USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > Centennial address and Historical sketches > Part 20
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The number of communicants in this church prior to 1840 cannot be definitely ascertained. The correspondent who has furnished many of the foregoing facts thinks it safe to put the average at 50. There were 51 in May 1842; the number Jan. 1, 1852 was from 40 to 45.
Contributions are taken up in the church for the Bible Socie- ty and Tract cause, and for Missions, Domestic and Foreign. To the Bible and Tract cause $150 are given annually ; though
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in justice it should be added that the greater part of all the con- tributions are given by three or four individuals.
METHODISTS IN MIDDLE HADDAM, CHAT- HAM PART.
They held meetings here as early as 1792, and in 1796 or 7 built them a small church at the Landing, 24 feet by 23 At one time they had fifty communicants, but the number of pro- fessors among them afterwards greatly diminished ; for some time their church has been closed.
I have already said that we should have occasion to speak more particularly of Great Hill and its Cobalt Mine. Thc situation of this hill, the size of which is indicated by its name, is towards the northwest corner of Middle Haddam Society. That the elder Gov. Winthrop believed that there were mines and minerals in Middletown, and that he had become so convin- ced of their value as to think seriously of setting up works for improving them, is evideut from the following grant made to him a few years after the first settlement of Middletown.
" The inhabitants of Middletown, for the encouragement of the designs of our mnuch honored governor, Mr. John Winthrop, for the discovery of mines and minerals, and for the setting up of such works as shall be needful for the improvement of them, do hereby grant unto our said much honored governor any profitable mines or minerals that he shall find or discover upon any common laud within the bounds of our Town, and such woodland as may be convenient for the use of the same, to the value of 500 or 1,000 acres, as it may lie so that it be not near- er than two or three miles from the present dwelling houses of the Town, as the Town shall judge to be least prejudicial to themselves for their necessary fire-wood, provided the Town shall have free liberty of commonage, as far as our Town bounds go, until the improvers shall see good to impropriate the same with inclosures-provided further, that said governor, and such as may be co-improvers with him, will set up the works to improve such mines and minerals as he shall find, within these 5 years and let us know whether he doth accept of this our grant within two years ; and so it be to him and his heirs and associates from the time of setting up such works, else at two or five years, and to be in the liberty of the Town to grant the same to any other. May 25, 1661."
At the time of this grant the people of Middletown dwelt mostly within the limits of the city, and in the lower part of the present village of Cromwell. There is no probability that Mr. Winthrop had any very strong impression of finding valuable mines and minerals, excepting on the hills near the Straits, where
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lead on the west side of the Connecticut, and cobalt on the eastern were afterwards more seriously sought, and these localities were sufficiently away from the existing settlements. That his thoughts were mainly, if not entirely, turned to Great Hill, is probable from the fact that this Hill was long called the " Gov- ernor's Gold Ring," a name derived from the impression which people around had, that the governor, from explorations and la- bors there, had actually found gold, which might at least be made into rings. From the correspondence of the governor with learned men in England, it is possible that some knowl- edge of this locality crossed the Atlantic in his time.
Be this as it may, no considerable efforts appear to have been made to find gold or any other mineral in this kill, for about a century after this grant was made. But about 1762 Dr. John Sebastian Stephanney, a German, employed a number of men, and made a horizontal opening into the hill in search of hid treasures. He continued his exertions but a short time. About 1770 he renewed them, in connection with two other Germans, John Knool and Gominus Erkelens ; but at length it appears that he made over the management of the concern to his associates, reserving to himself only a portion of the profits, and there was an agreement that what metals and minerals were sent to Great Britain should be consigned to Knool's friends, and those sent to Holland to Erkclens'. A large opening was made into the hill, and the superincumbent matter was prevented by stan- chions from falling upon the laborers. Many casks of orc were obtained and sent to Europe, and it is probable some were car- ried to China. But as all the persons, laborers as well as prin- cipals, were foreigners, and as the ore was exported, little was known of its character or valno. Various conjectures were made as to what it contained; the better informed, however, be- licved that Cobalt was the object sought. Erkelens seems final- ly to have been the principal manager. This apy cars from a passage in the diary of Pres. Stiles of Yale College. The presi- dent writes :
"1787. Jan. 1. Mr. Erkclens visited me, full of his Cobalt mine and China voyage. He some years ago bought the Gov- ernor's Ring, as it is called, or a mountain in the N. W. corner " of East Haddam, [Middle Haddam, ] comprehending about 800 acres, or about a synare mile arca. Here he finds plenty of Cobalt, which he manufactures into smalt, with which is made the beautiful blue on China ware, &c."
" Gov. Trumbull has often told me that this was the place to which Gov. Winthrop of N. London used to resort with his ser- vant, and after spending three weeks in the woods of this moun- tain, in roasting ores and assaying metals and casting gold rings he used to return home to New London with plenty of gold. Hence this is called the Gov. Winthrop's ring to this day. Gov. Winthrop was an adept, in intimate correspondence with Sir
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Kenelm Digby, and the first chemical and philosophical charac- ters of the last century-as may be seen in the dedication of 40th vol. Phil. Transactions 1740."
" Mr. Erkelens about 1775 being a projector, erected a distil- ery in Haddam [Middle-Haddam, ] 6 miles from Middletown, on a stream, deseending from this mountain-he also purchased the Cobalt mine there. He has been at £2,000, sterling expense to no profit. He is going on a voyage to China, carrying with him 20 tuns of Cobalt ore."*
Much is recorded on the books of the Town of Chatham re- specting the lands which Erkelens secured.
His object in building a distillery probably was, as at that time the regular trade with the West Indies was liable to be greatly interrupted, that he might supply his workmen more conveniently with a beverage which they loved, and have wherewithal to supply exposed and suffering soldiers, who, in the current opinion of that period, would hardly be expected to live and fight bravely, without the aid and stimulus of strong drink.
Whether he actually carried his Cobalt ore to China in 1787, or soon atter, and if he did, how it was disposed of, we are not informed. But from the time he left, operations at the mine were suspended, and nothing more was done there for about 30 years. The opening in the hill remained a considerable period. but at length the stanchions giving way, the mass above fell and filled it
When Pres. Stiles visited the hill in 1787, he sketched the Governor's Gold Ring, and a map showing the country from New London to Middle-Haddam and Middletown.t This he was doubtless prompted to do by the prospect which Great Hill afforded, which strictly considered is a hill of no inconsiderable size and elevation, resting on the range of the Strait Hills. The Cobalt mine is near the bottom of this hill, running so far as discovered a short distance from it, taking a semicircular course in accordance with its form, beginning at the west south-west and gradually bending round towards the south and south-east, being at an elevation on the range of hills of about 400 feet above the level of the Connecticut, the top of the hill, rising two or three hundred feet more. From the summit the view was fine in all directions then, except the north-east where a range of hills stretches far into the interior. It is finer now, as the lands are more generally cleared, ard the country more densely settled. Besides the windings of the river directly under the eye, you often see vessels moving upon it propelled by wind and steam, and on the numerous hills and ranges of hills on either side, many churches and habitations of men. In a clear day, Long
.
·
* Literary Diary of Pres. Stiles, Ms. v. 13, p. 34.
+ Idem, p. 33.
* 23
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Island Sound with its moving navigation, and Long Island shore arc distinctly visible. Not far from you, you contemplate the birth-place of David Brainerd, and very near you the birth-place of James Brainerd Taylor, while in the line towards N. London you have the birth-place of Dr. Emmons, and further on that of Dr. Griffin ; and in the entire view the birth-places, or residen- ces, of many other men. distinguished in their day, some in civil and some in military life. This prospect alone is worth a visit to Great Hill, and if persons wish to ramble, a mile and half east of this hill is Clark's Hill, from which the Sound can be seen.
But as to the Mine, Mr. Seth Hunt, from New Hampshire, commenced operations at Great Hill in the autumn of 1818 and continued them about two years. Anticipating great results, he expended liberally and exhausted his own resources. In these circumstances he sold interests in what he had done and obtained, say one sixteenth to one friend and one eighth to an- other, until he had gathered around him six associates, only one of whom is now living. This survivor states that Mr. Hunt ex- perded about $20,000 ; that his main outlay in mining was in following the vein opened by the Germans downwards, but that he also opened the carth and traced near a quarter of a mile castward, where he found more mica and the absence of horn- blend, and that he expended much in repairing the old glass furnace in Glastonbury and in fitting it to smelt, in carting ore thither, (where most was sent, ) stamping it by hand and re- ducing by potash. This survivor further states, that though Mr. Hunt read books on mining, he did not well understand his work, and that he doubts whether the man on whom he relied for chemical and scientific information, knew more than he did himself; that he obtained as he supposed 1000 lbs. of Cobalt which was proved in England to be nickel, containing from 3 to 4 parts of Cobalt. This proof induced an entire suspension of operations.
In the summer of 1844 the mine was opened again by Prof. Shepherd, author of the " Report on the Geological Survey of Connecticut." He employed only a few hands for a short time, but what disposition he made of the ore, and what discoveries he or others obtained from it, have not been ascertained, and it is a remarkable fact, after all that has been done at different periods in and abont Great Hill by the first Gov. Winthrop, by the Germans, Mr. Hunt and Prof. Shepherd, that so little is really known to the public as yet as to the worth of the miner- als, and whether the mine can be so wrought as to render much profit to the undertakers. It is evident however that the great object which has been sought is Cobalt, which has long been the name of the supposed minc.
"Cobalt," says Prof. Johnston of the Wesleyan University, " is a rare metal and is not used in the arts in a metallic state, but
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its oxid is used largely in preparing the beautiful blue coloring matter for painting glass and porcelain ware."
" This locality," (the one about Great Hill) he adds, "is the only one known in this country, where this peculiar ore of the metal is obtained, but in two or three places the oxid is found associated with oxid of manganese. At mine La Motte in Mis- souri it occurs in sufficient quantity to be extracted from the ore for use in the arts."
In March 1850, Mr. Edmund Brown in conjunction with some friends began operations about the base of Great Hill, a little eastward from the place where the previous operations had been made. He employed many hands and sunk a shaft, 7 by 9, 38 feet deep, and wrought from the shaft for some 50 to 60 feet, and took from the opening a large amount of ore. They then commenced a tunnel seven hundred feet east of the shaft at a ravine, and proceeded with it some 35 feet westerly with a view of meeting the opening from the shaft, in the meanwhile putting up the stamping works, laboratory and smelting works already mentioned. But after doing thus much, in the course of fifteen months, and expending a large amount of money, the company failed, or stopped operations, and Mr. Brown has since died.
Dr. Franckfort, a French physician and chemist, mentioned on page 160 of this work, was employed sometime in examining and testing the ore taken from about the shaft, before the com- pany failed, and he is full in the opinion that a leader only was struck and not the vein, though he thinks he has discovered the vein himself. But the leader contains an ore of Cobalt, which he analysed, and as his analysis has been pronounced correct by some of the best chemists, I am authorized to publish it in his own words. "Analysis of an ore found in Chatham, Middlesex County, Conn. by E. Franckfort, M. D."
Arsenic,
80,04
-
Sulphur,
4,47
Iron,
9,03
Cobalt,
2,50
Nickel,
3,75
Bismuth trace.
99,79
From this analysis he observes, that the ore is, properly speak- ing, an arsensical pyrites containing some cobalt and nickel, and not a cobalt ore."
In a communication by Dr. Franckfort from which a quota- tion is made in connection with his name, he observes in regard to operations made about Great Ilill by the Germans and others prior to Mr. Brown, that they "worked in the micaceous shale of that region, with a view of obtaining the smaltine or Cobalt Pyrites, a silvery white fine grained ore found here. The black peroxyd of Cobalt, extensively used in the manufacture of blue pottery, fine smalt, &c. &c. was the object which those who
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mined here wished to prepare. This mineral, he adds, is very rare in the United States and there is no doubt whatever that the regular vein of it, which the writer, [Dr. Franckfort, ] thinks to have discovered, will pay amply for mining. There has also, formerly, a mineral of copper red color, called Copper Nickel, been found, but I have never been able to discover a vestige of it, though looking after it diligently. Nickel is a metal used in the manufacture of German Silver."
'It is understood that the regular vein, believed to contain much more Cobalt than the leader which Mr. Brown struck, will soon be opened again, and it is hoped for the benefit of the community as well as that of the undertakers, that the next effort will be attended with great and known success.
PHYSICIANS IN MIDDLE-HADDAM.
In the address page 96, mention is made of three physicians in Middle Haddam, Drs. Joshua Arnold, Jeremiah Bradford and Amos Skeele.
Dr. Arnold, lived on the Neck, but doubtless practiced among the inhabitants north of it, and probably much in the town of Haddam after the death of Rev. Phineas Fiske in 1738, who had been physician both for the souls and bodies of his people. He died in 1753 aged 66. There is a tradition that the Red Cedar, found abundantly in some lands, not far from his residence, were introduced by hin1.
Jeremiah Bradford, was the son of Gershom and Priscilla (Wiswalk) Bradford, first of Kingston, Mass. and then of Bris. tol R. I., grandson of Samuel and Hannah (Rogers) Bradford, of Duxbury, Mass. Samuel Bradford, was son of William Brad- ford, a distinguished inhabitant and Lieut. Governor of Plymouth Colony, and grandson of Gov. William Bradford. Where Dr. Bradford studied medicine is not ascertained. He settled in Middle Haddam probably as early as 1754 or 5, and practised until old age, dying in 1814, aged 80. He was a man of good sense and an able practitioner.
Amos Skeele, a native of Woodbury, at the commencement of of the Revolution, entered the American army by a temporary enlistment and was in the battle at White Plains. Upon a sud- den call in 1777, he went in pursuit of the English as they were retreating from Danbury, and while engaged in attack up- on them was wounded by a bullet in his right arm, and was so injured as to unfit him for the pursuit of agriculture in which he had before engaged, and he turned his attention to the study of medicine. For a time he studied in Litchfield, but during the greater part of his preparations he was under the instruc- tions of Dr. Hastings in Bethlem. While in this town he had the privilege of sitting under the preaching of Rev. Dr. Bellamy
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which contributed much to the formation of his religious char- acter. He entered upon practice in Hampton in 1783, and mov- ed to Middle Haddam in 1787. He lived in the north-eastern part of the parish, in the house afterward owned by Capt. Ste- phen Griffith, whence it was convenient for him to visit patients in the northern part of Middle Haddam, and also the western part of East Hampton. He removed to Somers in 1795, where he continued a number of years, and then removed again to Chicopee, Mass. where he practised until he was about 80, and where he died March 2, 1843 aged 93. For a very long period he discharged the duties of piety to God and beneficence to men with remarkable fidelity. For many years he was deacon in the church in Chicopee, and was very active and successful in pro- moting its religious interests.
Dr. Nathaniel Freeman was contemporary for a time with both Dr. Bradford and Dr. Skeele. He was a native of the parish, and was a smart active man, but did not acquire an extensive practice. He died probably not far from the commencement of this century, perhaps a few years previously.
Dr. Thomas Brainerd, a native of Middle Haddam, lived upon the Neck, but doubtless practised somewhat among the inhabit- ants of the Society further north. His practice was limited, and some years before his death he moved to Ludlow, Mass.
David B. Hollister, a native of Glastonbury, first settled in Middle-Haddam as a merchant. He had previously studied surgery, and afterwards made himself acquainted with medicine. He accordingly commenced the practice of medicine among the people and was regarded as skilful. He died Aug. 8, 1821, in the 56th year of his age.
Ebenezer Munger, native of Madison, graduate of Yale College 1814, studied medicine partly in New York, practised a short time in Middle Haddam, moved to Haddam in 1818 or 19 and thence about 1823 to Bainbridge, N. Y., then to Homer where he has lived some 20 years.
Samuel Simons, born in Hampton, was brought up by ex-Gov- ernor Peters of Hebron, studied medicine and was taken into partnership with him, came to Middle Haddam in 1821 or 2, moved to Bridgeport in the spring of 1824, received the degree of M. D. from Yale College in 1827, was elected a member of Congress from the 4th Congressional District of Connecticut in 1843, died at Bridgeport in 1847.
Frederic Morgan, native of Groton, graduate of Yale College 1813, Tutor, M. D. studied medicine principally with Dr. Na- than Smith ; began practice in Colchester in Jan. 1820, succee- ded Dr Simons in Middle Haddam in 1824, moved to Middle- town in the spring of 1826; and remained there until Feb. 1829, when he moved to Ellington ; in Oct. 1830 he returned to Col- chester where he has since practised.
Charles Smith, son of Col. Chester Smith of North Stonington
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studied medicine with Dr. Eleazer B. Downing of Preston City, commenced practice in East-Hampton in the spring of 1823, where he remained until March 27, 1826, (the day on which his successor there took his place, ) when he moved to Middle Haddam, where he died March 13, 1848, aged 47.
Albert B. Worthington, native of Colchester, studied with Dr. John P. Fuller, formerly of Providence. R. I., then of Salem, Ct. now of Norwich. He also attended lectures in New York. He came to Middle Haddam a little before the death of Dr. C. Smith and is still practising there.
Frederic B. Woodward, mentioned as rector of the Episcopal church at the Landing, was born in the parish of North Litch- field, received his medical education at New Haven, and practis- ed in Woodbury generally from 1824 untill 1836. He now both preaches, and practises medicine.
Eugene A. Franckfort, a native of France, but who received his education in Germany, being graduated at the Medical Uni- · versity of Bonn, and also at the Chemical School of Giessen, came to Middle Haddam in March 1851, at first to test the ores which Mr. Brown had collected from Great Hill, in which ser- vice he was engaged until the subsequent June. Upon the sus- pension of operations by Mr. Brown, he resumed the practice of medicine; for he had before practised medicine in Newtown, Bucks County, Penn., and also in Philadelphia. He has very recently moved his family to Middletown and is now working the mine usually called the Lead Mine, and which is described by him on pp. 160 and 61 of this work.
LAWYERS IN MIDDLE HADDAM.
Asahel Hooker Strong, son of Rev. Cyprian Strong D. D. of Portland, was graduated at Yale College in 1796, and was one of the best scholars in his class. He studied law with the Hon. Sylvester Gilbert of Hebron, and began to practice as early as 1802. He was greatly esteemed by his brethren of the bar and by the judges of the courts, for his good sense, his clear and dis- oriminating knowledge of law, and his fair and able pleas ; he was an excellent counsellor and a good special pleader.
John Hugh Peters, was the son of Jonathan Peters of Hebron, and brother of John T. Peters, late a judge of the Superior Court of the State, and of Samuel A. Peters, judge of the Coun- ty Court in the County of New London, was graduated at Wil- liams College in 1798, and having studied law with the brother first named, began practice in Middle Haddam as early as 1803, and practised law there until his death in Oct. 1811, aged 35. He was a well read lawyer, but not distinguished as an advocate, more modest than brilliant, and more correct than forcible. When the post-office was established in 1804. he was appointed postmaster and held the office through life.
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Abiel A. Loomis-Ebeneser Force. See list of lawyers in Mid- dletown.
Asahel Utley, native of Wilbraham, Mass., was admitted to the bar in 1822, spent a year or two in Middle Haddam, then went to East Haddam, where he remained until the spring of 1831, when he went to Middletown, where he died on the 27th of July following, aged 35.
Constans F. Daniels, came to Middle Haddam form Waterford in 1822, left in 1825 and now lives in New London.
Mark Moore, came from Boston to Middle Haddam in 1822, moved to Bridgeport in 1825, where he died in the spring of 1850.
Horace Foote, native of Marlborough, graduate of Yale Col- lege 1820, studied law with Seth P. Staples, Esq., of New Ha. ven, was admitted to the bar in 1822, moved to Cleveland in Ohio about 1835.
Linus Parmelee, native of Guilford, whose parents moved to Haddam, when he was about six years of age, studied law with Levi H. Clark, Esq. He was admitted to the bar in 1808 or 9, practised in Haddam until 1842, since which time he has prac- tised in Middle Haddam.
GRADUATES FROM MIDDLE-HADDAM AT DIFFERENT COLLEGES.
Jeremiah Bradford, Yale College 1779. Son of Dr. J. Brad- ford, born in Nov. 1758. He studied medicine but never prac- tised as a physician. He resided for some tiene at Middle Had- dam, and about the year 1806, moved to Berlin, Vt. where he was more or less occupied in Agricultural pursuits, and where he died Dec. 25, 1835, aged 77 years.
. Sylvester Selden, Williams College 1807. Son of Rev. David Selden, studied theology at Andover, was pastor of the Congre- gational Church in Westbrook from June 10, 1812 until
183 and of the Congregational Church in Hebron from Sept. 30. 1835 until his death Oct. 4, 1841, at the age of 55. His remains are interred in a cemetery in Middle Haddam, near the grave, residence and church of his father.
Hiram Foot Mather, Yale 1813. Studied law and settled in Auburn, N. Y.
Ashbel Dart. Yale 1816, M. D. Studied medicine in Middle- town and in New Haven, and attended lectures in New York : settled and practised in Conneought, Ohio, where he died in Nov, 1844 aged 51.
James Brainerd Taylor, son of Col. Jeremiah Taylor was born in Middle Haddam, April 15th 1801. He was a graduate at Nas- sau-Hall, Princeton, N. J., in 1826. He read theology at New
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Haven, and at Prince Edward, Virginia. He died at the carly age of 28. His memoirs written by the two Doctors Rice, of Virginia, present him as one of the most remarkable of men for his religious character and successful effort in religious action, during his short career. He died at the residence of John Holt Rice, D. D., in Virginia, and was interred in the burial ground not far from the Union Theological Seminary, at Prince Edward.
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