Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 38

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336

USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1 > Part 38

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JOHN TAYLCOAT.

(II) John2 Talcott, son of John1 and - Wells, was born (probably) in Colchester, previous to 1558. Married Anne, daughter of William Skinner. He died early in 1604, and before the decease of his father, John1, his wife, one son and five daughters surviving. His will, 1604. Anne, his wife, being sole executrix and residuary legatee : "I John Tail- coat of Braintree in the countie Essex, England, gives his homestead to his wife Anne, during her life, and after her decease to his son John Tailcoat. He gives to dau. Rachel Tailcoat, John Taylcot, my sonne, and to Anne Tailcot, Marie Tailcot, Grace Tailcot and Sara Tailcot my daughters, fortie poundes apeece of lawful money of England."

JOHN TAILCOT.

Witness : Marke Mott, Erasmus Sparhawke, James Sparhawke.

(III) John3 Talcott, son of John? and Anne Skin- ner, his wife, was born in Braintree, County Essex. England. He married Dorothy, daughter (probably) of Mark Mott, Esq., and Frances Gutter, his wife. of Braintree. Issue : Mary and John, born in Eng- land : and Samuel, born in New England. John Talcott was an only son, and was left a minor by the death of his father in 1604. No other family of this name ever emigrated to this country. He came, with others of Rev. Thomas Hooker's com- pany, to Boston, in the ship "Lion," Capt. Mason, which sailed from England 22 Tune, 1632, and ar- rived there 16 Sept .. 1632. This company first settled in Newtown ( now Cambridge), near Boston. John Talcott was admitted a freeman by the General Court at Boston, 6 Nov., 1632 : was a representa- tive in the General Court 14 May, 1634; was chosen

one of the selectmen of Newtown 4 Feb., 1634. He was the fifth greatest proprietor of houses and lands out of eighty townsmen, 1634. When the party of Mr. Hooker decided to come to Hartford, John Talcott sold all his possessions I May, 1636, to Nicholas Danforth. The year before he sent Nich- olas Clark, the carpenter, to build him a house, which stood where North church now stands, better known as Dr. Bushnell s church. He became one of the distinguished "Founders of Hartford," in the Col- ony of Connecticut : one of the chief magistrates ; a member of the General Court for many years; and was styled the worshipful Mr. John Talcott. His will, dated 3 March, 1659-60, proven 3 March, 1660- 61, inventoried £1708-04-04: "I give and doe give and bequefe unto my sonne : Samewell all my housing and house lotts lying in Wethersfield ; both of medow swamp: land upland with all my rights thereunto belonging now in the ockupation of John Belden, or Enoch Buck, or any other, both on the east, and west side of the river forever to injoy himselve, and Avers. provided that he marry, and leave no issue of his body lawfully begoten when he depart this life that then his wife shall only posese it during her naterall livfe and then the land and housing to re- turne to the eldest sonne then living of my sonn John to injoy after my sonn John his death." Mrs. Dorothy ( Mott) Talcott died February, 1669-70.

(IV) Capt. Samuel Talcott, the second son of the worshipful Mr. John Talcott3 and Dorothy, his wife, was born probably in Newtown (now Cambridge), Mass., about 1634 or 1635. He married Hannah. daughter of Hon. Elizur Holyoke and Mary Pyn- chon, his wife, 7 Nov .. 1661. She died in Wethers- field 7 Feb., 1677-78. leaving a family of eight chil- dren-six sons and two daughters. He was the scholar of the family, a graduate of Harvard Col- lege, 1658; a freeman, 1662: 1669 to 1684 commis- sioner from Wethersfield : from 1670 to 1684 deputy to the General Court: secretary October session. 1684. On 16 May, 1676, he was appointed one of a standing committee to order such measures and dispose of such affairs as shall be necessary to attend to in the intervals of the General Court. 12 May, 1677, he was lieutenant in the Wethersfield train band; 14 Oct., 1679, lieutenant of troop: 16 Oct .. 1681, captain of troop of Hartford county. From 1683, except during the Andross administration, he was an Assistant till his death, HI Nov., 1691. His will was dated 22 April. 1691: inventoried £2181- 01-06; taken 21 Dec., 1691. His will was presented in court 23 Jan., 1651-62, having no witness, "and his hand being so well known he having wright it all with his own hand the court accepted of it to- gether with the inventory."

(V) Cornet Samuel Talcott. son of Capt. Sam- uel Talcott and Hannah Holyoke, his wife, was born in Wethersfield in 1662. and married Mary, daugh- ter of William and Mary Ellery. He died in Weth- ersfield 28 April, 1698. His estate was inventoried at £774-02. Children : Samuel, age two years ; Anne,

mayalcotty

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

seven years : and Mary, eight months. Adms. to Mary, the relict and widow.

(\1) Ensign Samuel Talcott, son of Cornet Samuel Talcott, born in 1696, married 5 Dec., 1723. Thankfull Belding. He died 6 May, 1739. Estate inventoried at £3912-18-01, taken 3 July, 1739. Adms. to Thankfull Talcott, widow.

(\'HI) Ebenezer Talcott, son of Samuel Talcott and Thankfull Belding, born 1731. died 25 Aug .. 1795. aged sixty-four years. Sarah, daughter of John Talcott, his wife, died 13 April. 1801. aged sixty-eight. Children: Samuel died young, un- married. Ebenezer, a sailor, was lost at sea. Sam- uel, born 6 Feb., 1758. married Mary ( Molly ) Hurl- but 25 Dec., 1788 ; he died 23 Dec., 1794. E. thirty- six years. Josiah, a sailor, was drowned in the Connecticut river. John, a sailor, was lost at sea near Saybrook, coming from the West Indies. Sarah married Capt. James Treat, of Wethersfield. Will- iam, born 7 Nov., 1771, married Amelia Hanmer. 31 July, 1800: he died 28 June, 1813, aged forty- two years. Mary died unmarried. Joseph married Anna Boardman in 1803 : he died 17 June. 1832.

(VIII) Deacon William Talcott, son of Eben- ezer Talcott and Sarah, daughter of John Talcott. born 7 Nov., 1771, married 31 July. 1800, and died 28 June, 1813, aged forty-two years. His wife. Amelia, daughter of Francis Hanmer, of Wethers- field, born 18 Dec .. 1775. died 4 Sept .. 1837. aged sixty-two years. Children: Amelia, born 6 July, 1801. married David Hills, of East Hartford; she died 3 April, 1847, aged forty-six years. Celia, born I Feb., 1804. married Henry Robbins, of Wethers- field, and died in 1886, aged eighty-two years. William, born 22 Sept .. 1806, married Eliza H. Har- ris 12 May. 1830, and died 14 March, 1886, aged eighty years. Sarah Treat, born 21 July, 1809, mar- ried John Loveland, and died 3 Dec .. 1873. aged sixty-four years. Francis H., born 19 April, 1812. clied 2 Dec .. 1854, at Brattleboro, \'t., aged forty- two years. William Talcott was deacon of the First Congregational Church in Wethersfield. A drug- gist by occupation.

( IX ) William Talcott, son of Deacon William Talcott and Amelia Hanmer, his wife, born 22 Sept., 1806, married 12 May, 1830, Eliza H., daughter of Thomas Harris, of Wethersfield. born 10 April. 1806, died 31 March, 1883. aged seventy-seven years. He died 14 March, 1886, aged eighty years. Children: William Hanmer, born 17 Feb., 1831. married Charlotte F., daughter of Charles Church, of Hartford. Francis Hanmer. born 3 March, 1833. married Ellen Sophia, daughter of Nathaniel Prudden, of Hartford, 16 June. 1856. No issue. He died 30 Oct., 1893, aged sixty years. Thomas Harris, born 23 May. 1835. is a resident of New York City. Elizabeth Amelia. born 3 Feb., 1838. was married 23 Nov., 1864. to James T. Smith, born 4 May. 1833. Marshall Decatur, born 3 Oct .. 1840. married Alice Benedict, of Marshall, Mich. Dewitt Clinton, born 3 June, 1842, died 25 Aug., 1886, with-

out issue, aged forty-four years. Cecelia Augusta, born 8 Nov., 1845, married George Smith, of Weth- ersfield. Harriet Ella was born 3 March, 1849. William Talcott, father of this family, was born and reared in Wethersfield. By occupation he was a builder of houses. He and his wife celebrated their golden weding May 12, 1880, all their children sur- viving. He was a representative to the State Legis- lature in 1847. and was Colonel of the Ist Regiment, National Guard.

(X) MAJOR WILLIAM HANMER TALCOTT, born in Wethersfield 17 Feb., 1831, married 5 Nov., 1861. Charlote F., daughter of Charles Church, of Hartford, born 31 Jan., 1836. Issue : Charles Church, born 15 Aug., 1862, died 28 June, 1866, aged four years. William Church Talcott, the second son of Major William HI. Talcott, was born 21 Feb .. 1872. Major William Hanmer Tal- cott, son of Col. William Talcott, of Wethersfield, was educated in the town schools of Wethersfield. leaving there in 1848. He served an apprenticeship of four years with Allen S. Stillman, to learn the trade of book-binding in Hartford. After this service he was employed at wages by Edmund Hunt, or others, until 1860, when he bought the bindery of Horace E. Goodwin, and began business for him- self. Ten years later he bought the bindery of his former master, Capt. Allen S. Stillman, which was established in 1798, it being the oldest in the State. His brother Francis was in partnership from 1870 until his death, in 1893. This successful busi- ness of forty years has resulted in a wide and favor- able acquaintance. With his active business life he has found time for other service : Two years in the city council, three terms on the board of aldermen (never missed a meeting and but once its opening). The Major is a Democrat in politics : an active mem- ber of the Methodist Church : a trustee of the Y. M. C. A. : a member of the executive committee of the Connecticut Bible Society : a me nber of Trumbull Council, National Provident Union ; a councillor in the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America ; major commanding in 1878-79 the First Company. Governor's Foot Guards. chartered 19 Oct. 1771 ; and a member of the Connecticut Historical So- ciety.

The Major has some interesting family papers in his possession, among them being a Colonial writ that has been passed down in the family for over 130 years, coming to our subject with the papers of his father, who in turn received it from his fa- ther. It was issued 19 Nov., 1760, in favor of Jo- seph Talcott, who was treasurer of the Colony of Connecticut from 1756 to 1769. and was a son of Gov. Joseph Talcott, who was :: the head of the Colonial government for seventeen years from 1725. Joseph Talcott had received judgment against Sil- vanus Phelps, of Hebron, for £8-10-05, not includ- ing the costs of the court, amounting to 8s., Gd .. the judgment being obtained before John Ledyard, of Ilartford. The constable who served the writ was

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Samuel Gilbert, Jr., of Hebron, then a part of Hart- ford county, and the document bears his signature. In want of money, goods or chattels, satisfying the judgment, the sheriff of the town was commanded to take the body of the said Silvanus and him com- mit unto the keeper of the gaol in Hartford, in the county aforesaid, within the said prison, who is like- wise hereby commanded to receive the said Silvanus, and him safely to keep until he pay unto the said Joseph the full sums above mentioned. The Major also has the commission of Ensign Samuel Talcott to command the trained band, dated Hartford IO May, 1735, and signed Joseph Talcott, Gov. of Con- necticut Colony, by his Honour's Command, Geo. Wyllys, Sec.

John Talcott and his son-in-law, William Wads- worth, seized the Charter of Connecticut given by Charles II, and secreted it in the oak tree in Hart- ford afterward known as the Charter Oak.

GOLDEN WEDDING-Fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of Col. William Talcott and wife .- 1830-1880. There was an exceedingly pleasant gath- ering at the residence of Col. and Mrs. William Talcott, of Wethersfield, on Wednesday evening, it being the fiftieth anniversary of their marriage. Their eight children were all present with their families, viz. : Major William H. Talcott and wife and son ; Francis H. Talcott, wife and daugh- ter, of Hartford ; Thomas H. Talcott ( unmarried). of New York ; Mrs. James T. Smith, husband and children, of Wethersfield ; Marshall D. Talcott, wife and daughter, of Chicago: Dewitt C. Talcott and wife. of New York; and Misses Cecelia A. and Harriet E. Talcott, of Wethersfield. . There were also present a sister of the Colonel, Mrs. Henry Robbins, and Miss Jane Harris, sister of Mrs. Tal- cott, both of Wethersfield, besides a large number of relatives. The only regret of Col. Talcott and family was that their residence was not sufficiently large so that they could have invited every relative and friend of the family to join with them on this festal occasion. The reception room was prettily trimmed with flowers and running vines. Between the two windows was the monogram "T-H" on a golden shield, made of flowers, and on the curtains of the two windows were 1830-1880, also made of flowers. William Talcott and Miss Eliza Harris were married by Rev. Dr. Tenney, then pastor of the Congregational Church of Wethersfield, 12 May. 1830. There are several notable things of interest connected with this occasion. The contracting parties were born in the same year ( 1806). No mem- ber of the family has been removed by death. Mr. and Mrs. Talcott have lived in the same house nearly fifty years, a house erected on ground that has always been held by the Talcott family : and this anniversary not only comes on the same day of the month of their marriage, but the same day of the week. A written invitation to the wedding was ex- hibited Wednesday evening, which reads as

follows :

WETHERSFIELD, May 10, 1830.

William Talcott's compliments to Mr. John Loveland, requesting the favor of his company at Mr. Thomas Harris's on Wednesday evening, at 7 o'clock.

Yours, etc.,

WILLIAM TALCOTT.

After some time had been passed in social inter- course, the assembly was called to order by Major William H. Talcott, the children standing near the parents in a group, when Major Talcott addressed his father and mother in well fitting words, thank- ing them for their kindness to their children through these years, and expressing the love and regard which they have for them, and in closing presented a purse of gold to the parents. Col. Talcott, although taken entirely by surprise, said that he had no words at command which could express his feelings. It was more to him to meet with his dear eight chil- dren upon that occasion, and to feel that they had never brought a stain upon the family, than gold. Major Talcott then called upon his pastor, Rev. C. C. Lasby, of the North Methodist Church, Hart- ford, who read a specially appropriate poem.

The reading of the poem was followed by ex- ceedingly appropriate remarks by Rev. W. W. An- drews, of Wethersfield, Rev. Howard S. Clapp, pas- tor of the Episcopal Church, Wethersfield, and Rev. Amasa Howard, of the Baptist Church, in which the kindest sentiments were expressed. Congratu- latory letters were received from several friends from abroad, expressing regret at not being able to be present, as follows: From Gen. James T. Pratt, of Wethersfield, who was detained by sickness ; Mrs. J. W. Brockway, of Elmira, N. Y .; Capt. Ed. W. Kirk Talcott, of Morgan Park, Ill .; Rev. A. C. Washburn, of Syracuse. N. Y .; L. A. Talcott, of Chicago, Ill. ; and Samuel Broadbent, of Philadel- phia. On the invitations to this anniversary it was written "no presents," notwithstanding which there were many valuable presents given, and the elegant collation served by Habenstein was beyond criti- cism, consisting of chicken and lobster salads, fric- assee and escalloped oysters, creams and ices in fancy forms, jellies, charlotte de russe, loaf cake, angel cake, fancy ornamented cake, mottos, confec- tionery, fruits, coffee, lemonade, etc. The tables looked elegantly trimmed with flowers and orna- mented with a new set of china of rich design, which was used upon this occasion for the first time. The refreshments were served in a large tent in the yard, which was a novelty and was much enjoyed. Through the courtesy of President Goodrich, of the Wethersfield horse railroad, two special cars were furnished to convey the Hartford guests home, where they arrived at I A. M.

William Church Talcott, the second son of Major William H. Talcott, born 21 Feb., 1872, entered at an early age the city Arsenal school. from which, at the age of fifteen years, he entered the Hartford Public High School, his object and purpose being to acquire a business education. He gave one year's time and study at that school, at the age of

John A Pouilly

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sixteen years entering Wilbraham Academy, Wil- braham, Mass .. from which institution he graduated after one year, receiving his diploma. He then, in the pursuit of his original plan. engaged with his father and uncle ( firm of William H. Talcott & Bro. ) to learn the business of book-binding. His untimely death occurred 19. Dec., 1892. He was a member of the North Methodist Church and Sun- day-school ; was librarian for a number of years ; an usher in the church; and a member of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, having held the office of secretary and treasurer. He was a member of the Y. M. C. A., and of the Young Men's Athletic Association. The funeral of Willie C. Talcott. the only son of Major William H. Talcott and Mrs. Talcott, took place 23 Dec., 1892. Prayers were said at the house, after which services were held at the church at 2:30 P. M. The pastor, Rev. H. Q. Judd, officiated, assisted by Rev. J. E. Holmes, of Seymour, Rev. David C. Downey, of Stamford ( former pastor of this church), Rev. A. H. Meade, of Meriden, and Rev. John Cromlish. During the services the flag at the Arsenal school was at half-mast out of respect to his memory. Ex- tended obituary notices appeared in all the Hartford daily papers, Courant, Times, Evening Post, Tele- gram, and Globe (weekly). The large attendance of friends from far and near, with beautiful floral offerings, gave evidence of the sympathy and respect toward the bereaved parents, and love for the young man whose short earthly life now ended had been so full in noble aspirations and generous activities.

JOHN A. CRILLY, adjuster for the Hartford Street Railway Co., former county commissioner, alderman, present member of the common council, and a politician of local note and influence, is one of the well and favorably known men and charac- ters of the Capital City, in which he has figured conspicuously for more than a third of a century.

Mr. Crilly was born April 22, 1847, in Pike River, Canada, son of William and Martha (Mc- Cormick ) Crilly, natives of Ireland, the father born Jan. 18, 1805, and the mother March 8, 1807. They were married in Ireland, and in 1836 came to Canada, locating in Pike River, where he was occu- pied through life as a wheelwright. Both were members of the M. E. Church. Mr. Crilly died Jan. 9. 1887, and she on July 17, 1886. Their children were as follows : Thomas, born May 8, 1836; Mary, born July 29. 1838, who married Allen Hageboom, of Canada ; William, born July 18, 1840; Sarah J., born Aug. 12. 1842, who married Henry Spears, of Pike River : James, born Oct. 3, 1844; John A. and Martha, twins, born April 22. 1847; and Robert, born June 6, 1849, who died Dec. 10, 1852.

John A. Crilly passed his boyhood in the place of his birth, remaining at home until about fifteen years of age, and attending the common schools of the place. After this for a time he was employed at farm work, and when fourteen years of age, in 1861, he came to Hartford, in which city he in 1865

became employed in the blacksmith shop of the Hartford Street Railway Co. At that time horses only were used as motive power. Shortly after en- tering the services of this company Mr. Crilly be- came foreman of the stables, and had charge of the outgoing and incoming teams, and also the care of the yard. Later, his ability in various lines was rec- ognized, and he became acting superintendent, and materially aided President Goodrich in much of the company's general business. He had the employing and discharging of men, and matters pertaining to their affairs. At the time of the change from horse-power to electricity, Mr. Crilly was entrusted with the sale of the horses. He continued in the position of acting superintendent until 1895, by which time the road had so enlarged that the office of adjuster was created, and from our subject's ac- quaintance and thorough knowledge of the business affairs of the company he was made that officer. He has the adjusting of all claims for damages against the company, a position requiring a peculiar fitness, which Mr. Crilly seems to possess, as he has suc- ceeded admirably in all matters of the kind which have come to issue since the creation of the office. With but few exceptions he has settled all claims made, and in each of these exceptions a verdict has been obtained for the company; in this he has no doubt saved the company much money, and his ad- judication of these claims have always been most satisfactory to all parties concerned.

Mr. Crilly's political affiliations have been with the Republican party, and in its councils he has figured not a little. Genial, social, and possessed of tact, he is popular, and a good mixer of men-a make-up of the kind that makes a good political leader. He has long been before the public, his fel- low citizens of Hartford having frequently elected him to offices of trust, honor and responsibility, and as often has he discharged the duties of the same in a manner most satisfactory to them and to his own credit. He has served six years continuously in the common council of Hartford, to which he was re-elected in 1900, and eight years as a member of the board of aldermen, and at this time is the oldest member in point of service. With one exception Mr. Crilly has served longer in that body or as alderman than any other man now living in the city, serving under Mayors Joseph Sprague, (Gov.) Bulkeley, (Gen.) Dwight. John G. Root and Alex- ander Harbison. He was three years a selectman, a position he resigned to take that of county com- missioner, which office he held for two years. For twenty years Mr. Crilly has been chairman of the Fourth Ward Republican Committee, and he has also served occasionally on the ward and town committees.

Socially, too, Mr. Crilly is prominent and in- Buential, being a member of St. John's Lodge, F & 1 M .: Pythagoras Chapter; Wolcott Council : Washington Commandery, No. 1. K. T .: Sphinx Temple. Mystic Shrine: Hartford Lodge, No. 82, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the chairs

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and is past noble grand; Midian Encampment, in which he has held a number of official positions ; the Knights of Pythias: the B. P. O. E .; the An- cient Order of United Workmen : and B. H. Webb Council, No. 702, Royal Arcanum. He is also a member of Putnam Phalanx. Mr. Crilly was one of three who took medals for twenty-five years of continuous service in the Odd Fellows fraternity.

On May 22, 1879, Mr. Crilly was married to Louisa A., daughter of Capt. John and Antoinette (Goodrich ) Smith, and the union has been blessed with children as follows: John A., Jr., born June 13, 1885; Martha A., who died when ten months old ; and Mabel Smith, who died when eight months old.

Capt. John Smith was a farmer and river man. He had a family of three children: William E .; Louisa A .: and Isabella, who married Capt. San- ford A. Griswold, of Hartford. The father and mother are now both deceased, she living to be sixty-nine years old. William Smith, the grand- father of Mrs. Crilly, was a native of Wethers- field, Conn., born March 17, 1782, son of James and Sarah ( Hanmer ) Smith. His father was one of the early settlers of Wethersfield, and planted ' (or set out) the twig from which has grown the giant elm tree on Broad street, Wethersfield. William Smith married Hulda Woodhouse, a daugh- ter of Samuel and Abigail Woodhouse, the former a Revolutionary soldier : his widow drew a pension.

GEORGE M. WAY. There are few of the older generation of Hartford's residents who do not remembr George M. Way, and many are in- debted to his cool head. sagacious judgment and far-seeing business foresight for advice, freely and cheerfully rendered, which has redounded to their pecuniary profit. His career, viewed from a busi- ness standpoint, was eminently successful, inas- much as he began life penniless, and died owning a large fortune.

Mr. Way came to Hartford in 1831, a young man of twenty-three years, having been born in Colchester, New London county, Nov. 12, 1808, son of William and Demice ( Packwood) Way. His father was a farmer, and by trade a plane maker, and the young man was trained in both pursuits. His educational advantages were good for the period, his attendance at the district schools being supplemented by a course at Bacon Acade- my, then a famous school, where he was a class- mate of many men who afterward became eminent, among them the late Lyman Trumbull, erstwhile senator from Illinois. These opportunities were not thrown away upon a youth of his talent and aptitude. The habits of study and observation formed in boyhood remained with him through life, and until he passed into the unseen world he never failed to note and weigh current events. His first employment in Hartford was as clerk for Leonard Kennedy ( afterward his father-in-law), whose store stood upon the site where he himself afterward

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Commemorative biographical record of Hartford County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Pt 1, Part 38

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1336

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1336