A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 42

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 42

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).

John P. Wood was treasurer of Windham County from 1887-1894; Charles W. Snow in 1895.

Thomas S. Marlor was appointed special bank commissioner in 1874.

Uriel Fuller was clerk of the County Court, 1860-1872.

CHAPTER XIV TOWN OF HAMPTON

EARLY HISTORY OF HAMPTON-PROMINENT MEN OF HAMPTON, VILLAGE OF HAMP- TON, CLARK'S CORNER, COMMUNITY LIFE, HISTORICAL PLACES, OLD FAMILIES IN HAMPTON-HAMPTON IN PUBLIC LIFE-HAMPTON INDUSTRIES-THE C. C. FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL-HAMPTON SKETCHES-ALLEN JEWETT'S RELICS-THE HAUNTED HOUSE-HAMPTON HAPPENINGS-HAMPTON ANECDOTES.

In 1706 Hampton was opened for settlement and was then the northeast part of the Town of Windham. Several families established themselves on either side of Little River, and one colonist established himself between Mer- rick's Brook and Little River. The settlement grew steadily in spite of its remoteness. A road which passed through "the burnt cedar swamp" con- nected the settlement with Windham. The soil in that part of the country was good and cheap, and the location of the settlement attractive. One particu- larly attractive spot was a hill around which flowed the Appaquage or Little River and which was opened for settlement in 1712-now known as Hampton Hill. The majority of settlers of this region came from Massachusetts. This fact and that of their distance from any church led them to desire to have religious services of their own as soon as possible, and in 1715 they applied to the Town of Windham for the privilege of becoming a separate religious society. A committee was appointed by the town to consider what the parish boundaries should be. Meanwhile they were given other liberties-fence view- ers was appointed, a spot picked out for a burying ground, permission was given to build a pound, and a tavern keeper was appointed. The following year the northeast section became a parish, and was named Canada Parish, taking its name from that of its first settler, David Canada, about whom little is known.

In order to raise money for their own minister and meeting house, it was found necessary to tax the vacant land in the parish which was owned by Windham proprietors. There was serious objection to this, but in May, 1718, the Assembly permitted a tax to be laid on those lands and granted also that the parish should be free from the payment of country rates for four years. After some difficulty enough money was obtained by the sale of land to make some progress in the construction of the meeting house and to procure a min- ister. Liberty was given to build a pound. In 1722 a regular minister was called, two years of freedom from the county tax was obtained from the court, and the people were thus enabled to complete the building of their meeting house. By 1724 there were so many inhabitants of Canada Parish that a full military company was formed. Schools were provided as soon as practicable, and selectmen, surveyors, etc., appointed, so that town meetings only necessi- tated the inhabitants going to Windham. Poor crops, droughts, and other like discouragements, hindered the prosperity of the parish. Owing to these handi- caps in 1726 the inhabitants again petitioned the court to have their rates

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allowed them. This the court granted for one year, after which the parish was obliged to carry her share of the burdens of the colony. At the time of the great revival of 1741, 125 persons were added to the membership of the church. For some years the society was engaged in building its second meet- ing house.

In 1763 a committee was appointed to lay out school districts, which was accomplished within two years, there being four of the new districts, and a schoolmaster was appointed, while in summer school-dames kept the schools for the little ones. In 1774 a first district was added to those already estab- lished, and was known as Appaquage. Owing to the distance between the parish and the town, and the fact that the two had little in common, the parish voted "That this society is desirous to be made into a district, to be allowed all the powers and privileges of a town, except choosing our own deputies and other business of freemen's meeting," but though application was made to the town several times, nothing was accomplished. A church con- troversy stirred up the parish for some time, but an understanding was finally brought about conducive to peace.

After the Revolution the parish renewed its efforts for independence, but was met by opposition from Canterbury and Pomfret. Again in 1785 the society voted to petition for town privileges, and Colonel Mosely, as agent, presented the plea to the Assembly, stating that the society was "ten and even fourteen miles from the seat of business," and petitioned also that the extreme parts of Mansfield, Pomfret and Canterbury be united with them in a distinct township, the inhabitants of these sections joining in the request. The Assem- bly thereupon resolved that they be made a distinct corporation, with power to transact their own affairs, but to remain a part of Windham for the purpose of choosing representatives. However, this enactment pleased no one, and only aroused opposition. The inhabitants of Canada Parish secured the vote of one more than a majority at the town meeting "not to oppose the memorial for said town," and the Assembly in 1786 made the second society of Windham into a town, and named it Hampton. It was comprised of Canada Parish, small parts of Canterbury and Pomfret, 1,200 acres taken from Brooklyn and a sizable area from Mansfield. The inhabitants of the new town were to receive their share of money from their respective towns for the support of schools, etc., were to pay their part of the debts of those towns, and to support their share of the town poor. Windham repented of her action in consenting to the establishment of the new town and made objection to the Assembly, stating among other things that the inhabitants of the new town would not have their just proportion of bridges to maintain. This objection was met by the enact- ment of the Assembly to reduce the annual payment of the new town one-half. Provision was made for the poor; highways and schools were given prompt attention. A report of the school districts showed them to be eight in number, containing a total of 189 houses.

The census of 1790 gave the number of inhabitants of Hampton as 1,333- eight more than that of Brooklyn, which also had just been constituted a town. Agriculture was the principal industry, though grist, saw and fulling mills were also maintained. Hampton's church, while it had no jurisdiction over the territory so annexed to it, was given added strength by the addition of many new members, who had formerly attended church in the towns of which they had previously been residents. The citizens of the new town were intel-

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ligent and public spirited, ready to adopt improvements which should prove helpful to their town. There were many large residences. New bridges and roads were built, facilitating travel. A new pound was also built. Much inter- est was taken in public affairs and an effort was made each year to have the courts of the County of Windham transferred to Hampton. Rules for the better administration of town meetings were adopted in 1800. Hampton still maintained her military organization, and after the Revolution took great pride in her newly formed company of grenadiers. This military company took first and highest places in the regimental musterings that made Hampton Hill famous, and which were held on its large common. The militia companies were also well sustained. Everywhere there was life and activity. A dam was built across the Little River, and potash works were opened near the gristmill. Clocks and watches were repaired in the town. There were also many losses, however, owing to emigration. As yet there was no postoffice in the town, the inhabitants still depending upon the post-riders. A library was opened in 1807. A Baptist Church had been organized in 1776, and continued to increase in membership. The northwest part of Hampton was very thinly settled, hav- ing been owned by non-residents for many years. Before the middle of the eighteenth century Benjamin Chaplin had settled there and by 1756 owned the greater part of this tract of land, laying out farms and building houses and barns, making a manorial estate of it. After his death a church was established according to the terms of his will, and settlers were attracted by the opportunity of bettering themselves in church attendance.

The War of 1812 had no ill effects in Hampton in the matter of agriculture and manufacturing. The introduction of the carding machine stimulated domestic production to such an extent that three fulling machines were kept at work dressing and dyeing woven materials. There was a good market for woolen and tow cloth, but cotton goods were not favored by Hampton women. A hat factory was established after the war and was kept in flourishing condi- tion. The town soon had its first lawyer. A Christ-ian Church was established, to the detriment of the Baptist Church, which also suffered from the lack of regular ministry. The tract of land in the northwest part of the town in 1809 became incorporated as an ecclesiastic society, and was called Chaplin. Trouble was encountered there in the erection of a meeting house, but the difficulty was finally overcome, and the meeting house finished.

As the years passed the manufacturing towns gained ascendancy, the farm- ing towns dropping behind in importance. The emigration movement was so strong that it drained the energies of these towns, although Hampton's remain- ing population was so energetic and public spirited that the town did not suffer as greatly as did some of the others. Hampton's Temperance Society was formed through the efforts of the minister. Standing out among the notable men of the town, Chauncey Cleveland attained great prominence. The old Congregational Church was repaired and renovated in 1840; the Baptist Church declined, and went out of existence in 1844. Military trainings were still kept up and enjoyed, and on July 4, 1826, forty-two veterans of the Revo- lution took part in the semi-centennial celebration, the pure air of Hampton being conducive to longevity. In 1836 Hampton was made a distinct probate district. Cleveland accomplished much in the way of improvement and better- ment of existing conditions, various classes of people being benefited by the legislative enactments of which he was prime mover. He was instrumental in

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having a law passed which made provision for the insane poor and also a more lenient child labor law, and various other reforms.

For many years Hampton was thrust into the background, being at some distance from a railroad station, and no business center near it. However, Governor Cleveland worked untiringly for railroad facilities for the town, trying to bring the railroad to that section of the country where it was most needed. A Catholic Church was built. The old Christ-ian Church was main- tained. Many people come each summer to Hampton, now so conveniently located near the railroad.

PROMINENT MEN OF HAMPTON

Among the men of prominence who were citizens of this town in the years long since past should not be forgotten these :

Jonathan Clark (1773-1859), was county surveyor, architect, carpenter and builder. He was a very extraordinary man; he kept a journal of passing events for more than sixty years and held many town offices. Newton Clark, his son (1804-1863), was also prominent as a town officer, member of the House of Representatives and as a manufacturer of tinware.

Chauncey F. Cleveland (1799-1887), already mentioned at length in the biography which appears in this work.

Mason Cleveland (1796-1855), was a member of the Connecticut Legis- lature, both as representative and senator; was also school commissioner.

Edward Spicer Cleveland, son of Moses (1825-1903), was also represen- tative and state senator; candidate for governor, receiving a plurality of the votes cast, but the opposing candidate was elected by the Legislature.

Ebenezer Griffin, judge of Windham County Court, state representative and well-known Abolitionist. Of him it was said by Governor Cleveland, "Had he been educated to the law he would have ranked with Daniel Webster and Henry Clay."

Henry G. Taintor (1813-1889), was state senator and representative and at one time treasurer of Connecticut.

Edward S. Moseley (1812-1873), was judge of probate, representative and state treasurer of Connecticut.

David Greenslit (1817-1898), representative, senator, sheriff.

Col. Andrew M. Litchfield (1810-1891), was active in military affairs, held many town offices, representative, a large landowner, also an extensive mill man and manufacturer.

William Brown, representative, state senator, bank commissioner, merchant and postmaster.

Dr. Dyer Hughes (1797-1882), practiced medicine about sixty years and charged his patients 25 cents a call in town, and at that time accumulated quite a fortune.

Silas Cleveland, father of the governor, died at Hampton, Conn., Septem- ber 24, 1793. Hon. C. F. Cleveland related the following of him: "Silas Cleve- land was much like his father-a man of wonderful memory and fine abilities. During the Revolution my father Silas, then a young man, about September, 1780, went to Bethel, Vt., to look for a place to settle permanently. When at work in the woods with a man by the name of David Stone, a band of Indians from Montreal captured them and took them to Canada. Silas Cleveland was so copper-colored they dressed him in their paint and feathers; Stone they

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killed. My father they kept six months, when they put him in the British prison called the stone jug, in Montreal, Canada; there he was kept six months longer and then exchanged. He dwelt awhile in Bethel and then returned to Hampton."

While most of his life was spent on the farm, he was known far and near as a rugged, determined character full of excellent traits. The above facts are taken from the Cleveland Genealogy, Vol. 1, page 301.

Dr. Francis Bewster kept a drug store and was author of a grammar.

David Avery, son of the Rev. David Avery of Chaplin, graduated at Brown University and became a poet and author.

Professor Calvin C. Foster (1829-1914), commenced teaching school at the age of sixteen years and taught fifty years. He was a student at the Normal and taught the Hampton High School four years very successfully; he had more than a hundred pupils. He also taught in Canterbury, Woodstock and Worcester, Mass., where he conducted a commercial school for twenty years. His home-townspeople used to hold annual family reunions and the professor never failed to attend until one year before his death. His Hampton High School pupils have held annual reunions since 1898.

Lucius Whitaker kept the Chelsea Inn about thirty-five years; he was a model landlord and was familiarly and fondly called, Grandpa Whitaker. This was also a noted summer resort during his administration. The several cottages have been sold to private parties, but the old hotel is now owned by Charles E. Burnham who opens it for summer boarders yet.

William Bennett (1807-1880), was a school teacher, merchant, farmer, state's representative, and active in town affairs, and was the father of Judge Edward B. Bennett of Hartford.

Joel Fox was one of the early abolitionists and temperance advocates; was a public speaker and a walking encyclopedia of political history; was a mason by trade and also followed auctioneering, and had but few equals in this line. He was also a wonderful story teller, and no man ever got the best of him in an argument. He lived for many years in Willimantic, and died there May 3, 1904, aged 86.

VILLAGE OF HAMPTON

The present Village of Hampton is principally occupied by summer resi- dents ; no factories are in operation. The side streets of olden times have long since been eliminated and one now sees well-kept lawns, the postoffice and one general store, in place of the five stores of former years.

The Hampton public library contains 3,000 volumes.

CLARK'S CORNER

Clark's Corner (Goshen) in the western part of Hampton town has a rail- way station, store and postoffice. Jonathan Clark was born here and resided during his long and useful life. The house he built and occupied is now owned and occupied by William Oliver. Near by the corners stands the famous lib- erty pole, some thirty feet in height, with guide boards on which are inscribed these words: "Free Soil Mail Stage Road Daily." Distance to Hartford and intervening towns are given. On the reverse side of the boards are the words: "Erected July 4, 1849, this pole and guide boards were erected in Goshen by Jonathan Clark." On top of this pole are placed the four points of the com-

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pass and a weather vane. Mr. Clark kept a record of direction of the wind every day.

COMMUNITY LIFE

The subjoined paragraphs have been furnished largely by the now vener- able Allen Jewett of Clark's Corner, hence may be relied upon :

The singing school, quilting parties, apple-paring bees, husking bees, sleigh- rides in winter and picnics in the summer, with spelling schools, ball games, quoits, etc., furnished a plenty of pleasure and innocent amusement for both old and young in those early days. In the winter season usually the dancing schools were held and conducted by Mr. Hagen, who taught people how to dance, and it was a pretty sight to see those old-time dancers with the pre- cision of clock-work "tripping the light fantastic toe." Hampton had a famous male quartette and in summer evenings they would climb to the belfry of the old church and sing those old soul-stirring songs that so charmed all hearers. On still evenings they could be distinctly heard a half-mile away. John Cleve- land, son of the governor, Worthing Button, William Moseley and Gilbert Snow composed the quartette and it is doubtful whether there are sweeter singers around the Throne now!

HISTORIC PLACES, ETC.

The house that the women helped raise in the Revolution is the Mecca of summer visitors; it is about one mile north of Hampton Village. The Cow- mantic ledges in the south part of town, where, according to tradition, the Indians drove their enemies over the perpendicular ledge to their death. The dwelling place of the parents of the unfortunate Elizabeth Shaw, who was the first person executed in Windham County, was about one mile south of Clark's Corner station, on land now owned by Allen Jewett; the cellar is still to be seen. It is about one and one-half miles from the historic ledge above men- tioned, and where the Shaw girl, who was executed, hid the body of her infant. Nearby is Wolf Swamp, where a wolf was killed.

1. Old families in Hampton :

Members of the Hammond and Fuller families can trace their descent back to John and Pricilla Alden.

2. The Litchfield family is also an old family.

3. The Jewett family is descended from Benjamin Jewett who came here from Rowley, Mass. (settling first in Canterbury) about 17 -. The family came from England in 1636-Edward Jewett, Gentleman, from Yorkshire, Eng- land. From him are descended all the Jewetts of America. Edward Jewett, Gentleman, could trace his ancestors to the year 1000 when Baron de Juet came over with William the Conqueror from Normandy and was given a grant of land in Yorkshire. One of the "Juets" was historian for Henry Hudson when he discovered the Hudson River and Hudson Bay. There were three Ebenezer Jewetts in Hampton. Twenty-five years ago there were seven families in the town, Ebenezer Jewett III, Allen and Lester. Now, Allen Jewett, his two sons, Wallace and Elmer, Lester's two sons, Chester and William, and Chester's son, Carl, live in the town. Carl's two-year-old son, Leslie, is the tenth Jewett in direct descent from Edward Jewett of Rowley and the seventh in direct line from the Benjamin Jewett who settled on Jewett Hill in 17 -.

The Pearls are descended from Maria Jewett Pearl, daughter of Ebenezer

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II. It is an honor to hold the family name in a town 200 years. May the Jewetts keep the name here 200 years more.

HAMPTON INDUSTRIES

As compiled by the now venerable citizen, Allen Jewett, the following is a list of the industries of this town, most of which have been running during his lifetime here:

A cotton mill of 1100 spindles was built by the Walcots; a woolen mill built by Capt. John Howard; these mills were in the southern part of the town, called Howard Valley, and were all burned in 1860.

There were six sawmills and five gristmills; three shingle mills, two fulling mills, a clover seed mill, carding machines and a mill for weaving bed blankets. These mills were all located on Little River and its tributaries.

Important figures among the tanners of the town were Capt. Daniel Searls and Loren Rockwell.

Luther D. Leach manufactured hats.

William Spooner was a watchmaker and jeweler; Badger & Sons made scythes, axes and hoes ; Searls & Spicer made boots and shoes for the home and other markets; Shubel Martin & Sons did a large business at coopering, and sent large numbers of barrels to Providence; Newton Clark & Company were tin and sheet iron workers and sent out peddlers to Massachusetts and Rhode Island, doing an extensive trade. This business was established in 1840, and continued twenty-five years. J. S. Curtis made spoons and spectacles; Abel Robinson had a distillery where cider brandy was made. Edward S. Moseley made safety pins and other small articles. Andrew M. Litchfield in Bigelow, made brick, lumber, shingles, shuttles, excelsior, shoe-pegs, hames for harness and other useful articles.

Deacon Robert Dorance was a cabinetmaker; C. C. Button & Sons made harness, as did also Henry Litchfield; William Fuller was an expert tailor in the town, and Mrs. William Clark was the early-day milliner; Jonathan Clark made hand-made looms, spinning-wheels, foot wheels and almost everything made from wood. The wagonmakers were Charles Cummings, E. Lathrop and Ebenezer Jewett, and William Snow.

It is known that in the early days of Hampton that potash, clocks, hand- rakes, shoe and knee-buckles, grave stones, pocket books, sewing silk, linen thread, tow-linen and woolen cloth, stockings, etc., were all made here. Also wooden plows, in fact almost everything the people needed. Mr. Jewett recalls the time when shoemakers went from house to house and made shoes and boots for the family-called in those days "whipping the cat." It should be added that the town gave plenty of work for six blacksmiths' shops when Mr. Jewett was a mere boy and later.

As the decades have drifted away, things have changed and the factories are no more, but long ago the articles they supplied have been made at large manufacturing centers-the great cities of the country. The same mill-streams flow on toward the sea, the power is there but not utilized in these days to any great extent. Yet who will say that it is not better as we find it today? Who of this generation would care to have shoes for the family made at home ? Who would care to spin and weave and card in his own house in order to be clothed with the quality of goods worn seventy-five and a hundred years ago? And yet the modern development of electricity suggests that the power of remote

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country rivers and brooks may be used to advantage in modern industries. Sensible folks are getting tired of big-city crowding, and with transportation so uncertain, it is becoming absolutely necessary for more people to seek their own living on back-country farms.

THE C. C. FOSTER HIGH SCHOOL AT HAMPTON

In August, 1856, Calvin C. Foster opened a school in the Town Hall, Hamp- ton. Pupils were received from this and adjoining towns. The school term was twelve weeks; tuition was $3 for the common English branches, $4 for higher English branches, and $5 for languages, including Latin, Greek and French. The school was very successful and was continued by Mr. Foster four years, and about one hundred and fifty pupils attended the school during the four terms of its existence. "Excelsior," was his motto. Many graduates from this school became teachers in the schools of this and other states. One was a professor in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor; several were lawyers and many achieved success in other professions.

Mr. Foster was very thorough in his teaching and always required the reason to be given by the pupil when reciting, especially in mathematical prob- lems, and to answer his inquiry "why," it did not satisfy to say "the rule says so." He always asked for the "reason of the rule." Grammar was taught in the good old way and it was believed in those days that Lindley Murray, Gould Brown and Noah Webster knew something about the English language.

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A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 42

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930