USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 1 > Part 12
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PETERS, John S.,
Physician, Governor.
John Samuel Peters, physician and ninth Governor of Connecticut (1831-33), was born at Hebron, Tolland county,
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Connecticut, September 21, 1772, son of Bremslee and Annis (Shipman) Peters and descendant of William Peters, who emigrated to New England from Old England in 1634, settling in Boston. His mother was a daughter of Samuel Ship- man, M. D., of Hebron.
In an autobiography left by him he says: "My grandparents were among the first settlers of Hebron. In February, 1777, my father left Hebron with many other loyalists for New York whence he sailed for England, and joined in London his brother, who had left his country in 1774, he expecting that the war would soon close, when he would return to his family. He obtained a captain's commis- sion on half-pay in England, which sup- porting him in London until 1794, when he drew a large tract of land for himself and family, and removed to Little York, upper Canada, where he died in 1799. My mother died in Hebron in 1819. I re- mained with my mother until I was seven years old ; then I went to live in the fam- ily of Joel Horton to do boy's work and tend children, which I did until I was fourteen years old. I then worked on a farm. for wages in summer and attended school in winter until I was eighteen years old. I then commenced instructing a district school, which I continued for five winters. At twenty I commenced the study of medicine with Dr. Benjamin Peters, of Marbletown, Ulster county, New York. I read with him six months, then returned to my school in Hebron. The succeeding summer I read medicine and surgery with Dr. Abner Mosely, of Glastonbury. In November, 1796, I went to Philadelphia to attend the anatomical lectures of Drs. Shippen and Wistar, the chemical lectures of Dr. Woodhouse and the medical institutes of Dr. Benjamin Rush. I returned to Hebron in March, 1797. In May I traveled up the Connecti-
cut river to near the Canada line and ex- amined locations to find a place to settle." The autobiography goes on to say that after passing through Vermont to Sara- toga county, New York, he returned to Hebron discouraged and without means; but that in a few days his neighbors began to call upon him for advice, and that in a short time he had all the professional business he could attend to. For forty years he continued the practice of his pro- fession. In addition, he served as school visitor, highway surveyor, selectman, judge of probate, town clerk, representa- tive to the General Assembly and member of the State Senate. His next office was that of Lieutenant-Governor. In 1831 he was elected Governor by the Republicans, and in 1832 was reëlected. On leaving the chair he retired to private life ; spent some time in travel, and more in the culti- vation of his farm, and at the age of eighty-four was still in good health. Gov- ernor Peters died, unmarried, at Hebron, March 30, 1858.
CHAMPION, George, Missionary to the Zulus.
Few families coming to New England in its early settlement were of a higher order and character than the one bearing this name, and few were so conspicuous in the War of the Revolution and in pub- lic affairs before and after that period. The pioneer ancestor was Henry Cham- pion, who emigrated from England, set- tled at Saybrook, Connecticut, where he was found as early as 1647, later removed to the east side of the Connecticut river, and became one of the first and most active founders of the historic town of Lyme; he died in February, 1709. His son, Thomas Champion, was born in Say- brook, Connecticut, in April, 1656, died April 5, 1705 ; he married Hannah Brock-
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way. Their son, Henry Champion, was born in Lyme, Connecticut, May 2, 1695, died November 26, 1779, in East Haddam ; he married Mehitable Rowley. Their son, Colonel Henry (2) Champion, was born in East Haddam, Connecticut, Janu- ary 19, 1723, died July 23, 1797, in what is now Colchester, Connecticut ; he served in the Revolutionary War and resigned his commission in the army in May, 1780; was deputy to the General Assembly from Colchester, in 1761, from 1765 to 1779, in 1781, 1783; he married (first) Deborah Brainard, (second) Mrs. Sarah (Brainard) Lewis. His son, General Henry (3) Champion, was born in West- chester, Connecticut, March 16, 1751, died there, July 13, 1836; he served in the Revolutionary War and continued in that service until the close of hostilities; he was deputy to the General Assembly in 1789, 1793 to 1798, 1800 to 1805, and from 1806 to 1817 held the office of assistant ; he married Abigail Tinker. Their son. Major Henry (4) Champion, was born in Westchester, Connecticut, August 6, 1782, died there, December 28. 1823 : he served in the regular army, was major of the Connecticut militia, and represented Col- chester in the State Assembly in 1820: he married Ruth Kimberly Robbins. They were the parents of the Rev. George Champion, of this review.
Rev. George Champion was born in Westchester, Connecticut, June 3, 1810, died in St. Croix, West Indies, December 17, 1841. He was graduated from Yale College in 1831, taking then a three-year course at the Andover Theological Semi- nary, and was ordained at Colchester, Connecticut, November 19, 1834, as mis- sionary to the Zulus, near Port Natal, in South Africa. Of this grandson General Henry Champion was very fond and proud, and being unwilling that he should go out to Africa offered to pay the ex-
penses of five missionaries to go as sub- stitutes, if he would consent to remain at home. George's reply was: "If I stay at home it will be said that only the poor go. You may send the five, and I will go my- self and that will make six missionaries." When General Champion found that he could not prevail against him he gener- ously gave him $60,000 for the expenses of himself and party. He was one of the first missionaries to South Africa, going in 1834, and labored there four years. He was one of the three men who reduced the Zulu language to writing and pre- pared a manuscript copy of the Bible be- fore the mission was broken up and the missionaries driven away on account of the war between the Boers and the Zulus. Upon his return to the United States he was settled over a small church in Dover. Massachusetts, entering upon his pastoral duties in 1839. Two years later, owing to ill health, he sailed for the West Indies, where his death occurred.
SEDGWICK, John,
Distinguished Soldier.
General John Sedgwick was born in Cornwall, Connecticut, September 13. 1813. He was graduated from the United States Military Academy, July 1, 1837, was commissioned second lieutenant of Second Artillery, and served in the Semi- nole War in Florida, 1837-38, and on frontier duty in the West and North, 1838-41. He was promoted first lieuten- ant, April 19, 1839; served on garrison duty, 1841-46, and took part in the war with Mexico, being engaged in the siege of Vera Cruz : the battle of Cerro Gordo ; skirmish of Amazoque; capture of San Antonio: battle of Molino del Rey, and in the assault and capture of the City of Mexico. He was brevetted captain, Au- gust 20, 1841, for gallant and meritorious
CONN-Vol I -- 6
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conduct at Contreras and Churubusco, and major, September 13, 1847, for gal- lantry at Chapultepec. He was on garri- son duty, 1848-55 ; was promoted captain, January 26, 1849, and major of First Cavalry, March 8, 1855, and was sent to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was engaged in quelling the Kansas border disturbances, 1855-56; in the Cheyenne expedition in 1857; the Utah expedition. 1857-58; was transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas, in 1858, and was in command of the Leowa and Comanche expedition of 1860. He was promoted lieutenant-colo- nel of Second Cavalry, March 16, 1861 ; colonel of First Cavalry, April 25, 1861 ; and was transferred to the Fourth Cav- alry, August 3, 1861. He served in the defences of Washington, D. C., as acting inspector-general of the department ; was commissioned brigadier-general, United States Volunteers, August 31, 1861, and commanded a brigade of infantry on guard duty at Poolsville, Maryland. He commanded the second division of Gen- eral Sumner's Second Corps in the Peninsular campaign, being engaged at the siege of Yorktown, the battle of Fair Oaks; and when McClellan transferred his base to the James, Sedgwick took posi- tion to defend the supply trains, being hotly engaged part of the time; and on June 30, when McCall fell back, Sedg- wick supported him, and drove the enemy from the field, being wounded in the action. He was promoted major-general of volunteers, July 4, 1862. His corps did not reach Bull Run in time for the general engagement, but aided in covering Pope's retreat. At Antietam, after Jackson had driven Hooker, Sedgwick pushed Hood back beyond the line, turned the Con- federate left, and held the key of the field until General John G. Walker charged his flank, and in a fiercely contested combat, drove him from his position, Sedgwick
being severely wounded. After sick leave of three months, Sedgwick joined the army on December 22, 1862, immediately after the disastrous assault on Fredericks- burg, and took command of the Ninth Corps, but was transferred to the com- mand of the Sixth Corps, February 5, 1863. When Hooker marched around Lee's flank to Chancellorsville, he left Sedgwick with the First, Third and Sixth Corps to conceal the real movement. Sedgwick crossed the Rappahannock, April 30, and May I, having sent the First and Third Corps to reinforce Hooker, was left with the Sixth Corps below Fred- ericksburg. At about midnight, May 2, he received orders to attack the enemy on his front. He marched twelve miles, in a dark wood, opposed by an enemy, reached Fredericksburg at daybreak, prepared for the attack, and at II a. m. had possession of the heights. Sedgwick pursued the enemy three miles to Salem Church, and there being met by a fresh and superior force, was held in check. The following day Lee brought the body of his army against Sedgwick, and compelled him to relinquish Marye's Heights and Fred- ericksburg, and on the evening of May 4, in accordance with his orders, Sedgwick fell back, closely pursued, crossed the river and joined Hooker. Sedgwick ar- rived at Gettysburg during the second day, July 2, 1863, after a forced march from Manchester, and took position in the rear of the left flank. During the battle he worked into the line at the right of Sykes, and after the battle pursued Lee with the First and Sixth Corps, but had no engagement. On November 7, 1863, after Lee reached the Rappahannock, Sedgwick was sent forward with the Fifth and Sixth Corps to force the enemy across the river. He made a brilliant attack, captured the Confederate works and took many prisoners. When Grant
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marched around Lee's right flank, crossed the Rapidan, and started for Richmond, he was attacked on May 5, at the Wilder- ness, and when Warren's corps was at- tacked on the morning of May 6, Sedg- wick joined him on the right, there en- abling him to maintain his position in spite of a spirited charge. On May 7 the enemy remained behind intrenched lines, and Grant moved one corps at a time to Spottsylvania, where General Sedgwick met his death while directing the arrange- ment of his lines and artillery. His body was buried at Cornwall Hollow, Connec- tient, and a bronze statue of him was erected at West Point, New York. He was killed by a Confederate sharpshooter at Spottsylvania, May 9. 1863.
MANSFIELD, Joseph King Fenno, Distinguished Soldier.
General Joseph K. F. Mansfield traces his ancestry to Richard Mansfield, a na- tive of England, who emigrated to this country from Exeter, Devonshire, arriv- ing in Boston, Massachusetts, November 30, 1634, and five years later removed to Quinnipiack (New Haven), Connecticut, and his death occurred there on January IO, 1655. His son, Major Moses Mans- field, was born in New Haven. Connecti- cut, 1639, and died there on October 3. 1703. He received his title for defeating a body of Indians in King Philip's War on the site of the present town of Mans- field, which was named in his honor. He resided in New Haven; he represented the town at forty-eight sessions of the General Assembly ; was judge of probate and of the county court, served frequent- ly as moderator, and held other offices of trust and honor. His son, Deacon Jona- than Mansfield, was born in New Haven. Connecticut, February 15, 1686, and died at an advanced age. He served as select- man, ensign, lister. grand juror. modera-
tor, trustee of the Hopkins Grammar School, and presided over the town meet- ing when eighty-two years of age. His son, Captain Stephen Mansfield, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, November 14, 1716, and died July 15, 1774. He was a sea captain and engaged in the West India trade; he was vestryman of Trin- ity Church in 1765. His son, Henry Mansfield, was born in New Haven, Con- necticut, February 1, 1762, and died in the West Indies in 1805. He was en- gaged in the West India trade. He mar- ried. August 3, 1785, Mary Fenno, born April 3, 1767, daughter of Ephraim Fen- no. of Middletown. She died January 14, 1825, aged fifty-eight years. They were the parents of Joseph K. F., of whom fur- ther.
General Joseph King Fenno Mansfield was born in New Haven, Connecticut, December 22, 1803. In 1817. at the age of fourteen years, he was appointed a cadet to the United States Military Academy at West Point, and was graduated in 1822, second in a class of forty, the youngest member. and July Ist, same year, was commissioned brevet second lieutenant of engineers. Such was the confidence re- posed in him by the government as an engineer that for twenty years or more he was engaged in the construction of fortifications and the improvement of rivers and harbors, and was universally regarded as an ornament to the service. In 1822-25 he served as assistant to the board of engineers at New York, in the construction of Fort Hamilton, 1825-28, and in 1828-30 of the defenses of Hamp- ton Roads, being detached to survey Pas- gustauk river, North Carolina, and to take temporary charge of works in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, 1830 Among the works he planned and con- structed as supervising engineer was Fort Pulaski, for the defense of the Savannah river. Georgia,-considered at the time as
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one of the strongest of harbor defenses. From 1830 to 1846 he was in charge of repairs of Cumberland Roads, Maryland ; in 1831-32, of Savannah river improve- ment ; 1833-39, of inland navigation be- tween the St. Marys and St. Johns rivers, Florida; 1835-39, of Sullivan's Island breakwater, South Carolina; 1837-38, of repairs of St. Augustine sea wall, Florida ; and of improvement of Brunswick Har- bor, Georgia, 1838-39. He was a member of the board of engineers for Atlantic Coast Defenses, May 8, 1842, to Septem- ber 8, 1845. He was chief engineer of the army under command of Major-General Taylor in the campaign of 1846-47, in the war with Mexico, being engaged in vari- ous reconnaissances in Texas, and was the builder and renowned defender 'of Fort Brown, May 3-9, 1846, and was breveted major for distinguished bravery. He was engaged in the reconnaissance and battle of Monterey, September 21-23, 1846, where he was severely wounded while directing the storming of the Tan- nery redoubt, and was breveted lieuten- ant-colonel for gallant and meritorious conduct in the several conflicts at Mon- terey; in fortifying Monterey and Sal- tillo, reconnoitering the mountain passes, 1846-47 ; and in the battle of Buena Vista. February 22-23, 1847. having the honor, it is said, of selecting that renowned battlefield, and was breveted colonel. He was a member of the board of engineers for Atlantic Coast Defenses, May 13, 1848, to April II, 1853, and for Pacific Coast Defenses. April II to May 28, 1853 ; superintending engineer of construction of Fort Winthrop, Boston harbor, 1848- 53; of improvement of the James and Appomattox rivers and survey of the Rappahannock river, Virginia, 1852-53.
In 1853 he was still captain of engi- neers, third on the list, when he was pro- moted into the inspector-general's depart- ment with rank of colonel. As one of the
two inspectors-general of the army, he performed the arduous and dangerous duties of inspection of our frontier ports, at a time when transportation facilities were not of the best, and hostile Indian tribes were to be met, requiring months and even a year's absence upon a single tour of inspection. He served on inspec- tion duty in the Department of New Mexico, 1853; of the Department of Cali- fornia, 1854 ; of the Department of Texas, 1856; of the Utah army, 1857; of the De- partments of Oregon and California, 1858- 59; and of the Department of Texas, 1860-61. While in this last duty he en- countered the disloyal sentiment pervad- ing the highest army officer commanding the district, and he hastened to Washing- ton to lay the matter before the highest authorities. Civil War being broken out. he was the first officer appointed to the rank of brigadier-general, and was placed in command of the defense of Washing- ton, which he inaugurated by moving troops across the Potomac at night, al- most in the presence of the enemy, and occupying Arlington Heights, which sub- sequently were fortified to render the Capitol secure. His Civil War services were as follows :
Mustering volunteers into service, Co- lumbus, Ohio, April 19-27, 1861 ; in com- mand of Department of Washington, April 27 to July 25, 1861; of City of Washington, D. C., July 25 to October 2. 1861; of Camp Hamilton, now Fortress Monroe, Virginia, October 13 to Novem- ber 24, 1861 ; of Newport News, Virginia, November 24, 1861, to June 12, 1862, be- ing engaged in capture of Norfolk, Vir- ginia, May 10, 1862, and of Suffolk, Vir- ginia, June 27 to September 3, 1862. He commanded a corps in the Army of the Potomac in the Maryland campaign, Sep- tember 10-17, 1862, being engaged in the battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862, where, while "at the head of his troops.
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with sword waving over his head, cheer- ing on his men to victory," he was mor- tally wounded, and died September 18, 1862, at Antietam, Maryland, aged fifty- eight years nine months.
In neighborly friendship, General Mans- field was exemplary and engaging. As a husband and parent he was affectionate and generous, and fond of social and do- mestie life. Being a sincere, influential and uniform friend and supporter of the Christian religion, he not only believed, but he exemplified the religion which he professed. He was always mindful to encourage every useful institution by his presence, his interest, and his abilities. He considered good education as of the highest importance to the honor, freedom and happiness of his country, and there- fore exerted his influence to promote it. Such was his genius and enthusiastic love of education that he established a semi- nary for the education of young ladies in the higher branches of learning, and sus- tained it almost wholly with his own means, in Middletown, where he was married and made his home.
He married, September 25, 1838, Louisa Maria, daughter of Samuel and Catharine (Livingston) Mather, at Middletown. Children, all except the youngest born at Middletown : 1. Samuel Mather, Septem- ber 23. 1839; married, April 16, 1874, Anne Baldwin Wright, of Detroit, Michi- gan. 2. Mary Louise, March 23, 1841, died June 22, 1863. 3. Joseph Totten, October 4. 1843, died July 15. 1844. 4. Henry Livingston, March 31, 1845 ; mar- ried. August 29, 1866, Adeline O. Carter. 5. Katharine Mather, May 1, 1850: mar- ried Walter Bulkley Hubbard, son of Jeremiah Hubbard, June 20. 1899.
SEABURY, Rt. Rev. Samuel, First Protestant Episcopal Bishop.
Rt. Rev. Samuel Seabury, first bishop in the Amerian episcopate and first
Bishop of Connecticut, was born in Gro- ton, Connecticut, November 30, 1729, son of the Rev. Samuel and Abigail (Mum- ford) Seabury; grandson of John and Elizabeth (Alden) Seabury, and of Thom- as and Hannah (Remington) Mumford. He was descended from John Seabury, who emigrated from Porlock, Somerset- shire, England, to the Barbadoes, and from there in 1639 to Boston, Massachusetts Bay Colony. The elder Samuel Seabury, father of Bishop Samuel Seabury, after being ordained in England, organized the parish of St. James at New London, Con- necticut, of which he was rector from 1732 to 1743. In the latter year he re- moved to Hempstead, Long Island, New York, where he was rector of St. George's until his death in 1764.
Natural disposition and parental train- ing marked the son for the ministry, from his very youth. He was graduated from Yale, A. B., fourth in his class, in 1748 (A. M. 1751), and served as a catechist while pursuing theological studies under the direction of his father until 1751, when he received the master's degree from his alma mater. He was then sent to England to receive orders, and before ordination studied medicine in the Uni- versity of Edinburgh. He was ordained deacon by the Bishop of Lincoln, Dr. John Thomas, on December 21, 1753, and two days later was advanced to the priesthood by the Bishop of Carlisle. Dr. Richard Osbaldiston. He returned to America with the license of Bishop Sher- lock, of London, to officiate in New Jer- sey, and was called to the rectorate of Christ Church, New Brunswick, and served that parish from 1754 to 1757. meantime being married to Mary, daugh- ter of Edward Hicks, of New York. He was then called to Grace Church, Jamaica, Long Island, New York, of which he was rector from 1757 to 1766, the latter year being inducted into the rectorship of St.
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Peter's Church, West Chester, New York, which he held for about ten years. In November, 1775, he was taken by a band of armed tories to New Haven, where he was imprisoned for six weeks, being finally released on requisition of the Gov- ernor of New York as a citizen taken from his province without process of law. Returning to his parish, he was unable to resume his ministerial duties on ac- count of the disorders incident to the war, and he closed the church and took refuge in New York, where he in part supported his family by the practice of medicine, and also served through the war as chap- lain of the King's American regiment, under commission of Sir Henry Clinton.
The war having ended in the recogni- tion of the independence of the Ameri- can States by Great Britain, Mr. Seabury was elected by the clergy of English ordi- nation in Connecticut, at Woodbury, March 25, 1783, to be the bishop in that State. He at once sailed for England with credentials as an applicant for con- secration by the English bishops, with in- structions that in the event of failure he should apply to the bishops of the Scot- tish church, whose line of succession prior to the time of Charles II. was iden- tical with that of the English episcopate, but who had lost their civil status by re- fusal to swear allegiance to the succes- sors of James II. Now arose an awk- ward difficulty. The English bishops could not legally confer consecration without the candidate taking the oath of allegiance to the king, and which he could not do as a citizen of a foreign state. Various other difficulties were suggested. but this was the main point. The bishops were legally inhibited from dispensing with the oath; nor would the king and privy council provide any relief. Hoping that Parliament would dispense with the requirement that he should take
the oath of allegiance, Mr. Seabury re- mained in England some sixteen months : and then went to Scotland, and at Aber- deen, November 14, 1784, he was con- secrated by the Scotch Bishops Kilgour, Petrie, and Skinner, and returned to America as the first Bishop of Connecti- cut, as well as of the American church. In the General American Convention of 1789, by action of the House of Bishops, by virtue of seniority of consecration, he was recognized as the first to hold the office of presiding bishop. During the exercise of his episcopate he resided in New London, Connecticut, being rector of St. James Church from 1785 to 1796. On November 18, 1790, he was also made bishop of Rhode Island. His first and only act of consecration was on Septem- ber 17, 1792, when he cooperated with Bishops Provoost, White and Madison, all consecrated by the Archbishop of Can- terbury, in the consecration of Thomas John Claggett, Bishop of Maryland, through whom every subsequent bishop of the American church traces his episco- pal lineage.
Bishop Seabury received the degree of A. M. from Columbia College in 1761, and that of D. D. from the University of Oxford in 1777. He was the author of : "Free Thoughts on the Proceedings of the Continental Congress ;" "The Congress Canvassed," and "A View of the Con- troversy Between Great Britain and Her Colonies," all in 1774. under signature "A. W. Farmer"; "Sermons" (2 vols., 1791; I vol., 1798). The Rev. Eben E. Beardsley. D. D., wrote "Life and Cor- respondence of Samuel Seabury" (1881). and the Rev. William Jones Seabury, D. D., read a biography of Bishop Seabury before the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, December 14, 1888, and which was published in its "Record." April. 1889. being subsequently reprinted
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