USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Fairfield > Black Rock, seaport of old Fairfield, Connecticut, 1644-1870; > 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 | Part 16
April 20-Night-The Stores of T. Ransom & B. Penfield broke open-from the latter some Cents from the former a number of articles was taken-Next night a horse & gig were Stolen-Gig found in N. York.
June 6-40,000 fish caught in this harbour-
June 10-52,000 fish-
June 11-50,000 with the large seine-
Oct. 20-Very mild season-hundreds of Lightning bugs in the grass of low places- Great Crops of Corn, Grass, Potatoes &c
Oct. 31-bush. of Winter Apples from my Tree.
June 6-Fish was used by local farmers to spread on their fields for fertilizer.
121
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
Nov. 14-W. Wheeler's house raised.
Nov. 18-Saml Penfield died
Nov. 19-Snow 4 inches depth
Dec. 13-W. Wheeler lawsuit with N. Wakeman cost 5 doll.
1841
Jan .- Mrs. Bartram falling on the ice received a sprain in both her wrists-recovered the use of them by applying a solution for 2 days of vinegar & salt warm as could be endured, then Cider brandy, then liniment.
Feb. 1-News of Isaac Burr murdered at [blank] where Capt. Benson of Fairfield had landed.
Feb. 26-paid Dr. Ten Broeck 2 dolls for bleeding me/at Joseph Wakeman's when wild-
March 3-died Deacon David Judson-aged 83 years & 5 months, very persevering, industrious, economical
April 3-Died William Harrison President of U. S. A. with the Lung Fever.
Many have the measles in Black Rock not so many since February 1832 when 67 had it.
During the last War between England & France were slain 2,100,000 men. Cost to England 1,058,000,000 pounds sterling most of which is now unpaid .-
"To do one thing at a time"-the most difficult-and the most useful
"In England 157 drunkards die daily-
May 29-Arrived at Bridgeport Ship Hamilton with 2,300 bbls oil and 400 pounds (bone?)
June 14-16,000 fish caught
June 15-20,000
Sept. 23-Brought into Black Rock a Corpse, drowned betwixt
Nov. 14-This is the house standing (1930) at the end of Hackley Street, built for William Wheeler, Jr.
Nov. 15-Samuel, son of David and Elizabeth (Bulkley) Penfield, b. 26 March, 1819. The date on the tombstone is Nov. 18th.
Feb. 1 .- Isaac, son of Noah and Anna (Jennings) Burr. He was nineteen.
122
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
here & N. Y. unsafe to proceed on account of putrefac- tion-Buried in Fairfield
About this period died Elijah Burrit-the Oldest person in the County also Mun. Darrow (Bridgeport)
Sept. 27-died the wife of Jesup Banks- Very fine Septem- ber- Less fruit than many years past- Cider 21/2 dolls Scallops innumerable.
Oct. 3-Thunder & snow.
Oct. 15-New Schoolhouse building (Black Rock)
Nov. 18-The last of Canal boat sold (designed for Canal- unfit) Owner lost by her 10,000 dolls.
1842
March 10-The past Winter has been the mildest in the memory of man-little Snow-good roads the whole Season
About this time died Sarah Chat
March 15-Married in Fairfield Dr. Denison to Esther Judson Goodsell
March 25-The house of Mrs. Aymar (Bridgeport) struck by Lightning
April 1-Died (In Stratfield) Philo Shelton.
April 14-Died Capt. Thomas Brothwell aged 75
"It is the combined light of all truth scientific as well as religious which is to render so perfect and glorious the Milennial day"-Perkins.
May 7-Southport withdrew their petition to be made a Town-
May 31-About this time Arrived Barque Harvest with 2300 bbls oil.
June 2-12,000 fish caught in B. Rock harbour
June 18-died Lothrop Lewis (Fairfield)
July 4-Arrived Ship Hamilton 2,500 bbls oil
About this time frequent bankruptcies occur- Rain every day Hay much damaged
Sept. 27-Laura (Sherwood) Banks.
123
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
July 30-Drowned at pine creek (Fairfield) Saml Benedict of Ridgefield while bathing. Two others nearly drowned endeavoring to save him.
Aug. 5-A hard N.E. August storn
Aug. 11-A house struck by lightning at Bridgeport-John- son's Mills also
Sept. 28-Died Wm. Penfield of a bilious fever caught in the south
Oct. 12-Cattle Show for Fairfield Co. at Bridgeport
Oct. 23-Died Bennet Revolutionary pensionary in his 94th year
A Schooner 70 tons-Wind S.E .- from Madison loaded with potatoes ran on Grovers Hill point-wrecked
Nov. 4-Animal magnetizer at Fairfield
Nov. 17-Thanksgiving-heavy rain.
Nov. 18-Died Eliza Taylor daughter of Roswell Wells of Black Rock.
Dec. 11-Died James Penfield of Apoplexy (83)
Dec. 16-Died Robt. Turney
Dec. 25-Drowned at Bridgeport Aaron Downs
Dec. 30-Oration by Hodge-35 join Temperance
1843
Feb. 10-Died at Southport Eli Bulkley aged 80
Very mild season-great revival of religion-101 joined Tem- perance Society in all at Black Rock 14 immersed at one time-Baptists- Methodist Church building at Fairfield-Good sleighing-
May-Married Gregory to Fanny Banks
July 3-very hot-Influenza everywhere-many confined to their bed
Drowned in Bridgeport harbor-sailboat capsized-Norman of Bpt.
Sept. 28-William, son of David and Elizabeth (Bulkley) Penfield, b. 3 June, 1813. Dec. 11-James, son of James and Ellen (Burr) Penfield, born 24 Feb. 1761. He lived on Holland Heights in the Silliman House.
July 3-Charles C. Norman. His widow, Phebe Burton (Tuttle), married (2) David Lockwood of Black Rock.
124
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
July 11-Found floting in the Sound by Dan Wilson Norman.
July 25-Filled my barn with hay both sides, floorway up to crossbar. Labour'd every day myself (per favour)
Aug. 8-Struck by lightning 4 oxen near Polly Burr's and killed-owned by Amos & Fred Burr.
Died Danl Barr 71
Aug. 15-Died at Black Rock Mrs. Jennings-Cholera mor- bus-Taken Saturday died Tuesday
Aug. 16-David Penfield broke his shoulder falling from a waggon
Sept. 1-Campmeeting at Stepney on railroad-Methodist first then Millerite-broke up this day in a heavy thun- der & rain all day.
Sept. 4-Died Deacon Judson's widow aged 81
Sept. 10-Preached at Fairfield John Noyes (My old School- master)
Sept. 28-First frost-fine weather- Died Capt. Wm. Hub- bell (35) found dead in bed N. Y.
Nov. 7-First snow.
1844
Bankrupts in Connecticut 1837-of which 1537 voluntary- Indebtedness-whole amount 11,000,500
In 161 cases debts amount to more than 10,000 doll. High- est debt William H. Jessup of Westport 1,043,000 The next highest Maurice Wakeman of Fairfield 577,706 Jan. 10-died- Annsbury (34) of a deep Consumption
March 18-died of Lung Fever Mills (34)
March 24-died of a long Consumption Mrs. Laura Bouton wife (38) of [William] Bouton
March 25-Died a child of Albert Burr
April 22-died Mrs. Thorp, relict of Walter Thorp (68)
Aug. 15-Rosannah, first wife of Captain William A. Jennings. She was born in the West Indies and there married.
Sept. 4-Esther, widow of David Judson, daughter of Nathan and Sarah Bulkley. Her father also had been deacon.
March 24-Laura (Jennings) Bouton, daughter of William Sr. and Mary Jennings.
125
THE JOURNAL OF WILLIAM WHEELER
May 11-Night-The hardest thunderstorm that has been for many years
May 29-Died Mrs. Bradley wife of Hull Bradley Esq.
June 1-Dropt down dead Capt. Nathan Holdredge (57)
June 6-Died Helen Ellsworth daughter of Mr. Ellsworth June 30-Cool & pleasant- Hay good-
Oct. 4-Great revival of Religion From 14 Ichabod [?] John Elwood is rejoice [?] Died Henry Penfield-Con- sumption-
The stream of salvation to which the Missouri is but a rill flows through my very inmost Core-Conjunction of Venus and the Moon-No strait jacket now- O God forgive you there-Amen- Go marry-none wretched or hen peckt now-profile Hark forward hurra tallyhoo !- Vice fiddle hung up- Eliza come back- Compete with the Wheeler none. I William saw a mighty strong Angel bind 1000
Down on your knees and kiss whom you please-
Kiss'd her cold forehead-turnd is Wheeler gone?
Extra Ma. 1.
[In different handwriting]
Dec. 7-Died Squire Parrott aged 75 years
Dec. 28-Died Stiles Nichols Printer 83 years
Dec. 30-Died Roger M. Sherman, Judge (71 years)
1845 Jan. 28-Died William Wheeler the author of this book aged 82 years six months 15 days.
June 6-Verdine and Jane Agnes Ellsworth lost five children in youth.
Oct. 4-Henry, son of David and Elizabeth (Bulkley) Penfield, born 2 Feb. 1816.
W tevi Lyons Old Stage Road"
(Fairfield Avenue )
Hayfields
Pasture
Perfield Tide Mills
Dia-road
of Bridge "
1760-1802
. -
Pasture lands
spoon &dwens
21- Seth Perry
MAR
VUC
€3
33-John Wheeler DiLiter Cept khaled Wheeler)
. EV William &
Brewster's Cove
fields, onion patches, etc.
Fax silliman
F copt. Malbaf Ton
9. Capt Gershom Scorge?
Susanathan thesky.
3. John Wheeler (later Capt . Brewster ) 16- CapT. James Wilson Saate- Capt. E. Barkan
1- Thongs Wheeler
# g'5-John Wheeler never Capt.J. Bartram
Ship
ove
"poti roid "
Middle What's
wharves
4:
6-Capt. John SquireE.
Fortnite
Tert
Squire's Wharf
rest of the Beach
C
B
L
A
(Mier Capl. Benjamin Penfield)
[P/O- Meter David Benfield)
Barlow Sturges ·Wolcott Chancy
'd zekich Osborn Upper Wharf
3100
R
O
A
R
1
C
R
and reiter nicely done in ink by the editor of this book
compared with the original records
also- houses erected prior to 1812 [ Numbers refer to Index of Homesteads's
Showing Revolutionary landmarks,
The BLACK ROCK of William Wheeler
cow pasture
GRO
3. Nehemiah Bunk#
12.CapT. Thorp .
.
4. John Wheeler, 20
( later Abel Wheeler)
20- Capt. Thomas Bartram
10- Capt. Wilson Knap (leer Lewis Burr)
William Wheeler's
land
IM wh plos pue
chi
.
ASH CREEK
Peter Penfield 1761
Gradiliy Bien; "Wheeler Street."
Wharves and Ship yard
FORTIFIED STONE HOUSE OF THOMAS WHEELER 1CHO
HOMESTEADS Of Old Black Rock
*- Indicates "Standing in 1930" (even though moved or remodeled).
Names of successive owners are in boldface.
Boldface dates are of (approximate) erection of houses. Numbers refer to Map of "The Black Rock of William Wheeler."
P Indicates photograph; S, sketch. (See Index.)
1-Thomas Wheeler the pioneer, built the first 1649 house1, described in the Journal, and probably S occupied also by his son John who died in 1669.
2-Jonathan Wheeler, Sr. (1680-1772) lived first near
1700 the "old lot" near the wharves, but later built a homestead on the road to Grovers Hill,-a house, later occupied by his son, Jonathan, Jr. In 1813 it was transferred from Ephraim Knap to Roswell Wells2, who lived there many years.
3a-John Wheeler (1664-1754) lived on the site of the present public playground at Brewster and Ells- worth Streets. In 1745 he deeded "the home- stead where I now dwell" to his son, Obediah (1716-1753), whose sons, Josiah, Abraham, and Ezra, were living there in 1779. Ezra, after his brothers settled in Redding, remained in the house until 1788 when he removed to Weston
1700
1 The turpentine factory, which was built two centuries later and burned on the site, left a tall chimney as a curious monument which rose, strangely enough, from the exact situation of the pioneer hoine. Until blown down a few years ago, this chimney served local fishers and oystermen as a landmark for sighting the position of fishing-grounds and oysterbeds.
2 He was known as "Quinkopagus Wells." The tale is told that one night the neighbor's boys tied up his pumphandle and then, knocking violently at his door, called "Oh Quinkopagus! Come quick! Your best cow has gone dry!"
128
HOMESTEADS OF OLD BLACK ROCK
and the property was purchased by Captain Caleb Brewster, whose family retained it for two generations.
*3b-John Wheeler (1664-1754) also built for his old- est son, John Wheeler (1694-1725), a house which passing, after his death, to his daughter Abigail and from her to her uncle, Thomas Hill, in 1745, finally in 1749/50 became the property of Cap- tain Ichabod Wheeler who two years later mar- ried Deborah Burr (daughter of Col. John Burr who lived on the Stratfield Road). In this house were born their three children, Mary (future wife of Ebenezer Squire), William, and John. After building houses for his two sons, Captain Ichabod, retaining a life lease, deeded his home in 1799 to his granddaughter, Debby Squire "for care and services in my home since 1793."
After his death and her marriage to Barnabas Bar- tram (who died of yellow fever in the West Indies during a voyage), the house belonged suc- cessively to Captain David Keeler, Herman Rug- gles, Uriah Bulkley, Seth Perry, and was finally deeded in 1827 to Alanson Allen from Compo,. who lived there for the greater part of the cen- tury during which he served the community as shoemaker and postmaster.
The house has undergone many changs, but the interior retains some of the original paneling and wrought-iron,-and the old fireplaces where young William Wheeler sat, watching the logs burn and listening to family traditions and neigh- borhood gossip, later to be retold in his Journal.
1750 4-John Wheeler, 2d (1729-1819), posthumous brother of the John for whom Captain Ichabod's house was built, lived only a short time in Black Rock before moving to Greenfield (he later lived
1720 S
129
HOMESTEADS OF OLD BLACK ROCK
in Stratfield). In 1757 he deeded "the home- stead where I now live" and eighteen acres with his dwellinghouse to his cousins, Abel and Jonathan Wheeler. Later, Abel Wheeler bought Jonathan's share, and the house became the first pre-Revolutionary tavern in Black Rock of which evidence lingers.
The property included the west side of Grovers Avenue, south from Brewster Street, and was later the Bradley Perry and Seth Perry homesites.
*5-Nehemiah Burr (1734-1814), about the time of 1762 his marriage to Sarah Osborn, built a house at the bend of the old road to Grovers Hill-now the corner of Balmforth Street. Here "on the produce of an acre of land he brought up a large family." One of his daughters, Sarah, married Captain Thomas Bartram. His son, Noah Burr, died in 1859, and the property was purchased by Captain Benjamin Penfield for his son, William Henry Penfield, whose wife lived there while he saw active service during the Civil War. After the war the house was sold by Captain Penfield, and after several transfers, it was bought during the nineties by George F. Gilman and converted into a studio. Subsequent own- ers, H. H. Sprague and K. W. McNeil, have made many alterations, and the original outline has been completely modernized.
6-Captain John Squire, son of Samuel Squire of Fairfield, bought in 1764 "land near the Black Rock by the Sea Shore"-at the end of the old pasture road, overlooking "Money Beach." Here he built a house to which he brought his third wife, Lydea Jarvis (widow of Isaac Jarvis of Norwalk) and her two sons, Noah and Isaac,-the same Isaac Jarvis who was to com-
1764 S
130
HOMESTEADS OF OLD BLACK ROCK
mand the fort in 1779 and direct the cannonade that saved Black Rock.
A wharf at "Money Beach" was owned by Captain Squire. The house is described3 in the probate records of 1805, when the widow Lydea and James Squire were given shares of the house, while the heirs of John Squire, Jr., inherited the land east of the homestead with the old wharf. The Squire land and many acres of other holdings on Grovers Hill were acquired early in the cen- tury by Captain Daniel Wilson, who in 1837 deeded to William A. Jennings "land at Black Rock, being the place formerly known as Cap- tain Jack Squire's homestead on Grovers Hill." The house occupied by Captain Jennings later became part of the George Hotel property.
7-Captain Joseph Silliman (1732-1788) built on 1766 Grovers Avenue a home for his bride, Chris- P tiania Hubbell (always called "Christian" in the records). He died in 1788 and his only son, Captain Nathaniel Silliman, was murdered in Spain in 1795. Chloe Silliman, the younger widow, remarried, but Christiania Silliman remained in the house until she died in 1805.
The house (which was burned about 1900) was a quaint little home with a sloping roof across which sprawled a trumpet vine, accenting with bright flowers the silver-gray weathered shin- gles. Lilacs clustered at the door.
The next owner, John Maltbie, whose wife was Abel Wheeler's granddaughter, Rachel Mason, lived only a few years after his marriage. He was first keeper of the Black Rock Light, estab- lished in 1808. He died the following year, and
3 "The widow to have the northerly front room, bedroom, & milkroom adjoining westerly; the chamber over front room, with the privilege of the kitchen to do great work, such as washing, baking, etc., also the privilege of passing & repassing in the usual way to said chamber and to the well .... "
131
HOMESTEADS OF OLD BLACK ROCK
his widow married again and moved to New York. Subsequent owners were Captain Walter Thorp, Captain Charles Penfield, and H. W. Fancher, whose family appear in the photo- graph, taken during their residence there.4
8-Captain Thomas Holberton bought one of four 1767 lots laid out in Black Rock by David Wheeler, 3d, along a proposed road from Grovers Avenue to the harbor. During the next quarter century, Captain Holberton's property here and else- where in Black Rock became involved in so many transfers, mortgages, and releases (doubt- less in proportion to the success or failure of his many shipping ventures) that the ownership of certain lots is not always definite. It appears, however, that in 1793, "the dwellinghouse where Thomas Holberton now lives," previously quit- claimed by the captain to Robert Wilson, was sold to Samuel Sherwood, during whose ten- ancy of four years occurred the inoculation for smallpox, mentioned in the Journal. In 1796 the new owner moved to Ridgefield, deeding the house to Captain Thomas Bartram, who also purchased the three adjacent lots, secured a release of the road from the town, and in 1800 (presumably when his own house was com- pleted) transferred the entire property to his brother, Captain Job Bartram, who had recently married Captain Holberton's daughter, Ruth. In 1817 Captain Job was drowned off the harbor, but his family retained the homestead for many years. It was torn down to make way for the house built on the property about 1865 by Dr.
" The photograph shows members of the Fancher family on the front porch. The lone sitter on the side porch was a neighbor who happened to be making a call when the photographer arrived. Left in the house to her own devices, she included herself in the picture, much to the amazement of the family when the finished photograph was delivered.
132
HOMESTEADS OF OLD BLACK ROCK
Calvin E. Hull, which is now occupied by Col. and Mrs. S. W. Roessler (1930).
*9-Captain Gershom Sturges built, about 1803, the house now standing at the corner of Grovers Avenue and Beacon Street, later purchased and remodeled by Captain Benjamin Penfield whose descendants live there now (1930).
1803 P
10-The property on which the homestead was built 1768 P
has an earlier history, being the site of a house built in 1768 by Thomas Beebe on a lot pur- chased from David Wheeler, 3d. This house was transferred in 1770 to George Morehouse, in 1773 to Ebenezer Burr, in 1780 to Isaac Jar- vis, in 1784 to John Squire, Jr., in 1789 to David Squire, who moved with his family to Stamford, N. Y., and in 1794 to Captain Barlow Sturges, who sold the lot to his brother Gershom, and moved the house down the road to the lot above the Middle Wharf-which was managed by the three Sturges brothers.
Early in the new century, David Penfield came to Black Rock from Fairfield, bought the house in 1803, and subsequently the wharf-shares from Barlow, Benjamin and Gershom Sturges. After the death of David Penfield in 1845, the house was occupied by his son, Captain Ephraim Lewis Penfield, and the succeeding generation (several of whom appear in the photograph, taken about 1867). The house was destroyed by fire about 1870.
11-Wolcott Chauncy (1732-1805) built, presumably about the time when the Middle Wharf was completed, a tiny house which stood on the pres- ent site of the Norden Club. In 1795 the own- ers of the wharf leased to him "during the pleas- ure of us the proprietors," a "gore of land" next his garden. After his death, Mrs. Chauncy
1769
133
HOMESTEADS OF OLD BLACK ROCK
made her home with her son, Commodore Chauncy, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and the Chauncy property was long used by David Pen- field for his woodshed.
12- Captain Walter Thorp (1770-1837) bought from 1810 Abel Wheeler's granddaughters, Rachel (Mason) Maltbie Eden and Sally Mason, part of the Wheeler "Middle Lot" (through which Seaview Terrace now runs), and also the salt meadow (east of Seabright Avenue). The house which Captain Thorp built was after his death pur- chased from his other heirs by Henry J. and Priscilla (Thorp) Beers, sold by them to Lothrop Beers, who in 1847 sold to John Plumb. Two years later the new owner bought on upper Ellsworth Street, and the property was deeded to Captain Daniel Wilson, who in 1853 sold it to Captain William B. Howes of Sag Harbor, L. I. Captain Howes had commanded whaling ves- sels, but, yielding to the persuasion of his wife, left the sea and established a coal business at the wharf built on the salt meadow lot in front of his home. His family later moved to Bridge- port, and the house burned.
*13-Uriah Bulkley built next the lower shipyard upon a lot purchased from Nathan Wheeler in 1807, the house which, subsequently enlarged, became the home of Captain William Hanford Nichols and of his children and grandchildren.
The lot was later added to the Bartram holdings, and the house was moved on a barge across the harbor to the location where it now stands on Grovers Avenue and Old Battery Road, the resi- dence (1930) of Mrs. Mary B. Henshaw.
14 Hezekiah Osborn (1772-1846) early in the nine- 1807 teenth century came from Mill Plain and had a waterlot surveyed to him "on a wharf lot
1807 P
134
HOMESTEADS OF OLD BLACK ROCK
belonging to John Wheeler" where he erected a home from which vantage point he managed a store and wharf until his removal to New York State in 1834. He was a brother-in-law of Bradley and Seth Perry, having married Nancy, daughter of Peter Perry of Mill Plain.
1789 P
*15-John Wheeler (1765-1846), brother of William, and younger son of Captain Ichabod, received from his father in 1790 the lot on which his father and he had built during the preceding year a house overlooking the harbor. In 1803 Terence Riley bought from John Wheeler the house, with a wharf and store, but during the next two years, after purchasing another wharf, business difficulties overtook the new proprietor, and after Riley's sudden death in New York in 1805, the house property was immediately attached by Nicholas Fish of New York, one of the creditors, who sold it to William Hoyt. Rufus Hoyt became owner in 1808. From the Hoyt family the property passed through several owners to Captain Thomas Bartram who in 1829 deeded it to his son, Captain Joseph Bar- tram, and for more than a century the house has been occupied by his family.
*16-Captain James Wilson in 1767 purchased land from Ezra and Ichabod Wheeler and built the house now standing at 166 Brewster Street. His administrator, Robert Wilson, sold the pro- perty in 1775 to Captain Ebenezer Bartram who during the Revolution served actively in the defense of the Connecticut shore. After his death, his son, Ebenezer Bartram, remained in the home until 1818 when upon his removal to Westmoreland, N. Y., the house was sold to William Hoyt and Sullivan Moulton (of Green- wich). Captain Daniel Wilson later purchased
1767 P
135
HOMESTEADS OF OLD BLACK ROCK
the house" which remained in his family until after the death of his daughter, Catherine (Wil- son) Morrison, early in the twentieth century.
17-For topographical position of 17, the reader is referred to 3a. (The earlier houses are chrono- logically numbered.)
18-William Wheeler wrote his Journal in a house, since burned, built for him in 1790 by his father, just east of the old home of Captain Ichabod. Ellsworth Street, laid out in 1802, cut through William Wheeler's houselot and that of his east- ward neighbor, Caleb Brewster. After 1845 upon William Wheeler's death the house passed out of the family, the surviving heir, William Wheeler, Jr., having built his own home, which stands at the foot of Hackley Street above the Cove.
1790 S
*19-From his father, Ebenezer Knap, Captain Wilson 1800 Knap received as a gift in 1813, the homestead at 482 Brewster Street, built probably about 1800 or earlier. Captain Knap's heirs sold the property in 1830 to Lewis Burr (1806-1881), in whose family it remained for seventy-five years.
*20-Captain Thomas Bartram (1771-1838), whose name figures prominently in many land transactions in Black Rock, bought from Joseph Squire in 1801 the land on which he erected his home and to which he added acre after acre by purchase from his neighbors. The home remains in his family (the longest consecutive tenure recorded in Black Rock) having passed to his second son, Captain Thomas Burr Bartram (1803-1886) and his family.
1801 P
*21-Seth Perry, son of Peter Perry of Mill Plain, ship- 1812
" When the porch was rebuilt, the original delicate little pillars of the old home- stead were used by an appreciative builder, John Fancher, for his own house (on Seabright Avenue).
136
HOMESTEADS OF OLD BLACK ROCK
owner and merchant of the early nineteenth cen- tury, built a large home on the corner of Grovers Avenue and Brewster Street. The spacious hall held two sets of lancers and while the pro- perty remained in the family, the younger gen- erations of Black Rock families romped through the house as guests of the Perry children and grandchildren. About five years ago the house burned, and the site has since been subdivided into many houselots.
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.