USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Bethany > Bethany and its hills > Part 5
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Leonard Todd was born in Bethany. November S. 1800. He was son of Ely6. Jonah5. Stephen+. Samuel. Samnel. Christo- pher1. who came from England and settled in New Haven in 1694. Leonard married Julia B. Bradley, daughter of Elam Bradley of Hamden. They celebrated their golden wedding. He died in 1876. His widow lived to the age of ninety-eight. Their children were: Grace, who married, as second wife. Rev. F. B. Woodward: Emily, married Isaac Perkins, son of Enos : Margaret. married Chauncey T. Beecher, son of Lysias: Celia. married Wales F. Dickerman : Street B .. married Sarah A. Hotchkiss, daughter of Spencer: Dwight E., married Mrs. Kate E. ( Sperry ) Bishop, daughter of Enos Sperry, and Jasper B., married Mary A., daughter of Rev. Martin Moody. Street B. represented the town in the Legislature in 1880. Jasper B. was selectman in 1888-89. He is a warden in the Episcopal Church.
The Carrington family is one of great antiquity. Sir Michael Carrington, who was a standard-bearer to Richard 1 .. was the first of whom any records have been found. His grandson. Sir William Carrington, was an officer under Edward I., 1272- 1307. Sir Edward Carrington was an officer under Edward 11 .. 1307-1327. A long list of titles-sirs, barons and viscounts -follow down to 1706.
The first of this name at New Haven on record is Dr. Peter Carrington, who appears to have been a prominent physician. He married Anna, daughter of William Wilmot. His son John. born July 10. 1692. married Deborah ( Thomas), widow of Abraham Hotchkiss, as early as the year 1732. Their son Abraham, according to the records of Center Church. New Haven, was baptized Nov. 11. 1733. The records of the Con- gregational Church of Woodbridge state that he married Rebecca Johnson November 15. 1756. The records of Con- necticut men in the War of the Revolution. "Abraham Carring- ton commands guards at Milford in 1781." His estate was
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MRS. LEONARD TODD-FIVE GENERATIONS.
Mrs. Celia Dickerman. Mrs. Fanny Davis.
Wales Davis.
George Davis.
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settled June 5, 1799. Ilis widow was living in 1808. Their son, Alling Carrington, was born in Woodbridge in 1757. He married Huldah Perkins December 24. 1781. She died Sep- tember 20, 1803, leaving one son, Nehemiah. He married as second wife, Nancy, daughter of Oliver Atwood. October 3. 1805. Their children were: Edwin, a physician in Farmington ; William, went south, where he resided until his death. He was one of the foremost merchants in Charleston and was beloved by all citizens for his high moral character and pleasant dis- position : Henry A. and John Bennett. Alling Carrington died June 4. 1831. His widow married Elihu Sanford and died July 5. 1853, aged seventy-six.
Henry A. Carrington was born in Bethany in 1808. He took the old homestead and remained on the farm. He married in 1832 Samantha Tolles. They had four children: Edward II., married Fanny E. Lounsbury, only child of Newel: Mary S .. married Wales H. French : Josephine, married H. W. Beecher, and second married Hagot Bogigian, an Armenian : Justine married Frank L. Coc.
Henry A. Carrington died in 1855. His early death was a loss not only to his family, but to the entire community. He was progressive. a typical farmer, and very enthusiastic on the subject of fruit culture. He would not accept scions from the hands of an itinerant professor in that line, but would procure specimens himself and do the grafting with his own hands. The result is now seen in the choice fruits from his orchards. His house, which was one of the largest of the fine old houses that were destroyed by fire in the town, was discovered on fire one Sunday while members of the family were at church. Mrs. Carrington, who was ill, and her little twin daughters could only save themselves and witness their home burn down, with all its valuable contents.
Mr. Carrington built another on the same site. of a different style, which later, when occupied by Mrs. Coe, was discovered to be on fire. She rushed to the telephone in time to call neigh- bors, who assisted in saving many things of value, but the house was destroyed.
A singular coincidence was in the burning of the home of her twin sister, who resided near Boston, the same year, the loss being estimated at twenty-five thousand dollars.
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John Bennett Carrington, son of Alling, was born November 6. 1811. He married Harriet, daughter of Roswell and Nancy (Hayes) Trowbridge, September 12, 1838. He died February 12, 1881. He was best known to the public through his long and prominent connection with the press of New Haven. After a number of years of study, starting when a mere lad, and the editing and publishing of various publications, he began the publication of the New Haven Daily Herald November 28, 1832, which later, through consolidation, became the Journal and Courier, and which to-day is published under the name of the Carrington Publishing Company, his son, John B. Carrington, being the president of the company.
Paragraphs copied from a lengthy obituary notice in the New Haven Register:
"The death of Mr. Carrington leaves a void in business circles, and there will be much casting about for some one to fill the places of responsibility and trust with which he had been burdened."
"His trip through Europe, less than ten years ago, led to a series of letters, elegant in dietion and comprehensive in spirit. which were admissible as specimens of epistolary work."
"Mr. Carrington was in some respects a representative man, for he illustrated in his person the principle of devotion to work and constant industry, which must always lead to success in every pursuit."
"As a husband and father the deceased was everything estimable in human nature."
"He will be missed everywhere and by all classes of people."
Theophilus Smith, son of Nathaniel and Catherine ( Miles) daughter of Theophilus, was a direct descendant of Richard Miles, whose name is on the Memorial Bridge at Milford. He was born in Milford, where he taught school previous to his removal to Bethany. He was a man of commanding presence and enter- tained guests in the most courteous manner. After the decease of his wife, who left three children, Edwin, Giles, and Mary, he married a daughter of Lysias Beecher, who died, leaving a daughter, Elizabeth, who married Rev. Edmund Peck. Later he married Eliza, sister of his second wife, and their son lost his life in the late Civil War.
JOHN BENNETT CARRINGTON
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
Hle bought the old tavern previous to 1830. It is said to have been built by David Wooding for a hostelry. The front view presented a very imposing appearance. It was three stories ; the first was built of a fine sandstone and occupied as a grocery and dry-goods store: the second story extended out on both sides many feet. arranged for the entertainment of travelers. Being located near the fork of the roads, it was equally accessible to the Waterbury road which led through Prospect and the one which led through Naugatuck.
THE WILLIAM WOODING HOUSE.
After the Naugatuck railroad was built the manufacturing companies of Waterbury sent all their freight for New York and New Haven by the railroad, which previously had employed teamsters with two, four and six horses, who would stop over night either at Landlord Smith's or Perkins' taverns: each had their favorites. They had heavy loads both ways, hogsheads of sugar and molasses, etc., for the grocers, and goods for the furniture warehouses. One would be surprised to know what a thoroughfare it was in those days. The stage coach, which is still running tri-weekly, with few passengers, was drawn by four horses.
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BETHANY AND IT'S HILLS.
The travelers at the inns, with their teams, made lively times for the farmers by creating a home market for their produce. their hay and grain. Most families had sons to till the soil and daughters to assist in domestic duties, hence extra help was seldom required.
When traffic ceased. Mr. Smith took down the old inn and built a two-story house for a private residence. After his decease his son-in-law. Mr. Peck. and family resided there until
THE HOADLEY MILLS.
it was destroyed by fire in 1002, while Mrs. Peck was visiting her married daughter in Waterbury. The fire was discovered by a neighbor too late to save the lives of Mr. Peck and his daughter Mary, who perished in the flames. The son barely escaped by jumping from the upper story. Again the whole town was shocked by a holocaust.
Rev. Edmund Peck was born in Greenwich, Conn., in 1817. and was descended in a direct line from Rev. Jeremiah Peck. who was one of the twenty-seven purchasers of that portion of the town called Old Greenwich. He was born in England in
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THE GARRY HOADLEY HOUSE.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
1623, son of Deacon William Peck of the New Haven Colony. 1639. Rev. Jeremiah taught Latin, Greek, Hebrew and oratory in the New Haven Grammar and Colony School ( Hopkins ) during the year 1660-1661. In 1674 he became the first settled pastor of the first Congregational Church in Greenwich and remained until 1689.
Rev. Edmund preached in the Methodist Church in Bethany sixteen years. He married as second wife, in 1862. Elizabeth
THE HOADLEY MILLS.
B. Smith, daughter of Theophilus Smith. Their children were : Mary E., Laura B. and Charles E.
The property is now owned by the New Haven Water Company.
Edgar L. Wakeman, a noted traveler, said in 1880: "There are hundreds of city hostelries and wayside ins still standing in which much of the history of our country was formulated. and whose olden guests and activities nursed the later grand development of half a continent. What old England was in motherhood to New England, the latter has been to all our fair
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
land : and it is a sweet and kindly thing to hold with prizing to the memory mosses of these quaint old entertainment manses of the New England city street and leafy country road."
The Garry Hoadley house on the old road, east of the turn- pike, led past the Esquire Peck house, which is gone and the site is covered by "Bethany Lake."
The house and mills across the street opposite were built by Ami Hoadley, who married Children : Ursula. married Isaac Doolittle: Harriet, married William Burnham : Garry, married Lucy Doolittle and remained at the homestead.
THE HOADLEY MILLS AND DAM.
where he conducted the grist mill and saw mill, and others. which was a very thriving business for many years. His son Denzil, who married Ann J. Moakley, succeeded him. His daughter Amanda married Frederic Warner. The mills are all cleared away and the property is owned by the New Haven Water Company.
Lambert Wooding, born in 1825. married Celia A. Boyce in 1865. He was the son of Levi ( who married Polly Bradley), son of Elijah, son of John, who may have been son of David who built the "hotel." The family were located on the road running north from the Garry Hoadley place, and known as
AN OLD CHESTNUT TREE NEAR GARRY HOADLEY'S.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
Wooding Hill. William Wooding lived just south of Garry Hoadley's. His son Charles removed to Cheshire. His daugh- ter Elizabeth married Amasa Brooks and resides in Waterbury.
"The Sanford family is of English origin, descended from an ancient Shropshire clan whose founder, Thomas Sanford, a Norman follower of William the Conqueror. is mentioned on the roll of Battle Abbey. October 1. 1066. His son. Sir Thomas, held in the time of King Henry I. the Manor of Rothal and
THE HOADLEY MILLS DAM.
Sandford, and the latter is still in the possession of his descend- ants. Thomas Sandford came to America in 1631. Ephraim, born 1646: wife, Sarah." There were so many of that name among the first settlers in Bethany it is difficult to trace them.
The first of that name settled in Milford. and later in Wood- bridge and Bethany. Archibald Sanford located on the road from Cheshire, near the mountain, and perhaps owned land to the summit, which gave it the name of Mt. Sanford.
Elisha Sanford, son of Elisha. was born in Woodbridge, July 1. 1776. He bought the house in Bethany where his son Henry
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
resided during his life. ( It was built by Isaac Sperry, the first house built on the road after the turnpike was cut through, and later his son Enos built the first house over the line in Bethany. ) Henry Sanford married a daughter of Hiram Hotchkiss, and their son Alvin married Emma Keeler of New Haven. Their son Justin H. has been clerk in the office of the purchasing agent of the New Haven Railroad eighteen years and has been pro- moted from time to time.
Lucretia, daughter of Elisha, married Alvin Perkins, son of David, who married Lowly, daughter of Jonah Todd. Their daughter married Thomas Hull of Westville, whose son Charles has been engaged in the drug business for several years.
Stephen, son of Elisha, had one daughter, who married Rufus Russell, architect, whose son Byron is a Universalist minister, and a daughter married Oscar Dikeman of New Haven. Another daughter of Stephen married a Mr. Champion, whose son is one of the leading florists of New Haven.
It seems fitting to state that I have no pecuniary interest in the town, as the land which was my father's and grandfather's and great-grandfather's has all passed out of the hands of our family. A large share of it is owned by the New Haven Water Company. There is one spot, however, fondly cherished in memory, the spring, the fountain head of the rippling stream which expanded to a river called West River. It is so associated with our school days that it suggests a schoolgirl rhyme.
O, the spring where the crystal waters flow, Just over the ledge where the sweet ferns grow. Where we quenched our thirst on a summer's day In quest of berries just over the way.
And when we went nutting across the brook, We lingered awhile in the cosey nook, To listen to the murmur of the stream, So long, long ago, it seems like a dream.
And when from the orchard over the lane Our basket of fruit we could not refrain, The apples so red and yellow. to bring And rest on the ledge by the crystal spring.
THE HENRY SANFORD HOUSE. Built by Isaac Sperry.
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BETHANY AND ITS HILLS.
With the passing of years, three score and ten, The water still flowing down through the glen,- To the city it flows, filling the urn, With crystal water from the faucet's turn.
To the companions of my youth, a loving adieu If any still linger, as the numbers must be few ; To all readers, at parting, my heart with kindness thrills With a loving benediction to the dear old "Hills."
MRS. ELIZA J. ( MARKS ) HINES.
ADDENDA.
As only a limited number of books were bound, a demand for additional copies enables us to correct the erroneous impression that all the old homes are vacant, because the names of the present owners or occupants were not mentioned. 1 few of them have since been learned, which adds a progressive element much appreciated in the town.
At the Alvan Sperry place is Dwight L. Johnson ; at the Dr. Castle and Elihu Sanford the Messrs. Cotter: at the Eliakim Smith's Mr. Hinman : at the Allen Thomas house Mr. Warner : Mr. Downs at the Reuben Judd's; and Dwight Humiston at the Anan Atwater house; and the indications are that the next census taken will show a large increase of the population.
An article published in 1880 states that "within the last six months Bethany has lost four of its oldest citizens, all esteemed men-Levi M. Marks. Lewis Tolles, Enos Sperry and Miles Hitchcock, which makes quite a change in some of the old familiar places."
The Seymour Record publishes frequently an account of the condition and progress of the churches and schools in the town of Bethany.
I would add a loving tribute to the memory of my classmates at the Lebanon Hill School, who have passed away .- Emeline and Catherine Woodward. daughters of Rev. F. B. Woodward : Ellen Thomas, who married John B. Hotchkiss: Sarah Louns bury, who married Judge Nathan Clark: Charlotte Hoadley. who married Harpin Hotchkiss, and Margaret Todd, who mar- ried Chauncey Beecher. And now my dearly beloved brother Amasa A. Marks has also passed before me to another sphere lle laid down to sleep on the toth of July, and never awoke : although he had lived four score years, it is a grief so sad that I can only say.
"I feel like one who treads alone Some banquet hall deseried "
MR . MAPY SEELEY NO THEORY SORTE TỐT YOUME AND HER DESCENDANTS FITE GIRERKEN
A BETHANY CENTENARIAN.
Mrs. Mary Sperry Northrop celebrated her one hundredth birthday in West Haven on the 26th, at the home of her son, Charles Northrop. During the course of the day nearly a hundred people, relatives and friends, called to offer congratu- lations or to bring some little token of remembrance.
Five generations of the family were represented and their pictures were taken.
This remarkable lady was born in Bethany, September 26th, 1805. She was the eldest of a family of eight children of Micah and Patty ( Downs) Sperry and is the last surviving member of her family. Iler brothers and sisters were: Phinette, married Nehemiah Andrews: Eliza, died young ; Maria, died aged 29. unmarried ; George, married Mary .1. Cables : Mark, married Harriet Elder : Andrew, married Eliza Sackett : Lyman, remained unmarried.
Mrs. Northrop was born in an old house long since torn down. which stood near the present residence of Judge E. N. Clark in Bethany. When she was five years old her father moved over to "Squabble Hill." in the west part of the town, where she lived until December, 1826, when she married Marvin Northrop, a prosperous farmer of Bethany, who built a small house in the south part of the same town, in which she spent the greater part of her life. Her father died in February, 1861. aged 80. He was a shoemaker, and every one knew "Uncle Mike" in those days.
Mrs. Northrop is the sixth in descent from Richard Sperry, her line being as follows: Richard, Ebenezer, Isaac, Isaac 2d, Micah and Mary.
Mrs. Northrop's immediate family, like her father's, was a large one. Eight children blessed the union of Mary Sperry and Marvin Northrop, four of whom are living-Charles Northrop, with whom she resides, is 77 years old and is the eldest of the family ; Elizur Northrop of Brooklyn, Marshall Northrop of West Haven and Mrs Sarah Merwin of New Haven, who were all present at her birthday party.
Four of the children have died. John died in 1861, aged 25. Theodore died young. Phinette died young. Delia married David Smith of Woodbridge and died in February, 1004, aged 67. greatly respected and beloved.
Mrs. Northrop resided with Mrs. Smith after breaking up the Bethany home about twenty-five years ago. Since her daughter's death she has resided with her son most of the time. Beside her four children she has seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and eight of the fifth generation.
One always notes her cheery smile and genial disposition. Her good-nature has become proverbial, as is vouched by those who care for her. She always has a joke to crack, or a story of "ye olden time" to relate. She has always worked hard, but has never fretted in doing so, which is one of the secrets of longevity. She has worked up till five years ago, when she had a severe attack of the grippe. Since that time she has not done so much work, yet she is seldom idle. It is a common occurrence while visiting her to find her sewing or engaged in reading. She can boast of never having had a pair of glasses fitted to her eyes.
Through life's pathway she has gathered flowers To lighten and brighten the golden hours; And scattered them freely everywhere. Like rays of sunshine in the air. No haughty frown ever wrinkled her brow, Ever fair and serene, as it is now. ller eyes are still bright, and a smile so sweet, So cheerily always her friends to greet, Is a pearl without price, a precious gem. And a crown of glory, a diadem.
The photographs taken by Myron W. Filley of New Haven are on pages (or opposite) 6, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15. 16, 24, 26. 28, 32, 38, 39. 40, 44, 51. 52. 54. 64. Those by George E. Marks of New York, on pages ( or opposite) 3. 5. 20, 22. 30, 42. 46. 62; by Ferguson of New Haven, pages (or opposite) 59. 60, 61. 62. 63.
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