USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 3 > Part 33
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On November 20, 1878, Mr. English was married to Mabel B. Plimpton, born February 18, 1861, a daughter of Andrew Seabury Plimpton. Mr. Plimpton was born February 21, 1823, and married, in February, 1855, Lucinda F. Bacon, a native of Norwich, Connecticut, born June 3. 1830, and a daughter of Edmond Bacon, of that place. For many years Andrew Seabury Plimpton was a promi- nent hotel keeper in Hartford, and he later built the Plimpton House at Watch Hill, which he conducted for a number of seasons. At the same time he managed the Dixon House at Westerly, Rhode Island. He was one of the best known hotel men in Connecticut and Rhode Island, and died at the age of seventy years.
His father, Chauncey Plimpton, was born May 5, 1796, and died May 21, 1837. He married, December 3, 1817, Calista Bacon, a daughter of Deacon Daniel Bacon, of Charlton. She died in the month of May, 1878.
His father, Esquire Oliver Plimpton, was born September 7, 1758, and died April 26, 1832. He was a prominent
farmer in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and it was said of him that "his farm, garden and buildings exhibited discreet manage- ment, good taste and convenience. The visitor always enjoyed a pleasant and social interview in his accomplished fam- ily. His appearance was dignified and commanded respect." He was active in local affairs of a public nature and served several terms as a member of the General Court, besides holding the office of magis- trate for many years. He possessed a splen- did intellect and quick perception, and although not formally trained in the law, he was noted for the accuracy of his de- cisions. He was thrifty and prudent, and his land, exclusive of buildings, was ap- praised in 1798 at three pounds, eleven shillings, the central portion of what is now Globe Village now occupies what was originally his farm. He was active in the affairs of the community, and served in the Revolutionary War.
His father, Lieutenant Gershom Plimp- ton, was born January 14, 1734-35, and died January 27, 1808. He married, March 2, 1758, Martha Marcy, born Au- gust 27, 1740, died January 15, 1825, a daughter of Colonel Moses Marcy, of Sturbridge. Lieutenant Plimpton had great skill in hunting and fishing, and in 1753 he traveled on foot from Medford to Sturbridge, carrying his pack, gun and ammunition. In 1759 he bought at Stur- bridge ten acres of land from his father and built a fulling mill at what is now Globe Village. He was the first to use the water power at that location, and he later built a grist mill there in partner- ship with his son, Gershom, Jr.
His father, William Plimpton, was born May 26, 1700, and died April 29, 1770. He married, in 1725, Keziah Dwight, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Dwight, born September 8, 1705, and died November II, 1776. In 1724 the
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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
town of Medfield gave permission to Wil- liam Plimpton to dam the brook near the meeting house to meet the requirements of a fulling mill. He took a prominent part in the establishment of the Baptist church at Medfield, and was one of the proprietors of Sturbridge.
His father, Joseph Plimpton, was born March 18, 1677, and died October 21, 1739. He married (first) in 1699, Pris- cilla Partridge, who died in 1738. He was a farmer and a prominent citizen, was member of the General Court from 1720 to 1721 and 1731. He was commis- sioned lieutenant by Governor Drummer in 1723, was one of the proprietors and took an active part in the settlement of New Medfield, or Sturbridge, and was moderator of ten meetings of the proprie- tors.
His father, Joseph Plimpton, was born October 7, 1653, and died June 22, 1702. He married, November 3, 1675, Mary Morse, a daughter of Samuel Morse. He worked as a weaver. In 1681 he received a grant of land from the town of Medfield.
His father, Sergeant John Plimpton, was born about 1620. He was well edu- cated and became a Puritan, which led to much persecution from his family who were zealous Catholics. He dared not register, but left his native land secretly, and landed in New England penniless and in debt for the expense of his passage. He became a member of the Dedham church, January 20, 1643, was admitted a freeman the same year, and also joined the organization now known as "The An- cient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston." On March 13, 1644, he mar- ried Jane Dammin. He was one of the original proprietors of Medfield, but did not remove there until 1652. We find him referred to as "Goodman Plimpton." His name appears on a list of contribu- tions to Harvard College. He held num-
erous offices such as surveyor, constable and fence viewer, and rendered valuable service in connection with other public matters. In 1673 he removed to what is now Deerfield. There he was appointed sergeant and rendered much important service in King Philip's War. He was among the prisoners captured and taken to Canada at the time of the Deerfield massacre. When the Indians and their captives reached Chamblee, Sergeant John Plimpton was burned at the stake.
To Joel L. and Mabel B. (Plimpton) English was born one son, Robert Bacon, whose birth occurred July 27, 1884; he graduated at Yale in 1908, and is at pres- ent employed in the office of the Aetna Life Insurance Company; he married Emily Gildersleeve, daughter of Ferdi- nand Gildersleeve, of Gildersleeve, Con- necticut. Mr. English is a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to office. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and has given his support to those movements and enterprises that promise to enhance the public welfare.
SPENCER, Alfred, Jr.,
Banker.
In studying the lives and character of prominent men, we are, naturally, led to inquire into the secret of their success and the motives that prompted their action. Success is a question of genius, as held by many, but is it not rather a matter of experience and sound judgment? For when we trace the career of those who stand highest in public esteem, we find in nearly every case that there are those who have risen gradually, fighting their way in the face of all opposition, as was the case of Alfred Spencer, Jr., who advanced from the position of messenger to bank president, with only one change of employers in a career covering a period
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of forty-four years. Self reliance, con- scientiousness, energy, honesty, these are the traits of character that insure the highest emoluments and greatest success. To these may we attribute the success that has crowned the efforts of Mr. Spencer.
The Spencer family is one of the oldest in Connecticut, and has been traced back through eleven generations to Michael and Elizabeth Spencer, who were resi- dents of Stratford, in Bedfordshire, Eng- land, in the middle of the sixteenth cen- tury. Their son, Jared Spencer, was bap- tized in Stratford, May 20, 1576. He came with his wife Alice and five sons to America, in 1632, and located at Cam- bridge, Massachusetts. One of the sons, John, returned to England, one remained in Cambridge, two settled at Hartford, and one in Haddam, Connecticut.
Thomas Spencer, the eldest, known as Sergeant Thomas Spencer, the progenitor of the Suffolk branch of the family, was born March 27, 1607, in Stratford. In 1635 he and his brother William came to Hartford with Rev. Thomas Hooker's company. He was an inhabitant of Cam- bridge, Massachusetts, as early as 1633, and is supposed to have been the Thomas Spencer who took the freeman's oath, May 14, 1634. In 1639 he had become a resident of Hartford, Connecticut, owned land there, and was chosen a sergeant of Hartford, March 7, 1650. He was chim- ney-viewer in 1650; constable, 1657; and surveyor of highways in 1672. He owned land in Soldier's Field, indicating that he had served in the Pequot War in 1637, and in 1671 was granted sixty acres of land by the General Court "for his good service in the country." His will was dated September 9, 1686, and he died Sep- tember 11, 1687. Nothing is known of his first wife.
She was the mother of Thomas Spencer,
born in Hartford, settled in Suffield in time to be a voter at the first town meeting. There he engaged in farming until his death, July 23, 1689. He mar- ried Esther, daughter of William An- drews. She died in Suffield, March 6, 1698.
Their second son, Samuel Spencer, was born in Suffield, where he was a farmer, and died November 23, 1743. He mar- ried, March 18, 1700, Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Mascroft, of Roxbury, Massa- chusetts, and they had two sons, Thomas and Daniel.
The senior son, Thomas Spencer, was born January 13, 1702, in Suffolk, was a farmer, served as lieutenant in the French and Indian War, and died February 4, 1754. He married, December 15, 1720, Mary Trumbull, a relative of Governor Jonathan Trumbull, of Connecticut. She was born December 2, 1701, in Suffolk, and died in 1755.
Their youngest son, Hezekiah Spencer, born December 16, 1740, was a farmer in Suffolk, and died August 3, 1797. He married, March 4, 1762, Olive Nott, born October II, 1735, in Wethersfield, and died February 2, 1771.
Hezekiah (2) Spencer, their son, was born April 30, 1766, and died October I, 1820. He was a farmer, and a leading member of the Congregational church. He married, June 5, 1793, Jerusha Nelson, born December 17, 1771, in Suffolk, and died August 17, 1854.
Their second son, Alfred Spencer, was born July 12, 1801, on the homestead, and died October 17, 1838. He married, Octo- ber 16, 1823, Harriet King, born Septem- ber 30, 1802, in Suffield, died December 15, 1844.
Their son, Alfred Spencer, born Janu- ary 21, 1825, in the Spencer homestead, died December 30, 1891. He was edu- cated in the district school and at the
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Connecticut Literary Institute, became a large land owner, and dealt extensively in tobacco. He married, March 26, 1846, Caroline Frances Reid, of Colchester, born October 22, 1827, died August 31, 1898. They had children: James P., Harriet A., Alfred, mentioned below; Mary Reid, Clinton, Carrie E., Jennie, Samuel Reid.
Alfred Spencer, Jr., was born October 29, 1851, and his youth was spent in much the same way as that of other boys reared in a rural environment. He was educated at the Connecticut Literary Institute, and at the Edwards Place School at Stock- bridge, Massachusetts. In 1872 he entered the employ of the First National Bank of Suffield, and rose during the twenty years he was with that institution through the various positions to cashier. In 1891 he was offered and accepted the position of cashier of the Aetna National Bank of Hartford, and eight years later. in 1899, was elected president, and continued as president when that bank and the Hart- ford Bank (which was established in 1792) were combined. Mr. Spencer is a very active member of the Masonic frater- nity, whose broad and generous principles and practices are in accord with his nature. He is a member of Apollo Lodge, No. 59, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of Suffield ; of Washington Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Suffield Council, Royal and Select Masters; Washington Commandery, Knights Templar, of Hart- ford, Connecticut, of which he is treas- urer ; Scottish Rite bodies of Hartford. of which he is treasurer; and Sphinx Temple. Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Hartford, Connec- ticut, of which he has been treasurer since its organization. Mr. Spencer takes an active interest in politics, and is identified with the Republican party, believing that it stands for sound economics, but he has never been an aspirant for political office.
He married, in 1879, Ella Susan Nichols, of Suffield. Children: Alfred Francis, born February 21, 1881 ; Herb- ert, January 13, 1883.
There is nothing phenomenal in Mr. Spencer's rise in the banking world. It is the natural result of adhering to his resolution formed at an early date to master the banking business. He has allowed nothing to swerve him from the path. The business community has con- fidence in the soundness of his judgment, and his sterling character and genial per- sonality have won universal respect and a host of friends.
ATTWOOD, William Elijah, Financier.
American history teems with the deeds of men who, without the advantageous aids of advanced education or influential friends, have through sheer force of char- acter developed along some particular line and won the highest position in that par- ticular business or profession. But no- where can a more striking illustration of the power of the individual to rise above his circumstances or surroundings be found than is afforded by the life achieve- ment of William E. Attwood, president of the New Britain Trust Company. It was fortunate for Mr. Attwood that he found his true sphere so early in life, and that when found he recognized that op- portunity had "knocked at his door." Fifty-four years have now passed since he made his advent into the world, and all but thirteen of them have been spent in actual business. Six of those years were spent in another line of business, but at the age of nineteen he "found him- self" and from that time his rise was rapid, but no promotion found him, unpre- pared for the advanced position, as he aimed high and fitted himself accordingly.
William E. Attwood was born at East
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Haddam, Middlesex county, Connecticut, February 24, 1864, son of William Henry and Josephine (Bishop) Attwood, and grandson of Whiting Attwood, who was born in East Haddam in 1787. At the age of thirteen he completed his attend- ance at public school, and became clerk in the East Haddam postoffice, a part of his duty being to keep the books for a coal and lumber yard business operated by the postmaster, W. C. Reynolds. For six years he filled this dual position of postoffice clerk and bookkeeper, continu- ing with Mr. Reynolds until 1883, becom- ing an expert accountant and familiar with the systematic methods of the post- office department. In 1883 he resigned to take a position as bookkeeper in the Na- tional Bank of New England at East Had- dam, a position he held four years, adding to his commercial knowledge the experi- ence that can only be obtained in a bank- ing position. He did not content himself with merely performing the duties assigned him, but went out for other and more advanced work, always being able to take a higher position when it offered. In 1887 his first important call came and found him ready, the promotion necessi- tating a removal from his native village to New Britain, which has since been his home. He became cashier of the Me- chanics' National Bank of New Britain in 1887, and in that position spent thirteen ycars, winning well earned reputation as an efficient, thoroughly reliable, well in- formed bank official. In 1900 he was elected vice-president, and in 1905 reached the president's chair, as thoroughly fur- nished and equipped for executive control as he had been to fill his previous posi- tions. He continued president of the Me- chanics' National Bank until 1907, com- pleting a term of service as cashier and executive, covering a period of twenty years, years of broadening growth in the man, years of prosperity and success for
the institution. In 1907 the Mechanics' National Bank liquidated its business, combined with the Hardware City Trust Company and formed the New Brit: Trust Company, Mr. Attwood being elected president of the last named, an office he fills at the present time. Since 1893 he has also been treasurer of the Burritt Savings Bank of New Britain, thus completing the cycle of banking corporations, national trust and savings, each operating under entirely different laws, each having different fields of oper- ation, with which Mr. Attwood has held intimate relation as financial manager and executive. This versatile banking ability does not, however, carry him beyond financial institutions, all his energy and ability being confined to his own spe- cialty. He holds intimate relation with all classes of business men as their banker and financial adviser, but has no connec- tion with other corporations. He is a member of the Bankers' associations, both State and National ; belongs to Middlesex Lodge, No. 3, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of East Haddam; is a member of the New Britain Club, its president 1909 and 1910: is a communicant of St. Mark's Protestant Episcopal Church, vestryman, 1905-08, and in politics is a Republican. He responded to the call of his fellow citizens, serving them in public capacity as a member of the Board of Education, 1899-1910; member of the General Assembly, 1901-03, and State Senator in 1905-07 ; he rendered valuable service, serving in both houses as chair- man of the committee on banks.
Mr. Attwood married (first) October II, 1887, Alice Belden Seward, of East Haddam, who died in 1905. Their only child died in 1900. He married (second) June 2, 1906, Fannie Canfield Wetmore, of Meriden, Connecticut. Children of second marriage: William E., Jr., and Margaret Wetmore.
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استدينا
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BROADHURST, Leon Parker, Banker, Man of Affairs.
In the promotion of Leon P. Broad- hurst to the position of president of the Phoenix National Bank of Hartford, which occurred in November, 1915, was registered the recogniton of merit. He is the youngest bank president in the State, and has gained a prominent posi- tion in the financial world, through those qualities which inspire confidence and esteem wherever found. His advance- ment is the result of unflagging industry, close and studious attention to details. high moral principle and sound judgment. His ancestors were English, those on the paternal side of comparatively recent immigration to this country.
His grandfather, John Broadhurst, was a native of Macclesfield, England, and started for America to take charge of the weaving department of Cheney Brothers, silk manufacturers of Manchester, Con- necticut. In those days it was customary for the boss weaver to provide his own help, and nearly all the passengers on the ship were on the way to work under Mr. Broadhurst's directions in the mill. An epidemic of typhus fever broke out on the ship, and was fatal to many of the pas- sengers, including all of John Broad- hurst's family except two sons and a daughter. In their usual open-handed way, the Cheney Brothers took charge of this family. John Broadhurst was placed in the Hartford Orphan Asylum, and Thomas and the sister were taken into one of the Cheney families ; the latter died at the age of fifteen years. John Broad- hurst grew to manhood and settled in California.
Thomas Broadhurst, father of Leon P. Broadhurst, remained in the Cheney fam- ilv for a number of years, and was appren- ticed to Hubbard & Broadhead, a firm of
tanners in Glastonbury, Connecticut, with whom he remained until he was nearly twenty-one years old, after which he entered the employ of the Cheney Broth- ers as a machinist, with whom he con- tinued some twenty years. After leaving the employ of this firm he located in Hart- ford, where he continued at his trade until his death. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias of Hartford.
Mr. Broadhurst's maternal ancestors were among the earliest of the Connec- ticut colonists, and have been traced back in England to Thomas Lyman, or Leman, as the name was sometimes spelled. Like other ancient names, this one was spelled in various ways by the earliest recorded generations of the family. Thomas Ly- man lived in the reign of Henry III. In 1275 he was fined twenty pence by Walter de Sterteslegh, sheriff of Wilts, for default in attending a certain inquisition to which he had been summoned. The generations have been traced from him consecutively to Thomas Lyman (the great-great- grandfather of Richard Lyman, the orig- inal American immigrant), who married Elizabeth, daughter of Henry Lambert. She was the great-granddaughter of Sir William Lambert and Johanna de Um- freville. The Lambert genealogy has been traced back without a break to Sir Radulphus Lambert, knight, grandson of Lambert, Count of Loraine and Mons, who came to England with his kinsman, William the Conqueror, and was present at the battle of Hastings. He had a grant of lands and manor in the county of York, his chief seat being at Skipton, in Cravin, county of York. He married Alidnora, daughter of Sir Ralph de Torey, a Nor- man nobleman, who came into England with William the Conqueror, and was one of his chief generals at the battle of Hast- ings in 1066. Johanna de Umfreville's genealogy has been traced back to Sir
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Robert de Umfreville, knight, Lord of Tours and Vian in Normandy, who came to England with William the Conqueror, and became possessed of manors, lands and castles. She was also a descendant of Alfred the Great, King of England. Thomas Lyman, above referred to, was a resident of Navistoke, County Essex, in the time of Henry VII. His son, Henry Lyman, of Navistoke, was the father of John Lyman, of High Ongar, whose son, Henry Lyman, lived with his wife Eliza- beth at High Ongar. Their son, Richard Lyman, was born in High Ongar, Essex county, England, and was baptized there October 30, 1580. He married Sarah, daughter of Roger Osborne, of Halstead, in Kent, England, and came to America with her husband and four children in 1631. She died in Hartford, Connecticut, about 1640, soon after the death of her husband. The family embarked for Amer- ica in the ship "Lion," about the middle of August. 1631. They settled first in Charlestown, Massachusetts, and united with the church in Roxbury. Richard Lyman became a freeman, June II, 1635, and in October, 1635, he and his family formed part of a company of about one hundred persons, who started through the wilderness to Connecticut. The trip was made in fourteen days. The Lymans located in Hartford, where he was one of the original proprietors, and died in Au- gust, 1640. Richard Lyman is reported to have begun life in the New World as a man of "considerable estate, keeping two servants." He lost many of his cattle on the journey to Connecticut, and also suffered illness owing to the expos- ures incident to the journey. From the death of their father until their settlement in Northampton, little is known of the sons, Richard, John and Robert. They were assessed in Hartford in 1655, and they probably removed in the same year
to Northampton, where, in December of that year, Richard Lyman was chosen as one of the selectmen. He sold his father's household in Hartford in 1660. He was baptized February 24, 1617, at High Ongar, and died June 3, 1662, at North- ampton. He married Hepzibah, daughter of Thomas Ford, of Windsor, and resided for some time in East Windsor, near the Hartford line, on part of the Ford estate. Their eldest son, Richard (3) Lyman, was born in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1647, and married, in Northampton, May 26, 1675, Elizabeth, daughter of John Coles, of Hatfield. They resided in Northampton until 1696, when they re- moved to Lebanon, Connecticut, where he died November 4, 1708. Their second son, Richard (4) Lyman, was born in April, 1678, in Northampton, and re- moved to Lebanon with his family in 1696; married, April 7. 1700, Mary Woodward ; died June 6, 1746. Their son, Deacon Thomas Lyman, was born July 6, 1704, in Lebanon Crank, now Franklin. He married Mary Guile, a woman of estimable character and consistent, uni- torm and religious life, who died July 4, 1797, in the ninetieth year of her age. Thomas Lyman was deacon for many years. He was a tanner and died from injuries received by a fall in the bark mill of his tannery. Their son, Deacon Joseph Lyman, was born in Lebanon, july 6, 1744, married, April 9, 1767, Sarah Edwards, born March 28, 1746, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Edwards. He settled in what is now Manchester, was a farmer and tanner; deacon in the church. He died February 20, 1820. His wife died April 2, 1814. Their eldest child, Daniel Lyman, was born January 5, 1768, died in December, 1854 ; settled a few rods east of his father's place on the Hartford and Providence turnpike, ten miles from Hartford. He married Lydia Martha
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Brewster, of Lebanon, about 1794, born May 7, 1772, daughter of Wadsworth Brewster, and a direct descendant of Elder William Brewster, of the "May- flower." Their third child, Deacon Milton Lyman, was born November 15, 1795, in Manchester, Connecticut, was a wagon maker, resided at Marshall, New York, for about fifty years, and died there Octo- ber 16, 1870. He married for his second wife, November 15, 1820, Olive Parker, of Marshall, Oneida county, New York. Their third child was Daniel Parker Ly- man, born May 17, 1823, at Marshall, married at Manchester, Connecticut, March 31, 1846, Mary Jane, second daughter of Deacon Daniel Russell, of Ellington, Connecticut. Ellen Maria, their second child, was born July 28, 1851, and married, January 25, 1870, Thomas Broadhurst. They had two children : Leon Parker and Mildred. The latter be- came the wife of Richard T. Huntington, Jr., of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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