USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 1 > Part 17
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of Webster's oratorical efforts. Foote again served in Congress in 1833-34, re- signing in the latter year on account of having been elected Governor; while chief magistrate he received the degree of LL. D. from Yale College. In 1844 he was a presidential elector on the Clay and Frelinghuysen ticket. His chief char- acteristics were integrity, industry, de- cision and perseverance. "He was," wrote one of his contemporaries, "emi- nently in all his aims and views a prac- tical statesman. What he decided to be right and expedient, he ever firmly ad- hered to. What he aimed to accomplish, he labored at as a workingman, system- atically and perseveringly. He was, at least during a portion of his life, a warm party man ; but no party drill could ever bring him to give his vote for a measure which he considered to be unwise and in- expedient."
Governor Foote was married to Eu- docia, daughter of General Andrew and Elizabeth Mary Ann Hull, of Walling- ford, Connecticut. She bore him six chil- dren, all sons, the second of whom, An- drew Hull Foote, entered the navy, gained renown during the Civil War, and in 1862 was promoted rear-admiral. Gov- ernor Foote died at Cheshire, Connecti- cut, September 15, 1846.
PORTER, Noah,
Clergyman.
The Rev. Noah Porter, D. D., was born in Farmington, Connecticut, in Decem- ber, 1781, where his family had resided for nearly a century and a half, descended from Robert and Thomas Porter, brothers, who came from England and settled in Farmington in 1640.
Noah Porter carried off the highest honors in the class of 1803 at Yale, in which he was graduated, and after pur- suing studies preparatory for the min-
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istry, he was settled over the Congrega- tional church in his native town, remain- ing in that charge until his death, a pas- torate covering a period of more than sixty years. He received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Dartmouth Col- lege in 1828, and for nearly forty years, from 1823 to 1862, he was a Fellow of the Corporation of Yale. Dr. Porter was the father of distinguished educators. His eldest son, Samuel, was one of the pioneers in the teaching of the deaf and dumb, and for many years professor in the National Deaf Mute College at Washington. His second son, Noah, for many years Professor of Moral Philoso- phy at Yale College, succeeded Dr. Wool- sey as president of that university in 1871. His daughter Sarah established and conducted the famous school for girls at Farmington. Dr. Porter died at Farm- ington, Connecticut, September 24, 1866.
BISSELL, Clark, Jurist, Governor.
Clark Bissell, jurist and seventeenth governor of Connecticut (1846-47), was born at Lebanon, New London county. Connecticut, September 7, 1782, eldest son of Joseph William and Betty (Clark) Bissell, and seventh in descent from John Bissell, chief founder of the family in Connecticut. Driven from France, their native country, at the time of the mas- sacre of St. Bartholomew, some of the Bissells who were Huguenots took refuge in Holland, later removing to Somerset, England. John Bissell, born in Somer- set, in 1591, with his sons, sailed for Bos- ton from Plymouth, March 20, 1630, in the "Mary and John," which also had among her passengers Captain John Mason. Windsor, Connecticut, became the seat of the American Bissells, whence John Bissell, grandson of the emigrant, removed to Lebanon, where he founded
the eastern Connecticut branch of the family. Clark Bissell's mother was de- scended from another early settler of Windsor, Connecticut, Captain Daniel Clark, an attorney and magistrate, to whom, as befitted his station, was assigned "the great pew" in the meeting house.
Brought up upon a farm, Clark Bissell had little opportunity for schooling ; but he was ambitious and determined to obtain a liberal education. Therefore he bor- rowed various books, including Latin and Greek grammars, and with the kindly assistance of his pastor, fitted himself for Yale. During his college course he taught in district schools in the vicinity of New Haven. He graduated from col- lege with honor in 1806, and then spent a year on the eastern shore of Maryland as tutor in the family of a Mr. Singleton. Returning to Connecticut, he for a time had charge of a school at Saugatuck (now Westport), and began law studies in the office of Hon. Samuel Burr Sherwood, a brilliant lawyer and a member of the Fed- eral Congress. Subsequently he aban- doned teaching, and removed to Fair- field, where he continued the study of law in the office of Hon. Roger Minot Sherman. In 1809 he was admitted to the bar and located in Norwalk, where nearly fifty years of his life were spent. He was judge of the Supreme Court of Connecticut in 1829-39, and Professor of Law at Yale College in 1847-55, receiv- ing from that institution the degree of LL. D. the same year he was called to his professorship.
In 1846 as a Whig he was elected Gov- ernor, and was reelected for a second term. His character and services are well set forth in the following estimate of his biographer :
It is not too much to say of him that in every department of duty to which he was called, his work was well and faithfully done. As chief
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magistrate of this commonwealth his sound judg- ment, his purity of purpose, his unaffected de- meanor, won the confidence and respect of all * parties *
* As a member of our highest court of judicature, his learning, probity, strict impartiality, and uniform courtesy, conferred ad- ditional lustre upon the dignity of the bench
* * * In the legislature, though he seldom mingled in debate, the breadth and solidity of his views, his good sense, his keen wit, sparingly, but if needed, effectively used, always placed him in the first rank *
* * His duties in the law de- partment of Yale College were discharged with the same fidelity which characterized him in all other relations of life. His lectures to the senior class were of the highest order of that species of intellectual effort.
Governor Bissell was married, at Saug- atuck, Connecticut, April 29, 18II, to Sally, daughter of Hon. Samuel Burr and Charity (Hull) Sherwood. They were the parents of four sons and two daugh- ters. Governor Bissell died at Norwalk, Connecticut, September 15, 1857.
TRUMBULL, Joseph,
Congressman, Governor.
John Trumbull, immigrant ancestor of this family, was a native of England, residing in Newcastle-on-Tyne, from whence he emigrated to this country, settling in Rowley, Massachusetts, in 1640, bringing with him his wife, Ellinor (Chandler) Trumbull. Their son, John Trumbull, was born in 1639, died 1690; married Deborah Jackson. Their son, Joseph Trumbull, born 1678, removed to Lebanon, Connecticut, and died June 16, 1755; married Hannah Higley. Their son, Governor Jonathan Trumbull, born October 12, 1710, died August 17, 1785; married Faith Robinson, daughter of the Rev. John Robinson, of Duxbury, Massa- chusetts, and a lineal descendant of John Alden, the Pilgrim. Their son, David Trumbull, born February 5, 1751-52, died January 17, 1822 ; married Sarah Backus, born February 7, 1760, died November
10, 1843, and they were the parents of Governor Joseph Trumbull.
Joseph Trumbull was born at Lebanon, Connecticut, December 7, 1782, died in Hartford, Connecticut, August 4, 1861. He was graduated from Yale in 1801; admitted to the bar at Windham, Con- necticut, in 1803; settled at Hartford in 1804, practicing until 1828, when he be- came president of the Hartford Bank, in which capacity he served for eleven years, and later he served in a similar capacity for the Providence, Hartford & Fishkill Railroad Company. He was a represen- tative in the State Legislature in 1832; was elected a Whig representative in the Twenty-third Congress to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of William W. Ellsworth, serving during the years 1834- 35, and was reelected to the Twenty-sixth and Twenty-seventh Congresses, 1839-43. He was returned to the State Legislature in 1848, and again in 1851, and was gov- ernor of Connecticut, 1849-50. Yale con- ferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Laws, in 1849, the year in which he assumed the duties of Governor. He married (first) at Colchester, Connecti- cut. in 1820, Harriet, daughter of General Henry Champion, who bore him a son. Henry Champion Trumbull, and a daugh- ter, who died in infancy. He married (second) Eliza, daughter of Lemuel and Betsey (Champion) Storrs, of Middle- town. She bore him one daughter, Eliza Storrs, who became the wife of Lucius F. Robinson, of Hartford, Connecticut.
COGSWELL, Jonathan, Philanthropist.
Jonathan Cogswell was born in Row- ley, Massachusetts, September 3, 1782, son of Dr. Nathaniel Cogswell, and a direct descendant of John Cogswell. of Bristol, England, who settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1635.
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Jonathan Cogswell was graduated at Harvard, A. B. in 1806, A. M., 1809; pur- sued his theological studies with a tutor at Bowdoin, 1807-09, and completed his course at Andover Theological Seminary in 1810. He was settled over the Con- gregational church, Saco, Maine, 1810-28, when he resigned, having saved about $1,000 which he intended to use in secur- ing a home, his health preventing his fur- ther pastoral work. An eloquent appeal made in his church for aid for foreign missions determined him to contribute his savings to the cause, and the next year he took charge of the New Britain church, Berlin, Connecticut, where he ministered for five years. The death of his brother Nathan in 1832 gave to his family a large estate and he was made trustee for the heirs. In 1834 he was made professor of ecclesiastical history in the Theological Institute, East Windsor, Connecticut. To this institution he gave his services for ten years, large sums of money, and the greater part of his ex- tensive library. In 1844 he removed to New Brunswick, New Jersey, where he joined Dr. Janeway and Mr. Ford in building the Second Presbyterian Church and parsonage, personally bearing a large portion of the expense. He was an early member of the New York Historical So- ciety, a life director of the American Bible Society, a life member of the Amer- ican Tract Society, and a liberal con- tributor to these and other charitable or- ganizations. He founded scholarships in the College of New Jersey and in Rutgers College. He received the degree of A. M. from Bowdoin in 1815, and that of D. D. from the University of the City of New York in 1836. He published sermons : "A Treatise on the Necessity of Capi- tal Punishment"; "Hebrew Theocracy" (1848); "Calvary and Sinai" (1852) ; "Godliness a Great Mystery" (1857) ; and "The Appropriate Work of the Holy
Spirit" (1859). See "The Cogswells in America" (1884) by E. O. Jameson. Mr. Cogswell died in New Brunswick, New Jersey, August 1, 1864.
BRINSMADE, Daniel Bourbon, Prominent Citizen.
Rev. Daniel Brinsmade was born July 31, 1718. He graduated at Yale College in 1745, and became minister of the parish in Judea in 1749. It was then a part of Woodbury, Connecticut, but in 1779 it, with the par- ish of New Preston, was incorporated into the town of Washington. Rev. Mr. Brinsmade continued in the same pastor- ate until his death, in 1793. He was a highly honored and useful minister, and both of his sons were prominent citizens. He married Rhoda Sherman. His son,
Daniel Nathaniel Brinsmade, was born at Washington, Connecticut, 1750. He graduated from Yale College in the class of 1772, studied law, and practiced suc- cessfully in his native town, where he died October 29, 1826. In 1787 he was a delegate to the State Convention at Hart- ford to ratify the United States Constitu- tion. He was judge of the quorum, and assistant judge of the county court for sixteen years, during ten of which he sat on the bench. He represented his town in the General Assembly of the State for forty-three sessions and was at one time clerk of the house. He was one of the leading men of his county for many years. He married, March 23, 1779, Abi- gail Farrand.
Daniel Bourbon Brinsmade, son of Daniel N. Brinsmade, was born at Washington, October 15, 1782. He succeeded his father as town clerk, and held the office for more than forty years. He was a leader in public affairs, and deputy to the General Assembly in 1816-17-28-33-48. In public office he was notably faithful and efficient. He was prominent also in mili-
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tary life. In 1817 he was commissioned colonel of the Fifth Regiment Connecti- cut Cavalry, subsequently general of the cavalry. He was president of the day at Litchfield Centennial, August 13. 1851, and had then in his possession the epau- lets worn by General Lafayette in the Revolution heirlooms in his family. He was a man of sterling integrity and sound judgment, a power in town, county and state affairs. He died November 3, 1862. He married (first) Irene Merwin. He married (second) Mary Wakeman Gold, of Cornwall, Connecticut.
REID, Samuel C.,
Designer of Early American Flag.
Captain Samuel Chester Reid was born in Norwich, Connecticut, August 25, 1783, second son of Lieutenant John and Re- becca (Chester) Reid, and grandson of Lord John Reid, of Glasgow, Scotland, and of John Chester, of Norwich. His father was an officer in the Royal navy ; was taken prisoner at New London, Con- necticut, in October, 1778, and afterward resigned his commission and espoused the American cause.
Samuel Chester Reid went to sea in 1794, entering the United States navy as midshipman on the sloop-of-war "Balti- more," under Commodore Truxton. He was commissioned captain by President Madison, and given command of the brig- antine "General Armstrong," fitted out as a privateer, and on September 9, 1814, he ran the blockade of British war ships off Sandy Hook, New York harbor. He arrived at the island of Fayal, Azores, and while there the British brig-of-war "Carnation." the frigate "Rosa," and the ship-of-the-line "Plantagenet," entered the bay. After a fruitless effort to escape, Reid cleared his decks for action, and was attacked by the British in small boats, which he drove back. At midnight a sec-
ond attack was made, and after a hand- to-hand fight, the British were repulsed with great slaughter, and retreated in their boats. In forty minutes, the British loss amounted to over one hundred and twenty killed and one hundred and thirty wounded. On September 27th, the "Car- nation" weighed anchor and stood close in for the "General Armstrong," opening a heavy fire. This fire was returned with wonderful effect, the main top mast of the "Carnation" going by the board, the hull and rigging being much cut up, and the vessel forced to retire. The British fleet then determined to use its entire force against the "Gen. Armstrong," and finding further resistance futile, Captain Reid set a fuse to his magazine and with his crew went ashore. Captain Lloyd, perceiving the desertion of the "Gen. Armstrong," sent two armed boats to seize her just as she blew up. In the three engagements the British loss was two hundred and ten killed and one hundred and forty wounded, while the American loss was but two killed and seven wounded. When Captain Lloyd demanded the American crew from the governor of Fayal as pris- oners of war. Reid took refuge in a de- serted convent about half a mile in the interior, fortified it. ran up the American flag, and the British fleet soon left for New Orleans. The news of the battle reached the United States in November, 1814, and was received with great demon- strations. The battle undoubtedly saved the newly acquired territory of Louisiana from falling into the hands of the British, for at this time the remainder of the British naval force was waiting at Ja- maica for the arrival of Lloyd's squadron to attack New Orleans, but the delay caused by the encounter with Captain Reid enabled General Jackson to prepare the city for defense, and resulted in the victory of January 8, 1815. The battle of Fayal was the last naval engagement of
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the War of 1812, and on November 15, 1814, Captain Reid, with his officers and crew, were landed at St. Mary, Florida. He received ovations at every city through which he passed from Savannah to New York, State legislatures passing resolutions of thanks for his gloriously maintaining the honor of the American flag; New York State voted him a gold sword, which was presented November 25, 1816, by Governor Tompkins ; and the citizens of New York City presented him with a silver service. He declined pro- motion to past captain in the navy, but accepted the position of harbor master of New York.
Captain Reid invented and erected the first marine telegraph between the high- lands of the Navesink, New Jersey, and the Battery, New York City; reorganiz- ed and perfected regulations for govern- ing the pilots of New York, designating the pilot boats by numerals ; published a national code of signals for all vessels be- longing to the United States; and estab- lished the lightship off Sandy Hook. In 1826 he invented a new system of land telegraphs by means of which he satis- factorily demonstrated that a message could be sent from Washington to New Orleans in two hours. A bill was before Congress for its adoption, when it was superseded by Morse's invention. Cap- tain Reid also designed the United States flag with thirteen stripes to represent the thirteen original States, providing that the respective States be represented by a star in the union of blue, and suggested that the stars be formed into one grand star symbolizing the national motto-"E Pluribus Unum." The design was ac- cepted in a bill which became a law by the signature of President Monroe, April 4, 1818. The first flag, as designed by Captain Reid, was made in silk by Mrs. Reid and her young friends, each of
whom embroidered her name in the centre of a star, and on April 13, 1818, it was hoisted on the flag staff of the Na- tional House of Representatives. Cap- tain Reid reentered the United States navy in 1842, and was retired in 1856.
He married, in New York City, Mary, daughter of Captain Nathan Jennings, of Fairfield, Connecticut. His son was Sam Chester Reid. One daughter, Mary Isa- bel, married Count Luigi Palma di Ces- nola, and another, Louise Gouverneur. married John Savage, the journalist. Cap- tain Reid died in New York City, January 28, 1861, his last words being, "Soon I shall solve the great mystery of life."
SMITH, Perry, Lawyer, National Legislator.
Perry Smith was born in Woodbury, Connecticut, May 12, 1783, and died in New Milford, Connecticut, June 8, 1852. He acquired a practical education by at- tendance at the common schools of his native town, and he prepared for his pro- fessional career by a course of study at the Litchfield Law School. After a suc- cessful competitive examination, he was admitted to the bar in 1807, and entered upon the practice of his profession at New Milford, Connecticut, where he passed the remainder of his days. He attained considerable prominence in his chosen line of work, and he also made a name and place for himself in political circles. He was a representative in the State Legislature, 1822-24; judge of the Probate Court of Litchfield county, 1824- 35; and again a representative in the State Legislature, 1835-36. In 1837 he relinquished the practice of his profession to accept an election to the United States Senate, elected as a Democrat, and served from 1837 to 1843. He was the author of "Speech on Bank Depositaries," pub- lished by him in 1838.
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CHURCH, Samuel,
Lawyer, Jurist.
Samuel Church born in Salisbury, Con- necticut, February 4, 1785, traced his an- cestry to Richard Church, an original pro- prietor of Hartford, Connecticut, in 1637, one of whose descendants Nathaniel Church, father of Samuel Church, was a soldier of the Revolution, from the town of Salisbury, and married Lois Ensign, daughter of John Ensign, of Canaan, Con- necticut.
Samuel Church attended the schools of Salisbury, and supplemented this knowl- edge by a course at Yale College, from which he was graduated in 1803. He studied law with Hon. Judson Canfield, of Sharon, and at the Litchfield Law School; was admitted to the bar in Sep- tember, 1806, and entered upon the prac- tice of his profession in his native town. He was appointed postmaster of Salis- bury in 1810, and justice of the peace in 1818. In the latter year he was also elected a delegate to the convention for amending the State constitution. He was a representative in the General Assembly in 1820, 1821, 1823, 1824, 1829, 1831, and was clerk of the house in 1824. He served as State Senator for three terms, 1824-27. He was probate judge for the district of Sharon from 1821 to 1832; State's attorney for Litchfield county from 1825 to 1832; judge of the Superior Court and of the Supreme Court of Errors from 1832 to 1847, and in the latter named year was appointed Chief Justice of the same, which office he held until the time of his death. He removed to Litchfield in 1845. He was a devoted antiquarian and a painstaking student of local his- tory, and his historical addresses de- livered at Salisbury in 1841 and at Litch- field in 1851 were published, and have been the basis of many subsequent writ- ings. Trinity College conferred upon
him the degree of LL. D. in 1847. He presided as master of Montgomery Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, for five years.
On November 26, 1806, he was married to Cynthia, daughter of Captain Seth and Esther (Landon) Newell. Judge Church died at Newtown, Connecticut, Septem- ber 13, 1854.
ANDREWS, Ethan Allen, Professor of Languages.
John Andrews (or Andrus), the immi- grant ancestor, was one of the early set- tlers, and in 1672 one of the eighty-four proprietors of the ancient town of Tunxis named afterward "ffarming-town," Tunxis being then as much a name of a tribe of Indians as it was of the river and lands they occupied, and claimed as proprietors. He came over in 1645. John Andrews was a farmer, and lived on the east side of the river, near to where the canal aque- duct was made, about two miles north of the village of Farmington. His wife's name was Mary, and she united with the church there, April 2, 1654, with her sons, then under the age of thirteen years. John joined the Congregational church of Farmington, May 9, 1658. In a list of forty-two families in full communion of the church in 1679, which list seems to be graded and ranked with reference to "dignity and standing," John and Mary Andrews are No. 14.
Joseph, son of John Andrews, was born May 26, 1651, at Farmington, Connecti- cut, and baptized April 2, 1654. He mar- ried, about 1677, Rebecca -. They located about the centre of Newington, but at what date is now unknown. He had a tax list there in 1693, in Wethers- field, of which Newington was a parish. The first land of his found on record, was given him by vote of the town, March 19, 1683-84, a small piece near his mill, upon which to build a house and barn.
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March 26, 1684, he bought six acres of John and Joseph Riley, the ninety-fourth lot on "Cow-plane ;" it touches north and south on said Joseph's land. He also owned much land, and probably rented the mill of Phineas Wilson, the merchant of Hartford, until after Wilson's decease, when he bought it of the widow. He died April 27, 1706, aged fifty-four years. The widow Rebecca presented his will at probate court, May 23, 1706, of which she and her eldest son, Joseph, were exec- utors. The estate of the father had hardly been settled when the mother Rebecca died, and administration was granted to Joseph, the son, and the same day Caleb and Ann, chose their brother Joseph for guardian. At the close of the Revolution- ary War, it is said that there were sixty- two persons of the name of Andrews in Newington, but immediately after its close they died and dispersed, so that not one of the name has resided there for many years.
Benjamin, son of Joseph Andrews, was of Newington. He married, December 19, 1704, Elizabeth before An- thony Stoddard, minister at Woodbury. They lived near the centre of Newington ; he bought, July 6, 1716, of his brother Joseph, one-third of the sawmill that be- longed to their father. He died in 1719, probably, for the inventory of his estate was then taken by Jabez Whittlesey and Joseph Andrus, as appraisers.
Joseph (2), son of Benjamin Andrews, was born about 1707, and baptized June 22, 1707, by Rev. Stephen Mix, of old Wethersfield. He married, April 3, 1746, Sarah, daughter of Captain Robert and Abigail Wells, of Newington. Joseph Andrews was a wealthy farmer, and left a large estate to his family by will, his son Levi being executor. He was chosen one of the standing committee of the church in Newington, October 29, 1761 ; he and his wife were both members of
that church when Rev. Mr. Belden set- tled there, 1747. He died September 14, 1775, of fever, at the house of his son Levi, in New Britain, aged sixty-nine, where he went to nurse Levi who was sick with fever, but Levi recovered, while the father died; he was carried to New- ington, on men's shoulders, on a bier, some two or three miles, although it was very muddy. This custom was common, as the convenience of a hearse was not known then in country places. The will of widow Sarah Andrews was dated May II, 1782. She died June 4, 1793, aged seventy-seven years; her grave is in the cemetery near the Congregational church, in the parish of Newington, town of Wethersfield, where also lie many of the Andrews family, descendants of the early settlers of that place. Children: I. Levi, born February 23, 1747, mentioned below. 2. Ruth, born 1751 ; died young. 3. Elias, February 16, 1753. 4. Sarah, January 12, 1756.
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