USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > Centennial address and Historical sketches > Part 11
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For an account of the manufacturing operations in and about the city, and also, in Middlefield and Westfield. the reader is referred to the preceding account of " Middletown-its Manufactories," by Mr. Gorham. It should be born in mind however, that since the facts in that account were collected, there have been changes in the establishments. The operations in them, generally, have been on the advance. This is true particularly in the establishment of W. & B. Douglas. In this, there were then eighty men employed ; the number has since reach- ed to one hundred and twenty, and their stock and whole business have been increased proportionally. The Car- bine, or Gun Factory, of North & Savage, was then un- dergoing repairs. It has since been put in operation. About forty hands have been employed, and Carbines
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SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
made at the rate of not far from two thousand per year. These are sold mostly to the Government of the United States, the residue at private sale, amounting in all to about $30,000.
We have said that city privileges were sought, that commerce might be pursued more advantageously from this port. Great things were anticipated, and commerce did flourish for a time, and some individuals thereby greatly increased their estates, though they had other sources of income. Among those who succeeded the most in the West India trade, after the Revolution, were Elijah Hubbard, Lemuel Storrs, Nehemiah Hubbard, and at a period considerably later, Joseph Wright Al- sop. The inventory of Elijah Hubbard's estate was $144,971,91-the inventory of Lemuel Storrs' estate was $47,308, and he left a larger amount of property, not inventoried here, consisting of lands in the State of New York and Ohio-the inventory of Nehemiah Hub- bard's estate was $79,374,34-and he possessed large. tracts of Western lands-the inventory of Joseph W. Alsop was $47,002,87.
But commerce never reached the prosperity which it had before the Revolution. Successive adverse events injured it, and finally the trade with the West Indies, from Middletown was lost, and from the Connecticut river. Since then there has been but little foreign com- merce from Middletown, and domestic commerce has been limited, though it is now increasing.
In consequence of the failure of Foreign Commerce, numerous enterprising men were under the necessity, either of removal to other places, or of resorting to man- ufactures. Many preferred the latter alternative, and the result is the rise and increase of the manufactures to which we have referred.
The factories generally are moved by water power, though the large establishment of W. & B. Douglas, and one or two others, are moved by steam. The water privileges of the town are very great, and as yet but partially improved. The streams which to a great ex- tent bound the city and empty themselves into the Con- necticut, immediately north and south of it, are invalua-
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SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
ble for manufacturing purposes. Dams are built upon them at far less expense than on larger streams, and are not as liable to be carried away or injured by floods.
The effects of drouth on these streams is to a great degree prevented by two reservoirs of water, one of which is secured by a dam, directly on the outlet of Mil- ler's pond, the rise of Miller's brook, which takes the name of Sumner's Creek before it enters the Connecti- cut. The other reservoir is on a tributary of West riv- er, in Middlefield, which is called before it empties itself into Connecticut river, and in comparison with it, Little River.
On the north side of the Strait Hills, and near But- ler's Creek, as it enters the Connecticut river, there is the mine usually called the Lead Mine, mentioned on p. 70, which excited a good deal of attention before the Ameri- can Revolution, and on which foreigners had expended large sums of money. In May 1775, "Jabez Hamlin, Matthew Talcott and Titus Hosmer, were appointed a Committee to provide stores of lead as they should judge necessary for the use of the Colony, or to take the lead ore raised out of the mine at Middletown and refined and fitted for the use of the Colony." In July follow- ing, the Assembly ordered them to work the mine. They did so, and put up works for smelting and refining the ore, which were completed about the month of Sp- tember ; and at this time high expectations were raised of providing from it a large amount of lead. In March and July of the following year orders were given upon the committee to furnish quantities of lead for military purposes, and in November 5th, one hundred and forty pounds were reported to be in the hands of the Commit- tee, and Capt. Samuel Russell was added to the Com- mittee to procure lead for the State and to work the mine. The vein ran northerly towards the river, was followed thirty or forty rods, and in some places was very rich. But the vein being enclosed in granitic rock it was very difficult to get the ore, and as it approached the river it sunk abruptly into the earth. The works, however, were continued until the beginning of 1778- but at a session of the Assembly begun in February
160
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
of that year a report was made, that the manufacture of said ore was unprofitable to the State. The Committee were therefore ordered to discontinue the works, after having finished the ore then on hand. *
The ore was mineralized with sulphur, and a man from Pennsylvania, by the name of Thomas Bidwell, was allowed the privilege of using the su'pliur ore with- out charge. It was partly steel-grained and this con- tained a portion of silver, and partly cubic lead ore, the ore also contained zinc.
The Committee having fulfilled their last direction, the mine was given up, and nothing has been done in it until the present time; but we are happy in adding that Dr. Eugene A. Frankfort, who came the last year to test the ore, which had been taken some months previous from the Cobalt mine in Middle Haddam, has examined this mine. The results he gives in a communication, re- cent'y published in the "Sentinel and Witness," in Middletown.
" Lead, he says, though present [in this mine], would never alone pay the expenses of mining here, as there is not enough of it. But there are several other metal- lic minerals abundantly found in the quartz veins of the Granwacke Rock, which lying over the Gneiss here, on both sides of the creek, stretches as far as the river. These minerals are well worth mining, and the writer of these lines is just about erecting mining and smelting works here. These minerals are Argentiferous Galena, containing some twenty-five per cent of silver. The heavy deposits of Zineblende will be manufactured into white oxyd and sulphate of zinc-the former of which is now coming into extensive use, instead of white-lead, to which as a paint it is far superior. The latter is a well-known mordant in all dyeing and coloring opera- tions. Sulphuret of Bismuth occurs here also, (along with the Galena and Zincblende,) in lead colored grains, and as this metals enters into the composition of the clin- ches for stereotypes, and is put into the best kinds of Bri- tannia Ware, it will pay for refining. Copper Pyrites,
* See Hinman's American Revolution.
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SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
in gold yellow nodules and of great purity, is found here also, and the copper obtained from thein. Silver, the preparations of Zine and Bismuth, will form the ba- sis of the mining operations which will be carried on here. Besides the above mentioned useful minerals, the Mineralogical collector may find here, Iron Pyrites, Mis- pickel, or Arsenleal Pyrites, and fine drusy crystals of common quartz." The vein of the metals runs in quartz rock.
The old works, which were carried on near by in the Revolution, until 1778, as just mentioned, would have been profitable, had the operators been searching for minerals more generally, and had they known how to turn the Zincblend into use, but zine then being but lit- tle employed for telmical purposes, they could not sepa- rate it with advantage and their object was lead for use in the existing war with Great Britain.
The Feldspar Quarries, nigh the Middlesex Turnpike, three miles south-easterly from the city, may be proper- ly mentioned in this connection. Concerning these, Dr. Franckfort observes, in the communication from which a quotation has just been made as follows.
" The Granite is here partly composed out of a very fine white or pinkish white Feldspar, which has been quarried considerably, and with profit, as I have been tokl ; but at present, quarrying operations have been suspended. The Feldspar, when not mixed with Quartz or Mica, is the material from which the greatest part of China Ware and Porcelain is manufactured. Feldspar is a Silicate of Alumnia and Potash. Besides the com- mon Feldspar found here, a white, shining, crystalized variety of it, called A'tite, has been often observed also. The Mica occurs here, as in the above mentioned Colum- bite locality, in large foliated layers and crystals, some half a foot in thickness, and is often of pitch black color. Columlite has also been found here, and it is said, in crystals of greater beanty and larger size, than those which we obtain from Haddam. This Mineralis, however, now very rare here. The Mica, and a pinkish variety of it called Lepidolite, of this locality, contain some very
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SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
fine specimens of transparent green Tourmalines. Red Tourmalines have also been found, though not often. Apatite, a lime containing mineral, is frequent in green colored nodules and crystals, imbedded in the Feldspar. Rutile, an almost pure oxyd of the metal called Titani- um, has been obtained here of such beauty, that, accord- ing to Dana, it formed, when cut and polished, a gem of rare brilliancy of lustre. Its color is a splendid brown . ish red. Amongst other Minerals, I collected here a few specimens of Uranite, in small, almost microscopic scales, of a lemon yellow color. Large rough Beryls are commmon here.
From the above, it is evident that these Quarries will pay well a visit to them ; and it is to be hoped that they will be worked again, when many more beautiful miner- als will be brought to fight, that rest now imbedded in the Feldspar."
The city of Middletown enjoys advantages for the erection of buildings. Free stone, or rather a dark sand-stone abounds in the town, and as early as 1726, the selectmen were directed take care of the quarries on the West side of the river, as well as on the east side, in what is now Portland. The first quarry opened on the west side is within the limits of the city and at dif- ferent times has been improved to a considerable extent. Some of the stone have been used in the city and some have been carried to other places. Recently the Port- land stone have been principally used ; they are within sight of the city and can be brought to it without much difficulty or expense. A large brick yard until within a short period, has been improved within the city limits ; a better one is now improved a mile or two beyond them. As for lumber so far as the town cannot furnish it, it can be brought from other parts of the country, by ves- sels or by çars.
Besides, the facilities for intercourse which this place has with other parts of the country, by the river and by railroad, it has others by turupikes and public roads to neighboring towns, and through them to others beyond them.
From the Post Office mails are sent twice, daily, to
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SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
New York, Hartford and Boston, and are received twice. A daily mail passes to and from New Haven, Saybrook, East Haddam, and Wethersfield, and intermediate places, and also to and from Portland. A mail passes to and from Lyme, and to and from East Hampton on the east side of the Connecticut river, thrice weekly and through the intermediate places. By these and other mails the inhabitants are enabled to maintain perpetual intercourse with all parts of the country.
But the great object of the Colonists, who settled in Middletown, as well as in other parts of New England, was, to enjoy unmolested the right of worshipping God according to the dictates of their own consciences. Let us then advert to their ecclesiastical proceedings, to the formation of the First Congregational Church ; also to the rise of other denominations and the formation of their churches, in what is now the First Society.
In the address, a few words were said in regard to the religious character of the early settlers, and of their employment of Mr. Samuel Stow, graduate of Harvard College, 1645, as a candidate for the ministry, and of his preaching to them a number of years. For some time they may have hardly felt themselves able to settle a pastor, but in August, 1657, they voted to continue him on trial, and appear afterwards to have made some further advances towards his settlement. But some dif- ficulties arising in the town respecting him, a vote was passed in 1659, that they did not wish to continue him, but to look elsewhere. In 1661, the difficulties came before the General Court, which declared the town to be free from Mr. Stow, as their engaged minister ; and the Court appointed a committee to further a settled minis- try in the place. The following is a copy of the report of the committee.
" Whereas upon divers agitations before the General Court between Mr. Stow and the inhabitants of Middle- town, the Court did declare that the Town of Middle- town, are free from Mr. Stow as their engaged minister, and the Court appointing a Committee to further a set- tled ministry in that place-and after long endeavors by the people there, to procure them a minister, there ap-
14
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SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
pears a probability of their obtaining of Mr. Collins for that purpose-the Committee doth approve of their pro- ceedings therein and of his acceptance of their motion, and according to the mind of the Court, do advise both Mr. Stow and all the inhabitants of Middletown, to a loving carriage to Mr. Collins and friendly compliance with each other-that the memory of all former differen- ces may be wholly buried, and that Mr. Collins may have all due encouragement in the work of the ministry, that he is called unto in that place-and that the long desired, comfortable and peaceable settlement of Mid- dletown may be obtained, which is the desire of the Committee appointed by the General Court to promote the settlement of the ministry there.
MATTHEW ALLEN, in the name
of the Committee.
Hartford, December 6, 1661."
The action of the General Court appears to have fin- ished the business respecting the settlement of Mr. Stow in the ministry in Middletown, and the people went forward according to advice, and at length with en- tire unanimity settled Mr. Collins. But in 1681, ap- plication was made to him to preach in Simsbury, and he supplied the desk four years. In May, 1682, a
"Humble Motion of Simsbury men" was made to the
General Assembly for countenance to settle themselves in gospel order, and at that time it was expected Mr. Stow would become their pastor. But as his term of service for four years drew towards a close, he desired of the inhabitants an " answer whether they would con- tinue him in the work of the ministry and settle him in office amongst them." They did not see cause to settle him in office, but seem to have referred the matter to him, whether he would continue any longer in the work of a teaching minister. That he did not choose to do, any farther than to fulfil his existing engagement .* He then gave up his designs of the ministry, and lived in Middletown as a private citizen.
But we proposed to give an account of the formation
* History of Simsbury, Granby and Canton, by Noah A. Phelps.
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SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
of the First Congregational Church in Middletown, which had been contemplated from the beginning of the settlement. Numbers of the settlers were members of churches in the place from which they came, and must have greatly desired it, but the matter was long delayed by circumstances. The people of the town as a body wished for it, and manifested by a vote, "that they were willing to lay out themselves in all regular endeav- ors that they might enjoy God in all his ordinances
among them. "The desires of all were gratified" on the 4th of the 9th month, (the 4th of November,) 1668, when the fathers of the Church, ten in number, owned a confession of faith and entered into covenant with God and with one another," with the approbation and con- currence of the honored messengers then present, sent from the respective churches. These were from the Church of Christ at Windsor, Hartford, Farmington, and Northampton, by name, the Rev. Mr. Hooker, Mr. Mather, Mr. Whiting, Mr. Nathaniel Chauncey, Deacon Moore, Deacon Hart, Deacon Judd, Deacon Hancket, John Stanley, John Wadsworth. Other mem- bers of Churches, came forward afterwards and united with this church ; some of them the wives of these ten.
The ordination of the pastor, Rev. Nathaniel Collins, who had preached to the people some years, followed, and the desires of the Town and the call of the Church are both mentioned in the brief account of the transac- tion as follows : " The 4th of the 9th [month] 1668, being the day of our ecclesiastical embodying, (the town having formerly jointly invited to and desired it,) the Church elected and called Nathaniel Collins, to the office of pastor among them, promising that, if desired by him, and themselves [should be] in capacity, they would pro- vide a fellow laborer in the word and doctrine : whereup- on he accepted, and at the request of the church was or- dained by the Reverend Mr. Mather and Mr. Whiting."
The views of the Church were in accordance with the Cambridge Platform.
January 20th, 1669, " the Church concluded upon a monthly conference to be kept by the whole body, and
166
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
occasionally the conference day to be improved as a day of fasting and prayer."
March 20th, 1670, Thomas Allen, Samuel Stocking, and John Hall, jr., having been duly elected, " were or- dained in the office of deacons in this particular church of Christ, and commended to the grace of God therein, by prayers with the imposition of hands."
This Church has had seven pastors. The first four are dead, Rev. Nathaniel Collins, Noadiah and William Russell, father and son, and Enoch Huntington. Mr. Collins, graduate of Harvard College, 1660, died De- cember 28th, 1684, aged 42. Mr. Noadiah Russell, a native of New Haven, was graduated at Harvard, 1681, and ordained Oct. 24th, 1688. He died December 3d, 1813, aged 54. Mr. William Russell, born in Middle- town and graduated at Yale College, 1709; succeeded his father as pastor of the church, June 1st, 1715, and died June 1, 1761, aged 70. Mr. Huntington, native of Windham, graduated at Yale, 1759, was ordained Jan. 6, 1762, and died June 12th, 1809, aged 69. Sketches of these ministers are given in the address.
The three pastors living are Rev. Dan Huntington, Chauncey Allen Goodrich, D. D., and John R. Crane, D. D.
Mr. D. Huntington is a native of Lebanon, was grad- nate of Yale, 1794, tutor there and at Williams College. He was pastor of the Congregational Church in Litch- field several years before coming to Middletown, where he was installed September 10th, 1809, and dismissed February 6th, 1816. He has since lived in Hadley, Massachusetts.
Dr. Goodrich is a native of New Haven, graduate of Yale, 1810, and tutor. He was ordained in Middletown July 24th, 1816, and dismissed December 23d, 1817. Immediately after, he became Professor of Rhetoric at Yale College, where he is now professor of Pastoral Charge.
Dr. Crane, native of Newark, N. J., graduate of Princeton College, 1805, was ordained November 4th, 1818, and is the present pastor.
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN. 167
Mr. Collins admitted to the Church,
76 persons. -
N. Russell,
66
- 180
66
66 V. Russell, 66
- 305
E. Huntington, 66
- 346 66
66 D. Huntington,
66
-
98
Dr. Goodrich,
66
- 32
66
Dr. Crane,
- 539
66
These, with ten at the organization make a total of 1586
The number of communicants January 1st, 1852, was 309.
DEACONS OF THE CHURCH.
Elected.
Died.
Ages.
Thomas Allen,
March 16, 1670.
Samuel Stocking,
John Hall, jr.,
Jan. 22. 1694.
75
Daniel Markum,
About 1690.
William Sumner,
Aug. 11, 1695.
May 31, 1706.
Obadiah Allen,
May 31, 1704. 60 66
Oct. 27, 1742
74 70
Solomon Atkins,
Jan. 8, 1735.
Oct. 5, 1748.
John Hubbar 1,
May 26, 1743.
March 12, 1753.
60
Jonathan Allen,
Dec. 23, 1783
80
William Rockwell,
April 6, 1749.
July 28, 1765.
63 82
Joseph Clark, Esq.,
Aug. 16, 1765.
April 21, 1778.
58 59
Chauncey Whittlesey, Jacob Wetmore,
March 7, 1782.
Sept. 25, 1825.
Oliver Wetmore,
March 4, 1784.
Dec. 1, 1798.
46
Timothy Boardman,
April 1, 1784.
May 5, 1792.
64
Matthew T. Russell, Esq.
May 3, 1793.
Nov. 13, 1828.
63
Thomas Inbbard,
1812.
Aug. 27, 1828.
12
Joseph Boardman,
May
16, 1812. 66
Sept. 25, 1846.
79
Samuel Eells, 2d.,
Oct. 27, 1825.
Resigned Oct. 9,1841. June 9, 1844.
52
Cyprian Galpin,
July 22, 1840.
Moved to N. Haven.
John B. Woodford,
July 2, 1844.
Moved to Windsor.
Evan Davis,
Nov.
26, 1844.
John H. Sumner,
Nov. 18, 1846.
Robert P. Rand,
May
22, 1850.
Selah Goodrich,
June
19, 1850.
-
Hon. Jabez Ilamlin,
Feb. 7, 1754.
April 25, 1791.
John Earl Hubbard,
July 27, 1782.
Sept. 17, 1778.
March 14, 1812.
65 90 *
Moved to N. Y. City.
Henry S. Ward,
Dec. 27, 1828.
Richard Rand,
May 5, 1713.
Joseph Rockwell,
Boriah Wetmore,
* Did not act as deacon for sometime before his death.
# 14
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SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
The first Society formerly had very considerable funds, the yearly income of which was devoted to the support of the gospel among them, but has none at the present time ; and it is very well able to sustain reli- gious institutions without them. This is evident from contributions which the people make to the American Bible Society, Missionary Societies, foreign and domest- ic, and other institutions of a similar character. These have been condsiderably more in some years than in oth- ers, but are calculated to have been, for twenty years, $1,500 annually.
...
Sketch of the Strict Congregational Church, now the South Congregational Church of Middletown.
About the time of the great revival of religion in New England, and in other parts of the English American Colonies, in 1741 and '42, a few individuals in the towns of Wethersfield and Middletown, embraced the princi- ples of the Strict Congregationalists. These were form- ed into a Church in Wethersfield, Oct. 28th, 1747, and Rev. Ebenezer Frothingham, a native of Cambridge, Mass., was ordained their pastor. But as the principal members in Wethersfield, within a few years, emigrated into the State of New York, Mr. Frothingham came to Middletown and was installed over the Strict Congrega- tionalists living here, about 1754. These resided in the First and Fourth Societies. They were few in number, but increased considerably under his ministry. In 1788 they were divided into two churches, those in the First Society constituting one church, and those in the Fourth or Westfield Society constituting the other church. Mr. Frothingham was dismissed about the time of this divis- ion, but remained in Middletown until his death, Nov. 30th, 1798, at the age of 81.
Some idea of the strength which the Congregation gathered under the ministry of Mr. Frothingham, may be
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SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
formed from the fact, that eighty persons under date of Oct. 13, 1788, signed the following agreement :
" We the subscribers of the Second Strict Congrega- tional Church and Society in this town, believing it to be our duty to attend the public worship of God, and sup- port a gospel minister, do agree according to our several abilities, to raise such supplies as shall be necessary to render the life of a gospel minister comfortable in order for his usefullness among us, and that we will attend a society meeting, annually, on the last Monday in Sep- tember, in order for raising such supplies as shall be necessary for the comfortable support of a gospel minis- ter. And we further agree that we will be accountable to this church and society for any neglect of fulfilling this our agreement-provided always that no force of civil law is to be used, in collecting support for the gos- pel ministry among us."
The names appended, placing them alphabetically, are these : Anthony Ames, Joshua Arnold, Thamer Atkins, Ebenezer Pierpont, and Benjamin Bacon ; Daniel, George, Caleb, Giles and Reuben Barnes ; Solomon and Jolın Bill ; Solomon, Samuel, and John Edward Blake ; Amos Bow, Michael Braddock, Noah Brooks, Daniel and Samuel Clark; Jesse, Joseph, and Ezra Coe, and Jesse Coe, jr. ; Cornelius Cornwall, John Cotton, 2d; John, Daniel and Samuel Crowell, and John Crowell, jr. ; Jo- seph and Israel Driggs, and Joseph Driggs, jr. ; John Gilbert, Enoch Green, John and Jonathan A. Hall, and John Hall, jr. ; David Harris ; Jacob, Elias, Oliver, Manoah and Enoch Hubbard ; Trustam Hull, John and James Johnson, Samuel Lee, Moses Lucas, jr., Ezekiel Lyman, Ebenezer Markham; Joshua, Caleb and Peter Miller ; Robert and George Paddock ; Aaron Plumbe, Oliver Prior, Samuel Redden, Collins Roberts ; Collins S., Hinchman, Aaron, Noyce and Edward Roberts ; John Rogers, jr., Samuel Savage, Elias and Nathan Sears, Daniel Sizer, Nathan Strong, Jesse Tryon, Jona- than Turner, Joseph Ward and Joseph Ward, jr., John Wetmore, Daniel and Stephen Whitmore, and Abel and Giles Wilcox.
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