USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Bethany > Bethany and its hills > Part 3
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At this juncture a door from the room above opened. and a voice cried out, "I've come to tell you that you had better take care of yourselves. There is a party of men coming up the road vonder that I suspect are looking for you. There are Mr. Judd and two or three of his sons, Reuben and Daniel Williams. Sam Hickox, Jude Hoadley, and a dozen more. Some are on horse- back and some afoot."
Among those on horseback were "Dr. Jesse Carrington and Mr. Isaac Hotchkiss from Bethany." It seems they cluded their pursuers, and when they thought themselves out of danger were captured at last, and the young captive restored to his family. Although his health was impaired and his hands, which were frozen, were crippled for life, the author states "he married Mabel Hotchkiss ( daughter of Captain Gideon), in September, 1785, who died in 1799, after which he married again. He died February 21, 1823, at the age of fifty-three."
The Hezekiah Thomas Hotel is still standing, or the front part of it.
Mr. Thomas taught the district school at the center, after the town had built a schoolhouse midway between the old church and the new one. Mr. Thomas bought the old schoolhouse. which had been built by the Amity Parish in 1750. It was two stories in height. The second story was a Masonic hall. It was near the old church, and drawn across the hill by several yoke of oxen and placed so near the new church that one could hear the music in summer time.
He built a new front, Colonel Alvan Sperry being the builder. The old hall served as town hall and the first floor as a dining hall. He also kept the postoffice, which was an inducement for the churchgoers to congregate on Sunday, between the morn- ing and evening services, to get their mail, and, as Rev. Israel P. Warren said :
"It is not to be wondered at that under the circumstances the gathering of all the people on the Sabbath for public worship
BETHANY AND ITS HIIL.L.S.
served, to a large extent, as the occasion for telling and hearing news, for the delivery of letters and messages and the inter- change of those friendly greetings and courtesies which are so necessary to the very existence of society. If, as our okl people tell us, there is a relative falling off in church attendance in modern times, the reason may in part be found in the greater facilities now enjoyed for intercommunication with the world."
Seventy years ago the postage on a letter from Connecticut to Ohio was twenty-five cents, paid by the receiver; now it is two cents, paid by the sender, and through the system of rural delivery it is left at one's own door daily in the country to all outside the mile limit ( 1904).
Postage stamps were first used in the United States in 1847.
The postoffice system was first established in Connecticut in 1603. by special authority from the king. The mail went through the colony from Boston to New York "once every week." The postage from Boston to Hartford was od.
The first steamboat from New York to New Haven, March 21. 1815.
The first cars from New Haven to New York. December 20. 1848.
The first friction matches used. 1820.
Mr. Thomas had a shop where he manufactured pocketbooks. and as there were no sewing machines at that date he sent them out to be stitched, from which some of the farmer's wives and daughters picked up quite a little pin money. He married Mar- garet Stephens about 1820. Children: Sereno, married Miss Candee. He was conductor on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad many years. Henry was a noted thutist. Ellen married John B. Hotchkiss, who was associated with J. B. Carrington of the New Haven Journal and Courier several years. Hezekiah studied for the ministry and died young. David, when a lad, was fond of climbing. A fall from a sprightly colt resulted in a broken arm, and as he preferred walking on the top of a fence. a treacherous rail caused another broken limb : and one evening while the Masons were in con- clave in Masonic Hall he, with two other lads, climbed a tree where they could get a view into the hall, and their reports of riding the goat and other antics were too ludicrous to repeat. An old Mason said: "There was nothing to be seen worth see-
THE JESSE ATWATER HOUSE.
THE OLD HEZEKIAH THOMAS HOTEL.
..
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ing. but if they could have heard they might have been edified." Later in life he learned the art of printing and became press agent for P. T. Barnum. While traveling with him he made balloon ascensions, and after Mr. Barnum's decease he settled in New Haven, where, by request, he lectured regarding his sen- sations in the clouds as an aeronaut. This was soon followed by his decease, which was greatly lamented by his friends, as he was a genial companion. His spirit, freed from its tenement of clay. could soar above the clouds, invisible to mortal eye. Fanny ( Mrs. Howard ) has been engaged in literary work many years. Celia married John Atwater of New Haven, and resides near Boston. She and Mrs. Howard are the only surviving children.
Mr. Perry owns and occupies the property now. He has removed the old hall from the rear of the house and built a town hall a few rods south. He married a daughter of Orrin and Mary (Castle) Wheeler.
One reminiscence of that old hall seems but yesterday. In April, 1840, the schools of the town united in giving an exhi- bition at Thomas's hall. There were guests from other towns. not a few from New Haven, including Yale students. When everything was in readiness for the evening performance a rap at the door of the ladies' dressing room was answered. Giles Smith was ushered in. His patrician face was ghastly white as he announced : "President Harrison is dead. and we cannot go on with this affair." After the excitement had somewhat subsided. the leading lady stepped forward and said: "Giles, who knows of this beside yourself ?" "Wilson Clark and Lucius Peck." "Go and hush it up. We cannot prevent what has happened, sad as it is. The hall is full and it is time to raise the curtain." The exhibition was given with perfect success. How many persons remember it ?
Rev. Isaac Jones married a sister of Hezekiah Thomas, and while pastor of the Episcopal Church for several years, being quite proud of his ancestor ( Lieutenant Governor William Jones, who married Hannah Eaton, daughter of Governor Theophilus Eaton), he learned that several families in the town traced to the same line. He tried in vain to arouse some enthusiasm on the subject. He was ridiculed, however, and it is not known that more than one person preserved the family 5
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record he so kindly offered. In later years, since so many patri- otic societies have been organized, inquiries have been made of the old people in regard to "Parson Jones' Genealogy," which receives the reply, "It went into one ear and out of the other."
At that date the War of the Revolution was fresh in their minds, and it is said that the first settlers of the colony studiously avoided any allusion to their ancestors in England, although some of them did preserve their family coat-of-arms in order to enable their descendants to find their relatives, if they desired. They did not realize the value of the information they could have imparted so easily.
The Heraldry ordered by New Englanders and executed by Mr. Charles Camp of York street, New Haven, which was on exhibition at St. Louis, is perfectly bewildering, so gorgeous and artistic is it. There is so much travel abroad at the present day that some tourists would like to see the homes of their fore- fathers before they came to this "barren wilderness," whether they were humble cottages or lofty castles.
In some instances the family coat-of-arms is the only source which the professional genealogist has to identify the correct line they are in search of, to avoid any humiliating mistakes.
The Thomas and Tolles families from West Haven first settled on the level plateau west of the center, where the Bethany and Woodbridge "Fairs" were held alternately for several years, attracting crowds from the city and adjacent towns. How pleasant those gatherings were; an incentive to excel in their various productions, and giving an opportunity to exchange greetings with old friends whom they seldom met except on similar occasions. Why were they abandoned? Have all the leaders passed away and left Danbury to take the cake? At a county fair held in New Haven over sixty years ago Bethany alone furnished one hundred and twenty-five yoke of oxen, and now the farm work is mostly done by horses, and there is said to be only a few yoke of oxen in the town.
Daniel: Tolles, son of Henry2 and Dorothy Thomas, daughter of Daniel", John2, John1. Daniel" married Thankful Smith, daughter of Captain Samuel, Lieutenant Samuel, George1. Samuel married Obedience, daughter of Captain George Lam- berton of the "Phantom Ship." Children of Daniel" and Thankful were: Lazarus+ married Sibyl Bellamy, daughter of
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THE BETHANY POST OFFICE.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
Samuel, Matthew2. Matthew1 ; Daniel' married Mary Hine, daughter of Joel: Lamberton+ married Abigail, daughter of Samuel and Ruth Briscoe ; Jared' was a soldier of the Revolu- tion ; Abraham' married Elizabeth - -; their daughter Lucy married Lysias Beecher, son of Captain David and Hannah ( Perkins) Beecher : children : David. Abraham ( married Caro- line, daughter of Philo Lewis of Naugatuck ), Chauncey (mar- ried Margaret Todd, daughter of Leonard), Hannah (married Charles Thomas), Harriet ( married Leverett Thomas). Eliza- beth ( married Theophilus Smith, who married her sister Eliza for second wife). Mary (married Burton Mallory of New Haven). Laura (married Mr. Hayes, and (2) Mr. Comer of Alabama ).
Thankful+ married Daniel Sanford : Desire+ married Abra- ham Beecher : Mary+ married Noah Thomas.
Daniel. Children : Horace" married Polly, daughter of Jesse and Sarah (Lines) Beecher : Aurelia married Lucien Baldwin ; Samantha married Henry Carrington : Mary married Milo Beecher : Eliza married Wales Perkins: Curtiss married : Isaac" married Maria Buckingham. He was a fine scholar. He taught a high school in Thomas Hall, Bethany, also in other towns, which were well patronized. Later he was in the mercantile business. His son. Colonel Fremont W. (one of eight children) was a member of the Legislature from Naugatuck in 1880 and, like his father, is an active business man, and has held several of the highest offices of the town.
William French ( says the History of Derby) came in the Defence from London in 1635 with his wife Elizabeth, his son Francis, and five other children. William French was one of the original settlers of the beautiful town of Billerica, where he (lied, aged seventy-four, having had ten children born in America. He was the author of the famous tract. "Strength Out of Weakness," published in London and reprinted by the Boston Historical Society. He held many offices of trust. His son Francis came to Milford in 1650, settled in 1654, being the third or fourth family in the plantation. He married Lydia Bunnell of Milford. They had nine children : Francis, Jr., mar- ried Anna Bowers. He was high sheriff of the town. Their son Israel married Sarah Loveland. Their son David, born January 30. 1742, married Lois Lines of Bethany, where he removed.
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Their children were: David. Adonijah. Luther (of Beacon Hill ). Asaph. Harry, Sarah, Hannah, Dorcas. Hepsibah, Lydia, Lois.
Adonijah was a justice of the peace and representative of Woodbridge (now Bethany). David French, Esq., son of Israel, was a patriot of the Revolution, going to Boston after the battle of Bunker Hill to assist in resisting the encroachments of despotism. He was trial justice many years. He repre- sented the town in the General Assembly twenty successive years. He was for many years a deacon of the First Congre- gational Church of Bethany. under the Rev. Stephen Hawley. He commanded much respect and influence as a public speaker. having a strong voice and expressing his opinions with frank- ness, energy and confidence. He died August 4. 1821, aged eighty.
Asaph married a sister of Captain Jesse Beecher, had a large family, removed to Prospect, where he died. and left descendant a granddaughter. Mrs. Ford of Westville, now living. aged seventy-nine.
Harry remained at the homestead. about a mile west of the center, where he built a house which is in a good condition at this date. He was a man of power and stability. He married Their only child. Jane, was a leader in society, like her father. While teaching school in Cheshire, she met Justus Peck, whom she married. He was born in 1809. He was son of Asa". John". Samuel+. John", John2. Deacon William Peck first settler. He was an active business man and ran the first boat on the Farmington canal. He removed to Bethany in 1843. after the decease of Mr. French, and occu- pied the homestead. He held prominent public offices, as his son Harry is doing at the present time.
Marietta married Mr. Francis and died young. Charlotte married Henry M. Bigelow of New Haven. After his decease she married Samuel R. Woodward, a relative of Rev. Frederic and Dr. Asa. He holds the highest office of the town. Chil- dren are : Daisy E., Florence E. and Sherman P. They reside at the homestead, which is one of the finest locations in the town, being elevated and level, with fine meadows, etc. Jack Frost lingers late outside. On the 26th of October, when the cosmos were black and ruined in the city, they were nodding
RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL R. WOODWARD. Built by Harry French.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
their gay blossoms gracefully from the Woodward lawns to the passers-by.
Rev. Frederic B. Woodward, M.D., came to Bethany in 1846 from Watertown and was pastor of Christ Church two years. After an absence of fourteen years he returned and remained four years. He was a superior man and greathy beloved. He had an interesting family. His daughter Emeline was soprano
HARRY FRENCH. From an old Daguerreotype.
soloist in St. Paul's Church, New Haven, at one time Katherine married and died young. His only son, Frederic. went to Florida and had an orange grove. His brother. Dr. Asa, graduated at Yale in 1844, and in 1845 bought the Esquire John Thomas property on Lebanon Hill and built a house on the site of the one which was burned when Dr. Spencer lost his life. Dr. Woodward had an extensive practice, and died in 1881. His son Edward studied medicine and practiced in Bethany in 1861. afterwards settling in Bristol.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
Dr. Asa built another house later, where he resided, while his son George occupied the other and managed the farm. He was an active man and missed especially in the Episcopal Church.
George Driver was born in Bethany and spent his school days there. In later years he has traveled across this continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific six times, has seen the snow-capped peaks of the great mountains, the great Salt Lake and the vast
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MRS. JANE ( FRENCH ) PECK.
prairies, but he was never on "Beacon Cap" in his native town. He attempted the ascent once with a party of twelve, and when within a half mile they were driven back by an approaching thunder shower to find shelter in a farmhouse near. He says, however, that if he lives until spring he intends to make another effort to reach that romantic rock. If he succeeds probably he will be surprised to see the beauty of the "amphitheater" of the town, which he never before was able to appreciate. His father, Darius Driver, a quiet, well-informed, much respected farmer,
THE REV. FREDERIC B. WOODWARD, MED
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
lived all his life in the town until the age of ninety, when he would walk to the city, ten miles, not from necessity, but because he liked the exercise : he had rented his farm and his children had homes in the city. He lived to be nearly ninety-five. Does not that give evidence of a healthy climate? Scores have lived past the age of ninety in the town. Mrs. Leonard Todd was ninety-eight, and there was one centenarian, Mrs. Kane or Cain. who was one hundred and fifteen, and the neighbors said she seemed to enjoy a meal of corn meal mush or hasty pudding with as keen a relish as an epicure would "quail on toast." She finally withered and dropped off like an autumn leaf.
The Hotchkiss family were among the pioneers of the town of Bethany, descending from Samuel, who married Elizabeth Cloverly in 1663. Some of the name settled in Cheshire, and later went up through the mountain road which leads to the Litchfield turnpike. Solomon and Philo lived near the Prospect line, and others went higher still and settled on Prospect Hill. It is said that David Hotchkiss gave the name to the town, which was so appropriate. Tradition says also that there was an inn kept by a Mr. Hotchkiss in the old house which was standing seventy years ago at the corner of the crossroad. called the "pine tree corner."
Major Hotchkiss lived on the turnpike south of the Perkins tavern. Children : Harriet, Harlowe. Adna. and Emily, all went to other towns and the old house is in ruins.
Thaddeus located near the Methodist Church and had one son. Dr. Sterne Hotchkiss, whose name recalls an entertainment given at Theophilus Smith's hall nearly seventy years ago. when. a schoolgirl, we were permitted to sit in a quiet corner and gaze with admiration and awe upon the galaxy of beauty and intellect gathered there. Among them were Giles Smith, Wales Peck and Dr. Sterne Hotchkiss, the Smith and Beecher and Tuttle girls, and others too numerous to mention. Was ever a foreign court graced with more refinement and culture ? Some of the ladies were graduates of Wilbraham and some of the gentlemen were graduates of Yale.
Hiram Hotchkiss, located near the center, was son of Silas. Joseph4, Isaac". Joshua2, Sammel. He married Children: one daughter and three sons. Wales was a portrait painter in New Haven many years.
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Clark Hotchkiss, born in Bethany in 1803, was son of Isaac and Elizabeth ( Clark ) Hotchkiss. He married Caroline A. Sperry. Children : Martha, Mary, Isaac, Sarah, Fanny, Julia, Anna and Arthur. Anna married Arian Rosha. Children : Clifton and Eugene. Mr. and Mrs. Hotchkiss were members of the Congregational Church sixty-two years.
Harvey and Eber Hotchkiss located on the west side of Lebanon Hill. Harvey married Sarah AAlling. Children : Solo- mon, Sheldon. Beecher, Julius, Theodore, Harpin, Samantha, Sarah Finette and Margaret. Only one of that large and highly respected family remains in the town, a son of Harpin. There are many descendants in New Haven.
Eber Hotchkiss married Thirza Driver. Children : Dilazon, Gracia. Samantha, Jane, Samuel, Eber and Hooker. Dilazon married a sister of William Clark and has one son, Frederic. who married Miss Crofton and resides in Woodbridge.
Harley Hotchkiss married a Buckingham. His son Andrew was a fine school teacher. His house was burned and his mother and younger daughter were consumed in the flames, another sad calamity of that nature which gives a shock to the entire town.
Stephen Hotchkiss lived near the Harry French place, where Jared built a new house later, and married Amy French, daughter of Asaph. His widow still resides there, past ninety years of age, and said to be quite active. George Hotchkiss lived east of the center. He married Miss Sperry. One son, Erban, lives in New Haven and married Elizabeth Crabtree. Their two daughters were teachers and are married to professors in Massachusetts.
THE GEORGE HOTCHKISS HOUSE.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
INTERESTING NOTES
REGARDING THE OLD TOWN OF BETHANY.
( Published in the New Haven Journal and Courier in 1901. without signature. )
AAs one driving from New Haven, through Bethany, over what is termed the "Center" or "Upper road." comes to the Episcopal and Congregational churches, which, standing upon high ground. are quite conspicuous, and which are, with the postoffice and Perry's Hall, objects that particularly serve to determine the "Center" of the small town of Bethany, he is apt to notice the freshness and purity of the air: the peaceful serenity which rests upon the rural community ; the varied and beautiful landscape : the lowing of the cattle, "as the plowman homeward plods his weary way," and if he chances to look behind him, the fine view to be had of Long Island and the Sound. That these things are noticeable is due to the fact that. being situated up among the hills where the streams have their source, but little water power has been available, and so the place has escaped the noise and confusion, the pollution of the air and the water which are attendant upon the establishment of large manufactories, which, although of great benefit to a com- munity, tend in many cases to lower the moral and intellectual status of a neighborhood, and to detract from it in the eyes of those who might otherwise desire to reside in it.
That the hills of Bethany are not already dotted with more summer homes owned by residents of New Haven is unquestion- ably due to the fact that in the past poor roads and no con- venient railroad facilities have been discouraging factors. together with the limited knowledge thus afforded of the beautiful bilis and magnificent views to be had from some of them. This obstacle is already being overcome in a marked degree by the availment by the town, and also by the sister town of Woodbridge, of the state law, by which the roads leading from New Haven to the Woodbridge and Bethany hills are being improved.
C
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
If the traveler goes north from the churches about one-eighth of a mile he will come to a large and somewhat weather-beaten old house situated on the farther right hand corner, made by the road running between Beacon Falls and Mount Carmel. Unless he is observing by nature. he will see nothing that will particularly attract his attention unless it be the three large chimneys which project above the roof and which, with the size of the structure, tend to give it an air of majesty. or he may note the many old-fashioned windows which dot its sides. But looking closer. he will observe that the cornice. though not prominent nor imposing, but narrow and old-fashioned. shows a degree of workmanship and taste which speaks well for the intellect and pocket-book of its long ago builder. He will notice that the underpinning is of fine cut sandstone, seldom to be found under houses built at the time : and should he chance to pass by when the front door is open on a summer afternoon, he would undoubtedly be surprised to see a large hall extending from front to rear of the main house, with handsome arches overhead.
During the past winter the writer chanced to call at this old homestead and was struck with a sense of its almost ancient grandeur. for it seems to have been what in its day might have been called an "elegant residence." Ever since he has had a feeling of desire to know about it and its history, and recently having had an opportunity to look it over from top to bottom and make some inquiries, he gladly availed himself of the oppor- tunity. Knowing the interest which has become general in the last few years respecting things in any way historical or repre- senting the life of our forefathers. the writer takes pleasure in penning these few lines of description of a place which other- wise might in time pass out of existence unnoticed, with the hope that the Journal and Courier may consider them of enough interest to the public to reproduce them in print. Among some of the features not already mentioned. the writer was particu- larly pleased with the south front parlor, which is about fifteen feet square, with two fancy arched alcoves at the back, with a handsome mantel and large fireplace between them. From floor to ceiling throughout the lower part of the house is a distance of over nine feet. and in several rooms the wall near the ceiling is ornamented by a handsome frieze. The writer
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
calls to mind at least eight large, light. airy rooms besides the main lower hall, upper hall and a dance hall some seventeen feet wide by thirty-six feet long. There are no less than ten large fireplaces. The writer is told that the dance hall has been used for holding church festivals, and for a time the regular town meetings. The older people delight to tell of the socials and dances that they used to attend under its hospitable roof. and it is presumable that not a few New Haven people who
THE LYSIAS BEECHER HOUSE.
read these lines may recall having at some time in their lives shared the pleasures of these past social gatherings.
What might be termed a curiosity is situated in the garret. and consists of a commodious brick smoke-house used for smoking hams or beef. It is arranged to be connected by pipe with the kitchen stove and the chimney. thus enabling the accomplishment of curing the pork and beef for the larder without an extra fire or the expenditure of unnecessary labor : a unique example of the idea expressed in the old adage. "Killing two birds with one stone."
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