Commemorative Biographical Record of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Part 58

Author: H. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1899
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1795


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The church, having considered the desire of their breth- eren, William, Thomas, John and Benjamin Judd; as also John Stanley, Jr., touching their removal from us to Mattatuck, agreed as follows :-


1. In general-that considering the divers difficulties and inconveniences that attend the place toward which they are looking, and how hazardable it may be (for aught that appeareth), that the house and ordinances of Christ may not (for a large time at least) be settled among them-the church doth advise the bretheren to be wary of engaging far, until some comfortable hope appear of being suited for the in- ward man in the great things fore mentioned.


2. Particularly -- to our brother William Judd, that it having pleased God to deal so bountifully with him, that not many of the bretheren with us have so large accommodations as himself, yet see not his call to remove on the account of straightness for outward subsistance, and therefore counsel him, if it may be with satisfaction to his spirit, to continue his abode with us, hoping God will bless him in so doing.


3. To the rest-though we know not how much they will be bettered as to land, all things considered by their re- moval, especially John and Benjamin Judd, and therefore cannot much encourage; yet if the bent of their spirits be strong for going, and the advice aforegiven, touching the worship of God be taken, we shall not trouble, but say, -- the will.of the Lord be done.


The record is without date. The advice was probably sought and given between 1677 and 1680. William, John and Benjamin did not remove, but lived and died in Farmington. Philip did not ask counsel with the others; but he was not a member of the Church till 1681. William Judd was admitted freeman May, 1656; Thomas, Jr., and John, May, 1664; Benjamin before 1669; and Philip, May, 1677. Samuel was made a freeman in Massachusetts, May, 1684.


III. Philip Judd, fifth son of Deacon Thomas Judd, married Hannah Loomis, daughter of Thomas Loomis, of Windsor, by his first wife. (The second wife of Thomas Loomis was Philip Judd's sister Mary). Philip Judd resided at Farmington until a few years before his death, removing thence to Waterbury, where he died in 1689, probably in October. The inventory of his estate, 329 pounds-consisting of property in Waterbury, 237 pounds, and land in Farming- ton. 92 pounds-was taken November 2. 1689 and presented to the court at Hartford, Novem- ber 11. The widow was administratrix, but she


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seems to have been married again before 1691, to some person whose name does not appear; and Ens. Thomas Judd and Thomas Judd, the smith, were appointed administrators, and to take care of the children, March, 1691. The estate was much in debt, and considerable was expend- ed for the children. Deacon Thomas Judd report- ed, November 5, 1703, that the debts had amounted to 139 pounds, and other expenses and losses to 46 pounds, leaving 144 pounds to be divided. The names and ages of the children are recorded in the probate office, 1689, being returned with the inventory; and the baptisms are in the Farmington Church record. The bap- tism of the youngest child was delayed; probably the mother was not a Church member when her husband died. We give the Church and probate records, the latter recording the ages: (3) Philip, baptized March 13, 1681 (eight years old); (4) Thomas, baptized May 27, 1683; (5) Hannah, baptized October 19, 1684 (five years old); (6) William, baptised July 3, 1687 (two years old); (7) Benjamin, baptized May 4, 1690 (three months old). Of these, Thomas died young; Hannah married Thomas Hoyt, of Danbury, and had nine or ten children.


IV. Philip Judd, first son of Philip Judd, of Waterbury, lived in that part of Danbury called Bethel, and died, aged eighty years or more, be- tween 1760 and 1765. He and his second wife, Lydia, were members of the Church in Bethel in 1760. That Church seems to have been organ- ized in 1760. He had three sons, and Deacon E. Taylor thought he had five daughters. Rus- sell Judd, Esq., of Kent, knew of only one daughter, Rebecca. Children: (8) Philip, (9) Thomas, (10) Samuel, (11) Hannah (named by Deacon Taylor), (12) Rebecca (named by Rus- sell Judd).


V. Samuel Judd, son of Philip Judd, of Dan- bury, in Bethel Society, married Hannah Knapp or Hannah Pickett. He and his wife Hannah were members of the Church, 1760. He had six sons, viz .: (35) Ebenezer and (36) Samuel, twins, born about 1743-44; and (37) Comfort, born about 1745; (38) James and (39) Jonathan, who were Tories in the Revolution, joined the British on Long Island, and died without issue; (40) Elijah, born June 19, 1759.


VI. Samuel Judd, son of Samuel Judd, of Bethel, and twin brother of Ebenezer, married Lucy Hawley, and had one son, Benjamin, born 1769. This wife died, and he married a second. He lived some years in Cornwall, and is believed to have died there.


VII. Benjamin Judd, son of Samuel Judd, Jr., of Bethel, married Zilpha Williams, of


Bethel, June 13, 1790. She died April 15, 1819, and he married Elizabeth Sturdevant, April 30, 1820. He died March 6, 1826, aged fifty-seven. His widow is living. Children by first wife: (138) Samuel, born November 2, 1790; (139) Lucy, born December 15, 1792 (married Abel Crofut); (140) Polly, born August 15, 1795 (mar- ried Stephen Adams); (141) Hawley, born Sep- tember 13. 1797; (142) Hiram, born May 14, 1803. By second wife: (143) George B., born January 24, 1821.


VIII. Hawley Judd, son of Benjamin Judd, of Bethel, married Eleanor Adams, of Redding, December 31, 1818. He removed to Pembroke, N. Y., and thence to Michigan. His first wife died, and he married a second. His children were all born in Bethel, as follows: (233) Betsey, March 29. 1819 (married 1838); (234) Grant, June 29, 1821; (235) Hiram Benjamin, April 3, 1823; (236) Harrison, June 2, 1825; (237) Henry, July 20, 1827; (238) Amelia, February 22, 1831; (239) Frank, December 18, 1833; (240) Mary, January 28, 1839; (241) Edgar, March 10, 1841.


IX. Hiram Benjamin Judd, second son of Hawley Judd, of Bethel, married Polly Maria Williams, October 21. 1846. She died April 7, 1858. He married for his second wife Martha E. Butler, of Danbury, April 24, 1859. Chil- dren by first marriage; Harrison Hawley, born July 2, 1849; Franklin Williams, born April 16, 1851 (died August 12, 1851); Ina Amelia, born March 16, 1853. Children by second marriage: Herbert Newton, born February 17. 1865. Hiram Benjamin Judd died at Bethel, May 6, 1872. His eldest son, Harrison Hawley Judd, married Esther M. Saunders, of Edgerton, Wis., Sep- tember 5, 1877; he died December 9, 1889. Ina Amelia Judd married Henry Mansfield, of Bethel, May 22, 1873.


X. Herbert Newton Judd, third son of Hiram Benjamin Judd, married Jennie May Alexander, daughter of Thomas T. Alexander, of Danbury, November 27, 1888. Children: Charles Alex- ander, born September 21, 1890; and Harrison Hiram, born September 7, 1892, died December 26, 1894.


HARLES NAPOLEON RUGGLES, a well- C known citizen of Bridgeport, now living practically retired at his beautiful home on Main street, was born March 15, 1835, a son of Asher Ruggles, and a grandson of Nathaniel Ruggles, one of the founders of the first Methodist Church in Bridgeport.


Asher Ruggles was born in Bridgeport, where his father, in addition to his ministry, engaged in


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shoemaking for the Southern trade. He passed his youth in his native town, and learned the trade of shoemaking with his father. In politics he was quite active, and under the administra- tion of James K. Polk was appointed custom house collector for Bridgeport and Stamford, which office he was holding at the time of his death, in 1849. He married Miss Isabella Mul- holland. of Bridgeport, and four children were born of this union: Charles Napoleon; George. deceased; Mary B., wife of Theodore Curtis; and Isabella, who died in childhood.


Charles N. Ruggles received his education at the public schools of Bridgeport and at the New- town Academy. When his father died he was taken to New York city, and there began his first | labors for self support. For two years he clerked in a wholesale clothing house, and then entered the employ of the Golden Hill Shirt Factory, where he remained until 1862. That year he began the livery business at Bridgeport, and for thirty years this engaged his time and attention. He was careful in the management of his affairs. and when, in 1892, his building was desired by the city for use as an emergency hospital. he was . able to sell his stock and retire on a comfortable competence.


Mr. Ruggles has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Arretta Remington, of South Norwalk. by whom he had one son, Lawrence R. After the death of his first wife he was united. in marriage with Mrs. Lizzie Peet, a daughter of ! Gilbert Wordin.


Benevolent and public-spirited, Mr. Ruggles Mr. Seymour's boyhood was spent chiefly in occupies a prominent place in the city. He ; the town of Wilton, where he learned the shoe- affiliates with the Democratic party, and has filled a number of local offices. In 1883 he acceptably served as councilman, and in 1897 was alderman for his ward. Mayor Taylor appointed him as- sessor, but he resigned. Fraternally he is a member of the 1. O. O. F .; socially he belongs to the Algonquin and Pequonnock Clubs. What he has he has acquired through his own efforts, and if he stands high in the estimation of those who know him best. the credit is all his own.


H TON. LEWIS CURTIS SEYMOUR. Polit- ical differences form so strong a barrier to friendship, that a man who commands the es- teem and confidence of his fellow citizens with- out regard to party lines must possess unusual ability and high character. The subject of this sketch, a well-known citizen of Ridgefield. is one of those happily-constituted individuals whose genial temperament wins good will, while his ability and integrity are recognized by all. Mr.


Seymour has been frequently chosen to offices of trust and responsibility, and his twenty-four years of continuous service as treasurer of Ridgefield township is in itself a convincing evidence of his personal worth and high standing. He was born February 11, 1835, in the town of Ridgefield, the son of Lewis C. Seymour, and grandson of Nathaniel Seymour.


Lewis C. Seymour (1), our subject's father, was born in Ridgefield April 22, 1801, and be- I came a farmer there, but later removed to Wil- ton, where he followed the mason's trade for some time. He was married in Wilton to his second wife, Mrs. Eliza (Morgan) Hoyt, daughter I of Joel and Eunice Morgan. His death occurred April S, 1859, and his wife died October 27. . 1861. Our subject was the only child of this union, but by a previous marriage, to Almira Betts, his father had two children: (1) Jonathan H., who married and went to the South, where he died leaving two children-Lillie and Helen. (2) Emily A., who married Edwin Rile, of Ro- wayton. this county, and died leaving two chil- dren-Curtis and Emily, both residents of Roway- ton. Our subject's mother also had two children by her first marriage: (1) Betsey M. Hoyt, now 1 the widow of Philip Barhite, and W. M. Hoyt, the latter of whom is deceased, and the former resides in Ridgefield (she has one son, William C. Barhite, a merchant in that town, and one daughter, Emma Barhite, who married Francis Statford (now deceased), and has one son, Philip, a resident of Ridgefield).


maker's trade. This he followed for eight or ten years when he became interested in farming, but later he engaged in the canning of fruit at Port Chester and Wilton, continuing the busi- ness about two years. In 1865 he located at Ridgefield, where he engaged in general mer- cantile business with Philip Barhite. The part- nership lasted until the death of Mr. Barhite, whose son, W. C. Barhite, then entered the firm. which was. continued under the name of Sey- mour & Barhite. In 1890 Mr. Seymour sold his interest and retired from business. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, his connection with the party dating back to its organization, but his first Presidential vote was cast for the candi- date of the " Know Nothing " party. Since 1874 he has held the office of township treasurer, and in 1874 he was elected as a representative from his town to the State Legislature, where he served one term with credit to himself and sat- isfaction to his constituents.


Mr. Seymour married Miss Martha L. Keeler,


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of Wilton, but no children were born of the union. Socially, Mr. Seymour is identified with the 1. O. O. F., Pilgrim Lodge No. 46, at Ridge- field, in which he holds the office of treasurer, and with the Masonic Fraternity, having been for thirty-one years an active member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 49. F. & A. M .. at Ridgefield, in which he has served as treasurer.


M ENRY H. NICHOLS. This leading and enterprising resident is conspicuous not only as such, but as one of the best known and widely- respected citizens in this portion of the State.


Mr. Nichols is a native of Fairfield county, born August 2S. 1856, in the town of Weston, and received a liberal education at the common schools of the place, subsequently graduating at the Episcopal Institute, Cheshire, Conn. His first business occupation was in the capacity of bookkeeper for a New York wholesale firm, with whom he remained over three years, and then re- turned to Weston. Learning the hatter's trade, he has since continued in that line successfully at Danbury.


In 1876, Mr. Nichols was united in marriage with Miss Lillie A. Sproul, who was born June 13. 1856. a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Humphreys) Sproul, the former of whom is a coal dealer in Danbury, and four children have blessed this union, of which, Harry H., born March 9, 1881, and Frank M., born February 25. 1884, are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols attend the services of the Episcopal Church. In politics he is a stanch Republican, but no office seeker. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., Progressive Lodge No. 1S, Danbury, of which he is past grand; is past chief patriarch of Devotion Encampment No. 5; district deputy grand master of the State; grand conductor of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut, I. O. O. F., and member of Echo Lodge, Order of Rebekah, No. 30, Danbury (auxiliary to the I. O. O. F.). He is also a member of Court Danbury No. 71, A. O. F. of A.


Hanford Nichols, grandfather of our subject. was born in 1797. in the town of Weston, was a lifelong farmer, and died in 1868. He was very prominent in Church work. and materially as- sisted in the organization of the Episcopal Church at Lyons Plains, which he attended all his life. In politics he was a Whig: for several terms he represented his district in the State Senate, and he also held various town offices .- He was thrice married: first, to Betsey Wakeman; second, to Laura Chapman; and third, to Lorinda Chap- man. By his first wife he had three children:


Henry, married to Mary L. Sutton; Laura, wife of David W. Sherwood; and Lloyd, who died young. By his second wife Mr. Nichols had two children: Evaline, wife of Albin B. Sherwood; and Mary Betsey, wife of Edgar Giles.


Henry Nichols, father of our subject, was born February 29, 1824. in the town of Weston, Fair- field county, and, like his father, followed agri- cultural pursuits all his days. In politics he was an ardent Republican, in religious faith a mem- ber of the Episcopal Church at Weston, of which he was vestryman, clerk and organist. In 1846 he married Miss Mary L. Sutton, who was born March 31. 1825. a daughter of Daniel M. and Polly B. Sutton, prosperous farming people of Wilton, and Henry H., our subject, is their only child. The father died June 3. 1869; the mother on July 15, 1887.


H ON. ELI JAMES MORRIS. The Morris family residence, near Sandy Hook, stands on historic ground, and the house itself, which is more than a century old, has sheltered many dis- tinguished men, including, as residents, a con- gressman, Hobart Curtis, and a governor of Con- necticut. the late Luzon B. Morris, a brother of the well-known gentleman whose name opens this sketch.


The family has been prominent from an early day in this section, and is noted not only for ability but for longevity. By a singular co- incidence our subject's grandfather, great-grand- father, and great-great-grandfather, each of whom was named Daniel Morris, attained the same age-seventy-seven. The great-grand- father was born May 7, 1715, in Bridgeport, this county, and on July 9, 1741, married for his first wife Sarah Mackhard, who died April 16, 1761; his death occurred March 1, 1792. His second union was with a widow, Mrs. Jackson. By his first marriage he had seven children, whose names with dates of birth and death are as fol- lows: Mary, December 1, 1742, November 30, 1776: Sarah, September 1, 1745. March 21, 1771; Amos, November 30, 1747, December 7, 1747: Daniel, March 8, 1749, May 7. 1749; Daniel (2), December 13, 1750, March 28, 1828; James, June 14, 1753, who when last heard from was an admiral in the British navy, North American station; and Matthew Mackhard, July 25, 1757, September 28, 1762. By the second wife there was one son, Amos, born September 28, 1762.


Daniel Morris (2), the grandfather of our subject, was born in Bridgeport, and was the first of the family to locate in Newtown, although his


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father settled there later, and both engaged in agriculture in Grays Plains District, now known as Walkers Farms. He was active in local affairs, and was regarded as one of the lead- 1 ing men of the town in his day. He married Mis. Mary (Salter) Burritt (widow of Israel Bur- ! ritt), who was born in Anthiego, one of the West India islands, and came thence to Bridgeport. The following children were born of this mar- riage: Sally, born October 1. 17-, in Bridge- port, married (first) Abraham Blackman, and (second) Abel Curtis; James, born July 23, 17 -- , died January 3, 1855: Israel B., born July 26, 1775. died July 25, 1837; Daniel, born January 27, 1781, in Newtown; Eli Gould, our subject's father, is mentioned below; Polly, born August 1. 1786, married John Blackman; Nancy, born July 1, 1790, married Norman Glover; Eliza- beth, born January 30, 1792, did not marry; and Eunice, born June 6, 1793, married John Black- man.


Eli Gould Morris, the father of our subject, was born June 6, 1783, in Newtown, and became a successful agriculturist, being held in high esteem among his associates for his excellent judgment. In 1819 he purchased from Mrs. Curtis the farm now occupied by our subject, which then comprised eighty-five acres, but by subsequent additions he increased it to about one hundred and thirty acres. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and in politics was a stanch Democrat. although he never aspired to public office. His death occurred January 3, 1856, and his wife, whose maiden name was Lydia Bennett, survived him many years, passing away July 2, 1879. She was born in Trumbull, this county, June 4. 1793. a daughter of Thad- deus Bennett, formerly a prominent resident of Trumbull township. Our subject was the eldest of three children, and is now the only survivor. Hon. Luzon Burritt Morris, the second in order of birth, was born April 16, 1826. Heattended school in Berkshire District, Newtown, having, for some of his early teachers, Peter Nash, C. C. Warner, and Charles Beers. At about the age of fifteen he began to shift for himself, and was apprenticed to a blacksmith at Roxbury. Later he was in the employ of Raymond French, of , by a large circle of friends.


Seymour. After this experience he attended Yale College, where he was graduated, and a year later he was elected to the Legislature from J OHN BENJAMIN. The Benjamin family. one of the wealthiest and most influential in the town of Stratford, has been identified with that locality since 1710. while the first of the name in this country settled in Massachusetts in 1630. Its members have distinguished them- Seymour. In 1870 he represented New Haven in the Legislature, and in 1874 he was in the State Senate. In 1876 he was again sent to the Lower house. He served some time as judge of the probate court, and in 1878 he was chosen Governor of Connecticut. His death occurred , selves in various lines of effort, and by intermar-


| August 23, 1895. (3) Miss Martha Jane Morris, | born December 14, 1835, died June 12, 1877. after a successful career as a teacher in the public schools.


Our subject was born December 20, 1821, at the homestead where he now resides. His edu- . cation was begun in the common schools of Zoar District, Newtown township, and he also at- tended an academy at Roxbury, Conn., for a short time. At the early age of twelve years he took charge of the farm, but during the winter seasons he managed to find time to pursue his studies for a few years longer. These meagre opportunities were quite unsatisfactory to one of his clever and active mind, and after leaving school he carried on an extensive course of read- ing. his fine memory enabling him to acquire a wide range of information. He has always re- sided at the homestead, which now contains about one hundred and seventy acres of land, and in addition to the care of the farm he was engaged in the cattle business from 1853 to 1869. In 1853 he shipped the first car-load of cattle from Sturges, Ind., and during the period mentioned he bought from 500 to 1,000 head of stock cattle per year in Michigan and Indiana for the home market. His ventures in this and other lines have been rewarded with success, and for many years he has been regarded as one of the sub- stantial men of the town. He has always been active in local affairs, and is influential in the Democratic organization. For many years he held the office of justice of the peace, and for some time he was selectman of his town, while for fifteen years past he has served as poormas- ter.


In 1859 he was sent to the State Legisla- ture as a representative of his town. In religious faith he is an Episcopalian; socially, he is con- nected with Hiram Lodge No. 18, F. & A. M., at Sandy Hook, Conn., in which he is one of the oldest members.


In 1850 Mr. Morris was married by the Rev. Dr. Burhans: then in his eighty-third year, to Miss Jane Elizabeth Chambers, who was born February 6, 1825, a daughter of Thomas O. Chambers, of Zoar District, Newtown township. She died October 4. 1891, sincerely mourned


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riages the family has become related to many others of note, one line of descent being traced to Governor Bradford, of .. Mayflower " fame.


The genealogy of the Benjamin family. which was originally known as Berington, runs back to Norman ancestry under William the Conqueror, and is traced through Walter De Lacey, Great Baron (1074); Roger de Lacey (1095) under William Rufus; Ilbert de Lacey (1137), and John de Lacey (1222). Under Henry III the Confederacy of Barons was dissolved, result- ing in the caste known as "landed gentry." These Barons de Lacey were in Hertfordshire after 1222, and in the reign of Edward III the de Laceys appear as landed gentry in Bery- ton of Stoke Lacey. and later as Berington of Stoke Lacey and Windesley Mote Hall, Galop, Hereford, England. In Edward III's reign Bery- ton of Stoke Lacey married the daughter and heiress of Rowland de Windesley, and had by her the ancient seat of Windesley, which has con- tinued in the family ever since; but in later years the family name was changed to Berington. The ancient seat of Windesley, which came into the possession of the Beringtons by the afore- said marriage, lies in the Parish of Hope-under- Dinmore. The coat of arms used conjointly by the Beringtons and Benjamins is supposed to have been granted at the knighting of a Bering- ton July 21, 1403, on the field of Shrewsbury, just north of Hereford. Tradition says that the Beringtons changed their surname to Benjamin about the year 1494. John Berington (II), Esq., of Stoke-Lacey (the second John counting John de Lacey of 1222), was heir of Rowland Wyndes- ley, of Windesley. William Berington, Esq .. whose eldest son Simon was the great-grand- father of John Berington III, born 1683. John Berington Il, the eldest son, was the ancestor of the American Benjamin family.


John Benjamin, the first of that name in America, sailed in the ship " Lion" July 16, 1630, with his wife Abigail. John Benjamin I was a personal friend of Governor Winthrop, who witnessed his will and gave an account in his manuscripts of the Benjamin house, library, etc. He located at Watertown. Mass., and was appointed high sheriff of Boston May 20, 1633.


Ill. John Benjamin, son of John II, married Mary Smith, of Hartford, removed to Stratford in 1710, and was the first of the Benjamin family to take up his abode in that beautiful and his- toric town.




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