USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 17
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John Champlin was born about 1745, and had a shop in New London, which was entered by burglars in 1779 and a number of articles stolen ; among them were "12 strings of gold beads; 40 pairs of silver shoe buckles and a parcel of silver knee buckles ; 3 or 4 silver plated and pinchbeck knee buckles : 6 silver table spoons ; 3 dozen tea spoons ; 10 silver watches; a large quantity of watch chains, keys, main springs, stock buckles, stone rings, jewels. broaches, etc." When New London was burned September 6, 1781, his loss
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was estimated at f104-8-5, and on November 30, 1781, he notified his old cus- tomers and others that since the destruction of his shop by the enemy he had erected a new one by his dwelling in Main street. He died June 18, 1800, a record stating that he was a goldsmith and died of dropsy at the age of 55 years. According to the land records of North Kingstown, R. I., in 1779, a Thomas Bissell, a native of the place, conveys some land, and in the deed cals himself a goldsmith, of New London, Connecticut.
John Hallam, son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Latimer) Hallam, was born October 7, 1752, in New London, and died there May 7, 1800. He married (first) Mary Harris, and (second) Elizabeth Prentice. In 1773 he advertised "At his shop near the signpost, makes and sells all kinds of goldsmiths and jewellers work as cheap as can be had in this Colony." He engraved the plates for the bills of credit issued by the Colony in 1775. When New Lon- don was burned in 1781, among those who suffered "by the ravages of the British army" was John Hallam. John Hallam lost £417-10-0; a John Hallam & Benjamin Harris lost £300, and Edward and John Hallam lost £310. No specific mention is made in the inventory of his estate of tools used for the goldsmith work, but did include a large quantity of silver; two tankards, a can, a cup, two porringers, milk-pot, pepper-pot, punch ladle, sugar bowl, table and tea spoons, a soup spoon, and "I French Fork."
Ezra Dodge, born in 1766, was one of the silversmiths who combined several occupations ; in "A Short Account of the Yellow Fever as it appeared in New London in August, September and October, 1798," in the list of deaths is that of "Ezra Dodge, watch maker, clock maker, gold and silver smith, brass founder, gunsmith, locksmith, grocer, &c. &c. 32. An ingenious mechanic, good man and valuable citizen." A local record notes among the deaths, "August 29, 1798, Ezra Dodge, goldsmith, interred by the masons." Among the debts due to the estate were those of Widow Warner of Wind- ham, William Brian of New York, and Church & Havens of New York.
John Greenleaf, born in 1778, was probably an apprentice; he also died in the yellow fever epidemic, and in the account mentioned above is "Jofeph Greenleaf, gold and filver fmith 20."
Gurdon Tracy was born in Norwich, January 18, 1767, son of Isaac Tracy, Jr., and his wife, Elizabeth Rogers, of New London; he advertised as conducting a silversmith business in Norwich in 1787, but was in New London before 1791, when he purchased a small lot of land "on which his Goldsmith's Shop now stands." He also combined this business with other trades, and the following letter in regard to the clock in the tower of the new church in New London is of interest in that connection; the letter was dated at Norwich, December 1, 1790, and written by Thomas Harland of Norwich to Marvin Wait:
Sr. Being unwell I sent the Bearer to see what was amiss in your clock from whence he has just now returned. Had the person who winds the clock known where to have apply'd a few drops of oyl the difficulty would have been prevented ; from whence you will see the propriety of having the clock wound up by a person who is acquainted with the business. Mr. Gurdon Tracy was at my house last week and says He would be glad to wind up and take the
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whole care of it for a reasonable compensation. Should you see cause to give him the charge of it I have no doubt of his doing it to the satisfaction of all concerned. At the same time should any part of the work fail or give way I shall be every ready to wait upon you at the shortest notice.
Your most obliged humble Servant
THOMAS HARLAND.
His suggestion was acted upon, for on January 9, 1792, the society com- mittee gave Tracy an order for forty shillings for keeping the clock in repair for one year to date. Gurdon Tracy made his will on June 22, 1792, and died July 10 or II, 1792. He gives "or releases to my honored father, Isaac Tracy, whatever balance may be due to me from him," and the same to his brother Erastus Tracy, and the balance is given to his wife Lucy. He was buried in the "Antient Buriall Place of New London," where a stone bears the inscrip- tion, "In memory of Mr. Gurdon Tracy who died July 11, 1792, in the 26th year of his age."
The inventory of his estate, taken July 18, 1792, shows that he had a full equipment for carrying on his trade, and is here given as an illustration of the kind and variety of tools and implements used just previous to 1800. In- cluded were an "anvil, I Tankard 581/2 oz, I Can, I Porringer, 2 bottom stakes, I soup spoon punch, a child spoon punch, Swage for porringer bottoms, Stake for punch ladle, a Milk pot anvill, 5 pitching hammers, I Raising hammer, I Booging hammer, 2 forging hammers, I small planishing hammer, I small round punch, I salt spoon punch, I pr Iron screws for casting, a large vice, a smaller one, smallest, a Lathe, a large Ingot Skillet, vice tongs, flasks, hollow stamping iron, Stake, 7 hammers, 15 punches, a teaspoon punch, Ladle ditto, Sheers and sundry small things, forging tongs, plating mill, 2 bullets, a Brace Kitt, Gun brasses, Watch Engine, Drawer of Buckle patterns, a clock engine, Drills, Engravers, Burnishers, a blow-pipe, plating nippers, plyers, springs, mandrill, square and magnet, watch-making tools, a variety of small watch tools, 4 cases stakes, 2 sett of beadtools, compasses, magnifying glass, Turkey oil stone, drawer of buckle tools, vice plates, ring measure, moulds, grindstones, also shoe, knee, stock and boot buckles all of silver, silver steeltop thimbles, English buckles, horse buckles, sleeve buttons, stone jewels, gold jewels, locket, chain, seals, pennants and bows, silver bars, chrystals, hatpins, and the goldsmith's shop and land." A silver tankard nine inches high, made by "G. Tracy" of Norwich, in 1790, is now owned in Minneapolis, Minn. Gurdon Tracy's mother belonged to a well-known and wealthy New London family, which may account for his having established himself in New London.
Erastus Tracy, brother of Gurdon, was born December 31, 1768, in Nor- wich, where in 1790 he advertises as follows :
The fubscriber has lately opened a SHOP oppofite Capt. Jabez Perkins Store at Norwich Landing; where he carries on the CLOCK and WATCH making GOLDSMITH and JEWELLER'S bufiness; thofe who pleafe to favour him with their cuftom may depend on the ftricteft attention and dif- patch by their humble fervant. ERASTUS TRACY. Norwich Landing, Sept. 30, 1790.
After the death of his brother Gurdon he appears to have removed to N.L .- 1-36
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New London, perhaps taking his brother's shop, but did not live many years. His death occurred on August 17, 1796, and is noted as "Erastus Tracy formerly of Norwich, aged 26 years, of consumption."
Another goldsmith of New London county was John Breed, who was born November 15, 1752, in Stonington, the son of John and Silence (Grant) Breed. His relative, Gershom Breed, had business dealings with people in Colchester, which may have influenced John Breed to remove to Colchester, where he married, May 19, 1773, Lucy Bulkley, who belonged to the old and influential Bulkley family. His house stood near the meeting house in Colchester, on the Town street, which in early days was called the "Gov- ernor's road," and was the main highway leading from Hartford to New London. The Rev. Salmon Cone, for thirty-eight years minister of the First Congregational Church, was his next door neighbor. In passing through Colchester, attention is attracted by the fine broad grass plots lying between the sidewalks and the street. The highway, or Governor's road, was laid out very wide, and in 1807 the inhabitants of Colchester voted to sell some of this land, not needed for the road. In 1808 the town sold to Lucy Breed some of the land in front of her house, "near Collins' hill, so called," the line beginning at a "Large Rock at the mouth of Mutton lane, so called."
In the "Connecticut Gazette" of May 3, 1776, John Breed of Colchester advertised as a goldsmith. It is probable that in the latter years of his life he turned his attention to farming, for the inventory of his estate showed very little in the line of his trade, except his silversmith's anvil and a case of tools. He died May 2, 1803; by his will made November II, 1798, he left all his estate to his wife Lucy Breed, including "a right in the Colchester Library, and 1500 acres of land in the town of Newton, Susquehannah." After her husband's death, Lucy lived in the house with her two handmaidens, Hannah Bunce and Nabby Hazard, whose faithful services she remembered in her will. Among other legacies she left to the town of Colchester $500 "to be applied toward building a house for the poor of the Town." The inventory of her estate included the cherished "Case of Silversmith's tools" and the silversmith's anvil. This is undoubtedly the case which was sold in 19II to a well-known collector of old silver.
John and Lucy (Bulkley) Breed are buried in the old cemetery back of the Bacon Academy, near the Bulkley family. The inscriptions on their gravestones are as follows: "Sacred to the Memory of Mr. John Breed, who died May 2d. 1803, in the 51st year of his age." "Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Lucy Breed, wife of Mr. Jolin Breed, who died Dec. 30, 1821, aged 72 years."
Joseph Carpenter was born in Norwich in 1747, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Carpenter ; as early as 1769 he was established in busi- ness as a goldsmith, in a shop belonging to his step-father, for which he paid a yearly rent. In 1772 he purchased boards and stones for "stoning the seller," and for the underpinning of a shop; in 1773 he bought stepstones, shingle nails and eight scaffold poles, so it may be assumed that it was about this date that he built the interesting building now used by Faith Trumbull Chapter, D. A. R., as a museum. In 1774 and for some years after, he paid
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rent to the Rev. Benjamin Lord, for the church society, for the land "my shop stands on." After the parsonage lands are ceded to the church he received a nine hundred and ninety-nine years lease of this land, then known as lot No. 4. It is said that he occupied one side of the shop, while his brother carried on a mercantile business in the other part. The building has been very little altered, and still retains its gambrel roof and old-fashioned shutters and all the features of a shop of the olden times. His stock in trade consisted of gold necklaces, and beads, rings and stone earrings, teaspoons, smelling bottles "specktacals" or "specticls," stone nubs, bonnet pins, "torta- shell buttons," brass holberds, cristols, knee and stock buckles, watches and clocks. He also advertises in January, 1776, that he has for sale engravings of "four different views of the Battles of Lexington, Concord, &c., copied from original Paintings taken on the Spot. The price is six shillings per set for the plain engravings and eight shillings for the colored ones."
He married, in 1775, Eunice Fitch, and built the house next to the shop, where Joseph Carpenter, the third of the name, lived, occupying the old store for the general merchandise business. After the latter's death, when the old store was looked over, an interesting copper plate which had belonged to the goldsmith was found. "Wm Robinson, Sculpt" was the engraver. At the top are the words, "Arts and Sciences," a tea set, a flying cherub, a tall clock, a globe, a ship in full sail, a knife box, are among the group, while the inscrip- tion is "Joseph Carpenter, Goldfmith and Jeweller." His trade-mark seems to have been "I C" in a square, and later on "J C" in a square. He died in 1804.
His son, Charles Carpenter, who settled in Boston, Massachusetts, learned the trade from him ; perhaps also Henry and Rufus Farnham were his appren- tices. Henry Farnham was born in Norwich in 1773, son of Ephriam and Sarah (Hunn) Farnham or Farnum. In September, 1807, Charles Carpenter. of Boston, jeweler, sold to Rufus Farnham and Henry Farnham, both of same Boston, jewelers, his one-sixth part of the house, shop, store, and land lately occupied by his father, Joseph Carpenter, situated on the plain near the courthouse. Another apprentice may have been George Dennis, who was baptized Sept. 3, 1749, at the First Church of Norwich, the son of George and Desire (Bliss) Dennis. He advertised in Norwich in 1778, as a gold and silversmith, but little is known of him.
Another silversmith who learned his trade of Joseph Carpenter was Roswell Huntington, born in 1763, in Norwich, son of Ebenezer and Sarah (Edgerton) Huntington. A family record written by Fanny Lord Rogers about 1843, about some of her relatives, including the Edgertons, states that "Sarah Edgerton married for her first husband, Ebenczer Huntington, by him she had one son. Mr. Huntington declined of consumption, went to the south for his health and died there. The son learnt the silversmith trade of Mr. Joseph Carpenter & went to Hillsborough N. Carolina." In 1784 he adver- tised his place of goldsmith and jeweler as opposite the store of Gen. Jedediah Huntington.
There was a Philip Huntington born Sept. 26, 1770, son of Benjamin and Mary. (Carew) (Brown) Huntington. He was chosen town clerk in 1801. immediately on the death of his father, who held that position. It is said
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that the town clerk's office was a small gambrel-roofed building painted red and standing close to the street. An ell was added on one side and this was used at times as a shop. A spoon with the mark "P H" has always been said to have been the work of this Philip Huntington, and he may have combined this business with that of town clerk. He died in 1825, his wife Phila Grist having died in 1806.
William Cleveland, son of Aaron and Abiah (Hyde) Cleveland, was born December 20, 1770, in Norwich ; he was one of the apprentices of Thomas Harland, from whom he learned the jeweler's trade and watch and clock making. For a time he was in New London associated with John Proctor Trott under the firm name of Trott & Cleveland. He went to New York for a time but returned to Norwich, where in 1830 he bought some property of the Lord heirs; next to the house he built a small shop where he carried on the silversmith and watch business. On page 296 of Barber's "Historical Collections of Connecticut" is a view of the Norwich Town Green, in which this shop is shown. An old lady long since dead remembered the shop because of its sign, an immense wooden watch hung above the door. Many spoons made by him are owned in Norwich ; his mark was an index hand in a square, the name "Cleveland" in a long rectangle, and an eagle, displayed, in a circle. He married Margaret Falley, and his son, Richard Falley Cleveland, was the father of Grover Cleveland, late President of the United States. Deacon William Cleveland later lived in Worthington and Salem, Massachusetts, and in Zanesville, Ohio, where he was associated with a Mr. Bliss. He died at Black Rock, New York, in 1837.
A William Gurley, born in Mansfield in 1764, advertised in Norwich in 1804, but evidently did not long remain.
Nathaniel Shipman was an apprentice of Thomas Harland ; he was born in Norwich, May 17, 1764, son of Nathaniel Shipman and his second wife, Elizabeth Leffingwell. He set up in business for himself, and his advertise- ment appeared in the Norwich "Packet" for October 8, 1790:
CASH given for Old Gold & Silver, by NATHANIEL SHIPPMAN, who has for fale Clocks, Watches, & a general Assortment of Gold Smiths Work. Norwich, Sept. 1, 1790.
He became a man of considerable influence in the town, which he repre- sented many times in the legislature ; he was judge of the county court and judge of probate. He died in Norwich, July 14, 1853. Besides his silversmith work, he also made cloeks, some of which are still in use in Norwich homes. He was grandfather of the late Judge Nathaniel Shipman.
Abel Brewster, born February 6, 1775. son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Witter) Brewster, had a goldsmith shop on the meeting house green in Canterbury, Connecticut, where his brother, Walter Brewster, also lived. In the "Courier," published at Norwich, April 3, 1799, J. Huntington & Co. advertise among other things, "Table and Tea Spoons made to any pattern by Abel Brewster of Canterbury, may be had of Huntington & Co., also orders for any kind of Goldsmith and Jewellry Articles left with them will be executed by faid Brewster with neatness and dispatch. Norwich Port, March 26, 1799."
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In November, 1804, he seems to have set up his shop in Norwich Land- ing, and advertises that he is now selling for the most reasonable prices in cash or approved notes, a variety of warranted middling and low prized watches, chains, seals, keys, warranted silver table, tea, salt and mustard spoons ; sugar tongs, silver thimbles, a variety of fashionable gold ear rings, knobs, lockets, bosom pins, and finger rings; warranted gold necklaces of superior quality ; ladies' and gentlemen's morocco pocket books; pen knives, most kinds of watch materials and a variety of other articles in his line. "N.B. All kinds of Watches repaired with the utmost punctuality and dis- patch. Cash and the highest price given for old gold and silver." On February 27, 1805, he advertises, "A SUCCESSOR WANTED-ABEL BREWSTER. Finding the care necessary in his business too great.for the present state of his health, offers to dispose of his whole stock in Business, consisting of Watches, Furnishing Materials, Jewelry, Silver and Fancy Work, Tools, &c, &c. He thinks the call highly worthy the attention of some Gentleman of the profession. Also for sale, the house, shop and garden formerly occupied by him and beautifully situated on Canterbury Green." In "The Courier" of April 3, 1805, he announces that "Having disposed of his business to Messrs Judah Hart and Alvin Wilcox, he requests all persons indebted to him (whose debts have become due) to make immediate payment without further notice." He died in 1807, and the inventory of his estate included a small house and lot "in Swallowall" (now Franklin Square). in Norwich.
The day of the old-time gold or silversmith had nearly passed ; much of the work was now done by machinery, and while spoons still continued to be occasionally made, yet seldom has a good specimen been found in this section of later-day work.
Judah Hart was born in New Britain, in 1777; began business in Middle- town in 1800, and was in partnership with Charles Brewer, and in 1803 with Jonathan Bliss. In March or April, 1805, with Alvan Wilcox, he purchased the business of Abel Brewster, in Norwich, Connecticut; and on April 30, 1805, they advertise for sale a number of second-hand clocks, watches, jewel- er's and silversmith's tools. Many spoons bearing the mark of "H & W," with an index hand, are in use in Norwich. In 1809 Wilcox sold his share to Hart, who then used the index hand, and the letters "J. Hart." "Hart & Wilcox" had also been used as the firm's trade-mark. In 1815, Judah Hart bought some land in Norwich, on Franklin Square, which in 1816 he sold to Thomas C. Coit and Elisha H. Mansfield. He then seems to have been for a time in Griswold, Connecticut, and later removed to Brownsville, Ohio.
The Alvan Wilcox who was associated for a few years with Judah Hart in Norwich, was born in Berlin, Connecticut, in 1783. In 1824 he was living in New Haven, Connecticut, and his shop was on the southwest corner of Church and Chapel streets, where a number of early silversmiths were located before his day. The evolution of the business is shown by the fact that in 1841 he is called a silver worker ; in 1850 a gold and silver thimble and spectacle maker, and in 1857 a silver-plater. He died in 1865.
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Eliphaz Hart, a younger brother of Judah Hart, born in 1789, in New Britain, Connecticut, learned the trade of his brother, Judah; spoons having the mark of E. Hart are in existence, but he probably did not continue in the business for long. He died in Norwich, in the suburb known as Greeneville, in 1866.
The firm of Coit & Mansfield, which in 1816 bought out the business of Judah Hart, carried a much different stock of goods from the previous owner ; in April of that year they advertise that they have just received and offer for sale, "a good assortment of Military Goods viz Elegant silver and gilt epauletts ; silver Lace; gold and silver cord; tinsel do; elegant gold and gilt Hat Loops; Sword Knots; do Hangers; horseman's brass mounted Swords ; artillery do; Pistols; Plumes; Feathers; Stocks; Cockades; Red Cord for trimming pantaloons etc. They expect in a few days an assortment of very nice military Guns Likewise for sale English and French watches (which will come low & warranted) ; elegant gilt Watch Chains; Seals & Keys; Silk Chains ; Knives ; Beads ; Spoons ; and Jewellry as usual." This stock was laid in evidently in response to the demand for such articles following the War of 1812. If one doubted as to whom or where such goods could be sold. the following might be the answer. At a town meeting held in Norwich Sep- tember 15, 1814, "Whereas from the great number of Merchant ships which are laid up in this Harbour, the Contiguity of three Publick Vessels of War, (one of which is peculiarly an Object of the enemy's wishes) the great number of Cotton, Woolen, Flour and other valuable Manufactories; a public arsenal, and divers ship yards, Together with the peculiar local situation of this City, and its Adjacent Villages and districts at the head of Navigation on the River, the same are eminently in danger, assailable by the Enemy and Subject (unless personally defended) to his threatened waste and Destruction, And Whereas if an invasion were renewed at the Eastern end of the Sound, it would be doubtless so conducted as to leave no hope that a military force could be spared from the New London station for our defence And from the suden manner in which a descent of the Enemy may be made. the work of Outrage & Destruction may be completed before the militia of the Adja- cent territory can be brought to the defence of the State, while the encreasing strength of New York (by rendering hopeless an attack there) and the ad- vanced season of the year, renders our situation daily more critical & alarm- ing disquieted as we are with general terror & anxiety," the petitioners requested His Excellency the commander-in-chief and the officers of this military district to send two thousand of the military forces of the State to be stationed in or near this city. Some spoons owned in Norwich have the mark "C. M." with the index hand used by Hart & Wilcox.
Thomas Chester Coit, one of the partners, belonged to the old Coit family of Norwich, where he was born in 1791 ; he was apprenticed at the age of fourteen years, and was in the silversmith business in Norwich for four- teen years ; later he moved to Natchez, Miss., and died in New York.
Elisha Hyde Mansfield, the other partner, was born in Norwich in 1795, died in Norwich, married Sally Davison, and named one of his sons Chester Coit Mansfield. He was a son of William and Hannah (Hyde) Mansfield,
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and the old house known as the Mansfield house stood on the original home lot of the Hydes.
After 1800, the persons who worked at all at the old silversmith's trade made little but spoons, but had manufactured articles for sale.
Roswell Walstein Roath was born in Norwich, in 1805, the son of Ros- well and Eunice (Tyler) Roath, and grandson of the Rev. John Tyler. In the "Courier" of October 25, 1826, he advertised that he had just returned from New York and had for sale "Watches, Jewellry & Fancy Hardware, fifes, clarionets, spectacles &c." His store was on the corner of Main and Shetucket streets, where later Kinney and then Parlin kept a similar store. Roswell W. Roath removed with two sons to Denver, Colorado, where they all died.
Thomas Kinney had this location at a later date, and one elderly lady of the town remembered it as the place where she used to buy a thimble-full of beads for a cent. Samples of his work as a silversmith are seen, with his mark of "T. K." S. R. Parlin occupied, it is said, this corner, before he moved to the opposite corner. His mark was "S. R. Parlin-Pure Coin."
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