice of the peace for many years. According to Dexter,36 in 1737 he was "appointed naval officer of the port of New London, being the only port for the entry and clearing of large vessels in the colony-and so continued until his death." He died March 15th, 1756. On the previous day Hempstead makes the following entry: "Mr Miller was taken this aftern about 2 Clock with Con- vulsion fitts. I went to visit him in the Evening, he had 10 or 12 they Say after Sunset & vomited but then Soon Lay Still in a Doze & So I left him as in a Slumber his family & friends around him."
Of Dr. Charles Acourt, Hempstead on February 28th, 1726-27, notes that he had to "assist on an Arbitration between Majr Merriot & Doctr Accourt &c." Again on March 9th : "I was on the Arbitration between Majr Merriot & Doctor Accourts Administrators." The only other item about him that I have found is contained in the proceedings of the Governor and Council in New London, July 28th, 1721, which is quoted by Dr. Russellª (p. 222). The sheriff having a warrant from the Governor "to search for and seize whatsoever he might find imported into the Colony out of the piratical ship . . . he had taken a negro boy, supposed to be about 12 or 13 years old, at Dr. Accourts in Say Brook." I am informed by Mr. R. B. Wall that in the New London land records there is a deed by Samuel Richards to Charles Accourt, 1739-40, which proves that his house stood on the west side of the Mill Brook, "northward from the bridge," making it probable that it was the old Bulkley-Hallam house. This Accourt bought several other pieces of property, and as there is no record that he sold anything, he probably lived in New London until his death. Hempstead's note would imply that Dr. Accourt had died in 1727. Whether the Accourt of the land records was of his family does not appear.
Hempstead records the death of Dr. Giles Goddard, January 3Ist, 1757, "aged between 50 & 60. He hath been decrepid with the Gout &c Several years & of late Confined to his house & Bed." Dr. Goddard was one of the sub- scribers June 6th, 1725, contributing "for the building and erecting a Church for the service of Almighty God, according to the Liturgie of the Church of England as by law established." (Caulkins,8 p. 440.) Dr. Goddard was of Groton, but soon after settled in New London. He was one of the first vestrymen of the Episcopal Society, elected in 1732. He seems to have had a high reputation for professional skill and to have enjoyed the respect and confidence of his fellow-townsmen. Hempstead frequently records his pro- fessional activities from 1737 on. He resided on Bradley street in 1743.
Dr. Guy Palmes was contemporary with Dr. Goddard. Hempstead makes
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the following entry, March 27th, 1757: "Dr. Guy Palmes Died before noon aged near 50 I suppose with ye Dropsie." He was apparently the son of Andrew Palmes of New London, who was baptized October Ist, 1682, and died in 1721, and grandson of Major Edward Palmes. Dr. Palmes was also "an early and important member of the Episcopal Society" (Caulkins,8 p. 444). He is mentioned several times by Hempstead, and it is evident that he stood high in the profession. In 1745 he was living on Bank street.
Dr. Thomas Coit, Sr., came a little later than the two last mentioned. Hempstead's first mention of him is on December 9, 1752. Miss Caulkins® (p. 476) says of this period: "Dr Thomas Coit was the principal physician. He had nearly the whole medical practice of the town for forty years com- mencing soon after 1750." I gather the following from "The Coit Family," by Rev. F. W. Chapman." He was the only child of Thomas and Mary Prentiss Coit, born August 15th, 1725. He "settled in his native place as a physician and spent there an honorable life . . . dying June 5th, 1811, aged 86." His first wife was Abigail Richards, by whom he had four children. He married for his second wife, Mary Gardiner, by whom he had nine children. He is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, his monument bearing the following epitaph : "He was ever ready to pour Wine and Oil, into the wounds of the afflicted; and regulated his actions by the strictest rules of Piety; and died in the full belief of the redeeming love of his Lord and Master."
Dr. Coit lived in the old Coit homestead, which stood where the Armory now is. He was undoubtedly one of the most prominent medical men of his day in eastern Connecticut, and had a long and honorable career. He was one of the incorporators of the State Medical Society, and an original member of the New London Medical County Association. In the Colonial Records of Connecticut he is down for medical services in 1773. (Russell,a p. 146.) At the time of the yellow fever epidemic he was active in attending patients during the first fortnight of the outbreak, and until he himself was taken ill with the disease.
In Miss Caulkins® (p. 478) we find that about 1764 "Dr. Thomas Moffatt was controller of the customs, and esteemed also as a skillful physician, in which line he had some practice." He was an Englishman, and a friend of Rev. Mather Byles, who in 1768 suddenly severed his connection with the old First Church, of which he had been minister for over ten years. Mr. Byles conveyed his house to Dr. Moffatt as security for repayment to the church of £240 which had been given him upon settlement. Just when Dr. Moffatt left New London is not known, but about 1777 it was represented that he had "withdrawn from America in a hostile spirit and had since been in arms against her" (Caulkins,8 p. 511), so his goods were confiscated. He lived for a time in the Byles house, north corner of Main and Douglas streets.
A Dr. Samuel Brown lived on the southwest corner of Bank and Golden streets about 1781. He married the daughter of Alexander McNeil, a baker, who owned much real estate which was sold about 1782 by the doctor and his wife. No further information about him has thus far come to light.
Another prominent physician of the latter part of the 18th century was
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Dr. Simon Wolcott. He was the son of Dr. Alexander and Mary Richards Wolcott of Windsor, and was born about 1748. He lived first on the west side of Bank street, north of Pearl, later on Coit street, and finally in the Giles Mumford house on Federal street, lately the parish house of the Epis- copal Church. He married (first) Lucy Rogers, (second) Charlotte (Wood- bridge) Mumford having three children by each wife. He was surgeon of the 6th Regiment in 1775. Just before the attack on New London, Sep- tember 6th, 1781, he had gone out on a fishing trip off Montauk Point with Mr. Nathaniel Shaw. Having discovered the British fleet, it was too late for them to return to New London Harbor, so they "were obliged to run into Poquonnuck Creek to escape capture" (Caulkins,' p. 548). Dr. Wolcott at- tended for five months Captain Adam Shapley, who was wounded in the battle of Groton Heights. His bill against the State of Connecticut for his professional services is extant, the charge being at the rate of a shilling a visit. He was clerk of the voluntary New London County Medical Society which preceded the present organization, was an incorporator of the Con- necticut Medical Society, and an original member and first clerk of the present New London County Medical Association. He was also frequently elected chairman of the later organization, and Fellow of the State Society. He was one of the foremost medical men of his time and was highly esteemed both in and out of the profession. Dr. Wolcott owned considerable land in the vicinity of Ocean avenue, and was a thrifty and prosperous citizen. He died April 7th, 1809, aged 61.
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