USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 40
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
"William Alfred Buckingham, Governor of Con- necticut, 1858-1866. U. S. Senator, 1869-1875. His will was inflexible, his courage dauntless, his devo- tion to duty supreme, his faith in God absolute."
HON. AMOS W. PRENTICE was late of Norwich. In every community, large or small, there are a few men who by their force of character are intuitively recognized as leaders, men who are successful in their business undertakings, generous and fair in their relations with others, and who perceive and warmly advocate those measures which insure the public well-being. In the city of Norwich there was no name better known than that of Amos W. Pren- tice. He was intimately associated with those enter- prises through which the city has attained a higher and broader life. He aided or led in every move-
71
BIOGRAPHICAL
ment for the public good, and as a merchant and banker, as well as popular and eminent citizen, he was prominent in its material growth.
Mr. Prentice was a native of what is now the town of Griswold, Connecticut, born December 20, 1816, a son of Amos and Lucy (Wylie) Prentice, and a descendant in the eighth generation from Captain Thomas Prentice, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, his lineage being through Thomas (2), Samuel, Joseph, Eleazer, John and Amos Prentice.
(I) Captain Thomas Prentice, born in England in 1621, appears early at Cambridge, Massachusetts, the birth of two of his children being of record there in 1650. The family lived in the eastern part of Cambridge village and later in Newtown, Massa- chusetts, where Mr. Prentice died July 6, 1710. He was appointed captain of the troop of horse in the Indian war, June 24, 1675. The Christian name of his wife was Grace. She and their eldest child ac- companied Mr. Prentice to this country. Their children were: Grace, baptized in England in 1648; Thomas, born in 1649; Elizabeth, baptized January 22, 1650; Mary, born in 1652; John, baptized in 1653; and Hannah, born in 1661. The mother, Grace, died October 9, 1692.
(II) Thomas (2) Prentice, born in 1649, married, March 20, 1675, Sarah, daughter of Captain Thomas and Ann (Lord) Stanton. Mr. Prentice died April 19, 16-, and his widow married (second) Captain William Denison, and died in 1713. Children: Thomas, born January 13, 1676; Grace, 1678; Sam- nel, about 1680; and John, 1682.
(III) Samuel Prentice, born about 1680, married Esther, daughter of Nathaniel Hammond, of New- town, Massachusetts. Before 1700 Mr. Prentice owned a large tract of land in Stonington, Connecticut, and went there to live not far from 1709. His chil- dren were: Samuel born November 25, 1702; Jo- seph, January 26, 1704; Grace, January 16, 1705; Mary, April 12, 1708; Jonas, September 28, 1710; Esther, December 12, 1713; Eunice, December 8, 1717; Thomas, October 25, 1719; Oliver, October 25, 1720; Dorothy, December 13, 1723, and Lucy, May 20, 1727.
(IV) Joseph Prentice, born January 26, 170.1, in Newtown, Massachusetts, married November 10, 1725, Mary Wheeler. Their children were: Joseph, born August 24, 1727; Priscilla, January 20, 1729; Eleazer, September 28, 1735; Elisha, January 1, 1737; Jonathan, May 28, 1740; Mary, June 19, 174 -; Han- nah, March 7, 1747; and Manassah and Ephraim (twins), July 22, 1749.
(V) Eleazer Prentice, born September 28, 1735, in Preston, Connecticut, married there, October 19, 1757, Sarah, daughter of John Stanton (3), of Pres- ton. She died in December, 1805, aged seventy years. Their children were: Sarah, born March 8, 1759; Lucy, March 27, 1761; Olive, October 9, 1763; John, September 1, 1766; Desire, June 16, 1771; Na- than, Angus't 4, 1773; and Rufus, December 24, 1776.
(VI) John Prentice, born September 1, 1766, married, December 25, 1791, Betsey Cleft, and re-
sided in Preston, Connecticut. Their children were: Amos, born August 5, 1792; Sally, May 21, 1794; Frederick, May 14, 1796; John, November 28, 1800; Charlotte, October 26, 1802; Betsey C., April 15, 1805; William C., March 6, 1807; Frances H., March 5, 1809; and Caroline A., March 12, 1812.
(VII) Amos Prentice, born August 5, 1792, was a farmer, and resided in Griswold, Connecticut. He married, January 16, 1816, Lucy Wylie, and their children were: Amos W., born December 20, 1816, and Samuel T., born January 9, 1820. The latter served in the Civil War, and died in New York.
(VIII) Amos W. Prentice, subject proper of this article, was but a small boy when his father died, and when about seven years old, in 1823, came to Norwich and made his home with his uncle, Freder- ick Prentice, who resided there. He received some- what meager educational advantages, but improved every opportunity. When a boy he was a clerk in the store of William A. Buckingham, and in 1831 he entered the hardware store on Water street kept by Joseph and John Breed. This business was founded in 1764 by Gershom Breed, who was suc- ceeded by Jesse and Simon Breed, and they in turn by Joseph and John Breed. Mr. Prentice proved to be industrious and competent, and in 1840 was ad- mitted to membership in the firm, the name being changed to John Breed & Co. After the death of Mr. Breed, Mr. Prentice became the senior partner, and in 1864 the firm name became A. W. Prentice & Co. Mr. Prentice continued in active business until 1889, when he retired, and the firm was changed to Eaton, Chase & Co. Mr. Prentice's career as an active business man covered a period of fifty-seven years. Such a record is seldom equalled, and is one of which any man mnight well feel proud.
Being public-spirited and progressive, and desir- ing to see Norwich advance, Mr. Prentice took a decp interest in public affairs early in life. In poli- tics he was an old-time Whig, and, after the exit of that party, a stanch Republican. In 1854 he repre- sented the Eighth District in the State Senate, among his colleagues in that body being James Dixon, of Hartford (afterward a United States Sena- tor), Henry B. Harrison (afterward Governor), of New Haven, and ex-Governor William T. Minor, of Stamford. From 1838 to 1860 he was mayor of the city, and in 1877 he represented the town in the State Legislature in company with the late Horace Whitaker. Besides being mayor he was a member of the court of Common Council for a period of ten years. He possessed rare ability as a presiding officer and often guided the deliberations at town and city meetings. He sometimes served on com- missions to settle disputes and questions, and never failed to give satisfaction. Mr. Prentice did not seek prominence at the hands of his fellow-citizens, for in his case it can be truthfully said the office sough't the man. He was always fair in politics, and never tried to force his political opinions on any one. Mr. Prentice always took a deep interest in religious matters and in 1842 aided in organizing the Broad-
72
NEW LONDON COUNTY
way Congregational Church, of which he served as clerk and member of the society's committee. In 1875 he succeeded the late Governor Buckingham as deacon of the church. He was a liberal contributor to all kinds of religious work. Mr. Prentice was a trustee of the Free Academy for many years and always attended the graduating exercises. In him education always had a firm friend.
Mr. Prentice occupied a prominent and enviable position in business circles. For many years he was a director of Norwich Savings Society, one of the largest and oldest institutions of its kind in the State, succeeding the late Franklin Nichols as presi- dent on November 15, 1890. He was a director of the First National Bank and also of the Richmond Stove Company, and also held other positions of trust. He was one of the very first in New Eng- land to suggest the name of Abraham Lincoln for the office of President of the United States, doing this in a public meeting when Mr. Lincoln was just beginning to gain fame. Before and during the Civil War, when meetings were held in Norwich to discuss the ways and means of helping the soldiers and Union, Mr. Prentice almost invariably presided at such meetings, and no man in Norwich did more than he for the cause. During the dark days of the war he was Governor Buckingham's true friend and adviser, and did all in his power to aid the cause of the Union and assist the soldiers.
Amos W. Prentice was easily the ideal citizen of Norwich. He was the soul of honor, and enjoyed the full confidence of the people of this vicinity. He possessed a broad mind and a kindly disposition, and was charitable to all in need. One of the best testimonials to his high character is that during all his years in business those in his employ held him in high esteem, and the best of feeling prevailed between employer and employe. His family rela- tions were happy. His death occurred after a short illness, on December 14, 1894, and he is buried in Yantic cemetery, at Norwich.
On May 18, 1840, Mr. Prentice was married to Hannah E. Parker, a native of Middletown, Connec- tient, a daughter of Elias and Grace (Mansfield) Parker. Mrs. Prentice passed away December 24, 1887, aged sixty-five years.
HON. SUPPLY TWYNG HOLBROOK-In the death of Judge Holbrook, which occurred at his home on River avenue, Laurel Hill, Norwich, on April 19, 1895, the community lost one of its best known and most prominent citizens.
Born September 7, 1822, in Roxbury, Massachu- setts, Judge Holbrook was a son of Sabin and Mary (Whittemore) Holbrook, and came on both sides from early New England ancestry. On his father's side he was a descendant in the eighth generation from Thomas Holbrook, of Weymouth, Massachu- setts, from whom his lineage is through Thomas (2), Peter, Joseph, Joseph (2), Seth and Sabin Holbrook.
The name of Holbrook is one both ancient and distinguished. As early as the reign of Richard II one of the name was advanced to the order of knighthood and a coat of arms given him. In books of heraldry there are many coats-of-arms under the name. The details of the generations referred to above and in the order there named follow:
(I) Thomas Holbrook, of Weymouth, Massachu- setts, as early as 1640, is thought by Morse to have probably come with the colony of settlers from Weymouth in Dorsetshire, England, in 1624. For a number of years between 1641 and 1654 inclusive he was a selectman of the town. He died in 1674- 76. His widow, Joanna died before April 24, 1677. Their children were: John, born in 1617; Thomas, William and Ann.
(II) Thomas (2) Holbrook was a resident of Scituate, Weymouth and Braintree, and was a man of enterprise and wealth. He died in 1697, and was survived by his wife, Joanna. Their children were: Thomas; Mary; John, born 15th of 8th month, 1653, at Braintree; Peter, born 6th of 7th month, 1655; Joanna, born 30th of 8th month, 1656; Susanna; and Joseph, born 10th of 12th month, 1660.
(III) Peter Holbrook, born 6th of 7th month, 1655, married (first) Alice, and settled at Mendon, and (second) Elizabeth Poor. Alice died April 29, 1705. Mr. Holbrook was an important man for his day, and laid the foundation of great good to his race, many of whom are still enjoying it within the circle of his former influence and possessions. The lands which he left to his sons were mostly subsequently in- cluded in Bellingham. He died May 3, 1712. His children were: John, born September 24, 1679; Peter, October 16, 1681; Joseph, May 8, 1683; Silvanus, August 15, 1685; Jonah, March 7, 1686-87; Richard, May 30, 1690; Eliphalet, January 27, 1691-92; Wil- liam, March 28, 1693-94; Samuel, February 27, 1695- 96; and Mary, October 14, 1702.
(IV) Joseph Holbrook, born May 8, 1683, mar- ried December 29, 1710, Mary Cook; was a husband- man, and resided in Bellingham, Massachusetts. He died April 25, 1750. His children were: Alice, born February 14, 1712, at Mendon; Joseph, November 24, 1714; Rachel, January 16, 1716-17; Asahel, Janu- ary 3, 1718-19; David, March 15, 1721 (at Belling- ham); Mary, October 13, 1723; and Martha, Decem- ber 28, 1726.
(V) Joseph (2) Holbrook, born November 24, 1714, died July 14, 1784. His wife, Grace, died May 13, 1791. Their children were: Esther, born April 1, 1739; Bethia, April 13, 1741; Phebe, November 28, 1743; Jonathan, May 31, 1746; Joseph, October 15, 1718; Seth, November 24, 1751; and Melatiah, Feb- гиагу 28, 1755.
(VI) Seth Holbrook, born November 24, 1751, married, in 1775, Dinah Holbrook, and resided in Bellingham. He was a soldier of the Revolution, being a member of a company of militia which marched from Bellingham, Massachusetts, April 19, 1775, under command of Captain Jesse Holbrook.
73
BIOGRAPHICAL
He was also a sergeant of Captain Cowell's com- pany in the Suffolk and York Regiment, commanded by Colonel Robinson, in March, 1776. Mr. Holbrook became a United States pensioner. He died Novem- ber 13, 1839. His children were: Rachel, born Jan- uary 17, 1777; Clary, January 22, 1779; Esther, No- vember 5, 1780; Roxanna, July 24, 1782; Luke, July 12, 1784; Sabin, October 19, 1786; Seth, July 29, 1789; Persis, October 14, 1791; Merinda, September 3, 1794; and Valentine R., December 14, 1800.
(VII) Sabin Holbrook, born October 19, 1786, resided in Dorchester and Bellingham, Massachu- setts. He died in 1833, and his wife, Mary, born March 27, 1787, died in 1824 or 1825. Their children were: Sabin, born September 18, 1813; Mary, No- vember 5, 1815; Joseph Warren, January 18, 1817; Amanda, June 2, 1819; Supply Twyng, September 7, 1822.
(V11I) Supply T. Holbrook was given a good edu- cation by his parents, and being musically inclined, proper attention was given his talents in this line un- til he became well versed and proficient in music. In early manhood he became a resident of Hartford, and while there was a member of a brass band. From Hartford he went to New London, and after a year there, about 1844, he located at Norwich, which ever afterward for fifty and more years was his place of residence. Here he soon was identified with the musical interests of the town. He accepted the position of organist of the Second Congrega- tional Church, at that time under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Bond, and for many years most efficiently and to the satisfaction of the congregation sus- tained such relations to the choir and church. In his earlier years Mr. Holbrook also taught vocal music in the basement of the Universalist Church. He bore the reputation of being a good teacher and was popular with his scholars, among whom was the late Judge Charles W. Carter, of Norwich.
Acting on the advice of the late Henry Bill, Mr. Holbrook decided to prepare himself for the legal profession, and began the study of law in the office and under the direction of the late Hon. Jeremiah Halsey, of Norwich. He was admitted to the bar in New London county in 1856, and in that same year was elected judge of probate, a position he held by re-election with intelligence, ability and to the satis- faction of the people of the district for twelve con- secutive years. After an intermission of a decade he was again, in 1879, chosen judge of probate, and held the office by continuous re-election until 1892, when he became legally disqualified from further tenure of office on account of having reached the age limit-seventy years. While serving as probate judge he was several times elected president of the Connecticut Probate Assembly. "Judge Hol- brook was a man of broad culture and was looked upon as an authority in matters connected with prac- tice in the probate court. His studies extended into various fields of learning." During his long period of service as judge of probate-twenty-five years-
he fulfilled the obligations with dignity and grace, and although he was by virtue of his office entitled to fees, they were rarely taken by him from people who could ill afford to pay. Between the periods of Judge Holbrook's service as judge of probate he was chosen to preside over the county court, whose jurisdiction was similar to that of the present court of common pleas, and held the position until the court was abolished.
Judge Holbrook was twice elected a member of the State Legislature, first in 1873, when he had for a colleague the late Hon. John Turner Wait; and second in 1876, at which time his brother member from Norwich was Hon. George B. Hyde. During both terms Judge Holbrook took an active and prominent part in the business of the House. When not in office Judge Holbrook was engaged in the practice of law and did not lack clients. He was often chosen to settle estates. The loss of his law library and a portion of his other collection of books, by fire, about a year before his death, was a serious one, as his annotations in his law books could not be replaced. He was a member of the Second Congre- gational Church at Norwich. He was a man of sunny and cheerful disposition, the kind of man it was a pleasure to meet in the daily walks of life. His home was perfect. As a citizen he was always above reproach. He was a kind friend and neighbor, and went to his reward with the high esteem and regard of the community in which he had moved so long.
ROBERT COIT-For upwards of 250 years the Coits have been prominently identified with the interests of the ancient town of New London, in the social life and in public affairs, in which members of a number of generations during this long period have figured more or less conspicuously. Until June 19, 1904, active in the town's life was Hon. Robert Coit, president of the New London & Northern Railroad and of the Union Bank, and an honored and re- spected citizen.
The progenitor of the New London and Norwich Coits was John Coit, the first of the name in New England, who came probably from Glamorganshire, Wales, between 1630 and 1638. He was in Salem, Massachusetts, where he had a grant of land in 1638. In 1644, he removed to Gloucester, and in 1648 was selectman there; he was a freeman in 1647. He had considerable land on Wheeler's Point and Planter's Neck, and received a grant of land in New London, Connecticut, in 1650, to which he came the next year. In England he wedded Mary Ganners, or Jenners, and in that country all of his children were born previous to emigration. He died August 29, 1659, and his widow died January 2, 1676. Their children were: John, Joseph, Mary and Martha.
From this John Coit the lineage of Robert Coit, late of New London, is through Deacon Joseph, John (2), Joseph, Hon. Joshua, and Robert Coit.
(II) Deacon Josepli Coit, born about 1633, prob-
74
NEW LONDON COUNTY
ably came with his father from Gloucester to New London about 1651, and passed the most of his life there, carrying on the trade of ship builder with his brother-in-law, Hugh Mould. He married, July 15, 1667, Martha, daughter of William and Edith Harris, of Wethersfield; both joined the church in 1681, he later becoming a deacon. He died March 27, 1704, and Mrs. Coit passed away July 14, 1710. Nearly, if not all the Coits of America, says the genealogist of the Coit family, are descended from him. His children were: John, Joseph, William, Daniel, Solomon and Samuel, all born between 1670 and 1692, inclusive.
(III) John (2) Coit, born in New London, Con- necticut, December 1, 1670, married January 25, 1693, Mehetabel Chandler, daughter of John and Elizabeth Chandler, of Woodstock. Mr. Coit passed a long life in New London in ship building, for which busi- ness in 1699, the town granted him land for ship- yard near the Point of Rocks, where in 1729 he built a wharf. Mr. Coit died October 22, 1744. His wife survived him, dying November 3, 1758. Their chil- dren were: John, Joseph, Samuel, Thomas, Eliza- beth and Martha, all born between 1696 and 1706, inclusive.
(IV) Joseph Coit, born November 15, 1698, in New London, married, in June, 1732, Mary, daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Hunting, of Easthampton, Long Island; she died March 29, 1733, leaving one child- Jonathan, born in that year. He married (second) January 9, 1739-40, Lydia Lathrop, of Norwich, and their children were: Elizabeth, Lucy, Lucretia, Jo- seph, Thomas, Daniel, Jerusha and Joshua, all born between 1741 and 1758, inclusive. The mother of these was born in 1718, and died January 10, 1794. The father died April 27, 1787. He passed the most of his carly life in sailing as master from New Lon- don, and later in mercantile and commercial pursuits until the disturbance of Revolutionary times, when he removed to Norwich. In middle life he was active in matters of public interest. He was received into the church in 1718.
(V) Hon. Joshua Coit, born October 7, 1758, in New London, married, January 2, 1785, Ann Boradill, born in 17644, daughter of Nicholas and Elizabeth Hallam, of New London. Mrs. Coit was a superior woman and brought up her children with singular discretion. She died March 22, 1844. To Mr. and Mrs. Coit were born the following children: Robert, born November 6, 1785; Lydia, born December 12, 1787; Leonard, born November 12, 1789; Fanny, born February II, 1792; Nancy, born June 10, 1795; and Susan, born April 28, 1798. Joshua Coit was a rare man. He was graduated from Harvard in 1776, studied law and early settled in practice in New London. There he attained an honorable position, receiving numerous offices of trust from his fellow- citizens. He represented the town in the Lower House of the General Assembly in 1784, 1785, 1788, 1789, 1790, 1792 and 1793, serving repeatedly as clerk and speaker. He was a representative in the United
States Congress from 1793, until the time of his death, September 5, 1798, when but forty years of age. In politics he adhered mainly to the Federal party, but separated from that party on particular points in Congress, illustrating his own independent character and incurring some displeasure. In 1798 yellow fever prevailed in the central part of New London, and he fell a victim to that scourge.
(VI) Robert Coit, born November 16, 1785, mar- ried, October 15, 1821, Charlotte, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Coit) Coit. After making a few voyages on commercial business to the West Indies Mr. Coit settled in New London in the ship-chand- lery business, and later was a dealer in lumber and coal. Mr. Coit passed a long life of honorable and successful industry, receiving in many ways tokens of respect and esteem of his fellow-citizens. He was for a period the president of the Union Bank, withdrawing from the office prior to 1867, but re- taining the presidency of the Savings Bank, of which he was one of the founders. He served as a deacon in the Congregational Church in New London. He died in October, 1874, and his wife passed away in January, 1874. Their children were: Fanny L., born February 16, 1823, was married on August 26, 1861, to Rev. Aaron L. Chapin, a former president of Beloit College, Wisconsin, and she died at Beloit in September, 1904; Charlotte, now deceased, born May 27, 1825, was married May 9, 1866, to Rev. Thomas P. Field, D.D., a former pastor of the First Congregational Church in New London; Ann Bora- dill, born March 5, 1827, died unmarried; Robert, born April 26, 1830; Joshua, born Feb. 4, 1832, was married October 2, 1860, to Mary L. Chandler, and is a Congregational minister at Winchester, Massa- chusetts; Alfred, born May 23, 1835, married Ellen Hobron, and became the father of Judge Alfred Coit, of New London; and Ellen, born November 3, 1837, married Rev. Thomas P. Field, D.D., now de- ceased, and she resides in Beloit, Wisconsin.
(VII) Robert Coit, formerly president of the Union Bank and of the New London Northern Railroad Company, a son of the late Robert Coit, was born April 26, 1830, in New London. He was prepared for college in private schools in his naitve town and Farmington, Connecticut. He entered Yale Col- lege, and was graduated with the class of 1850. Studying law with William C. Crump, and at the Yale Law School, he was admitted to the bar in New London county in 1853, and commenced the practice of law in his native town. In 1860 he was elected judge of probate for the New London district, and efficiently performed the duties of that office for four years. Following this service he was for a time, and continuing in office as long as it was in force, register in bankruptcy, for his district. After 1867, when chosen treasurer of the New London and Northern Railroad Company, Mr. Coit's active busi- ness life was greatly taken up with the interests of that corporation, and he lived to see the value of its business more than doubled, and the value of its
75
BIOGRAPHICAL
stock increased in like proportion. He was elected mayor of New London in 1879, and directed the affairs of the city with ability and good judgment. In that same year he was elected to the Lower House of the General Assembly of Connecticut, and served on the Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Constitutional Amendments. Following this service he was for four years a member from the Ninth Dis- trict of the State Senate, where he served on various committees, being chairman of the committees on Corporations, Cities and Boroughs and on Insur- ance. During his second term of two years, Senator Coit was president pro-tempore of the Senate. In 1897 he was again elected to the General Assembly, and was chairman of the Committee on Corpora- tions. While in the House and Senate Mr. Coit was recognized as one of the most influential members. He had been elected to both branches by hand- some majorities, and in the Eastern part of the State, where he was most widely known, his popu- larity was and remained great. His ability, con- scientiousness and acumen were recognized by those of both political parties. For many years Mr. Coit was identified with the banking interests of New London, and, too, with other corporations and enterprises, being president of the Union Bank, vice-president of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.