USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Southington > Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn > Part 55
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OLIVER LEWIS.
He was the son of Job and Hannah (Curtiss) Lewis, and was born April 24, 1757, "at 2 o'clock A. M., being Sunday." It is supposed that he pursued his studies preparatory to college, with the Rev. Mr. Chapman. In a memorandum of his, it reads: "I began study July 31, 1775, in the 19th year of my age. I was admitted a member of Yale College Aug. 30, A. D. 1776. Was made a Free Mason' at New Haven, April 15, 1779; was raised to the degree of Master Mason June 3, 1779. September 13, 1780, receiv'd the degree of Bachelor of Arts at Yale College, Aetatis 23 years 5 months." Portions of a journal he began to write Sept. 13, 1780, are in existence, of which the follow- ing extracts are given:
" This day was commencement and my Class all recvd their first De- grees; the Ceremonies were performd in a private manner in the Chapel and Library; we were called into the Library at 11 °Clock and delivered the President our Diplomas, and his money for signing and then with- drew, at 4 °Clock the Masters and Bachelors went into the Chapel and the President read a general Diploma, and delivered as well our Diplomas, the evening was very rainy and dark-there was a Ball, but I was too unwell to attend-I spent the night at Lewis's; room in
company with Mr. Andrew Law and Hall and Worster, &c. * *
Thursday, Sept. 14-The morning was pleasant. I arose as soon as Sol,
1 The first of any one in the town so far as known.
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and fetch'd up my horse and rode homeward. Mr. Law and Nott and Williams rode with me, we breakfasted at Munson's tavern mount Carmel. Law and Williams parted from Nott and me at Cheshire. Stop't at Hall's and drank, &c, then we had his company home-we arriv'd at 12 º Dined and walk'd to Mr. Chapman's-at 3 " they left me."
His health was very much impaired, so that for two or three years he did not engage in active life. In 1784 he went south and died of yellow fever at Savannah, Oct. 12, 1784. He was engaged to be mnar- ried to Sarah, daughter of Rev. Mr. Chapman, who remained single and died January 10, 1804.
JONATHAN BARNES.
He was born in Southington, March 13, 1763, and was the son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (Woodruff) Barnes. He graduated at Yale College in 1784, studied law and settled in Tolland. Here he was highly esteemed not only in his profession, but in social life. One of his cotemporaries, who knew him well, writes " that he was above the average in ability and legal attainments, and remarkable for his prompt- ness in all business affairs. In religious matters he would not commit himself to any creed, but granted the fullest liberty of belief to others. One day he remarked 'that half his religion was treating his beasts 1 with kindness.'" In appearance he resembled a gentleman of the old school, and is said to have worn "breeches " until his death. He was scrupulously exact in all his dealings, and particularly so with those who labored ? for him. For a number of years he was State's or Dis- trict Attorney for Tolland County.
SIMEON NEWELL.
He was born in Southington, Feb. 5, 1758-9, and was the son of Isaac and Rachel (Pomeroy) Newell. He graduated at Yale College in 1775. After leaving college he settled in the north part of the town, on what is known as the Ammi R. Demming place, and followed the occupation of surveyor. But little is known of his history. He is the grandfather of the Hon. Samuel P. Newell, a lawyer in Bristol.
1 For this he became noted. A horse that had served him long and faithfully fell dead in the street. A neighbor wished to get the skin and shoes, and offered, for these, to buy him. Mr. Barnes said, "No; that animal shall have an unmolested, decent burial."
2 A man who had done a piece of work for him, made his charge, and was paid in eash. Afterwards Mr. Barnes, feeling that the work deserved a larger reward, sent the man a whole cheese.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
SETH LEWIS.
He was born in Southington June 24, 1759, and was the son of Job and Hannah (Curtiss) Lewis. He graduated at Yale College in 1783. He entered upon no profession. For several years he had a store and tavern in Southington, and was Postmaster. As one of the first to advocate the party of which Mr. Jefferson was the leader, he suffered somewhat for his political views. He is said to have been very high- spirited, and quick to resent an insult. He is the father of Mrs. Dr. Timothy Jones.
GIDEON WOODRUFF.
He was born in Southington in 1763, and was the son of Deacon Jonathan and Phebe (Maid) Woodruff. He graduated at Yale College in 1785; studied medicine, and settled in Plymouth, where he died in 1846. He had a son William, who graduated at Yale Medical School in 1826, and who settled in Plymouth Hollow.
ICHABOD E. FISK.
He was the son of Ebenezer Fisk who lived at South End, on the place now owned by Mr. Stillman. He graduated at Yale College in 1770, but did not pursue any professional calling.
CHAPTER XXXI.
WAR RECORD.
French and Indian War; Soldiers; Revolution; Votes of Town of Farmington; Votes of Southington ; French Army in Southington ; Encampments ; Washington ; La Fayette ; Soldiers ; War of 1812; Soldiers; Mexican War ; Soldiers.
EARLIER WARS.
In tracing the names of those participating in the earlier wars, I note those only who resided within the territorial limits of the Southington parish, omitting all living elswhere in the town of Farmington.
The1 confused state of the records in the custody of the State. prevents anything like a complete account of the soldiers in the earlier wars. Tradition and family records, only partially supply the desired information.
TIMOTHY ROOT, a lieutenant of a company, and others from this town, were in Queen Anne's war, 1702-13.
FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN war, as it is called, excited a considerable interest in this parish, but many of the names 2 enlisting cannot be found.
SAMUEL RICHARDS, son of Thomas and Abigail (Turner) Richards, went as assistant to a Surgeon, and returning home studied the pro- fession of medicine. (See Med. Biog.)
The church records contain the following for 1758. "4 persons died 3 in campaign," but who they were cannot be ascertained.
SON OF MOSES LYMAN died "in campaign," Jan. 1, 1758. ENI COLE died in " camp," in 1760.
NATHANIEL PARDEE died in " camp," in 1760.
1 The negleet of the State to carefully file and index documents so valuable, seems inexcusable. Certainly in this Centennial year all the facts of Colonial and Revolu- tionary wars should be collected and published, or at least, made accessible to those desiring to use them.
2 In 1750, the 10th Regiment embraced Wallingford, Waterbury, Durham, and Southington.
8 Probably in the expedition against Louisburg, as it is known that some from this parish died there in camp or battle.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
JOHN COBBET died in " camp," in 1760.
JOSEPH, SON OF ADMIAH PARKS, died in " camp," in 1761.
WILLIAM BARRETT, who came to this town from Wethersfield, seems to have been a commissioned officer, for a sword is still in the hands of descendants, that family tradition affirms was used in the French War. And it is said that his brother SOLOMON, a bachelor, was also in the same war.
CAPT. ZEALOUS ADKINS served in the French war, and also in the Revolution, as a "minute man."
STEPHEN PRATT, grandfather of George, Daniel, and David Pratt, all living at Clark Farms, was five years in the French War, and must have enlisted when quite a boy,1 for he was born in 1740. For some time he was in the Mohawk Valley, and engaged in battoeing. In the winter of 1758-9 he went with the forces to Pittsburg. Streams that were not frozen had to be forded ; highways were opened through swamps. Each soldier carried his gun, kettle, blanket, and much of his provisions upon his back. His company killed a deer and bear on the way, and these furnished meat for a week. They were four weeks on the March.
A Mrs. Caleb Howe and little boy, were recaptured from the Indians by this company and returned to their home-at some settlement on the way. Several years later, a son of Stephen Pratt (the late Deacon Eli, of this town) was visiting in Western New York when he met this boy who had now grown to be a man, but he still bore the scar made by a wound from a tomahawk.
Mr. Pratt said, he slept one night with a soldier who was sick, and the poor fellow suffering much, a " sweat " was administered. The next morning the man was broken out with small pox, but his compan- ion did not take it.
He was also on the plains of Abraham (Quebec), at the battle Sept. 13, 1759, although not engaged as a combatant.
LIEUT, DAVID SMITHI, who died June 22, 1817, aged 95, was also in this war. Although not considered robust he yet attained the ripest age of any man ever living in the town. He learned the blacksmith trade, and in this capacity was in the service. But little is known of his history. After the war he located on a farm on the road leading from D. P. Woodruff's to the Town-house. The homestead was burned recently. He is spoken of as given to the extremes of pleasantness and severity.2 Dr. Edward Robinson alludes to him, and states that he
1 Tradition says at eighteen.
2 A niece of his visiting him from New Haven, was given to pranks that displeased him. In a fit of anger he gave her what he called "a sound whipping." She being sixteen years of age, the matter led to difficulty not easily settled.
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accompanied Mr. Smith when over eighty years of age, to East Haven or Branford, and one day went out fishing with him and two brothers -each of the three being over eighty. He was a good horseman, and rode to church on horseback, and generally took occasion to display his skill as a rider by passing others on the road. When very old he rode to church in an old wagon having chairs for seats. He became very emaciated, so much so as to occasion remark.1
LIEUT. SILAS CLARK, born Oct. 18, 1706, and died Apr. 13, 1790. He was a carpenter by trade, and in the war assisted in repairing wagons.
LEMUEL PARDEE was a grandson of the first settler, Woodruff, and died in Middletown, aged 90. He had a long and eventful career in the army (so said), and was taken prisoner before Quebec, Sept. 13, 1759. He was a tall, slender man, and had a peculiar shuffling gait, occasioned by a fall from a load of hay by which his shoulder was dislocated.
WILLIAM TISDALE was also taken prisoner at Quebec. He lived on the place now owned by Hopkins Upson. He is remembered as a short thick set man with dark complexion.
WILLIAM LEWIS; nothing known of him beyond the fact that one of this name went from this parish.
JAMES SMITH, the same that was deacon in the church (see page 162), but he served only for a single campaign.
CAPT. ZEALOUS ADKINS, son of Benoni, and who afterwards lived opposite the present North Center School-house, was for a little time in the war, and was in the campaign against Louisburg. He was also a " minute man " in the Revolution.
JOSIAH COWLES, son of Thomas. He served at least for one campaign.
DAVID PARDEE was with Putnam, when waylaid by French and Indians, on the way from Fort Ann to Fort Edward. He held the rank of corporal.
NATHANIEL ROYCE, who lived at South End, on place opposite the school-house, served for a brief time also in the Revolution.
THE HAVANA EXPEDITION, 1762.
In the war of England against Spain, several from this town enlisted. In the expedition under Lord Albermarle against Havana,? Jan. 1762, a body of provincials composed of five hundred men from New Jersey, eight hundred from New York, and one thousand from Connecticut. were employed. Gen. Lyman who raised the regiment of one thousand
1 It was a saying, that, " he was so thin that it took two thicknesses of cloth to keep the sun from shining through him."
2 Humphrey's Life of Putnam, pp. 86-8.
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men from this State being senior officer was in command, and Col. Putnam commanded the Connecticut regiment. The expedition left New York, and reached the coast of Cuba when a terrible storm arose, and five hundred men were wrecked. The rest of the fleet could afford no help. Strict order was preserved, so that rafts were made and fastened together with strong cords ; and in this way the troops were landed. The main force was soon joined before Havana, and succeeded in reducing Moro Castle. Great sickness prevailed among the soldiers, but the fort was reduced,' and the army returned home, having lost by disease a large number. So delighted were the survivors to return home, that when they landed they kissed the ground.
Among those who died in this expedition was DAVID PIKE from Southington, who as the records state "died at the Havanna."
THOMAS ATKINS went out in this expedition, as is supposed, a sergeant in Capt. Hierlihy's company, as with others in this ill-fated movement, he returned in broken health, but lived until 1790.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
It must not be forgotten that until November, 1779, this town was only a parish within the limits of Farmington; hence down to that date all military proceedings were in the name of Farmington. We can however with pride point to the names resident within this parish which were prominent as leaders in that struggle. Whatever share other sections of the ancient town had in these movements, Southing- ton was behind none, as will hereafter appear.
At a special meeting of the town at Farmington, Aug. 30, 1770, the condition of the colonies was taken into consideration, and a committee was appointed to attend the convention called to meet at New Haven, Sept. 13th, of that year, for the purpose of devising measures to protect and advance the various colonial interests. Resolutions were adopted disapproving of the purchase of foreign goods, introduced under any of the oppressive regulations of Parliament. Fisher Gay, of Farm- ington, and Jonathan Root, of this parish, constituted the committee.
A special town meeting had been called for June 15, 1774. This was after the Boston Port Bill (which closed that harbor to commerce) had passed the British Parliament, and the news had reached here. It was a day of intense excitement, and as if by a single impulse of the people the command went forth, and "this Act was burnt in great
1 Col. Haviland's regiment had but 70 men left, having routed 500 Spaniards. He met Putnam and said : "Put, give me a pinch of snuff." "I never carry any." "I have always had such luck," said Haviland; "the rascally Spaniards have shot away my pocket, snuff-box and all." Humphrey's Life of Putnam.
66
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
contempt by the common hangman in presence of the assembled mul- titude."
Of the proceedings of the meeting on this day the records give the following:
" At a very full meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Farm- ington, legally warned and held in said Farmington the 15th day of June, 1774, Col. John Strong, moderator, Voted,. that the Act of Par- liament for blocking up the Port of Boston in an invasion of the Rights and Priviliges of every American, and as such we are Deter- mined to oppose the same with all other such arbitrary and tyranical acts in every suitable Way and Manner, that may be adopted in General Congress; to the Intent we may be instrumental in Securing and Transmitting our Rights and Priviliges inviolate to the Latest Posterity."
" That the fate of American freedom greatly depends upon the conduct of the inhabitants of the Town of Boston in the present alarming crisis of public affairs. We therefore entreat them by every thing that is dear and sacred, to persevere with unremitted vigilance and resolution till their labors shall be crowned with the desired success."
"That as many inhabitants of the town of Boston must in a short time be reduced to the utmost distress in consequence of their Port Bill, we deem it our indispensable duty by every effectual and proper method to assist in affording them speedy relief."
" In pursuance of which Fisher Gay, Selah Hart, Stephen Hotch- kiss, Esqs., and Messrs. Samuel Smith. Noadiah Hooker, Amos Wads- worth, Simeon Strong, James Percival, Elijah Hooker, Matthew Cole, Jonathan Root, Josiah Cowles, Daniel Lankton, Jonathan Andrews, Jonathan Woodruff, Aaron Day, Timothy Clark, Josiah Lewis, Hezekiah Gridley, Jr., Asa Upson, Amos Barnes, Stephen Barnes, Jr., Ichabod Norton, Joseph Miller, William Woodford, Jedediah Norton, Jr., Gad Stanley, John Lalikton, Nathan Smith, Thomas Upson, Elisha Booth, Samuel North, Jr., Theodore Hart, and Resen Gridley be a committee with all convenient speed to take in subscriptions: Wheat, Rye, Indian corn, and other provisions of the town of Boston, there to be deliv- ered to the Select Men of the town of Boston, &c., &c."
The names in italics, were from this parish. Jonathan Root lived in the old house now in the door-yard of R. A. Neal, and just north. Josiah Cowles lived in Marion district, near where Andrew F. Barnes lives; Daniel Lankton, just south of where Rodney Langdon lived; Jonathan Andrews, where Austin Bradley now lives. Jonathan Wood- ruff, just north of Adna Woodruff's, on the road passing the town house; Aaron Day, in a house now torn down, on the corner north of
7
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HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.
where Carlos Curtiss lives; Timothy Clark, a Deacon of the Congrega- tional church, lived on West street in the house now occupied by William L. Ames; Josiah Lewis lived in the Marion district; Hezekiah Gridley, in the north part of the town; Asa Upson, in the Marion district; Amos Barnes, on Redstone Hill near the Bristol line; Stephen Barnes, in the southwest part of the town near the Wolcott line; and Thomas Upson, who also lived in that part of the town. And in addition to these names are those of Simeon Hart, who lived in Southington just north of the town house, until 1774, when he removed to that part of Farmington, now Burlington; Aaron Harrison, who lived in the south- west part of the parish, now Wolcott. These all afterward were active on committees,1 and in personal work.
At the meeting above noticed, a committee of correspondence was appointed to keep up communication with other towns in this and other colonies, of which Jonathan Root was a member.
At subsequent meetings thirty hundred weight of lead for balls, ten thousand French flints, and thirty-six barrels of powder, were ordered to be bought.
At a meeting held December 12, 1774, the town voted to approve and adopt the doings of the Continental Congress at Philadelphia, on the 5th day of September preceding. There were, however, two dis- senting voices-Matthias Leaming and Nehemiah Royce. These men were then by vote pronounced to be "open enemies " of their country, and all intercourse was ordered to be withdrawn from them until they publicly retracted.
At the same meeting a special "Committee of Inspections " was ap- pointed, whose business will be fully stated below. This committee kept a record of its meetings, a part of which has recently been found, and through the kindness of Rev. Edward A. Smith, of Farmington, I am able to quote from it. I It is called " Register of ye votes and Pro- ceedings of ye Committee of Inspections for the Town of Farmington." The record opens with the town vote authorizing the committee.
"At a meeting of Town of Farmington in annual Town Meeting on ye 12thi day of Dee., 1774, upon a motion made, Voted, (only two dissentient,) that this Town do approve of ye Association of ye Continental Congress as ye wisest Expedient for restoring and securing ye violated Rights of British America-and pursuant to ye 11th article of said Association, unanimously Voted-2d, That Messrs. William Judd, John Tread- well, Noahdiah Hooker, Peter Curtiss, Asahel Wadsworth, Timothy Root, Stephen
1 Extracts from town records are given quite extensively by Dr. Porter in his His- torieal Discourse, Oct. 16, 1872, pp. 27-30. See also Hinman's War papers. The records at Farmington are accessible, and to the courtesy of Mr. Treadwell, the Town Clerk, I am greatly indebted for free access to them. See also War papers at Hart- ford, in the State Library, to which the gentlemanly and accommodating Librarian, Mr. Hoadly, grants easy access. The names in italics were from this parish.
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Dorchester, Matthew Cole, Stephen Norton, Joseph Wells, Elijah Hooker, John Allen, John Lee, Jonathan Root, Eldad Lewis, Timothy Clark, Daniel Lankton, Josiah Cowles, Asa Bray, Eliakim Peck, Asa Upson, Amos Barnes, Hezekiah Gridley, Dan Hill, Joseph Byington, Timothy Thompson, Ichabod Norton, Joseph Wil(son), Noah Hart, Gad Stanley, Ladwick Hotchkiss, John Lankton, Noah Stanley, Stephen Barnes, Thomas Upson, Aaron Harrison, Joseph Beecher, Simeon Hart, Titus Brown(?) Simeon Strong, Seth Wiard, Jonathan Go- -, William Wheeler, (Royce) Lewis, Asahel Barnes, Ebenezer Hamlin, Hezekiah Wadsworth, Thomas Lewis, Resin Gridley, Timothy Hosmer, Martin Bull, Joseph -, be a Committee of Inspection to transaet all those matters that belong to them, according to ye true sense and design of ye Con- gress in sd Article expressed."
" Whereupon sd Committee met ye same day at ye house of Mr. Amos Cowles, In- holder of sd Town, when they unanimously Voted that Mr. William Judd should be Moderator, and Mr. John Treadwell Clerk of said Committee.
" Voted that Messrs. William Judd, John Treadwell, Noadiah Hooker, Asahel Wads- worth, Gad Stanley, and Jonathan Root, be a Committee to prepare a general Plan of Agreement, as well for Explanation of sd Association as for forming our Conduct thereon, and to make their Report at ye next Meeting of the Committee."
" Dec. 26th, (1774), the Committee being met according to Adjournment they came into ye following Resolutions, 4th, That ye Plan agreed on by ye Committee ap- pointed to draw up a Plan to be presented to this Committee, and by them reported be adopted as a suitable Plan of Agreement to be subseribed all ye Members.
Voted 5th, That this Committee is foreclosed from presenting Mr. Nehemiah Royce, a Person politically excommunicated from schooling his Children as usual by Vote of ye Town.
Voted, That Messrs. Jonathan Root, Timothy Hosmer, Lodwick Hotchkiss, Gad Stan- ley, Matthew Cole, Hezekiah Wadsworth, John Treadwell, and Noadiah Hooker, be a Committee to repair to New Cambridge and there to answer with Persons suspected to be unsound in their political sentiments, or such of them as shall see cause to attend on sd Committee to reclaim in a pacific way to a sense of their duty as far as lies in their Power."
" Voted, 7th, That this Committee be adjourned to Monday ye 9th day of January next, then to meet at ye House of Mr. Asahel Wadsworth of this Town at one o'clock in ye Afternoon."
"January 9th, (1775). The Committee being met according to Adjournment voted as follows :
"That no Person shall be proceeded against by this Committee, or be liable to Pun- ishment for any supposed breach of ye Association of ye Congress until he shall have a Notification from this Committee setting ye Charges laid against him, and desiring him to appear if he sees Cause before this Committee or any select Committee by this Committee appointed to vindicate himself against ye Allegations laid against him."
"That Mr. Jonathan Root, Capt. Noadiah Hooker, and Mr. William Judd, be ap- pointed as Delegates to attend ye County Meeting of ye several Inspecting Commit- tees therein on ye 25th day of Instant January."
" That This Committee have Authority delegated from ye Town to take up ye Mat- ter of Matthias Leaming and Nehemiah Royce, Persons excommunicated by vote of ye Town in same Manner to all Intents and Purposes as ye Town had not proceeded against them."
"Jan. 16th, (1775,) ye Committee being met according to Adjournment,
" Voted, That Messrs. Stephen Norton, Simeon Hart, Daniel Lankton, Joseph Bying- ton, Stephen Barnes, Noah Stanley, Ichabod Norton, have Power whenever it shall appear to ye Major Part of ye Members of this Body belonging to each Society re-
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spectively upon Examination of Witnesses or otherwise, that any Person within said Societies has violated ye Association of ye Continental Congress, to make out a Cita- tion to said Person requiring him if he sees Cause to attend upon ye Committee at ye Time and Place mentioned in said Citation to answer to ye Charge exhibited against him before sd Committee."
" Messrs. Matthias Lemming and Nehemiah Royce being regularly cited before this Committee to answer to ye Complaints exhibited against them were called to appear before ye Committee and upon non-appearance, Voted that ye Consideration of ye whole Matter respecting these Persons should be deferred till ye Meeting next after ye Meeting of ye several Committees of ye County."
" That those who go into ye Pastime of Horseracing, gaming, Cock-fighting, Exbi- tion of Shows, &e., as expressed in ye 8th Article of ye Association of ye Congress, are guilty of a violation of sd Association."
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