USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > A pictorial history of "Raynham" and its vicinity. > Part 8
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He quitted the Raisonable almost immediately after this success and returning to England in 1780, was made a rear-admiral February 1, 1793, and June 12, 1794, was made vice-admiral, and died April 6, 1795.
THE EAST HAVEN MILITIA.
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Of the many military parades I have witnessed in Europe and America none have made a more lasting impression on my mind than when, a boy of six or seven years of age, I witnessed on East Haven street near the center, the May muster of the Fifth Company, Second Regiment, Second Brigade of Connecticut Militia, warned for spring training from the freemen of the town, aged between eighteen and forty-five years, and commanded by Joseph Ives Hotchkiss, Esq., captain, Mr. Nathan Andrews, lieutenant, and Mr. Philip Street, ensign.
These gentlemen, with red and black plumed cocked hats, red sashes, blue swallow-tailed coats ; scarlet-faced trimmings with gold lace and brass buttons, and with pants to match, and provided with silver sheathed swords and belts as required by law, met early on the morning of the first Monday in May, 1840, at Hemingway's tavern, or Elizur Thompson's store. Drum roll was sounded, and the bat- talion was formed by First Sergeant Lucius Lindsley on the sidewalk on the south side of the street, backed up against the stone wall west of Hemingway's tavern, all armed and equipped for military ser- vice as the law provided. The second sergeant, Edmond Hemingway, was then sent to notify the offi- cers that the "milish " was ready for parade and soon after Captain Hotchkiss and officers appeared in front of the company to drill the troops preparatory to their taking up their line of march to the Green, where from the royal truck of the white flagstaff, surmounted with a golden cap of liberty (the emblem of a sovereign people) floated the stars and stripes, and guarded at the foot by one of the six-pound cannon that it was said assisted to dispel the British invaders on the morning of July 5, 1779, and in peaceful attitude, stood ready at the first stroke of the bell in the steeple of the anti- revolutionary stone meeting-house, to peal forth the announcement that the warriors had taken up their line of march. Here was a battalion composed of noblemen, every member a sovereign of the State of Connecticut with no power over him but his God and his flag, the creators of presidents of their nation, governors and other officials of their State, and of even the selectmen of their town, whom all citizens of a Connecticut town recognize as the proper medium, being their own choice, through which the people of a rural community for their mutual benefit in their own quiet way can reach the power that may be for their own benefit and protection.
And it may be pertinent here to give my remembrance of the dress, arms and equipments of the non-commissioned officers and privates of this band of sovereigns, who were all armed with flint- lock muskets and bayonets, some of which dated back and had done service in the colonial wars and the war of the Revolution. All were equipped with powder horns, cartridge boxes and canteen slung over the shoulder and each wore white belts that crossed at the back, the whole giving, as they marched in column, a decidedly warlike appearance.
Each non-commissioned officer was dressed in conformity to the military service regulation, and some of the soldiers, who aspired at some future day to promotion from the ranks ; but many of the soldiers were dressed, it being a fine day, in their daily or Sunday-go-to-meeting clothes, and here and there the costume of a farmer or sailor was noted in the ranks. Some wore hats, some caps, and others tarpaulins. They were, however, accepted at inspection and roll call as armed and equipped for military service as the law provides.
But when Captain Hotchkiss drilled his company then came the tug of war; then the time which tried men's souls, and afforded rich amusement to the bystanders and citizens who had con- gregated from near and far, yea, from the remotest outlying districts of the towns. Especially was the interest heightened when the order was given to right and left wheel in rapid succession ; shoulder arms and charge bayonets, when the breech of a musket happened by accident (and when adjectives were out of place) to come in contact with the next man's right toe. Truly the spectacle was most sublime when the battalion wheeled into East Haven's broad and winding street, and in column, led by the musicians, Jacob Farren drummer and Zeba Monson fifer, took up their line of march for " the Green."
With thrilling fifes And pealing drums And clashing horns, They come ! they come !
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Then, the great gun on the Green began to beleh forth the well known sound of war, and the peal of the bell in the steeple of the ante-revolutionary built stone meeting-house proclaimed the tidings to all free and bonded that the first Monday in May was training day.
The writer has a elear and vivid recollection of this company and of Captain Hotehkiss, whose gay uniform and eoeked hat inspired him with a greater awe than any marshal or general of Euro- pean or Ameriean armies, whom it has in late years been his privilege to meet. The musicians also were held in high esteem and when Mr. Jacob Farren gave the three rolls accompanied by Mr. Mun- son's fife, the effeet was wonderful and negotiations for molasses eandy and peanuts were at onee eommeneed.
Upon arrival of these warriors on the Green, they were drilled after inarching and counter- marching, then stacking their arms a respite for an hour was given to refresh these brave troops for the long march down South End road, through Mew's Lane to Morris Avenue, which led up to the stone meeting-house and by the residenee of the Reverend Stephen Dodd, where they halted; then Captain Hotelkiss, leaving his company in charge of Lieutenant Andrews, waited on the parson, who appeared and made his annual military address; when over the drum and fife struek up Yankee Doodle and the company escorted the Reverend and the Captain to Hemingway Tavern, where after a blessing from Mr. Dodd, all sat down to a bountiful repast; when half over the good parson made his exit home and then eame the "Tug of War," which was generally kept up until a very late hour -- but we boys were required to go home before night, which deprives me of giving the sequel of this Monday in May, the training day.
One soldier in this parade I shall always remember. He was one of nature's noblemen and a sovereign of the State of Connecticut, Mr. Henry Burr, a relative of the celebrated Aaron Burr, vice-president of the United States. Mr. Burr wore a black dress (claw-hammer) eoat, and pants to mateh, with black felt hat (which was the Sunday suit of the period 1840), bayonet sheath and white belts erossed at the back. His position was near the left of the company, and while marehing in column with musket on his shoulder at earry arms and ordered to wheel, his bayonet came in contaet with the beaver of Mr. William Hill, who expressed himself, and being mneh annoyed at Mr. Burr's unsoldierlike carriage, declared Mr. Burr handled his gun like a eow would a musket. But this parade was of great value to Mr. Burr, who became expert at drill, and when ealled in later years to mareh forth to assist in subduing the late rebellion, he was wounded in the battle of Antietam, where he lay three days supposed to be dead. He was at last taken away and found to be wounded in the leg, which was amputated.
East Haven Green, or market place, was the meet for citizens of the town on all oeeasions, in peace or war. Here met the inhabitants to go forth to fight the Narragansett Indians in 1676. Here met the town's soldiers in the French and Indian war, and of the Revolution. Lafayette with his regiment eneamped here enroute to capture Cornwallis. Here four regiments, according to Dr. Stiles, of Yale College, under Colonel Russell, Colonel Cook, Colonel Sage and Colonel Worthington, and commanded by General Ward, met on the 6th of July, 1779, and formed to storm Beacon Hill, which was held by the British army until the town of New Haven had been evacuated by their troops, who had to cross Neek Bridge and were quietly making their retreat to their boats at the Blaek Rock fort ; but the stormning party arrived at the hill just in time to see the rear guard of the enemy go down the west side to their embarkation.
ROSTER OF THE COMPANY.
Following is a complete list of the officers and other members of Captain Hotehkiss' company : Offieers and privates of Fifth Company, Second Regiment, Seeond Brigade Infantry, Connecticut Militia, 1840 :
Joseph Ives Hotelkiss, eaptain. Nathan Andrews, lieutenant.
Lueius Lindsley, orderly sergeant.
Edward Hemingway, seeond sergeant.
Philip Street, ensign.
Privates-Jared Andrews, Charles Woleott, Edward A. Walker, Laban Smith, Ashael Thompson, Charles Bishop, Edward Thompson, Alfred Hughes, Roswell Hughes, Samuel Forbes, Robert Rows, Jared Smith, O. B. Thompson, Thadeous Street, Abraham Chidsey, Benjamin Street, Charles Auger, Street Chidsey, Justion Bradley, Henry Forbes, Jeremialı Barnes, Hezekiah Bradley, William Tuttle,
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James P. Smith, Albert Hemingway, Samuel F. Bradley, Samuel H. Bradley, William Niles Granniss, Frederick Granniss, Barlow Russell, Albert I. Thompson, Jerard Byington, Oliver Beidley, Roswell Landcraft, Roswell Woodward, Charles Woodward, Julius Upson, Henry Burr, Hezekiah Woodward, Richard Woodward, Samuel F. Burwell, Jerard Burwell, John Button, Samuel Pardee, Stephen Pardee, William B. Goodyear, Samuel Tuttle, Charles Tuttle, Orin Mallory, Merwin Henderson, William Russell, Willis Bailey, Merwin Bailey, Jolin Footc, Solomon Bradley, Morton Allen, Joseph Ames, N. W. Potwine, William Davidson, Augustus Hall, Alonzo Jacobs, Denis Jacobs, Frederick Mansfield, Robert Menchen, Riley Rowe, Barlow Russell, Samuel Tuttle, Ami Tyler, Thomas Gran- nis, Daniel Grannis, Hubbard Goodale, William Hill, Epheream Hitchcock, Benjamin Hosley, Lucius Landcraft, Zina Mallory, John Naylor, Barny Rowe, Edwin Russell, Willianı R. Sheet, Rucl Tuttle, James Wedmore. The drummer-Jacob Farren. The fifer-Zeba Munson.
OFFICIAL ORDER.
The first order to Captain Hotchkiss notified of his election (which took place September 10, - 1839), and authorized him to take official charge of it. It also ordered him to call out the company for the first Monday in May, 1840, and was signed by David B. Hurd, Brigadier General, Second Brigade Infantry :
HEADQUARTERS SECOND REGIMENT, MILFORD, CONN., April 1, 1840.
To Joseph I. Hotchkiss, Esq., captain elect of Fifth Company, East Haven :
Sir-Herewith I send you an order from General Hurd authorizing you to take command of the Fifth Battalion Company of the Second Regiment, pursuant to your election last fall.
You will see that the members of said company are enrolled and called out to perform the military duty required by the law of the State. You have annexed a copy of the proceedings for a court martial held in New Haven, which you will cause to be copied in the orderly book of the company under your command.
ISAAC T. ROGERS,
Colonel Second Regiment Infantry.
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Stile's Itineraries and memoirs. Vol.1. 1760-62, page 434.
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SIGNAL MAST ON BEACON HILL.
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Explanation of the Coast Guard Signals on Beacon Hill, East Haven.
No. 1, N. E. arm, 1 Ship to Eastward. No. 2, N. E. arm, 2 Ships to Eastward. No. 3, N. E. arm, 3 Ships to Eastward. No. 1 & 3, N. E. arm, 4 Ships to Eastward. No. 1, N. E. arm, Halfmast, Fleet to Eastward. No. 5, Topmast Head, Brig to Eastward. No. 5 & 6, Topmast Head, 2 Brigs to Eastward. No. 6, Half Topmast, 1 Schooner to Eastward. No. 5 & 6, Half Topmast, 2 Schooners to Rastward. No. 4, N. E. arm, Halfmast, 1 or more Sloops to Eastward.
No. 2, N. E. arm, Halfmast. Barges to Eastward.
No. 1, S. W. arm, 1 Ship to Westward. No. 2, S. W. arm, 2 Ships to Westward. No. 3, S. W. arm, 3 Ships to Westward. No. 1 & 3, S. W. arm, 4 Ships to Westward. No. 1, S. W. arm, Halfmast, Fleet to Westward. No. 7, Topmast Head, Brig to Westward. No. 7 and 8, Topmast Head, 2 Brigs to Westward. No. 8, Half Topmast, 1 Sehooner to Westward. No. 7 & 8, Half Topmast, 2Schooners to Westward. No. 4, S. W. arm, Halfmast, Sloop to Westward. No. 2, S. W. arm, Halfmast, Barges to Westward.
There was a signal master's wateh house in fort.
EAST HAVEN'S STONE MEETING-HOUSE.
A prominent feature in the Iron Work sketch is the Colonial East Haven Stone Meeting-house which was erected some years previous to the Revolution and dedicated September 1774. It is the oldest stone structure of the kind that we have any knowledge of standing in New England.
This edifice was preceded by two others built of wood "barn-fashion." The first two ministers of the village were Messrs. Alling and Harrison, who either preached in the school-house or in private dwellings.
In November 1704 East Haven "town-born " (" Sir") Jacob Hemingway, a graduate from the Rev. Abraham Pierson's School (the acorn from which mighty Yale grew), commenced his ministry. The society voted June 10th, 1706 to build of wood a meeting-house twenty feet long, sixteen feet wide, and seventeen feet between joints and to set it across the east end of the school-house. It seated about fifty people and in it the organization of the society and the ordination of Mr. Hemingway as minister was held October 8th, 1711. This structure sufficed for the accommodation of the village until replaced by a larger one in 1719 ; which tradition says stood back of the residence of the late John M. Finch and had adjoining to it a small burying ground which was used until the donation by the Pro- prietors of the ground occupied by the present cemetery, which was " Commons," and known as Fort Hill. Mr. Hemingway was the sole minister here until his death, October 7th, 1754, in the 71st year of his age, and was succeeded by the Rev. Nicholas Street.
The new meeting-house stood on the northwest corner of the green, six rods northeast of the old meeting-house and nearly in front of Mr. Henry Smith's residence. The site is still known as " Meet- ing-house Hill," but the small knoll on which it stood has long disappeared. And it is interesting to note that President Stiles, in his sketch of East Haven Green about 1762, locates this house, which unpainted was used by the congregation for more than fifty years ; and some years before the death of Mr. Hemingway it was proposed to build anew, but the proposition was indefinitely postponed until December 1769, when the society " voted to build a new meeting-house if we can be suited with the place ;" on the 26th of the same inonth another meeting was held, "to fix upon a place where the new meeting-house is to be set."
The Rev. D. William Havens, in his historical discourse delivered at the Centennial Celebration of the dedication of the Stone Meeting-house, East Haven, Conn., Wednesday, September 16th, 1874, gives us the following, which I have abridged for want of space. The contest was between those dwelling at Foxon and Dragon and those at the Cove and South End; the other residents at the Centre were divided, the majority acting with the south party. The point in controversy was : whether the new meeting-house should be built upon or near the site of the old edifice or at the point of Mullen Hill in the fork made by the junction of the Foxon and old North Haven road.
The action of the first meeting was to declare by a two-thirds vote that "we will build a new meeting-house in this Society for the public worship of God." Also, " It was tryed by vote where ye people were to have ye Meeting-house." There were thirty-seven votes for the Green and twenty- seven for Mullen Hill. The parties were so nearly balanced and the spirit of both ran so high that a Compromise Committee was appointed "to try to agree about a spot where the meeting-house should stand and if they agree the people would agree." This committee was composed of men from different sections, viz., Captain Stephen Smith, Samuel Thompson, Captain Isaac Chidsey, Samuel Hemingway, Captain Amos Morris, Stephen Morris, Benjamin Smith, John Woodward, Abraham Hemingway and Timothy Andrews.
The following year, 1770, the committee reported to the society that they could not agree and the question was referred to persons non-resident, viz .: Captain Eliakim Hull of Wallingford and Colonel Nathaniel Chauncey and James Wadsworth, Esq. of Durham, and Captain Guernsey of New Haven was chosen to act in case one of the three principals failed to act.
This committee from abroad was manifestly a failure and the only reference to it dated April 3rd, 1770, when Stephen Morris, Esq. was appointed to notify the County Court of "the Committee's doings." The December following, the society by a two-third vote declared ; "We will built a meet-
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ing-house for the public worship of God." The next weck the grand question of location was tried, when twenty-seven voted for " Mullen Hill," two for the "Corner " and twenty for the " Green."
The corner was "Thompson's Corner," which was about midway. In January, 1772, the society by formal vote referred the matter to the Judge of the County Court, who decided before the 10th of April ensuing, and "drove a stake on Thompson's Corner," for the site of the new Meeting-house, which was accepted.
As soon as the question of location was set at rest, steps were at once taken to commence building and "a six penny tax was laid upon a total valuation not exceeding £5,000. This would yield about £300 or $1,000 Federal currency."
After much debate it was decided to " build a stone Meeting-house seventy-three feet long and fifty feet wide," and to build a stecple to be carried up with stone, and it is said the whole fabric was modeled after the Old South Church in Boston.
This church was completed Angust 1774, and dedicated the following September. And to this day it stands a monument to the memory of the splendid Yeomanry that then inhabited this beautiful town.
The Reverend Mr. Havens tells us in his centennial address that it took two years to build this edifice. That the dimensions as it now stands measure, from outside to ontside, seventy feet long and fifty feet wide. The stone is a conglomerate sandstone and the mortar is made from sand and shell lime burned on the bank of the river, where immense quantities of shells are still extant. The quarry- ing, dressing and laying the stone was donc almost entirely by the people themselves, and at this date, May 1, 1900, scarcely a stone has started from its original position and the water line is as level as when it was first laid.
A single accident occurred when it was nearly finished. The workmen were raising the last window cap to its place over the east upper window, on the north side, when the scaffolding gave way and three men, with a ponderous stone in their arms, fell to the ground. Tony, a negro servant of Captain Amos Morris, was injured, but not so seriously as to prevent his running away two weeks afterwards. Mr. Stephen Thompson had his skull fractured ; it was trepanned and he recovered. Mr. Joseph Hotchkiss had his leg crushed and never wholly recovered.
It is estimated that the walls, without a steeple, and unfinished interior of this building, cost the society $12,000, or three-fifths of the whole amount of its grand list, and as the means of the society were exhausted the idea of leaving it unoccupied after so great sacrifice and labor had been made for its erection, was repugnant to their feelings ; therefore the pulpit and pews of the old meeting-house were removed to the new and the house was made quite comfortable notwithstanding the rough and unfinished walls, and so it remained during the Revolution and was the rallying place for the yeomanry of the village, and at the invasion, July 5, 1779, we are told it was entered by the enemy's scouts, who were in search of the society's communion service.
About the year 1796 the new steeple was built and the interior completed, with prodigious pulpit and mighty sounding board, but a tornado threw down the newly erected spire and nnroofed the building. Then East Haven energies were aroused and a beautiful spire was erected with clock and bell in belfry, which was replaced by the present one in 1857.
When the bell was ordered Dr. Bela Farnham was one of the committee appointed to see it cast and he threw into the melting pot nineteen Spanish silver dollars, to give the bell a silvery tonc. The first year it was hung it announced the death of Washington, and of Lincoln in 1865. Previous to this bell the drum was used to call citizens to town meeting and church. Deacon Joshua Austin was chosen first drummer, and the society by formal vote desired him to beat the drum from Chidsey's Hill to Goodsell's Hill .- Sce Dodd, East Haven Register.
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ELEVATIONS
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( Polyromac Projection)
Scale 20600
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GOVERNOR THEOPHILUS EATON.
As Governor Theophilus Eaton was a prime mover in the settlement of the Quinnipiack [New Haven] Region, which he explored in the early autumn after the arrival of his Colonists from London, at Boston, June 26th, 1637, it is eminently fitting to here mention his family and antecedents.
This family took its name from the hundredth of Eaton in the County Cheshire, and we may here note the fact that the chief representation of the name now is in Eaton Hall, the princely seat of the Duke of Westminster.
One of the several Cheshire families that have borne the name of Eaton is the Great Budsworth branch, an account of which we find in Ormsrood's Cheshire .* A certain Robert Eaton shortly after the dissolution of the monasteries purchased an estate here, and in the will of the Rev. Richard Eaton, 1616, property is mentioned that he bought of John Eaton, of Sandyway, which he gives to wife Elizabeth, the mother of Theophilus Eaton, and it would seem that this property is the Pole and descended to Theophilus Eaton the Second, who went first to New England with his parents and returned after his father's death to England, and settled at Dublin, Ireland, where he died in 1668, and his son John Eaton, of Ireland, sold the same to Geo. Eaton of the Pole, in this parish, a direct ancestor through a female of the present possessor.
Of this John Eaton we have no record and suppose that he died without issue. His sister, Anne Eaton, was wife of Thomas Mannsell, Esq., of Macollop Castle, Ireland, a Colonel in the army, and for his loyalty to the Royal Cause in 1649, was granted lands in the counties of Waterford and Galway and liberties of Limerick, which latter grant remains in the family. In this Maunsell family the names Theophilus and Eaton appear as Christian names for several generations.
The Rev. Richard Eaton, vicar of Great Budsworth from 1561 to 1591, was no doubt a scion of a family of this branch which from time immemorial were seated at Eaton in the same county.
He was succeeded a few years after this date, Aug. 3rd, 1604, by another Richard Eaton, D. B., and he Jan. 20th, 1616, by John Ley. The last Richard Eaton was a Presbyter of Litchfield in 1607, and according to his will dated January 11th, 1616, and sealed the 12th of July of the same year, was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury [8 Weldon] June 14th, 1616, by eldest son Theophilus Eaton, Executor. In this will the Reverend Richard Eaton mentions two tenements which he bought of John Eaton of Sandiway (who was perhaps a kinsman) in the hamlet of Seaven Oaks called Pow House and Poos House, and other tenements occupied by Thomas Whittly and Brothwick House in Over Wheatley, also a piece of land in Barrow Lane in Sandiway in the Parish of Great Budsworth, which he gave to his wife Elizabeth for life. He also orders certain premises in Over Wheatley to be sold and the proceeds to be distributed as follows: One third to his wife and two thirds to his children and to be divided among them equally, viz : Elizabeth, Hannah, John, Samuel, Thomas, Frances, Nathaniel and Johnathan and to his eldest son Theophilus Eaton, whom he makes executor, he gives the aforesaid two houses Pow House and Poos House after his wife's death; and his three daughters, Elizabeth, Hannaht and Frances, are to have their portion at marriage.
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