USA > Connecticut > New London County > A modern history of New London County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 43
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tary and first aid to General Washington, a position which placed him in intimate relations with that great man during the remainder of his life. He remained in the field until the close of the war, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis.
After a short interval of private life he was, in 1788, elected once more a deputy to the General Assembly, and was made Speaker of the House of Representatives. He was, in the following year, called to the more important position of a repre- sentative from Connecticut in the first Congress of the United States under the Constitution. In 1791 he was made Speaker of the House of Representa- tives of that body, and in 1794 he was elected a Senator in the Congress of the United States. Upon his election as Lieutenant Governor of his native State, in 1796, he resigned his seat in the Senate of the United States, and devoted himself to the duties of the new office to which his State had called him. Upon the death of Governor Oliver Wolcott, in 1798, Trumbull was elected Governor, and held that position by continuous re-elections until his death, in 1809, a period of nearly twelve years.
He bore, in a marked degree, the distinguishing traits of his father-punctuality, close and patriotic attention to duty, and fixedness of purpose when once convinced that he was in the right. His dis- position, like his father's, was benevolent, and his manners and bearing entirely free from that for- bidding dignity and pomp which were sometimes to be noticed even among his compatriots in the then budding great republic. Like his father, too, he left behind him a clean record. It is said by his contemporaries that in the times of bitter political controversy through which he passed, his personal character was never assailed, and only his public measures were criticized.
David, the third son of Governor Trumbull, pur- sued a career which, while it has not enrolled him among the heroes of the Revolution, entitles him to credit for continual and active service to the cause. Of the four sons of the Governor, he was the only one who was not a Harvard graduate. At the time when he was prepared to enter college the disastrous failure of his father in business ren- dered the expense of a college course for this son impracticable. He received, however, a good educa- tion at the then famed school of Nathan Tisdale, of Lehanon. The growing cares and increasing re- sponsibilities of his father's public position at this time rendered it necessary that, at the beginning of the Revolution, one of his sons should remain at home as his father's right hand man. It fell to the lot of the son David to occupy this position. In addition to this duty hic was entrusted by the Coun- cil of Safety with many important duties, conspicu- ous among which were the care and custody of arms and aminunition, the purchase of supplies for the departments both of the Commissary and the Quartermaster, and the furnishing of transportation
of these supplies. He was also entrusted with large sums of money by the State and by Congress, for all of which, as for the munitions of war in his custody, he appears to have accounted with scrupu- lous exactness. His services were of such a nature that, although he never bore a military title, his widow was granted a pension by Congress after his death. Although each of his brothers attained much higher official positions than he did, none served as continuously in the inconspicuous but important duties which devolved upon him.
John, the fourth and youngest son of Governor Trumbull, pursued a career which distinguished him from his brothers, and which, as it proved, was almost unique for the times in which he lived. In his boyhood his health was delicate, and he joined but little if at all in the sports of his companions. He lived, however, to the ripe old age of eighty- seven years. Although his military carcer is worthy of notice, he is principally remembered as a painter, and as one of the pioneers in American art. He graduated from Harvard College in 1773, having entered at the age of fifteen in the middle of the junior or third year, graduating in full standing at the age of seventeen, and having, to the surprise of his family, learned the French language by private instruction during his college course. His taste for painting developed in his boyhood, and he pursued the study and practice of the art at his home in Lebanon, soon after his graduation, though he was interrupted by being called to take charge of Mr. Tisdale's then celebrated school during the illness of the schoolmaster, which continued for nearly six months. In 1774 he became intensely interested in the impending struggle with the Mother Country, and made careful studies of military science to pre- pare himself for the life which seemed to open before him. In the following year he joined the army, as an aid to General Spencer. Learning, soon after the arrival of Washington at Cambridge, that he was anxious to procure a plan of the enemy's works, Trumbull stealthily approached the works, and being skilled in drawing, made a plan which proved to be so accurate that Washington's atten- tion was called to the young draughtsman, who was soon made second aid-de-camp to the Commander- in-Chief. This position was not congenial to Truni- bull, owing to the formalities, both social and mili- tary, which it involved. He was soon appointed to the more congenial office of major of brigade, and became a favorite officer of General Gates, by whose authority he was appointed adjutant and quartermaster-general, with the rank of colonel.
The Continental Congress was slow in recogniz- ing such appointments, and when, at least, Trum- bull's commission arrived, it borc a date several months later than the date of the appointment, at which he took great offense, returning his commis- sion to Congress, accompanied by a letter, written February 22, 1777, which was rather more spirited than respectful. This terminated his official con-
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nection with the army. It was during his service in the Northern army that he made a discovery, which had his advice been followed, would have made a great difference in the campaign. In Au- gust, 1776, when the army was posted at Fort Ticon- deroga and in its vicinity, Trumbull insisted that the position would be untenable if the enemy should occupy Mount Defiance, bringing artillery to bear from that commanding point. He was laughed to scorn by his seniors, who claimed that the point was out of range and that it would be impossible to carry even light artillery to the summit. Both these statements Trumbull had the satisfaction of controverting by actual experiment, but the position remained unoccupied by the Americans. Burgoyne later advanced upon the position, "established a battery of heavy guns on the summit of Mount De- fiance, the shot from which plunged into the old French fort and lines, so that, as I (Trumbull) had predicted, the whole position became unten- able, and was immediately abandoned.
In this year, 1777, he went to Boston for the purpose of resuming his studies in art, but finding no suitable instructor, he was at last persuaded to go to London, with letters of introduction to Ben- jamin West, under whose auspices he was much helped and encouraged in the pursuit of his chosen profession. While in London, on the 15th of No- vember, 1780, when the news of the capture and execution of Andre was received, Trumbull was arrested on the charge of being in the military serv- ice of the Americans, and was kept in prison for seven months, still practicing painting, and finally released on bail, West and Copley being his sureties. His release was upon the condition of his leaving the kingdom within thirty days, not to return until peace should be declared between Great Britain and America.
After a trip to Holland and a perilous voyage to America he remained at or near his home, engaged principally in assisting his brother in carrying out a contract for supplies for the army. He passed a part of this time at headquarters on the North river, where he renewed his acquaintance with Washing- ton, who received him kindly. Upon the declaration of peace, and contrary to the advice of his father and the previous advice of the President of Har- vard College, he resumed his career as an artist, continuing it uninterruptedly to the time of his death, passing much of his time in London and in Continental Europe. He married, rather mysteri- ously, an English lady, in London, a woman of rare beauty and of noble birth.
Trumbull is principally known as an historical painter, who, far more than any other American artist, has commemorated the important events of his times by paintings familiar to every schoolboy of today. Principal among these are: The Battle of Bunker Hill, The Death of Montgomery, The Sortie from Gibraltar, The Declaration of Independ- ance, The Surrender of Cornwallis, Capture of the
Hessians at Trenton, The Battle of Princeton, The Surrender of Burgoyne, The Resignation of Gen- eral Washington. He was also noted as a portrait painter. The largest collection of his works, which is in the Yale School of Fine Arts, was given to Yale University during his life, under an agreement for an annuity, at a time when he had reached ad- vanced age. (See Autobiography, Reminiscences and Letters, by John Trumbull, 1841; John Trum- bull: a brief sketch of his life, to which is added a catalogue of his works; by John F Weir, N. A., M. A., 1901.)
WILLIS ROGERS AUSTIN-The name of Austin appears among those of the earlier settlers of New Haven, and frequently and prominently in the records of the town since. The name is said to have been derived from the sect of Christians who were followers of St. Augustine. It is certain the Austins who came to Connecticut were devout Christian people, as is evidenced by the devices of their antique coat-of-arms, which they brought from England, and which was in the possession of the late Willis R. Austin, who was a descendant in the sixth generation from John Austin, the immi- grant ancestor of this branch of the Austin family, his lineage being through David, David (2), David (3), and John Punderson Austin. The details of each of these generations follow and in the order indicated:
(I) John Austin, of New Haven, married (first) November 5, 1667, Mercy, born February 29, 1647, daughter of the first Joshua Atwater; she died in 1683, and he married (second) January 21, 1684, Elizabeth Brockett. Mr. Austin was one of the Greenwich petitioners in favor of New Haven in 1650. His children were: John, David, Joshua, Mary, John, Mary (2), a son unmarried, and Sarah.
(II) David Austin, born February 23, 1670, mar- ried April 5, 1699, Abigail, daughter of John Alling, and their children were: Abigail, David, Stephen, Jonathan, Mercy and Lydia.
(III) David (2) Austin, born October 25, 1703, married (first) Febrary II, 1732, Rebecca Thompson, born February 26, 1709, and (second) Hannah Pun- derson. His children were: David, Samuel, John, Hannah, Punderson and Jonathan.
(IV) David (3) Austin, born March 6, 1733, mar- ried (first) December 14, 1752, Mary Mix, born in 1733; she died September 3, 1781, and he married (second) Esther, widow of Daniel Allen. Mr. Austin was a deacon in the North Church in New Haven from 1758 to 1801, a period of forty-three years. He was the founder and first president of the New Haven Bank, and to him and Hon. James Hillhouse New Haven is indebted for the stately elm trees that have for so many years adorned the New Haven Green. He was collector of customs for the port of New Haven. He served as a soldier in the Revolution, going to the defense of New Haven July 5, 1779, and was wounded there. Mr.
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Austin lived on the southwest corner of Church and Crown streets, and built two large houses on oppo- site corners for his sons David and John P. He died February 5, 1801. His children were: Rebecca, born December 16, 1753; Mary, born October 24, 1755; Sarah, born in 1757; David, born March 19, 17 -; Ebenezer, born June 18, 1761; Saralı (2), born July 4, 1763; Elizabeth, born June 1, 1765; Hannah, born October 26, 1767; Elisha, born March 23, 1770; John Punderson, born June 28, 1772; Ebenezer E., baptized February 16, 1772; and Mary, born in 1776. (V) John Punderson Austin, born June 28, 1772, in New Haven, married, September 11, 1797, Susan Rogers, born September 15, 1778, and to them came thirteen children, all of whom grew up and married. Mr. Austin was graduated from Yale College, from which institution an older brother had also been graduated and became an eminent divine, and from which institution younger members of the family have since been graduated. The father of John P. Austin had been a man of wealth, which on his death had unfortunately been lost through an elder son, and this embarrassment caused the removal of John P. to Norwich, Connecticut, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was an intellectual and cultured gentleman of the old school. On going to Norwich he engaged in teaching, and gave his time largely to the rearing of his large family of children, thirteen in number, three of whom were born in Norwich. Mr. Austin died June 24, 1834, while temporarily absent from home, in Brazos, Texas. His wife survived until 1870, dying August 24th, when aged ninety-one years.
(VI) Willis Rogers Austin, son of John Punderson Austin, was born in Norwich, Connecticut, Janu- ary 31, 1819. He was educated for the legal pro- fession, was graduated from Yale Law School in 1849, and shortly after this event visited Texas. It was his intention to have located there in the prac- tice of the law, but after some successful operations in cotton, he concluded to return North, and, locating in Philadelphia, he engaged in the banking business. In this he was also successful, and, having gathered in a few years a fair amount of this world's goods, he determined to retire from business and take relaxation in travel. He first traveled extensively in this country, and then went abroad and traveled over Europe and Asia, spending three years on his tour. Upon returning to the United States he fixed upon Connecticut, the State of his ancestors, and Norwich, his native city, as his future home, and there he spent the rest of his life. Mr. Austin died March 4, 1896, and was buried in Yantic cemetery. He was fond of outdoor life, and remained active until his death, which was unexpected, coming after a brief illness. He was very fond of hunting, of his horses and his dogs, owning a number of blooded animals.
Mr. Austin had never sought political preferment. Personally popular, however, he had often been urged to accept office, but steadily refused until, at the urgent solicitation of his fellow-citizens of Nor-
wich, he consented to be one of their representatives in the General Assembly of 1874. In 1875 he was re-elected a representative in the General Assembly, and in 1876 he was elected Senator from the Eighth District of the State. His service in the Legisla- ture was characterized by the most constant and faithful attendance and attention to his duties. Dur- ing the sessions of which he was a member he served upon the committees on Finance and Rail- roads, and on Constitutional Amendments.
After Mr. Austin's term of service in the Senate he was induced to serve as a member of the Repub- lican State Central Committee for a period of five years, and during the years 1877-80 he was president of the New London County Agricultural Society. These four years the society experienced marked prosperity, the grounds were enlarged, new build- ings erected, premiums and expenses all paid, and a considerable sum of profit remained each year. He also served as chairman of the Connecticut Board of Charities. Mr. Austin was a confirmed believer in the maxim that occupation and usefulness are requirements for the health and happiness of man- kind; hence he selected his home with ample grounds, that he might see the growth of various objects of ornament and necessity. He always held himself ready to discharge all the duties of friend and citizen.
For nearly thirty years Mr. Austin was a prom- inent resident of Norwich and stood high in business circles. In all public matters he took a deep inter- est, and was anxious to see Norwich progress. He was vice-president of the Dime Savings Bank and a director in the Second National Bank. While "The Elms" cxisted he was a prominent member, was an incorporator of the Norwich Club, and a member of the Arcanum Club. He was also an active worker in the Board of Trade. For many years he was a member and faithful attendant of Christ Church.
At the first meeting of the Norwich Club, some years ago, Mr. Austin was elected president, which office he held until the time of his death. He was a Mason, holding membership with a Philadelphia lodge, and at the centennial meeting of Somerset Lodge, in Norwich, a short time previous to his death, he occupied the seat of honor in the East. "Mr. Austin is one of the most cultured men in the State. He is a clear and forcible speaker when oc- casion requires, and his judgment is entitled to the fullest deference." He was widely known as Colonel Austin, having been colonel of a regiment of local militia during his residence in Philadelphia. Mr. Austin was a member of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, admitted as a descendant of David Austin, of New Haven, Con- nectient, wounded in the defense of New Haven during Tryon's raid, July 5, 1779, and of David Rogers, a surgeon in the army.
In 1851 Mr. Austin was married to Louisa, dangh- ter of the late E. B. M. Hughes, of New Haven,
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well remembered for her personal attractions and true excellence of character, whose death occurred in Philadelphia, where they resided in 1854. She left a daughter of two years, who died at the age of eighteen. In 1864 Mr. Austin married (second) Mary McComb, a very accomplished woman, who was born in Geneva, New York, daughter of John McComb, of a well-known and prominent New York family, and granddaughter of John McComb, who was identified with almost all the progressive im- provements of the day. One child, a son, named Willis Austin, was born of this union October 18, 1878. He was educated in Norwich Free Academy, and under private instruction, and when in his early teens spent three years abroad. He was married November 26, 1901, to Annie Huntington Brewer, daughter of Arthur H. and Mary (Young) Brewer. and they have a son, Willis Phipps, born October 21, 1903. Mrs. Willis R. Austin died February 11, 1894, aged fifty-four years.
The Rogers lineage of the late Willis Rogers Austin follows, and as in the foregoing in regular order from the immigrant ancestor, John Rogers:
(1) John Rogers, born about 1615, of New Lon- don, Connecticut, is generally conceded to have been the John Rogers who at the age of twenty embarked in the ship "Increase," in 1635, for America. He married, at Stratford, Connecticut, Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Samuel Rowland, and became an inhabitant of New London, Connecticut, as early as 1660. He died there in 1687, and his widow in 1709.
(II) James Rogers, born February 15, 1652, mar- ried in Milford, Connecticut, November 5, 1674, Mary, daughter of Jeffrey Jordan. Mr. Rogers died November 6, 1714.
(III) James (2) Rogers, born February 2, 1676, in New London, Connecticut, married (first) Eliza- beth, and (second) June 29, 1713, Freelove Hurlbut. Mr. Rogers was prominent in public affairs, was deputy to the General Court sixteen times, and served as the speaker of that body. He died July 9, 1735, in Norwalk, whither he had removed in 1726.
(IV) Dr. Uriah Rogers, born October 10, 1710, married, about 1734, Hannah, daughter of James and Lydia (Smith) Lockwood. He died in Norwich, Connecticut, May 6, 1773.
(V) Dr. David Rogers, born August 21, 1748, married Martha, daughter of Charles Tennent, of Maryland, and twelve children, ten sons and two daughters, were born to them. Dr. Rogers was a distinguished physician of New York City, and for years was city physician. He served in the Con- tinental army in the Revolution. He passed the last years of his life in Norwich, Connecticut, re- siding with his daughter, Mrs. John Punderson Austin, and died there in 1831.
WILLIAM H. FITCH-From the very dawn of the settlement of Norwich through a period of nearly two and a half centuries, the name of Fitch has been conspicuous in the annals of that
and neighboring towns. For a hundred years or more, from soon after the middle of the eighteenth century, Colonel Asa Fitch, his sons, and in turn some of his grandsons, have, with little exception, been among the foremost men of business activity, enterprise and public spirit among their contem- poraries in their locality. Energetic, active men, they were not content with the old New England farm and forge, but went to the East-across the sea, and some to the "Golden Gate," and were there as at home princes among business men and most successful in their pursuits. Such names as Rev. James Fitch, the first minister of Norwich, Colonel Asa Fitch, Asa Fitch (2), Stephen, Douglass Wood- worth, William, Asa Douglass, and William Hunt- ington Fitch will long live in connection with his- tory of the old town of Norwich and Bozral, and some of them as well with cities in France, on the Pacific coast, and in our Eastern metropolis- New York.
It is with these men and their Fitch lineage this article is to treat. The last of this group of men, William Huntington Fitch, a leading citizen and wealthy man of Norwich, passed away October 28, 1904.
The Rev. James Fitch, a native of the County of Essex, England, born December 24, 1632, was brought by his mother, with other sons, to America in 1638. It appears that the father of the family had previously died. All that is known of young Fitch previous to his ordination, in 1646, is the statement of his birth, emigrating at the age of sixteen, and seven years of theological instruction at Hartford under Revs. Hooker and Stone. After a pastorate of fourteen years at Saybrook he with the larger portion of his church removed to Nor- wich in 1660. He was a useful and valued citizen, one of the most prominent of the founders of the town. "As a pastor he was zealous and inde- fatigable. In addition to his other labors, he trained several young men for the ministry, as he himself had been trained by Mr. Hooker. Rev. Samuel Whiting, of Windham; Taylor, of Westfield; and Adams, of New London, received a part at least of their theological instruction from him." Mr. Fitch was twice married and had fourteen children, the first six of whom were born at Saybrook. He mar- ried (first) in October, 1648, Abigail, daughter of Rev. Henry Whitefield. She died at Saybrook, Sep- tember 9, 1659, and in October, 1664, he was mar- ried to Priscilla Mason, who survived him. Rev. Mr. Fitch, in the year 1701, retired to the new plan- tation of Lebanon-a plantation in which he took great interest, having figured in lands there, and where several of his children had established their homes. Here he died November 18 or 19, 1702, when in the eightieth year of his age. Of his sons, James went to Canterbury; Samuel settled on a farm in Preston; Daniel became an inhabitant of the North Parish of New London, in the immediate neighborhood of Norwich, but not within its bounds;
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John went to Windham; Jabez pursued his minis- terial calling at Ipswich and Portsmouth, and the four others took up farms in Lebanon. The five daughters of Rev. Mr. Fitch were connected in marriage as follows: Abigail with Captain John Mason (2); Elizabeth with Rev. Edward Taylor, of Westfield, Massachusetts; Hannah with Thomas Mecks, or Mix; Dorothy with Nathaniel Bissell, and Anna, the only daughter of the second marriage, with Joseph Bradford.
From the foregoing source came the Fitches of whom we write, and through Stephen Fitch of the Lebanon branch of the family. From this Stephen, William H. Fitch, of Norwich, descended through Colonel Asa and Stephen Fitch, sketches of whom with others of the family follow.
Colonel Asa Fitch, son of Stephen of the Lebanon branch, born February 14, 1755, in Bozrah, married (first) February 8, 1781, Susanna Fitch, born June 4, 1757, in Bozrah, and after her death, which oc- curred April 22, 1814, he married (second) Mary House. The children born to the first marriage were: Nehemiah H .; Lois F .; Clarissa; Asa, born May 6, 1787; Susan; Stephen, born August 21, 1790; Fannie; Douglass W., born February 18, 1796; Wil- liam, born October 27, 1800; Clarissa (2), born June 5, 1802 (married October 14, 1824, Major John W. Haughton, and died in Bozrah October 8, 1886).
Mr. Fitch, familiarly called "Colonel Fitch," was a farmer and manufacturer of iron at Fitchville. He lived to advanced years, and his career was one of usefulness. He was industrious and ener- getic in business affairs, and active in matters per- taining to the welfare of the town, having held va- rious town offices, the duties of which lic performed with efficiency. He and his wife were members of the Congregational church. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party. His upright char- acter and purity of purpose were known and ad- mired by all. Colonel Fitch died August 19, 1844. Miss Caulkins in her "History of Norwich" (1886), thus refers to Colonel Fitch: "Colonel Asa Fitch, the proprietor of the old iron works at this place (Fitchville), was a man of marked character, full of energy and decision. In the Revolutionary war, whenever an alarm was sounded that the enemy were threatening the Connecticut coast, he was al- most invariably the first of his company to shoulder the musket and start for the scene of action. He was a son of Stephen Fitch, of the Lebanon line of descent from Rev. James. His first wife, Susanna, was a daughter of Benajah Fitch, of East Norwich, or Long Society."
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