An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it, Part 19

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1252

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Meriden > An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it > Part 19

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).

In Memory of Mrs. Sarah Wife of Mr. John Yale Who died July 2nd 1774 in ye 84th year of her Age.

In Memory of Mrs Eunice Consort of Mr. John Yale late Consort to Capt. John Couch, Who died March 5th A. D. 1800 AE. 71 years Surviving friends altho you mourn Let this console I shall return The righteous Judge can by his word Bring me triumphing with the Lord.

Mr. John Yale died Aug. 8, 1833 AE. 76 Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord Rev. xiv. 13.

Betsey Wife of John Yale

Ann Yale Daughter of John & Betsey Yale Died Dec. 21, 1828 AE. 21

The sweet remembrance of the just Shall flourish when they sleep in dust.

Mr. Jonathan Yale died Feb. 3ª 1832 in the 39th. year of his age

Partner & friends a long farewell Oh be prepared with God to dwell.

206

A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

Sacred to the Memory of Mr. Jonathan Yale Who died Nov. 23 1823 in his 77 year His exemplary Life was a testi mony to the power of excellence of that religion which he early professed & his death an evidence of those consolations & hope which it can alone inspire.

In Memory of Esther wid. of Jonathan Yale who died Oct. 12, 1825. Aet. 74 She honoured a christian profession by a pious life & liberality toward the poor and the church of Christ.

In Memory of Mrs. Polly Wife of Mr. Levi Yale Daugh. of Joel & Esther Yale who died July 13th A. D. 1810 AE. 20 years.

In Memory of Mr Levi Yale he died Novbr 17th 1772 in ye 28th year of his Age.

In Memory of Mary Yale Who died Nov. 21, 1837 Aged 27 years

Miss Esther Yale died Aug. 24 A. D. 1825 Aet. 24.

In Memory of Deac. Nathaniel Yale who departed this life Dec. 12, 1814 AE. 62 The grave is honor'd where the Christian lies Beyond the Skies Immortality

In Memory of Mrs. Anna Yale wife of Mr. Noah Yale died Sept. 8th 1809 in her 84th years

In Memory of Hannah Wife of Dea. Nathaniel Yale Who died Feb. 28, 1847 AE. 86.

In Memory of Rebekah Daugtr of Mr. Noah & Mrs. Anna Yale She died Novbr 15th 1773 in ye 6th Year of her Age.

In Memory of Mr. Noah Yale Who died Feb. 27th. A. D. 1803 in his 80th year Tho long you live & many good days see Yet to the grave you all must follow me From dust thou art & must to dust return In silent language speaks each mouldering urn

207

EARLY HISTORY.

In Memory of Mr. Russel Yale, Who died April 28th. A. D. 1794. In the 19th. year of his Age

Behold vain youth as you pass by And think how suden you may di, Come view my grave & read my age Prepare for death while on the stage.

In Memory of Mr. Samuel Yale who died Sept. 18th A. D. 1810 AE. 48 years

Also in Memory of Mrs. Mahitabel wife of Mr. Samuel Yale who died Nov. 19th A. D. 1808 AE. 28 years.

Erected In Memory of Mrs. Eunice Yale Late Consort of Mr. Samuel Yale who died Aug. 18th A. D. 1804 in her 44th. year

My husband dear & children all Forget me not tho I am gone The way of truth dont you des pise

& Heavenly joys shall be the prise.

Our Father and Mother William Yale Died Jan. 23, 1833 AE. 49 Mary Yale Died Apr. 1, 1854 AE. 69.

Susan Silence Wife of Samuel H. Yale Died June 8 1847 Aged 26 yrs

In Memory of Selden D. Yale, Who died in the City of N. York. March 17, 1836, Aged 19 years.

Thus while the dew of his youth was so fresh upon him, he was summoned from the midst of a large circle of affectionate relations and friends. But he died in the full hope of a blessed immortality.

As sets the morning star- which goes not down behind the darkened west, nor hides obscured among the tempests of the sky. But melts away into the sight of heaven.

This monument is erected to perpetuate the memory of Silas S. Yale by his affectionate Brother Levi who departed this Life June 30, 18II AE. 26.

In Memory of Mr. John Yeamans who died Jan Ist. 1835 in his 8Ist. year and of Mrs Eunice 1.is wife who died Feb. 5, 1835 in her 76 year.

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A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

In Memory of Mrs. Selina Wife of Mr. John Yeamans Jr. who died Oct. II, 1820 Aet. 28 Also Eunice their Daugh. died Feb. 16 1817 Aet. 4 m. & 21 days.

Caroline Wife of Solomon Yeamans Died Feb. 10, 1855 Aged 39. Sarah A. their daughter died Feb. 9, 1839 aged II mo's.

" EACH IN HIS NARROW CELL FOREVER LAID,

. THE RUDE FOREFATHERS OF THE HAMLET SLEEP."

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SHOWING APPROXIMATELY THE LOCATION OF FARMS 10 ROADS - of MERIDEN IN 170_ Places on the map of town 1851 . Drawn by S. C. Pierson, Eng" from Hoto furnished by

~gro. M. Curtis_Error. This should be Aaron Lyman instead of Aaron Seymour.

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208

209

EARLY HISTORY.

CHAPTER XIII.

To faithfully and fully portray life in Meriden as it was during the eighteenth century is of course impossible ; but many facts have been gleaned from the records that at least shed light on the conditions then existing, and which will make it pos- sible for one with a little imagination to catch glimpses of the daily life of this long forgotten generation and to acquire a slight acquaintance with some of the characters that were once the central figures in this tiny community of more than a century ago.

This parish was a very isolated farming settlement-a rural suburb of Wal- lingford-one of the larger towns of the colony. Every family lived on the prod- uce of its farm, or by the proceeds of some useful trade which was secondary to the work of tilling the soil. There was no great difference between the various families in the value of their possessions. There was not much wealth in the hands of any one man, neither was any person very poor, except he were some poor un- fortunate to whom nature had denied an ordinary mental equipment.

Many of the houses have been portrayed, and more will be shown later. Life in them was of a Spartan-like simplicity. There was little news from the outside world: there were no daily newspapers and very little to read of any description. Of course the Bible was read and reread, faithfully and devoutly in a manner of which we can hardly form a conception.

The early Puritan read the Bible to such an extent that his mind was fairly Judaized as some one has expressed it, and his successor of the eighteenth century for want of other material was nearly as faithful in his devotion to its sacred pages.

The few presses in the colony were always busy printing the sermons of dif- ferent eminent preachers, which were widely circulated and read. Parson Hall delivered a sermon on August 10, 1765, entitled "A Saving Faith Scripturally Ex- plained" that was afterwards published, and a copy dug out of the rubbish of an old Meriden attic, where it had slumbered in an ancient pelt covered trunk for at least seventy-five years, bears the marks of most diligent reading. Its 56 pages are stained and worn with constant use. Beside it was a Bible in the same condition. They are silent witnesses of the dearth of reading material in those days of long ago.

The annual almanac was a noteworthy event, and it was read diligently, used as a farmer's log book, and by some the weather predictions were implicity be- lieved. About the only book for children was the New England Primer. Out- 14

210

A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

side of the school books it was almost their sole mental pabulum and stimulus.1 Even when the library was established in Meriden in 1796, the list of books in its catalogue has hardly a single inviting title. Truly it was a time of literary famine.

All the dwellings in Meriden were farm houses; there was no village street where could be found the homes of those who had accumulated sufficient wealth to indulge in a dignified architectural representation of their position and taste. Meriden houses were plain to severity. There was little or no attempt at orna- mentation on the exterior. Inside there was frequently to be found some good paneling and wainscoting, or a handsome mantel, or a quaint and pleasing corner cupboard. On every house the clapboards were nailed directly to the studding, and in the earliest there was no plaster on the inside of the outside walls, boards being used in its place.

Such houses were comfortable enough in summer ; but think what the condi- tion must have been in winter! Of course, the cold of the rooms was tempered by the huge fires maintained on the ample hearths. But as such fires only rad- iate heat as they do light, one part of the body would be roasted, while over the

1 The writer has a little book entitled "The School of Good Manners," printed in New London in 1754 by T. & J. Green. It was designed for the instruction of children and this copy has been well thumbed. A picture of the times is presented in the following extracts : "Make a Bow always when you come Home and be immediately uncoverd"; "Never Sit in the Presence of Thy Parents without bidding, tho' no Stranger be present." "Never speak to thy Parents without some Title of Respect, viz. Sir, Madam, &c." "Sit not down at Table till thou art bidden by thy Parents." "Speak not at the Table." "Bite not thy Bread, but break it; but not with slovenly Fingers nor with the same where- with thou takest up thy Meat." Apparently there were no forks.

There was another book, widely circulated in N. E. entitled "The Day of Doom," by Michael Wig- glesworth. Tyler (in his History of American Literature) says "its pages were assigned in course to little children, to be learned by heart, along with the catechism." The pictures of the torments of hell are most graphic and it is scarcely conceivable that such a book should have been put in the hands of children at the impressionable age. At the last judgment the words spoken to unbaptized children are as follows :

"You sinners are ; and such a share As sinners, may expect, Such you shall have, for I do save None but mine own elect. Yet to compare your sin with their Who lived a longer time, I do confess yours is much less Though every sin's a crime.

A crime it is ; therefore in bliss

You may not hope to dwell ; But unto you I shall allow The easiest room in hell."

The torments of those in hell are thus scorchingly described :

With iron bands they bind their hands And cursed feet together ;

And cast them all, both great and small, Into that lake forever ; Where day and night, without respite, They wail and cry and howl, For torturing pain which they sustain, In body and in soul.

For day and night, in their despite Their torment's smoke ascendeth ;

Their pain and grief have no relief, Their anguish never endeth.

There must they live and never die

Though dying every day,

There must they, dying, ever live, And not consume away.

This milk for babes and intellectual stimulus for adults, was absorbed down to the beginning of the last century.

21I

EARLY HISTORY.

other, the drafts generated by the huge fires would play an accompaniment to Jack Frost outside. If this was the lot of one in the sitting room or kitchen, it is easy to imagine the situation in a bed room and to understand the use for warming pans and feather beds. They were absolute necessities if one did not wish to freeze to death.

Of course, no water could be kept in a chamber in such a frigid temperature, and as there were no bathrooms or places of ablution except in the kitchen, the habits of personal cleanliness to which all are accustomed to-day must have been almost wholly lacking. One will look in vain in the ancient inventories for such items as washbowls and pitchers. There was now and then such an article as a pewter or an earthen bowl, but water was not considered the necessity it is deemed to-day. Even at a much later date when our forbears had begun to use the earthen ware bowl and pitcher the diminutive size is a confession, that even in warm weather at that date, the maxim of Lord Bacon that "Cleanliness of body was ever deemed to proceed from a due reverence to God" was more honored in the breach than in the observance.

There was certainly an abundance of food of various kinds, but fresh meat could only be had when a "butchering" took place, and every farmer was accus- tomed in the fall to salt down a hog or a side of beef for use during the long winter months. Poultry there was in plenty, and eggs, milk, butter and cheese, and veg- etables of various kinds. But the cooking can hardly have been of a nature to tempt the modern appetite.

Game must have been in abundance at first, but even as long ago as 1760 there was a law in force on the colonial statute book regulating the killing of deer, and forbidding it each year between the first day of January and the first day of August, under a penalty of four pounds for every offense. In several cases the writer has noticed in the ancient inventories the mention of wild pigeon nets, showing that our ancestors were prepared to take advantage of the great flights of pigeons that annually took place, and to have a great feast of these toothsome birds, besides using the feathers for beds and pillows.1

Troublesome game was more abundant than deer. In the issue of the New London Gazette Oct. 10, 1766, appears a letter from Hartford saying, "There are the greatest number of bears come down among the towns that ever was known ; they destroy great quantities of Indian corn and make great havoc among the sheep and swine. Last Tuesday morning a large He Bear was discovered in an inclosure opposite the Treasurers and being pursued he took to the Main street." etc., etc. "In the evening he was roasted whole and a large company sup'd on him."

1 Trumbull's History of Conn. Vol. I., p. 20, ed. 1898, says: "There were such incredible numbers of pigeons in New England, when the English became first acquainted with it, as filled them with a kind of astonishment. Such numerous and extensive flocks would be seen flying for some hours, in the morn- ing, that they would obscure the light." This continued until well into the eighteenth century.

212

A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

Again, on Feb. 2, 1767, a Hartford letter says in same newspaper, "One night last week a panther killed nine sheep in a yard at Windsor." When such things could happen in towns as large as these it can easily be imagined how plentiful game was about Meriden. A bounty was paid for all troublesome game de- stroyed ; notably wolves. On one occasion Thomas Yale killed a she wolf which was about to litter. The town voted to pay the bounty for the old wolf but balked at the "young wolves that were in the belly of the wolf he killed."1

These illustrations of the primitive conditions then existing might be multiplied by accounts of the household work of the women, in weaving the wool into gar- ments, and the flax into linen for sheets and undergarments ; of home-made soap and candles ; and of the various domestic makeshifts for what is now to be pur- chased ready made at any store. But enough has been written to make us realize the truth of the statement made by Henry Adams in his History of the United States, saying that "neither their houses, their clothing, their food and drink, their agricultural tools and methods, their stock, nor their habits were so greatly al- tered or improved by time that the eorls and ceorls of Offa and Egbert would have found much difficulty in accommodating their lives to that of their descendants of the eighteenth century."2

All worked with their hands, either at farming or in following some useful trade such as that of a blacksmith, a carpenter, a shoemaker, or a tanner. Most of the clothing was homespun, woven at home by the women, as well as made up into suits and gowns by them.

It was common to apprentice young boys to a neighbor to learn a trade, and the papers and documents drawn up and executed on such occasions were of a very formal and binding nature. Daniel Hough, who lived at the corner of Curtis and Ann streets, was a blacksmith and nail maker.

In 1746 his uncle, William Hough, the doctor, whose house still stands in Wal- nut Grove cemetery, placed his son, William, with Daniel, to learn the trade. The following is a copy of the document that was executed at the time :

"This Indenture made this twenty-fourth day of March in the nineteenth year of the Reign of King George ye Second Annoq. Domini 1746. Between William Hough of Meriden in Wallingford in New Haven County in Connecticut Colony

1 A gentleman who was a boy in Meriden in 1830, not long ago wrote as follows: It may interest some of your sportsmen to know that in 1830 the streams all the way from Black Pond to the "Corner" were the habitat of great numbers of speckled trout, and three-pounders have been taken from Pratts- ville pond by a boy with a short pole, a piece of twine, and a common hook baited with a worm. I have seen Sherman Lawrence about 1830, carrying a string of trout of large size, which he had caught with the primitive gear of that day, in the stream just above the bridge at the "Corner."

Lovers of the gentle art of Izaak Walton would have found a paradise in this territory during the eighteenth century ; but it is doubtful if trout were as highly esteemed then as they are to-day. The writer has heard second-hand from one who was a boy then, that the streams were so full of trout that no effort was required to catch them.

2 Vol I., pp. 16-17.

213

EARLY HISTORY.

in New England & his son William Hough on the one part and Daniel Hough of sd Meriden in County & Colony aforesd Blacksmith & Nailer, on the other part witnesseth

That the sd William Hough minor by & with the advice & consent of his father doth Hereby bind and put out Himself unto the sd Daniel Hough as an apprentice to Serve for the full space of six years to be compleated from the twenty-fourth day of this Instant March, During all which term of time the sd apprentice his sd Master & Mistress shall faithfully serve, their Secrets keep and all their Lawful Commands obey : During sd term the sd apprentice shall not fornication committ nor Matrimony Contract, neither shall he spend his time in idleness, nor in any other unlawful way during all sd term, neither shall He purloin his sd Masters Es- tate, nor do any Rong thereunto, nor suffer it to be done by others without due in- formation thereof, nor absent himself from his sd master's service during all sd term : But shall do His Honest Endeavour to promote his Master's Interest & his sd Master & Mistress shall faithfully Serve as an apprentice ought to do During all sd term.

And the sd Daniel Hough doth Hereby bind and oblige Himself unto the sd apprentice that he will teach & instruct him or cause Him to be well taught and learnt in the art & mystery of a Blacksmith and also of a Nailer and teach and instruct him in writing and cyphering so far as to be able to keep a Book of ac- compts, and that he will well provide for the sd apprentice suitable Meat Drink ap- parel washing & lodging Both in Sickness & Health During all sd term. And at the end of sd term, that he will Dismiss the sd apprentice with two Good Suits of apparel to all parts of his Body the one for work Days & the other for holy days. In witness whereof the partys Have Hereunto interchangeably set Hands & Seals the Day & Date first mentioned.

Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of Theophilus Hall Hannah Hall

William Hough Will hough Daniel Hough"

Whether the terms of this indenture were faithfully kept we do not know ; per- haps not, for on Dec. 16 of the following year Daniel sued Dr. Hough and attached his real estate in Meriden. Wm. Hough, Jr., afterwards carried on the blacksmith business in Rice's Farms in a shop near his home. These apprentices sometimes caused their masters trouble and now and then ran away. The following adver- tisement is from a New Haven newspaper :

"Run away from the subscriber, on Tuesday, the 4th inst. Sept. an apprentice by the name of Cull Malory, about 20 years old. 5 feet high, light complexion. Whoever will return said boy shall receive one cent reward and no charges. All persons are forbid harboring or trusting said boy on penalty of the law.

Joseph Twiss."

S 1

214

A CENTURY OF MERIDEN.

Evidently the notice was for the purpose of disclaiming all responsibility for bills the boy might contract rather than to get him back. Joseph Twiss lived on Colony street in the old Robert Collins place.

Naturally the first industry to locate in Meriden, other than farming and some of the minor crafts such as shoemaking and blacksmithing, was milling. The first mill of which we have a record was one owned by James Hough. On May 14th, 1730, he bought of the Way family two acres in the "bend of the Harbor where it was most convenient to build a saw mill."1

The "bend" was the name given to that part of Harbor brook where it changes from a northerly course and bends towards the southwest. Very shortly a grist mill was added and the old records sometimes mention one and sometimes the other.

James Hough was the son of Samuel, who was proprietor of a mill somewhere in the vicinity of Spruce Glen or Gutter, just over the Wallingford line. Samuel in his will dated in 1714 mentions the mill and gives it to his grandson Samuel who afterwards sold it to his father James, so that James at one time owned two mills.

When Wall street was laid out in 1739 it terminated at Hough's Mills, accord- ing to the records, joining the road leading to Middletown. These saw and grist mills continued in possession of James and his son Phineas, during the greater part of the eighteenth century.

The first outsider to obtain an interest in the mills was Joseph Shaylor, who on May 7, 1790, bought a quarter share from the heirs of Phineas Hough. His venture was not successful for a little later he was forced out on an execution for debt. Then Joel Mix and Jonathan Collins became part owners. On Dec. 15, 1796, James Baldwin obtained a quarter interest in the saw mill, and the year previous Titus Brockett bought all rights in the grist mill, so that for a term of years it was known as Brockett's mill. James Baldwin eventually obtained both mills and also bought the James Hough homestead now owned by Gardner Rey- nolds. The mill, as every one knows, is still Baldwin property. That the saw and grist mills were contiguous is a natural inference, but just where each was located it is impossible to tell for the present mill is modern and so is the dam. Some thirty-five years ago when a new dam was being built it was swept away by a freshet ; the result was a flood that inundated that section then known as West Meriden.2

There was another Hough mill in the town, still known by that name. It is located in the extreme western part on the Quinnipiac river-almost in the town of Cheshire. The first mention of this property that the writer has been able to

1 Wallingford land records Vol. VI., p. 329.

2 In 1807 Samuel and William Yale bought a right in the saw mill which they continued to own for a few years.

215

EARLY HISTORY.

discover was made in the year 1776, and then incidentally in the transfer of a piece of real estate near it. Probably the mill was established much earlier than this date.

It was known as the Ephraim Hough1 mill and was used both for sawing logs and grinding grain. The illustration from a photograph taken twenty years ago, shows a building that is evidently quite ancient and may be the original grist mill. There is a tradition that corn was here ground and then carted to New Haven to be shipped to the West Indies. It is said that spoons were once manufactured in the old building. Certain it is that this mill and the vicinity was once a very busy place and the center of more trade than was then carried on in Meriden.

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An historic record and pictorial description of the town of Meriden, Connecticut and men who have made it, Part 19

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co. Number of Pages: 1252

Author: Gillespie, Charles Bancroft, 1865-1915; Curtis, George Munson
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Meriden, Conn. Journal publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1252