USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > A statistical account of the county of Middlesex, in Connecticut > Part 10
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
There is another pond in Chester parish, on very high ground, called Shipman's Pond, which sends forth a small stream.
Deep river is said to derive its waters partly from Cedar swamp and partly from sources farther south. It empties into Connecticut river a little south of Chester river.
Fall river, (so called from its passing over some inconsidera- ble falls,) rises in the west part of Pautapoug, and unites with the Connecticut a little above Pautapoug Point.
Oyster river rises in Pequot Hill, and runs southerly into the Sound. This stream derives its name from the oysters which used to be caught near its mouth. Some are taken there now and also clams. On this stream Mr. Francis Bushnell erected a corn-mill in 1662, the first erected in the town; for which the proprietors gave him a farm, on condition that a mill should be kept there continually, and that the inhabitants should have equal privileges in regard to grinding : and the farm is held by his descendants on these conditions at the present time.
Pochaug river rises in the west part of Pautapoug, and takes a southern direction through the center of Westbrook, and empties into Westbrook harbour. This receives near its mouth, Menun- ketesuck river, whose head waters are in the edge of Haddam, whence it passes through the parish of North Killingworth, part of the parish of Killingworth, and then turns eastward into Westbrook.
Westbrook harbour serves as an indifferent shelter for small vessels. It formerly furnished a considerable shad fishery : but in latter years the shad have become scarce. Shell fish are caught in the harbour for the use of the inhabitants, and are occasion- ally carried to the neighbouring places.
A quarry of Steatite or Soap stone exists in Pautapoug, half a mile north of the Congregational meeting-house. This appears to have been known to the Indians, as pots and mortars made of this stone have been found in their graves on the Point, and in fields in the neighbourhood. Thirty or forty years since, it was procur- ed by the owners of a furnace in Killingworth, for the purpose of making an oven for baking steel. In 1815, some gentlemen obtained a lease of the quarry for 20 years, got out fifty tons of
91
Town of Saybrook.
the stone and sent it to New-York; where upon examination, it was declared to possess durable qualities, and to be susceptible of a fine polish, but to be too hard to be extensively useful.
A quarry of Gneiss stone, resembling the quarries in Haddam, called Deep-river-Quarry, because it is in the neighbourhood of that river, was opened in 1812. This is near a cove, na- vigable for scows, half a mile from Connecticut river. Several hands have been employed in it, and it promises to be profitable.
Another quarry of a similar description was opened some years after on Mitchel's Neck. Some others were opened in the vicinity last year ; and one, two or three years ago near Ce- dar-swamp.
Several persons have been mentioned as emigrating from this town to Lyme and to Norwich. In the former, settlements be- gan about 1654, and in the latter, in 1660. The reason of the emigration to Norwich was as follows. In some of the wars be- tween Uncas, and the Narragansets, they besieged him and his men in his fort near the Thames, until their provisions were al- most exhausted. He found means of acquainting the scouts from Saybrook fort with his situation, and of apprizing them of the danger to which the English would be exposed, if the Mo- heagans were destroyed. In these circumstances, Mr. Thomas Leffingwell, an ensign at the fort, loaded a canoe with provi- sions, and under cover of the night paddled it to the Thames, and relieved him : soon after which the siege was raised. For this kindness, Uncas gave him most, if not the whole of the town- ship of Norwich. In June 1659, a formal deed was given of this township to Mr. Leffingwell, Capt. Mason, Mr. Fitch and 32 others, for which they allowed him as an additional compensa- tion about 70 pounds. The next spring, Mr. Fitch, and the greater part of his church and congregation moved to that town. Some families removed from this town to Hebron about 1704, to Salisbury about 1773 or 74, to Durham in the State of New- York about 1788, to Fairfield also in that State about 1794, and families and individuals have removed to various other places.
But one person an inhabitant of this town has ever been con- victed of a capital offence, and that was a Pequot squaw, living in the family of the Rev. Mr. Worthington of Westbrook. She murdered her own child, a bastard, by striking it on the head. It was found hid in Mr. Worthington's barn, and languished ten hours after the wound was given. Her trial was had before the Hon. Jonathan Law, chief judge, and four assistants, at a special session held in Westbrook, Nov. 15, 16 and 17, 1737, and she was executed at New-London on the 3d of May, 1738.
Another murder was committed in this town Oct. 14, 1772, by James Shields, on the person of James Johnson. Both were
12
92
Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
foreigners. Johnson had been labouring as a journeyman at the carriage-making business at Saybrook, was that day out of his time, and had crossed over into Lyme, going eastward. Here Shields met him, and after drinking freely together, enticed him back over the ferry, and in the hollow a little west of the ferry, and directly south of the stage road, murdered him, (for his money as was supposed, which consisted only of a few shillings,) by stabbing him in several places with a narrow chisel. He then stripped the body and hid it in the bushes, (where it was dis- covered nine days after,) and then went down to the sea shore, crossed to Long-Island and escaped. For another murder he was afterwards hanged at the southward, and at the gallows con- fessed his villainy in killing Johnson.
Horn and shell combs have been manufactured many years in Saybrook parish, and two or three years since were manufactur- ed at Pautapoug Point.
Williams's Ivory Comb Factory near the mouth of Fall river in Pautapoug parish was established in 1802, but did but little business till 1807. In 1816, this was united with a comb factory which was erected in 1809 on Deep river. In this united es- tablishment, more than 20 men are employed, and 50,000 dozen combs annually manufactured. The old stand on Fall river is improved for a factory of ivory buttons. In this four and some- times more workmen are employed.
On Chester river are two forges, one set up about 1790, the other in 1818.
On this stream, L'Hommedieu's Factory was erected in 1811, for making patent double podded gimlets. In this, machinery is used for cutting steel plates into pieces of proper size and length for gimlets, for double stamping and rounding them, smoothing the shank and bowls, forming the screw, and for turn- ing and perforating the handles. Twenty men have been sometimes employed, and more than 10,000 dollars worth of gim- lets manufactured in a year. In 1815, the owners procured machinery for making patent single twist augers ; and since that time have directed their attention principally to this branch of manufacture. Within about twelve months, they have made more than 8000 for the navy of the United States and some for individuals.
Shipbuilding is occasionally carried on in one yard on Say- brook Point.
This business was begun by Mr. John Tucker at Pautapoug Point about 1720, but was not extensively carried on for many years. In 1775, the ship Oliver Cromwell, of 24 guns, was built at this place by Mr. Uriah Heyden. For ten or fifteen years before the late war, from 1200 to 2000 tons of shipping were
93
Town of Saybrook.
annually launched from the Point and the yards in the neighbour- hood.
In 1740, shipbuilding was commenced in Westbrook. The yards are all on Pochaug river, one and two miles from its mouth, from which vessels are let down to the Sound. In these 1000 tons of shipping are calculated to be built annually.
This business was commenced in Chester, near the mouth of Chester Cove in 1755. More recently a few vessels have been built a mile westward : but the business in this parish is now ge- nerally discontinued.
This town has more commerce than any other town in the county excepting Middletown. It is principally coasting. Each parish has a share of trade, but most is done in Saybrook parish and in Pautapoug.
Business began to thrive at Pautapoug Point soon after the re- volutionary war. Since that time most of the buildings have been erected upon it and in the vicinity. There are now on the Point about 30 dwelling-houses and 100 within the circuit of a mile, a few merchant stores, and some mechanic shops. Besides the shipbuilding which has been just noticed, the inhabitants have had a considerable concern in navigation.
This point is 100 rods long and lies between two coves, called the North and South Coves. The buildings are principally on one street running lengthwise through it, parallel with which a street has been recently laid out. To this Point, the river is open through the winter, and it is of course, the place where vessels are frequently laid up and goods deposited, while the river is frozen over above.
It suffered much by the restrictive system, and the succeeding war, particularly by a visit from the English in April, 1814.
Vessels from the squadron blockading New-London had often gone out and cruised in the Sound. On the evening following the 7th of April two or three of these anchored off Saybrook bar. They immediately dispatched for Pautapoug, two launches, each carrying 9 or 12 pound carronades and 50 or 60 men each, and four barges, supposed to have 25 men each, under the command of Lieut. Coote, completely prepared with torches, combustibles, &c. for the enterprise which they accomplished. Before 11 o'clock they were discovered entering the mouth of the river, by the keeper of the light-house, and before 12, many of the men landed at Saybrook Point, and went into the old fort, where no force was then stationed to resist them. The distance from this place to Pautapoug Point, is between five and six miles ; but being retarded by a strong northerly wind and the fresh- et, they did not arrive there till about four o'clock, Fri- day morning, the 8th of April. The people knew nothing of
94
Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
their being in the river more than 30 minutes before they arriv- ed and took possession of the Point; and some had no know- ledge of it, before the work of conflagration was begun. Pick- et guards searched houses and stores for arms and ammunition, while the men generally were employed in setting fire to the vessels, lying in the river, at the Point, and on the stocks along the North and South Coves. About 10 o'clock, they called in their guards and proceeded down the river, with a brig, schoon- er and two sloops. But the wind shifting from the northeast to the southeast, they set fire to all these excepting the schooner, which they anchored about a mile and a quarter below the Point, where they remained till evening. Twenty-two vessels of va- rious descriptions were destroyed, and a loss occasioned, com- puted at 160,000 dollars, 60,000 of which fell on the inhabitants of Pautapoug.
When the enemy first landed, the people living on the Point and in the vicinity were in no situation to oppose them. In the course of the day, some forces collected from Pautapoug and other places west of the river; while on the east side, some collected from Lyme and New-London : but the work of de- struction was finished and the British were more than a mile down the river. The plan adopted was to oppose them on their way out, for which stations were taken on both sides. But the enemy were detained as has been stated. About sunset a field- piece was planted on a point near their resting place, which by several well directed shots, compelled them to leave the schoon- er. One of these shots killed two men and wounded a third. When night came on, it was excessively dark and no object could be seen, and they proceeded silently down the river, and arriv- ed at their vessels about 10 o'clock in the evening. Many shots were directed against them on the supposition of their being on their way, some of which struck their boats, and probably did some execution.
During the day and the evening, the lives of the Americans were not exposed; and though the British were abundantly on our coast in the course of the last war and engaged in several encounters with our men; it is worthy of remark, that no Ame- rican belonging to Saybrook or Middletown was killed, except- ing Mr. Charles Dolf, a worthy inhabitant of Saybrook Point. He lost his life Jan. 15, 1815, in retaking a sloop from the pri- vateer Boxer of Lisbon. At the same time Cyphenas Cowles, lieutenant of the privateer was killed, and five seaman were taken.
The pious people who first came to Saybrook Point, and suf- fered so much from the Indians, were instructed and comforted by the Rev. John Higginson, whose ministrations were " suita.
95
Town of Saybrook.
ble, seasonable and profitable, according to the then present dis- pensation of Providence."
Mr. Higginson, came with his father, the Rev. Francis Hig- ginson from Leicester in England in 1629, to Salem in Massa- chusetts, where his father re-settled. After labouring at Say- brook three or four years, he went to Guilford, and was one of the seven pillars of the church formed in that town in 1643; where he assisted his father-in-law, the Rev. Henry Whitfield, in the instruction of the people, both before and after the formation of the church. From the return of Mr. Whitfield to England in 1650, he was sole teacher at Guilford until 1660, when he de- termined to go to England himself and join his respected relative and friend ; and he took shipping for the purpose. But be- ing forced into Salem by contrary winds, the people there per- suaded him to settle as colleague with his father; and he was accordingly set apart to the work of the ministry in that place, on the 29th of August, in the last mentioned year, where he died Dec. 9, 1708, in the 93d year of his age, having been in the mi- nistry 72 years. "This reverend person," says Cotton Mather, " has been always valued for his useful preaching, and his holy living : besides his constant labours in the pulpit, whereby his own flock has been edified ; the whole country has by the press enjoyed some of his composures, and by his hand the compo- sures of others also, passing through the press, have been accom- panied." He wrote the attestation to the Magnalia, and among other compositions which he published, was a volume of ser- mons, dedicated to the people of Saybrook, Guilford and Salem.
The Rev. Thomas Peters succeeded Mr. Higginson at Say- brook, and after a ministry of a few years, returned to England in 1645.
Neither of the above clergymen were ordained in Saybrook, and no church was organized there until 1646, the time of the ordination of the Rev. James Fitch.
Mr. Fitch came to New-England in company with thirteen other youth, designed for the holy ministry. He spent some years at Hartford, engaged in preparatory studies. After his settlement at Saybrook, his talents drew several families from Hartford and Windsor to that town; but in 1660, agreeable to what has been related, he was induced with the greater part of his people to remove to Norwich. In that town he not only in- structed his own charge, but acquiring the knowledge of the Mo- heagan language, he instructed the Indians around him in the principles of christianity, and exerted himself to dissuade them from their savage mode of life. A very high, and it is believed, a very just character, is given of him on his monument, which will communicate all the other particulars respecting him. which
96
Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
need to be related in this work. This, translated from the latin, is as follows : " In this grave are deposited the remains of that truly reverend man, Mr. JAMES FITCH. He was born at Bok- ing, in the county of Essex in England, the 24th of December, in the year of our Lord 1622. Who, after he had been most ex- cellently taught the learned languages, came into New-England, at the age of 16 ; and then spent seven years under the instruc- tion of those very famous men, Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone. Af- terwards he discharged the pastoral office fourteen years at Say- brook. Thence he removed with the greater part of his church to Norwich ; where he spent the other years of his life in the work of the ministry. In his old age indeed, he was obliged to cease from his public labours, by reason of bodily indisposition, and at length retired to his children, in Lebanon ; where, after spending nearly half a year, he slept in Jesus, in the year 1702, on the 18th of November, in the 80th year of his age."
" He was a man, as to the smartness of his genius, the solidity of his judgment, his charity, holy labours, and every kind of pu- rity of life ; and also as to his skill and energy of preaching, in- ferior to none."
Lessened in population and wealth by the emigration to Nor- wich, Saybrook remained destitute until 1670, when the Rev. Thomas Buckingham was settled there. Mr. Buckingham was of Welsh extraction. His parents emigrated to Milford in this State in 1646, and he was born during their passage across the Atlantic. Whether he was educated privately by some of the New-England clergy, or went to Europe for an education is un- known; nor is any direct information possessed respecting his talents or character. He was one of the founders and trustees of Yale-College, and exercised a general superintendence over it in the last years of his life, as it was then located at Saybrook. He was also a moderator of the Board which adopted the Say- brook Platform in 1708. He died in 1709.
The Rev. Azariah Mather, a descendant of the Mather family, which furnished so many distinguished clergymen in the early periods of New-England, succeeded him in 1710.
Mr. Mather had been a tutor of the College in Saybrook, and had enjoyed an opportunity to become acquainted with the peo- ple during his tutorship. As a linguist he greatly excelled, and was an able divine. A sermon was published by him in latin, on being baptized for the dead. He was dismissed in 1732, and died in 1737.
The Rev. William Hart, son of the Rev. John Hart of East- Guilford, happily united the people of Saybrook, and was or- dained their pastor in 1736.
Mr. Hart was a gentleman of respectable talents, natural and
97
Town of Saybrook.
acquired, was prudent and judicious in the management of his flock, and enjoyed to an uncommon degree, through a ministry of nearly thirty-eight years, their affection and esteem. In the course of his life, he published several occasional sermons and controversial pieces. In one of these pieces, he styled the pe- culiar sentiments of Dr. Hopkins, Hopkinsianism, which gave rise to that term, which is now so prevalent in our country.
The Rev. Frederic W. Hotchkiss was ordained colleague with him in 1783, and is now his successor.
The society or parish of Pautapoug, was incorporated in May 1722, and then included the society of Chester ; but as the an- cient records of the church are destroyed, it is impossible to as- certain exactly when that was gathered.
The Rev. Abraham Nott preached to the people from the in- corporation of the society, but was not ordained until Nov. 1725. Nothing is known respecting him, except the general fact, that he was a respectable clergyman. He died in 1756.
The Rev. Stephen Holmes was constituted the pastor of Pau- tapoug by·installation, the next year. In connection with the various services of the ministry, he practised physic. He de- ceased in 1773.
The Rev. Benjamin Dunning, who had been settled in Marl- borough, a pious and worthy man, succeeded him in 1776, and died in 1785.
The Rev. Richard Ely was installed in Pautapoug, in 1786. He had been minister in North Bristol, a parish of Guilford, from June 7, 1757, until Aug. 1785. He performed public services generally, until the settlement of his colleague in 1804; soon after which he removed to Chester, and lived with his son, the late Dr. Richard Ely ; where he died in 1814, at the advanced age of 81 years.
The Rev. Aaron Hovey, the colleague of Mr. Ely, is pastor in this parish at the present time.
The incorporation of Westbrook took place in May 1724, and the church was organized June 29, 1726, with 14 members. At that time the Rev. William Worthington was set over them in the Lord.
Mr. Worthington was a man of agreeable and engaging man- ners, a worthy minister, greatly beloved by his brethren and all who knew him. He deceased in 1756, and was succeeded the next year, by the Rev. John Devotion.
In the early part of his public life, Mr. Devotion entertained an unfavourable opinion of those sentiments, which are termed Calvinistic, but was more reconciled to them before his death, which took place suddenly, in 1802, from a fit of the apoplexy. He possessed a clear understanding, and was a good scholar.
-
98
Statistical Account of Middlesex County ;
The Rev. Thomas Rich was ordained in Westbrook in 1804, and dismissed in 1810. He was afterwards settled in Columbia in this State, but now resides in Massachusetts.
The Rev. Sylvester Selden, the present minister in West- brook, was ordained in 1812.
The inhabitants of Chester were invested with parish privi- leges, in Oct. 1740, and a church was formed among them, Sept. 15, 1742.
Their first pastor was the Rev. Jared Harrison, who was or- dained at the time of the formation of the church. His connec- tion with them was dissolved, in 1751 : after which they were destitute eight years.
The Rev. Simeon Stoddard, an amiable man, grandson of the venerable Mr. Stoddard of Northampton, was ordained in Ches- ter in 1759, and died in 1765.
The Rev. Elijah Mason, who had been a settled minister in Marlborough, succeeded Mr. Stoddard in 1767, and died in 1770.
The Rev. Robert Silliman, who had preached about thirty years, in that part of the original town of Norfolk, now called New Canaan, was installed in Chester in 1772. He died in his former parish, while on a visit to his friends in 1781, having sus- tained the reputation of a faithful minister.
The late Rev. Samuel Mills, was ordained in Chester in 1786.
After leaving College, Mr. Mills was employed some time in the business of keeping school. In the revolutionary war, he went into the army in the capacity of a lieutenant of horse ; where he received a wound from a cutlass, in the back of his neck, in an engagement with the British at Philadelphia. Dur- ing his ministry, as his stipend was too small to support a nu- merous family, he usually instructed a number of youth in his own house; and thus rendered an important service to many persons in Chester and the vicinity. But his delight was in the things of the Kingdom of God. No man was more sensible of the necessity and value of religious experience, more fond of meetings for conference and prayer, or took more delight in con- versing on the doctrines of grace, revivals of religion, and the efforts recently made in Christendom for spreading the Gospel. The truths of the Bible he delivered to his people in public and private, with simplicity and plainness ; and having adorned them, by a humble, patient and prayerful life, he died in faith and hope.
The Rev. Nehemiah B. Beardsley, his successor, was ordain- ed in the beginning of 1816.
Individuals in Pautapoug had been attached to the principles of the church of England for a considerable time ; but were un- known as a society until about 1790. These have enjoyed oc-
99
Town of Saybrook.
casionally the services of Mr. Blakesley of East-Haddam, and of some other clergymen.
The Baptists, in the west part of this parish, arose as early as 1740, and were formed into a society about 1745. They have been joined by a few families from the neighbouring parishes. Asplund represents a church to have been organized among them in 1788; but it was probably organized previously to that time.
The Baptists at Pautapoug Point arose in 1805, and their church was gathered June 18, 1811, having 40 members. A few persons from the first parish in Killingworth, united with them, in July of the same year : but these held meetings by them- selves.
In the account of Haddam it was noticed, that some families in Chester belong to the Baptists in Haddam Society.
The Methodists must be considered as rising in Westbrook in 1816, though one or two families of that denomination lived there before.
The children in this town were taught in a school, kept in Say- brook parish, for many years. Schools were set up within the bounds of the other parishes as soon as they were incorporated, and probably at earlier periods. There are now in the town 19 schools, 3 of which are in Saybrook parish, 8 in Pautapong, 5 in Westbrook, and 3 in Chester. In addition to monies drawn from time to time from the treasury of the State, these schools have the benefit of a considerable fund, belonging to the inha- bitants, derived from various sources. Mr. Edward Lorey in his last will, dated June 17, 1689, gave to them 300 pounds, to be applied to the support of schooling. The Legislature, by an act passed in Oct. 1718, gave to them 50 pounds, for the same purpose, in consideration of the removal of the College. They also received another sum afterwards, accruing from the sale of Litchfield lands. A part of the legacy of Mr. Lorey was lost many years ago, by the reception of bills of credit from those who had borrowed it. The remainder was divided, in 1773 or 74, to the several parishes in the town, according to their list; and all the school-funds in the town are now given up to the parishes, to be used by them for the education of their children. Their whole amount is unknown. Pautapoug possesses $ 652 43.
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.