USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > Centennial address and Historical sketches > Part 16
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Wesleyan 'University.
Samuel Livingston Mather, 1835. Was a merchant for a time in New York; has since studied law, and is now practising in Cleveland, Ohio.
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224
GRADUATES FROM MIDDLETOWN.
Theodore Hinsdale, 1836. Studied law and is prac- tising in the city of New York.
Loudon B. Ward, 1842. Taught school in Virginia several years ; now resides in Middletown.
Ebenezer Tracy Whittlesey, 1843. Studied law for a time, but has relinquished the study and is now pursu- ing mercantile business in San Francisco, California.
Abram J. Wright, 1843. Is a merchant in New York city.
Jonathan Kelsey Burr, 1845. Studied theology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York ; is now a member of the New Jersey Methodist Episcopal Confer- ence, and preaches in that State.
Silas W. Robbins, 1847. Studied theology at Yale College, is a Congregational minister and now preaches in Meriden.
Perry Child Smith, 1847. Studied law in the city of New York, where he was admitted to the bar in 1851. He is now in Albany.
Jonathan E. Barnes, 1848. Is studying theology at Yale College.
Joseph A. Bailey, 1849. Studied theology at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Newton, and is now pastor of the Baptist Church in Essex.
Theophilus Bradbury Chandler, 1850. Is a preacher, labored a while in Plymouth, is now stationed at Haddam.
Ira E. Chase, 1850. Present residence and employ- ment not ascertained.
Graduate from Middlefield, not mentioned in the Ad- dress, &c.
Brown University.
Curtis Coe, 1776. Studied theology, was settled over the Congregational Church in Durham, N. H., Nov. 1st, 1780, and dismissed May 1st, 1805. He died at New- market, June 7th 1829, aged 79.
225
GRADUATES FROM MIDDLETOWN.
Oliver Wetmore, born in Middletown and for a time a merchant in the city, moved to Western New York, when that part of the State was very new, and entered the ministry. He died at Utica, Jan. 1st, 1852, aged 77. An obituary notice of him declares him to have been an eminent Presbyterian clergyman ; a descendant of Rev. Timothy Edwards, father of President Ed- wards, and in a direct line from Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower.
All the graduates from Westfield Society are noticed elsewhere.
NEWSPAPERS IN MIDDLETOWN.
In 1785, the same year in which Middlesex county was formed a printing office was established in the city by William Woodward & - Green. This publish- ed the Middlesex Gazette. Sometime after, Mr. Green withdrew from the concern, and Mr. Woodward continu- ed it until about 1797, when he sold it to Tertius Dun- ning, who published it until his decease in Oct. 1823. His son Charles Dunning continued it until it was sold by the administrator of his father's estate, to Epaphras & Horace Clark, in 1824. They sold it to Theodore N. Parmelee and Edwin T. Greenfield, in July, 1828. About a year after this, Mr. Parmelee sold his interest in it to Mr. Greenfield, who continued it until the year 1830, when Mr. Parmelee took it again and published it two years. It was then sold to Edwin Hunt, and the late Samuel W. Griswold, Esq., was its editor. Mr. Hunt continued it but a short time and then it passed into the hands of Joseph Longking, jr. The publication of this paper, having been in the hands of so many partners and individuals, publishers or editors, sometimes circulating more and sometimes less within Middlesex county and beyond it, ceased in 1834.
Soon after the cessation of this paper, George F. Olmsted commenced a paper, called the New England Advocate, using the same apparatus with which the Ga- zette had been published. The Advocate ceased in 1836, but the presses are now owned by Charles H. Pelton, and are used by him in book and job printing.
In Jan., 1814, Loomis & Richards started a paper in Middletown, styled the "Connecticut Spectator." In Feb. or March, 1815, Loomis disposed of his interest in the paper to Richards, who continued it a year or two longer.
The American Sentinel was established in the city, and the first number of the paper issued Jan. 1, 1823, by
227
NEWSPAPERS IN MIDDLETOWN.
William D. Starr and William H. Niles, under the firm of Starr & Niles. Mr. Niles retired from the concern in 1827, and Mr. Starr became the sole proprietor. Mr. H. W. Green established the " Witness," in Jan., 1832, and after publishing thirty-two numbers, discon- tinued it as a separate paper and it was united with the Sentinel on the 14th of August, in the same year ; the title being changed to that of Sentinel and Witness ; Mr. Starr continuing the sole proprietor until March 25th, 1851, when he took his son, William J. Starr and William H. Dunham, into company with him, the latter however leaving in October following. The Sentinel & Witness is now published by the original founder, W. D. Starr, and his oldest son, W. J. Starr, under the firm of W. D. Starr & Co.
The Constitution, a weekly newspaper, was commenc- ed by Abner Newton, jr., on the first Wednesday of Jan. 1838, and is still continued by him. Mr. Newton issued a daily newspaper from the Constitution office, July 1st, 1847, the first paper of the kind published in the city, but he continued it no longer than until the 10th of July following.
The Daily News. This was the first serious attempt at the establishment of a Daily paper in Middletown, and was commenced by J. N. Phelps & Co., in Oct., 1850. In March, 1851, it passed into the hands of W. B. Casey & Co., who continued its publication until Oct., 1851, when its circulation being limited, and the Editor's time taken up with his other professional duties, it was discontinued.
The News and Advertiser, a weekly paper published at the same office, was started, Jan., 1851, and continu- ed as a Neutral or independent paper, until July, 1852. when it was enrolled in the Whig ranks and advocated the election of Gen'l Scott to the Presidency.
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LISTS OF OFFICERS OF THE TOWN AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN-JUDGES OF MID- DLETOWN PROBATE DISTRICT-POST- MASTERS-COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS.
Town Clerks.
These Officers in Middletown were first called Re- corders, afterwards Registers, or Town Clerks.
The following table contains the names of such as have held the office in succession, together with the year of their first appointment.
Robert Webster, appointed in 1653.
William Smith, 66 66 1656.
John Hall,
1665.
Nathaniel White,
1695.
John Hamlin,
1696.
Joseph Rockwell,
1708.
Jabez Hamlin,
66
1734.
William Rockwell,
1735.
Joseph Clark,
1765.
Bezaliel Fisk,
1777.
Jolın Fisk,
66
1797.
Thomas G. Mather,
1847.
Elihu Spencer,
1849.
E. W. N. Starr,
1851.
Justices of the Peace in Middletown.
Justices of the Peace in Middletown, appointed be- fore the adoption of the present constitution of the State. Lists of later justices have not been collected. Those to whom U. H. are attached, lived in the Upper Houses,
229
JUSTICES IN MIDDLETOWN.
now Cromwell; those to whom M. is attached lived in Middlefield, those to whom W., in Westfield.
Names.
Died or moved from toun. Ages.
Robert Webster, U. H.,
Moved to Hartford 1659.
Hon. Giles Hamlin,
Sept. 1, 1689. 67.
Nathaniel White, U. H.,
Aug. 27, 1711,
82.
Thomas Ward,
Hon. John Hamlin,
Jan. 2, 1733,
74.
Israhiah Wetmore,
Giles Hall,
Feb. 11, 1750,
69.
Joseph Southmayd,
June 8, 1772,
Seth Wetmore,
April 12, 1778,
George Phillips,
Feb. 1778,
Joseph Clark,
April 21, 1778,
Hon. Titus Hosmer,
April 4, 1780,
Thomas Johnson, U. H.,
Dec. 26, 1774,
Hon. Jabez Hamlin,
April 25, 1791,
Col. Matthew Talcott,
Aug. 29, 1802,
Gen. Samuel Holden Parsons,
Doct. John Dickinson,
Nathaniel Chauncey, U. H.,
Philip Mortimer,
June 10, 1792,
Isaac Miller, M.,
March 14, 1799,
Gen. Comfort Sage,
Dec. 24, 1821,
Hon. Asher Miller,
June 15, 1812,
Nathaniel Gilbert, W.,
Moved from town.
March 14, 1812,
Chauncey Whittlesey,
July 21, 1830,
Hon. Samuel W. Dana,
Aug. 6, 1834,
Hon. S. Titus Hosmer,
Matthew T. Russell,
May 30, 1808,
Elijah Hubbard,
Feb. 6, 1836,
Nehemiah Hubbard,
Dec. 19, 1834,
Ebenezer Sage,
Nov. 15, 1836,
Isaac Gridley, U. H.,
Feb. 15, 1820.
Amos Sage,
Moved from town.
63.
Col. Lemuel Storrs,
Aug. 29, 1840,
82.
Ebenezer Roberts, 2d, W.,
Dec. 27, 1824,
Capt. John Pratt,
June 2, 1843,
William Plumbe,
Dec. 4, 1846,
Elijah Hubbard, 2d, Alexander Collins,
Sept. 14, 1815,
Richard Alsop,
Moved from town.
Eli Coe, M.,
Samuel Wetmore,
Moved from town.
82. 77. 84. 75. 80. 67. 68, 45. 65. 70. 71. 08. 63 85. 81. 82. 73.
71. 94. 69. 41. 55.
Aug. 20, 1815,
Samuel Eells, U. H.,
March 27, 1835,
58. 43. 56 82. 89.
Moved to Marietta, Ohio,
Oct. 3, 1811,
Sept. 3, 1798,
March 15, 1794,
Elijah Treadway,
July 20, 1817,
Benjamin Williams,
Nov. 13, 1828,
Amos Churchell, W.,
Nov. 29, 1816,
75. 78. 67.
230
JUSTICES IN MIDDLETOWN.
Jozeb Stocking, U. H.,
June 29, 1841, 87.
Josiah Sage, U. H.,
Sept. 15, 1839,
67.
Gen. Chauncey Whittlesey,
Dec. 24, 1834, 51.
Levi H. Clark,
Moved from town.
Samuel Gill,
Oct. 4, 1826,
46.
Daniel J. Griswold, W.,
July 10, 1847,
65.
Alexander Wolcott,
June 26, 1828,
69.
Elisha Coc, M.,
Dec. 1, 1831,
68.
Seth Paddock,
May 13, 1839,
83.
Arthur W. Magill,
Moved from town.
Major A. Andrews,
Moved from town.
OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
Mayors.
Ilon. Jabez ITamlin, from July 13, 1784, till his death April 25, 1791 .*
Asher Miller, 66 1792, till his death Dec. 24, 1821.
Samuel W. Dana,
1822, till 1830.
Elijah Hubbard, Esq., 66
1830, till 1838.
Richard Hubbard, Esq., "
1838, till his death, 1839.
Hon. S. D. Ilubbard,
1840, till
1842.
" Noah A. Phelps, 6 1842, till he resigned in Ap'l 1843.
Charles R. Alsop, Esq., " April 25, 1843, till 1846.
Horace Clark, Esq., 66
1846, till 1850.
Dr. William B. Casey,
1850, till he resigned in Nov. 1850.
Benjamin Douglas, Esq., " Nov. 22, 1850, till
City Clerks.
Bezaleel Fisk, from July 13, 1784, till ' released from office,' Jan., 1785.
Benj. Henshaw,
" Jan.
1785, till
1786.
Ezekiel Woodruff, “ 1786, till 1790.
William Brown,
1790, till 1793.
John Fisk,
1793, till
1818.
Ilenry Wolcott,
1818, till
1819.
John Fisk,
1819, till his death February 22, IS47.
E. B. Tompkins, " Feb. 22, 1847,
At the first city meeting, July 13, 1784, Jabez Hamlin was elected Mayor, and he continued in office without the formality of a re-election, till 1788, when he tendered his resignation. Ile was however persuaded to retain the dignity of the office, and appears to have done so until his death, while the duties were performed by Asher Miller, the senior alder- man. After Mr. Miller's election, Elijah Hubbard, father of the mayor above mentioned, then senior alderman, presided a part of the time in the meetings of the city authorities. This was doubtless the faet while Mr. M. was absent surveying lands about Yazoo river.
281
OFFICERS OF THE CITY OF MIDDLETOWN
Treasurers.
Nehemiah Hubbard, from 1795 to 1800 inclusive.
Matthew T. Russell,
1801 to 1816.
John Fisk, 60 1817 till his death.
Elihu B. Tompkins,
1847.
It will be perceived that in 1817, and again in 1819, and thence forward the offices of clerk and treasurer were united in Mr. Fisk, and that they have been thus united since in Mr. Tompkins.
OFFICERS OF BANKS.
MIDDLETOWN BANK, was incorporated in Oct., 1795, but for some reason did not go into operation until the Spring of 1801. Perhaps the reason lay in the embar- rassments which befel the trade of the place about the close of the last century. This has now (March 1852,) a capital of $369,300.
Presidents of this Bank.
Elijah Hubbard, from May 13, 1801 till his death May 30, 1808.
Nehemiah Hubbard, jr., from Oet. 24, 1808, till Jan. 3, 1822, when he declined a re-election.
Elijah Hubbard, (son of the first President) from Jan. 3, 1822, till his death Dec. 4, 1816.
John H. Watkinson, from Feb. 12, 1847.
Cashiers.
Timothy Southmayd, from May 13, 1801, till his death, Dec. 13, 1821. Thomas Hubbard. Jan. 3, 1822, till his death, Aug. 27, 1828. Henry Carrington, Sept. 2, 1828, till his resignation, May, 1836.
Dyer Ames, jr., June 13, 1836, till his resignation, Oct., 1814.
John H. Watkinson, 66 Oct. 12, 1844, till his resignation, Feb. 1847. Frederick L. Gleason, Feb. 12, 1847.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY BANK, incorporated May, 1830, has now a capital of $327,300.
Presidents.
Henry L. De Koven, from Sept. 1, 1830, till he resigned April 11, 1832. Joseph W. Alsop, " May 3, 1831, " April 19, 1832.
232
OFFICERS OF BANKS.
Henry L. De Koven,
April 19, 1832, "
Dec. 19, 1835.
Samuel Russell,
Dec. 19, 1835, "
July 3, 1839.
William C. Bowers,
July 3, 1839, "
July 7, 1841.
Samuel Russell,
July 7,1841, "
Charles R. Sebor,
July 6, 1846.
July
1, 1846.
Cashiers.
Samuel Cooper, from Sept. 10, 1830, till his resignation, Nov, 2, 1830.
Charles Foote, Nov. 2, 1830, till his resignation, Sept. 13, 1831
Eleazer Lacey, " Oet. 8, 1831,
Jan. 4, 1847 ..
William S. Camp, " Jan. 4, 1847 .*
MIDDLETOWN SAVINGS BANK, was incorporated in May, 1825, and organized in June following.
Presidents.
Nehemiah Hubbard, from June, 1825, till his death in 1837. Richard Rand, 1837, till his death in 1844,
Joseph Taylor, 1844.
Secretaries and Treasurers.
Ebenezer G. Southmayd, from June 1825, till 1832.
Samuel Southmayd, 1832, till 1837.
Henry S. Ward, 1837, till 1843.
Henry Carrington,
1843.
THE CENTRAL BANK, incorporated in May 1851, has a capital of $150,000, and began operations in Novem- ber of the same year.
President, Charles Woodward. Cashier, Henry D. Smith.
* The Branch Bank of the United States, kept in the same building, now occupied by the M. C. Bank, began its operations in Sept., 1817, and was moved to Hartford in 1824 or '25. Samuel W. Dana, was presi- dent of this bank, from 1817 until about 1819, when Enoch Parsons was appointed president, and held the office till its operations were closed about 1835. Arthur W. Magill, was cashier from 1817, till about 1822, when Joshua P. Burnham was appointed, and held the office till the bank was closed.
233
MIDDLESEX MUTUAL ASSURANCE COMPANY.
MIDDLESEX MUTUAL ASSURANCE COMPANY, Mid- dletown, Conn. Charter granted, May 1836, com- menced business, June 1836.
Presidents.
Richard Hubbard, June 1836. Samuel Cooper, Sept. 1839.
Secretaries and Treasurers.
John L. Smith, June, 1836.
William Woodward, June, 1838.
Stephen Taylor, June, 1849.
MIDDLETOWN PROBATE DISTRICT.
This District was formed in 1752, and included Chat- ham, with the exception of that part lying south of Sal- mon river, the part of Berlin which at first belonged to Middletown, Haddam and Durham. The parts of this District east of the Connecticut were detached from it in 1824, upon the formation of Chatham District ; and at the same time the part of Berlin, just named, was de- tached from it, upon the formation of Berlin District. Haddam, west of the Connecticut, was detached from it in 1830, and made a separate district, in connection with Haddam Neck. Middletown District now embraces the present towns of Middletown, Durham and Cromwell.
Successive Judges.
Hon. Jabez Hamlin, of Middletown, appointed May, 1752.
Hon. Asher Miller,
1789.
Dr. John Dickinson,
1793.
Hon. Asher Miller,
1807.
John Alsop,
1822.
Stillman K. Wightman.
1832.
Augustus Cook,
1834.
Stillman K. Wightman,
1835.
Samuel Cooper,
1838.
Linus Coe,
1842.
Samuel Cooper,
1844,
-
234
MIDDLETOWN PROBATE DISTRICT.
Linus Coe,
Samuel Cooper,
Elihu Spencer,
.
1850.
MIDDLETOWN POST-OFFICE ESTABLISHED IN 1775.
Post Masters.
Winslow Hobby, from 1775 to Oct. 1807.
Thaddeus Nichols,
Oct. 1807 to April 1815.
Joshua Stow,
April, 1815 to April, 1818.
Samuel Williams,
April, 1818 to Nov.11, 1821.
Joshua Stow,
Nov. 1821 to Feb. 20, 1840.
E. W. N. Starr, Feb.20,1840 to Oct. 1, 1842.
Eli Wilcox, Oct. 1, 1842 to May 21, 1845.
Allen May,
May 27,1845 to June 14, 1849.
William Woodward,
June 14,1849.
COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS.
The Collection District of Middletown, was establish- ed in 1795, previously to which time the towns on Con- necticut river were included in the New London District.
George Phillips, of Middletown, appointed, June, 1795. Chauncey Whittlesey, Dec., 1797.
* All these Judges are now living with the exception of Col. Hamlin, Judge Miller, Dr. Dickinson, and Linus Coe, Esq. Mr. Coe was instant- ly killed, Feb. 27, 1852, as he was crossing the Railroad, between New- ington and Berlin, in a wagon, " the locomotive striking the horse and the wagon, throwing him and the wagon on one side and the horse on the other."
This awful event would have produced strong sensation in any case. But Mr. Coe had a large circle of kindred and friends who greatly esteem- ed him, had been a prominent inhabitant of Middletown, sheriff of Mid- dlesex County several years, judge of Probate for the District of Middle- town, and at the time of his death was secretary of the Middlesex Coun- ty Agricultural Society, an office which he had held sometime, and to the duties of which he had paid much attention. He was son of the late Col. Elisha Coe of Middlefield, and 60 years of age.
1849.
Noah A. Phelps,*
of Middletown, appointed May, 1846.
1847.
235
SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
Alexander Wolcott, of Windsor,
appointed Aug. 1801.
Henry Wolcott, of Middletown, July, 1828.
Noah A. Phelps, of Hartford,
Mar.,1829.
Austin Baldwin, of Middletown, April, 1841.
Phillip Sage, of Portland, Oct. 1844.
William D. Starr, Middletown,
Samuel Cooper,
Feb., 1849. June, 1849.
Lists of Deputies to the General Court from Middle- town, and from the towns formed within its original lim- its will be given in the close of this work.
SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN, NOW CROMWELL.
This township, while the second society in Middletown was called by different names. At first it was called the "North Society in Middletown," then " Middle- town Upper Houses," or simply the "Upper Houses," and then " Upper Middletown." For a long period the first name has hardly been mentioned or known; the second was used almost solely for a great length of time, and after the third was adopted, it was of the two the most frequently used. The society being incorporated as a town and named Cromwell, in May, 1851. This distinguished and formidable name will probably soon supersede all others.
The town is bounded by Portland on the east, for the boundary in that direction extends to the eastern marg- in of the river ; it has Rocky Hill on the north, Berlin on the west, and Middletown on the south, being separa- ted from it, partly by the northern branch of Little Riv- er, by Little River itself and thence by a line across the Connecticut.
The lands in this town generally are good, some excel- lent. The lands of less value are the Plains on the north, which by judicious management may be made somewhat productive, and the wet lands along the branch of Little River, which may be improved by more thorough drain- ing. The lands to the right and left of Prospect Hill,
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236
SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
and onward to the meadows are fine. Some of these the elder President Adams declared to be as rich as the soil of Egypt.
Prospect Hill is thus designated by reason of the ad- mirable southern view which it affords of the Connecti- cut, of the meadows and fields on either side, of Port- land village, and the city of Middletown, and of the slopes, hills and mountains beyond. The view for a mile onward along the public road is softer, but charming.
The settlement commenced in Cromwell, nearly as soon as in Middletown, and the sites in both cases were selected with admirable judgment ; on dry and rich grounds near the Connecticut, and as near each other as the nature of the intermediate grounds admitted.
In the Address, Nathaniel White, Samuel Stocking, George Graves, Robert Webster, Joseph Smith, Daniel Harris, John Martin, Jolin Savage, Thomas Ranney, David Sage and John Kirby are mentioned as early set- tlers in this place. With these other settlers were soon united, and the settlements spread to the north and west. The sons of some of the settlers in Middletown came and settled here. Other persons came from different places and established themselves among them. Some efforts have been made in vain to find a regular cata- logue of the inhabitants in 1703, at the time they were constituted the North Society in Middletown, and also to find their lists. But as the Society were about to settle their first minister, a catalogue of the taxable persons was made, together with their lists annexed, which will now be given. We have arranged the surnames alpha- betically, placing those of the same name in connection.
NAMES.
LIST.
NAMES.
LIST.
James Brown.
£22 00
Samuel Frovy,
69 00
Wm. Butler,
6 00
Roger Gipson,
45 10
Joseph Butler,
13 10
Samuel Gipson,
72 00
Nathaniel Clark,
46 14
David Hurlburt,
37 00
Daniel Clark,
65 10
John Kirby, 30 00
Serj. Clark,
71 17
Samuel Lucas,
35 00
John Clark,
46 00
William Mark,
25 00
Isaac Cornwell,
24 00
Margaret Ranney,
3 10
Joseph Crowfoot,
18 00
Ebenezer Ranney,
48 18
237
SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
NAMES.
LIST.
NAMES.
LIST.
Joseph Ranney,
£61 05
Thomas Stow, Jr.,
£43 00
John Ranney,
30 05
John Warner, Sen.,
77 19
Thomas Ranney,
120 15
John Warner, Jun.,
75 11
Win. Ranney,
6 10
Joseph White,
85 00
Wm. Sage,
24 00
Ins. White,
85 10
Timothy Sage,
79 05
John White,
18 00
John Sage,
150 00
Hugh White,
42 00
Capt. Savage,
89 02
Daniel White,
49 17
Thomas Savage,
41 10
Jacob White,
88 10
William Savage,
73 00
Israel Wilcox,
148 05
Hannah Scovil,
27 10
John Wilcox,
57 05
Mary Scovil,
15 00
Francis Wilcox,
59 05
John Shepherd,
79 00
Joseph Whitmore,
44 00
Samuel Shepherd,
21 00
Daniel Stocking,
59 05
Total,
£2,586 03
Samuel Stow,
39 05
Thomas Stow, Sen.,
42 00
Samuel Wilcox,
77 00
Edward Shepherd,
What is now known as the East-street in Worthing- ton, in the town of Berlin, belonged to this Society un- til 1790. Some of the foregoing inhabitants may have located themselves in that street as early as 1714. The population of Upper Middletown in 1850, was 1,275 souls. Another account says it was 1,259, which may have been the fact at a different period in the same year.
While the people generally in this place have pursued agriculture from the beginning, some in the village early began Ship-building and carried it on more or less over a century, and for about half the time vessels were built at two yards. Some individuals were considerably concerned in navigation, in the latter part of the last century, and in the beginning of the present many young men engaged in sea-faring life, and quite a num- ber first and last had the command of vessels .*
But for some years there has been very little Ship- building and navigation in Cromwell, and few, hardly any have followed the seas. But while these branches of business have been stayed, husbandry has been more
* A notice of the building of the small Steamboat "Experiment " herc in 1821, and of its peculiar construction, might be properly given in this place, but we cannot afford the space for its insertion.
238
SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
thoroughly pursued, and numbers have turned their at- tention successfully to manufactures. [See Mr. Gor- ham's account pp. 129-30.]
Several neat houses were built in the village about 1804, and the place has the appearance of thrift and prosperity. There are five merchant stores in the Town, which deal principally in groceries.
It has been incidentally mentioned that the people were formed into a Society in 1703. In January of that year the town of Middletown agreed that they might be a Society, provided they settled a minister and built a meeting house within twelve months from that time, and the General Assembly incorporated them at their Session in the following May. Their thoughts and efforts were doubtless directed at once to both objects specified in the consent of the Town. And they did erect a meeting-house in 1703, or soon after, a little north of their oldest and principal cemetery, and did so much to it, that they met in it for public worship .- They also employed candidates to preach to them, hop- ing that their minds and hearts would be so united in some one that they might call him to be their pastor and settle him. In 1709 there was a prospect that they might settle Mr. Daniel Deming, but the prospect fail- ed. They afterward employed Rev. Joseph Smith, and their affections were so drawn towards him, that in January 1714, " they agreed to allow him a comfortable maintainance," and expressed an intention of proceed- ing in a gospel way to settle him. In view of his set- tlement they finished their meeting-house, and January 5th, 1715, the church was organized, consisting of 23 members, 20 of whom had belonged to the church in Middletown, one to some other church, and two were re- ceived on profession. On the same occasion Mr. Smith was installed their pastor. Thus twelve years, and not merely twelve months passed away, before they had a finished meeting-house, and a minister settled among them to discharge statedly the duties of the sacred office.
When the statistical account of Middlesex County was prepared more than thirty years since, the writer was informed that Mr. Smith was a native of Concord,
239
SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
Mass .; but it has since been ascertained that he was a son of Philip Smith of Hadley, who made provision in his will for his having a public education. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1695, and soon after began to instruct the Grammar School in Hadley, usu- ally called the Hopkins Academy. He afterwards taught a school in Springfield, continuing in the two places until 1700. Subsequently he was chaplain to the garrison in Brookfield, preaching to the garrison and people of the town, and receiving his support from the Colony of Massachusetts. "In 1708 he went to Co- hancy, in Cumberland county, New Jersey, and was ordained pastor of Cohancy by the Presbytery of Philadelphia May 10, 1709. Having preached there about two years he came to Greenwich, Conn., and preached there a short time, and thence he came to the Upper Houses, where he died in office Sept. 8, 1736, aged 62. His wife was Esther Parsons, daughter of Joseph Parsons of Northampton and Springfield. She died May 30, 1760, in the 89th year of her age."* Mr. Smith possessed more property than clergymen generally, and had a larger library.
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