USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > Centennial address and Historical sketches > Part 10
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Per me, JOHN HALL, Recorder.
In the copy of the Indian deed by Mr. Hall there is difficulty in reading the Indian names, and some of them are evidently written somewhat differently as they are repeated. Sachamas, (probably a title rather than a name,) is plainer than the names generally and the last syllable in it is written three ways. In the hope that
141
NOTE A.
the original in the Colony Records at Hartford, was bet- ter written, and knowing the great experience and skill of the clerk in reading ancient manuscripts, a request was made to him to give the names as written by the Secretary. The following is his answer :
"The names of the Indian grantors in the deed of 1672-3, as recorded, are Sepunnamoe, Joan, alias Week- pissick, Machize *, [in the deed, the signature Mama- chiz,] Wesumpsha *, Wamphaneh *, Spunno, Sacha- mas, Taccomhuit, [signature, Tacumhuit *,] Witnesses (Indian,) Nessehegen, Wannoae, Tarramuggus *, Puc- cacun *, and Sachamus' mother *.
In the Coginchaug [Durham] purchase (24 Jan., 1672-3, the names of grantors marked (*) above, are spelled in the same way ; besides these Wannoe, Tom alias Negannoe, Neseheag squaw, Spunno, Sarah Kem- hosh squa, Marragan's mother, and Tahhows squa, [sig- nature, Tubhous squa,] join in the grant. Witness Se- punnamoe, Neseliegen."
(NOTE B.) Origin of early settlers, before and in 1670, those in the latter year being householders and acknowledged as proprietors.
While it is very evident that the early settlers or their parents were from the British Isle, and that they were nearly all of English extraction, there is not a little dif- ficulty in ascertaining who came directly to this place, or almost immediately on landing this side of the Atlantic, and respecting others where they lived in Massachusetts and Connecticut before settling here. Dr. Trumbull in his History of Connecticut says, "that the principal planters were from England, Hartford and Wethersfield -that the greatest number were from Hartford, and that there was a considerable accession from Rowley, Chelmsford and Woburn in Massachusetts." There were also some planters from Windsor, and from some towns in Massachusetts, besides those which he names. Some had lived in several places. Various circumstan- ces may have induced individuals to dwell here and there for a time with relatives, connections and acquaint- ances, and to have engaged in one employment and another, even where they did not themselves become pos- sessors of houses and lands.
With respect to the settlers whose names do not ap- pear among the householders and proprietors in 1670,
* 12
144
NOTE B.
William Bloomfield was from Hartford, and it is said he returned thither : if he did, he afterwards removed to Long Island. Nathaniel Brown was from Hartford. He had five children born to him in Middletown, from 1661 to 1669, and it is probable that he died in the last mentioned year. His son, Nathaniel Brown, 2d, lived in this place after him. George Graves was from Hart- ford and returned to that place : while here he was elec- ted twice a Representative to the General Court. Will- iam Markum removed to Hadley, Mass., and died there. What became of John Martin is not known. William Smith, who was from Wethersfield, removed to Farm- ington. Matthias Treat was also from Wethersfield and died before 1663, leaving a family which removed from this place. A man by the name of Joseph Smith died in Rocky Hill in Wethersfield in 1673, who may have been the same person who dwelt a while in the Upper Houses. Robert Webster was from Hartford, son of Gov. John Webster of Hartford, afterward, of Hadley, he was the ancestor of the late Noalı Webster, L.L. D. While here he represented the town almost continually in the General Court.
Inquiries concerning the previous residence or residen_ ces, of Thomas Allen, have not been pursued to a satis- factory result.
Obadiah Allen, was recommended by the elders of the church in Windsor, which renders it probable that he at least resided in that town for a time. This name is not always spelt with an e, Allen; in a town record book it has been seen spelt, Alyn and Allyn ; on the old Church Records it is Allin.
Nathaniel Bacon, probably came directly from Eng- land. He was nephew of Andrew Bacon of Hartford.
145
NOTE B.
The family were from Stretton in England, county of Rutland.
William Briggs, was from Wethersfield.
From whence Alexander Bow and William Cheney came, it is not ascertained. The latter was a represen- tative to the General Court in several instances.
Jasper Clements, was born in England about 1614. He died here in 1678, aged 64, leaving property for sup- port of schools in the town.
Henry Cole married in Hartford in 1646. He was not a landholder there, but may have been a resident. He moved from Middletown to Wallingford soon after 1670; Edward Higby purchased part of his property.
Nathaniel Collins, the first settled pastor in Middle- town, and his brother Samuel Collins, were from Cam- bridge, Mass., sons of Dea. - - Collins.
William Cornwall, was an carly settler in Hartford, and had five sons; three of whom, John, Samuel and William, jr., accompanied him to Middletown. It is said that he died in 1677, an old man.
George Durant had lived in Malden, Mass., and pro- bably came from that town to this place.
Samuel Eggleston, was from Windsor.
Edward Foster ; of his previous history I have no in- formation.
John Hall had been in a family state, many years be- fore he left England, and was an early settler both in Hartford and Middletown. His three sons, Richard, Samuel and John Hall, jr., probably came to Middletown, when he did. He died May 26, 1673, in the 89th year of his age. John Hall, jr., was the good deacon men- tioned in the Address.
Giles Hamlin is generally considered as coming here immediately from England. He was born abont 1612.
146
NOTE B.
He was in the habit of crossing the Atlantic, and was engaged in foreign commerce, "partly by himself and partly with John Pynchon of Springfield, his brother-in- law John Crow, jr., who dwelt in Fairfield, and elder Goodwin of Hartford, afterwards of Farmington." He died in 1689.
William and Daniel Harris came to Middletown from Rowley, Mass.
George Hubbard was an early settler in Hartford, and had six sons, Joseph, Daniel, Samuel, George, Na- thaniel and Richard. The two oldest sons settled in Middletown.
This George Hubbard, was a distinct person from the George Hubbard who resided in Wethersfield, Milford and Guilford. The genealogies of their families show this.
Thomas Hubbard, who became a settler and proprie- tor in Middletown, is supposed to have come from Weth- crsfield, as there was an inhabitant early there of that name. He died in 1671, and whether he was related or not to either of the George Hubbards just mentioned is not known.
John Hurlburt was from Wethersfield, son of Thom- as Hurlburt of that town.
Isaac Johnson was from Roxbury and recommended from the church there to the church in Middletown.
John Kirby, one correspondent states, settled first in Boston, and it may be that he landed there and remain- ed for a short time. Another correspondent says that his first child was born in Hartford, and a third that he liad a child born or baptized in Hartford in 1646, but adds " that he lived in Wethersfield, and had children born there in 1649 and 1651. From this town he re- moved to Middletown. In 1654 he owned a house and
147
NOTE B.
land in Rowington, Warwickshire, Eng., and the pre- sumption is that he emigrated first from that place.
Isaac Lane, I know not from what place he came.
William Lucas. There was a William Lucas at Mar- blehead in 1648, who may have been the same person that came here. He died in 1690.
Anthony Martin. There was an early settler in Wethersfield by the name of Samuel Martin ; but the point has not been investigated, whether Anthony was from that town.
Thomas Miller was recommended to the church in Middletown, from the church in Rowley.
Thomas Ranney, is said to have been from Scotland. He was married to Mary Hubbard, the eldest child of George Hubbard of Middletown, in 1659, and had five children, Thomas, John, Joseph, Mary and Elizabeth. He died Jan. 25th, 1713, and was the first person buried in the oldest grave yard in the Upper Houses.
David Sage, is said to have been from Wales.
John Savage married in Hartford in 1653, and may have resided there, though not a proprietor in that place.
Samuel Stocking was from Hartford and & son of George Stocking.
Samuel Stow, who preached to the people in Middle- town some years as a candidate for the ministry, I have very lately been informed by a friend, was not born in Concord, Mass., as represented on p. 48, but in Roxbu- ry, and that he did not live in Concord, until after he be- came a candidate. The probability therefore is, that his brother Thomas Stow, if not his nephew, John Stow, were also born in Roxbury, Mass. Samuel Stow died May 8, 1704.
James Tappin. There was a man named James Tap- pan, married at Guilford to Hannah Garrett, March 5,
148
NOTE B.
1656. But it is doubtful whether this was the same person that settled in Middletown.
Edward Turner was from Milford, and had two or three children baptized there. His wife was recom- mended to the church in Middletown, from the church in that place.
John and William Ward are supposed to have been both from Rowley. The former was recommended from the church in that town.
Andrew, Robert and John Warner, were sons of An- drew Warner, who emigrated from Hatfield, Eng., about 1630, who was at Cambridge in 1632, and at Hartford among the early settlers. He was a deacon in the Rev. Mr. Hooker's church and an influential man in that town. He removed to Hadley in 1659, where he died in 1684, at an advanced age. The three sons in Middletown were farmers. Andrew Warner died Jan. 26th, 1582. Robert repeatedly represented the town in the General Court ; he died April 10th, 1690. John died in 1700. The Warners in Chester and Lyme, are descendants of Daniel Warner, one of their brothers.
Thomas Wetmore is said to have been from Wales. He married a daughter of John Hall in Hartford, in 1645 and had two or three children baptized there. He died in 1681, aged 66.
Nathaniel White was from Hartford, a son of John White of Hartford and Hadley.
John Wilcox was from Hartford.
Further investigation may show that some of those settlers whose origin we have not stated, were from Chelmsford and Woburn.
149
NOTE B.
List of the Householders and Proprietors, as taken March 22d, 1670.
Thomas Allen,
£103 10
Joseph Hubbard, 38 00
Obadiah Allen, 30 00
Daniel Hubbard, 24 00
Nathaniel Bacon,
119 00
Thomas Hubbard,
61 00
William Briggs,
42 00
John Hurlburt,
26 00
Alexander Bow,
45 00
Isaac Johnson,
24 00
William Cheney,
101 00
John Kirby,
88 00
Jasper Clements,
98 10
Isaac Lane,
40 00
Henry Cole,
115 00
William Lucas,
42 00
Nathaniel Collins, )
Anthony Martin,
60 10
this stock and per-
Thomas Miller,
50 10
son with £150
225 00
Thomas Ranney,
105 00
given him in land
David Sage, 68 10
by the town,
John Savage,
129 00
Samuel Collins,
58 00
Samuel Stocking,
113 10
William Cornwall,
160 00
Samuel Stow,
194 00
John Cornwall,
41 00
Thomas Stow,
54 00
Samuel Cornwall, 45 00
John Stow,
24 00
William Cornwall, jr., 45 00
James Tappin,
50 00
George Durant,
34 00
Edward Turner,
44 00
Samuel Eggleston,
55 00
John Ward,
44 00
John Hall,
99 00
Andrew Warner,
84 00
Richard Hall,
75 00
Robert Warner,
87 10
Samuel Hall,
130 00
John Warner,
96 10
John Hall, jr.,
26 00
Thomas Wetmore,
125 10
Giles Hamlin,
134 00
Nathaniel White,
169 10
William Harris,
200 00
John Wilcox,
140 00
Daniel Harris,
132 00
George Hubbard,
90 10
Total,
£4,322 10
Edward Foster,
26 00
William Ward, 110 00
(NOTE C.)
Sketches of the Towns and Societies, within the original limits of afiddle- town, together with the rise of dif- ferent Denominations, their Church- es and E. Officers ; Lists of Civil Officers, &c.
The territory of Middletown, which at first contained but one Ecclesiastical Society, the business of which was done by the town, as there was but one denomination of Christians in it, now contains four towns : Middletown and Cromwell on the west side of Connecticut river, and Portland and Chatham on the east; the first of which contains three local Ecclesiastical Societies, or which were so, until within a limited period, and which, in con- formity with custom, it will be convenient to speak of as such still; the second and third contain one Society each, and the fourth one whole society, most of a second and a fraction of a third.
As the publication of the exercises in November, 1850, has been unexpectedly delayed until the begin- ning of 1852, an attempt will be made to bring down the statistics in this note to the present time.
We will begin with the First Society in Middletown, and then proceed to Middlefield and Westfield, the two other societies now belonging to Middletown.
The First Society is much the largest of the three and has the greatest variety of soil and surface. There is but little alluvial ground in it and yet the land is good
13
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152
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
with the exception of that on the range of the Strait Hills in the south cast part, and that is valuable for wood. Beyond that in the district called Maromos, there are arable and productive lands near the river .- There is much rich soil in the society, and the arable lands here and in the vicinity are made more and more productive by increasingly skilful cultivation, helped on- ward by the proceedings and anniversaries of the Mid- dlescx County Agricultural Society.
This Society includes the city, where a large part of the carly settlers placed their . habitations, and whence the population spread in different directions. Almost all the inhabitants here, as in the rest of the Society and in the other Societies, for a considerable period, were oc- cupied in clearing and cultivating the ground.
In the profitable commerce which sprung up within the limits of the city and was carried on with the West Indies, about the middle of the last century, Richard Alsop was by far the most successful. The p'ace afford- ed great advantages for carrying on this commerce, be- ing situated on the largest river in New England, having a fine harbor, to which vessels could ascend drawing ten feet of water, with rich towns on its banks, where anti- cles suitable for the West India market could be easily procured. Mr. Alsop know well how to avail himself of these advantages. He was a son of John Alsop, Esq., of Newtown, L. I., afterwards of Esopus on Hudson river, an attorney at law. He was educated a merchant in the store af Philip Livingston, in the city of Now York, and about 1750 came to this town and commenced business. He had his store, or rather stores, in the low- " er rooms of the old town-house, or court-house, as it was sometimes called, standing in Main street, a little above Washington street. He soon engaged in commerce, and prospered so much that he sometimes insured vessels for others on his private responsibility. He was a man of integrity, generosity and public spirit. H'n fellow citi- zens repeatedly elected him a representative to the L g- islature. He died carly in the Revolution, and the fol- lowing summary of his estate, is from the Probate re- cords. "Amount of inventory of Richard Alsop's estate,
153
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
£34,818:7:7,"' besides " a large amount of money lodged in Jamacia, stock in two partnership concerns, a large number of book debts due," and other property, the value of which could not be ascertained. The record of this inventory occupies fifty-one folio pages.
There were others who acquired much property by commerce, or concerns connected with it before the Re- volution, though by the events of the war, or other caus- es, they did not all die rich. Philip Mortimer came here from Boston, sometime before the Revolution, and went largely into the rop ?- making business. The in- ventory of his estate was £6,177:7:8. Mr. Mortimer was a man of taste. He built a large and beautiful house for that day, on the bank of the river, now owned by Capt. William G. Hackstaff, ornamented a tract of several acres around it, planted lines of button-ball trees from it to Main Street, made a walk, placed seats by it under the trees and threw it open to the public, which became an obj ct of attraction, not only to people of the . town, old and young, but to strangers. When a portion of the French army in the Revolution were on their way from the east to Washington's encampment, stopping over the Sabbath in Middletown, the officers amused themselves by dancing in the evening under the shades. The names of Washington, Layfayette and other inter- esting characters, were cut in the trees.
The Revolution having come to a successful issue, commerce began to revive ; and that this might be pur- sucd to greater advantage, a petition, dated Jan. 15, 1784, was signed and presented to the Legislature the following May, that a part of Middletown, where com- merce had been principally and almost wholly carried on before the war, might be invested with city privileges. The signers alledged that "many inconveniences were felt by them, as well as by strangers, for want of a due regulation of the police of the town ;" and that keeping high ways in good repair, removing obstructions from the channel of the adjoining river and many other regula- tions for the commercial convenience and utility of the memorialists, were impossible to be accomplished with- out a separate and special jurisdiction. The petition
154
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
was granted in May of the same year ; and at the same session, Hartford and New Haven, New London and Norwich, were constituted citics.
The city is bounded as follows : "Beginning at the mouth of Little river, or Ferry river, thence in a north- east line, to the east side of Connecticut river, at high water mark, thence on the bank of the said Connecticut river, at high water mark, until it comes to a point due east from Sumner's Creek, thence in a west line to the mouth of Sumner's Creek, thence southerly and west- rely as the said creek runs to Warwick's Bridge, thence west to the Little River, for West River, as the stream is sometimes called,] thence northerly and east- erly down the Little river, as the same runs to the first boundary, including the waters of the said Little river, Sumner's Creek and Connecticut river."
The medium length of the city may be a mile and a half, and its breadth, exclusively of the river, which va- ries here from 97 to 80 rods, is about the same. It is to be lamented that the petition does not state the num- ber of inhabitants within the specified bounds, nor give any statistical information. But it is well known that the people then lived very generally on the streets run- ning parallel, or nearly so, with the Connecticut, as far back as High street, and others crossing these streets at nearly right angles : the much greater part on the east- ern half of the streets then existing : for since that time Broad street and some other streets have been opened. Since the incorporation of the city, more particularly, within the last thirty years, the western half has in- creased proportionally more than the eastern. And while the population has been increasing, many new build- ings have been erected, some of large dimensions and improved style of architecture ; some of more substan- tial materials. The general appearance of the city has been greatly improved within the memory of many per- sons now living, and not a little within a few years. The young can hardly believe, smooth as Main Strect now is, that once there was such a depression in the road in front of the McDonough House, now building, that a person standing there could not see over a rise just be-
155
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
low, so as to discern a load of hay passing a bridged ravine a little further onward.
In 1815, there were in the city two hundred and nine- ty-nine dwelling houses, and three hundred and fifty- three families ; in 1850, there were six hundred and three dwelling-houses, and seven hundred and eighteen families. At the former period, there were in the city five churches, attended however, by people from all parts of the First Society, one Bank, a Court-house, Goal and Alms-house. There are now seven Churches, most of them attended in a similar manner, and one or two re- ceiving many of their attendants from beyond the limits of said Society, four Banks, a Court-house, Custom-house, Goal and Alms-house ; a number of them recently built : there are also the University buildings, and the house for the High-school.
The Church edifices, the University buildings, and the High-school House, will come into view hereafter. The first Bank edifice was erected after the bank was grant- ed in 1795, and was so constructed that the stockholders might have a safe place for the deposit of their money and the officers for the transaction of their business. For the Banks of a later date, buildings were purchased and fitted for like purposes. These are, Middlesex County Bank, which occupies the building previously used by the Branch Bank of the United States; the Middletown Savings Bank, and the Central Bank.
The present Court House, the second building of the kind in Middletown, since the County of Middlesex was formed, was built in 1832: Its of brick, stuccoed in front, with a portico, 84 feet by 50. It cost $10,100, of which the County paid $2,600; the City $1,500; the Town $3,000, and individuals $3,000; it being all arranged at the time that the City and Town were to en- joy certain privileges in the building. Here the records of the City and Town and of Courts are kept, and here is the Town Clerk's Office.
The Custom House was not built until 1834, the cus- toms being previously collected in buildings hired for the purpose. This is of hewn stone, 52 by 48, the first story rests on brick arches, the roof is zinc and fire-proof. It
* 13
156
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
cost $17,500, all of which was appropriated by the United States, excepting $500, which individuals gave towards the purchase of the site.
Besides the conveniences which this building affords for the collector of customs, a room on the first floor is used for a Post Office.
The present County Goal, was built in 1848. It is of stone, forty-four feet by twenty-six, having twelve cells. This is the third building of the kind since 1784. Separately from the land which the town gave, it cost $3,300. The County paid $2,300, the Town $1,000. This is near the Alms-house in the southwest part of the city.
The Alms-House, was first occupied by the poor, in May, 1814. It is a brick building, sixty feet by forty, two stories in front and three in the rear, which, with the ground, two and a half acres, fences and furniture, cost $8,755.
For some years there have been three Taverns in the city-the Central Hotel, the Mansion House, and the Farmers and Mechanics Hotel. The Central Hotel is kept for the present, in a large private dwelling, and its former site has been purchased by the McDonough Hotel Company, formed in May, 1851. On this they are now building a Hotel, which already bears the honorable name of the " McDonough House." It is fifty-six fect in front on Main street, and sixty-six in the rear ; one hundred on Court street. It will cost about $30,000; it is expected to be completed soon, and opened in June, (1852.) The whole building will be devoted to the uses of the hotel, excepting two stores, in the first story on Main street. The large house first built for a hotel, corner of Main and Washington sts., belonging to the estate of the Rev. Dr. Jarvis, is soon to be opened as a private hotel.
Most of the mercantile business of Middletown has al- ways been done in the city, the greater part on Main st., though considerable has been done on Water street. This has been fully doubled in thirty years, notwith- standing the rise of business in Meriden, whence many persons formerly came to trade, at stores here. If we include all the business done in the city, mercantile, me-
157
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
chanical and manufacturing, it has been much more than doubled. J. & D. Hinsdale did a very large business more than thirty years ago, and about the same period, some other merchants traded to a very respectable amount. But there is now a greater number of large stores.
The writer is indebted particularly to the kindness and examination of a friend, for the number of stores, shops, &c., at the present time (March 1852), in the city, which are : seven Dry Good stores, four Merchant Tailors', five stores dealing in Shoes, Clothing and other articles ; and here it should be stated that several Dry Good stores and Clothing establishments carry on the tailoring business, twenty-nine Grocery stores, two Dry Good and Grocery, three Crockery, two Hardware, seven Shoe, four Hat, Shoe and Fur, one Hat and Shoe Store, one Hat Manufactory, three Apothecary stores, two Book stores, four Printing Offices, and two Book Binders : there are nine Milliners' shops, three Gold- smiths, two Saddle and Harness Makers, six Dentists, four Carriage and Wagon Makers, two Cabinet, four Tinners, and six Blacksmith shops, four Butcher Stalls, one Bakery, two Tallow Chandelery, four Lumber yards, and one Sail Loft. Besides the Stores in the city, there are three stores just beyond its limits, in which Dry Goods and Groceries are sold.
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