USA > Connecticut > Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial; representative citizens, v. 5 > Part 5
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formed so many feats of daring, and had so many unusual adventures, that his name became a household word through- out the land.
Their son, Colonel Daniel Putnam, was born at Pomfret, Connecticut, November 18, 1759, and died in Brooklyn, Connecti- cut, April 30, 1831. Daniel Putnam held a commission of colonel in the Con- tinental Army, and served in the cam- paigns before Boston, and in the Long Island, and New York campaigns. Daniel Putnam lived on Church street, Brooklyn, in a fine old place, built by his wife's uncle, Nathaniel Brinley, of Boston, who came to Brooklyn to be near his friend, God- frey Malbone, who lived on the adjoin- ing farm. Daniel Putnam had more than an ordinary education for his time, as his letters show, in which he writes of many things, and of passing events in a clear and interesting style. He carried on his farm on an extensive scale, and was reputed a man of wealth. He was a member of old Trinity, Protestant Epis- copal Church, Brooklyn, and was active in the affairs of the Diocese of Connecti- cut. He married Catherine, a daughter of Shrimpton and Elizabeth (Malbone) Hutchinson, a native of Boston, a great- granddaughter of Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson, of Massachusetts Colony, born April 11, 1757, and died in Hartford, October 31, 1844.
Their son, William Putnam, was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, January 1, 1783, like his father, he was a farmer all his life, and held the high respect of the com- munity. He was prominent in its affairs, and held town offices in Brooklyn and Canterbury. His death occurred Decem- ber 5, 1846. He married, April 17, 1805, Mary, daughter of Ebenezer and Mary (Payne) Spalding, of Brooklyn, Connecti- cut. Mrs. Putnam was born April 17, 1786, and died December 29, 1880.
Their son, William Hutchinson Put- nam, was born in Holland, Massachusetts, February 2, 1812, and when a boy re- moved to Brooklyn, where he lived until the time of his death. After his mar- riage he purchased a farm on Allen Hill, Brooklyn, with Captain John Day, his father-in-law, and later bought out Cap- tain Day, and carried on extensive farm- ing operations. Mr. Putnam was also in- terested in wheat raising, and flour mil- ling in Wisconsin. He was a Republi- can, and represented his town several times in the Connecticut General Assem- bly. He was a director of the National and Savings banks of Brooklyn, and a member of Old and New Trinity Church, Brooklyn, in which he held the office of senior warden. His death occurred July 17, 1889. Mr. Putnam married, March 12, 1834, Eliza, daughter of Captain John Day, of Brooklyn, Connecticut.
Their son, Albert Day Putnam, was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut, February 25, 1852. He spent his boyhood in his native town, attended its common schools, and later attended the Academy in Danielson, Connecticut, and the New Bri- tain Normal School. He taught several winters. He was a farmer, living on Allen Hill, Brooklyn, on the farm on which he was born, until April, 1888, when he removed his family to Daniel- son, Connecticut. Mr. Putnam was a Republican, and represented Killingly in the Connecticut General Assembly, and for thirteen years was a member of the Killingly School Board. He was a mem- ber of Trinity Church, Brooklyn, and later of Saint Albans Episcopal Church, Danielson. He was a member of Moriah Lodge, No. 15, Ancient Free and Accept- ed Masons, and of Aetna Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was also affiliated with the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. His
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death occurred in Danielson, December 25, 1905. Mr. Putnam married Harriet Eliza, a daughter of Charles and Jennett (Sharp) Dorrance. Charles Dorrance was born November 21, 1824, at Brook- lyn, Connecticut. He was the son of Samuel and Amy (Kenyon) Dorrance, of that town, where he lived until eleven years of age, on his father's farm, when his parents removed to Brooklyn Village. He then attended school at Brooklyn, and later went to Plainfield, Connecticut, where he entered the Plainfield Academy. At the age of twenty-one he returned to his home farm, where he carried on his career as a farmer with a high degree of success. He died in Providence, Rhode Island, February 16, 1899. His wife, Jennett (Sharp) Dorrance, was born Sep- tember 30, 1832, at Canterbury, Connec- ticut, a daughter of Williard and Hannah (Hyde) Sharp. She died in Brooklyn, March 4, 1869.
William Hutchinson Putnam, son of Albert Day and Harriet Eliza (Dorrance) Putnam, was born February 1, 1878, at Brooklyn, Connecticut. He attended the public schools at Danielson, Connecticut, whither his parents had removed when he was eleven years old. After complet- ing his studies, he was employed by the Windham County National Bank as a clerk. He remained with this institution about five years, and was a teller for several years before severing his con- nection with it. Here he learned some- thing of the detail of the banking busi- ness and general business methods. From the Windham County National Bank he went to Boston, where he entered the employ of W. J. Hayes & Sons as a bond salesman. Later he worked for William A. Read & Company, of Boston and New York, remaining with the latter firm about six years, until October, 1912, when
he became a member of the firm of Rich- ter & Company, investment brokers of Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Putnam is a Republican, and in 1917 was a member of the financial committee of the city of Hartford.
He is a member of the Hartford Club, the Hartford Golf Club, the Hartford Canoe Club, Republican Club, and of the Union League Club of New York City. He is also a member of Moriah Lodge, No. 15, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Danielson, Connecticut, and is the fifth generation of his family who has been affiliated with this lodge. He is a member of Columbian Commandery, Knights Templar, of Norwich, of Sphinx Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine ; and the Connecticut Consistory, thirty- second degree.
Mr. Putnam married, March 8, 1899, Adabelle Canney Lyon, daughter of Rock- well Fuller and Jennie Elizabeth (Canney) Lyon, of Danielson, Connecticut, and Boston, Massachusetts, respectively. Three children have been to born them as follows: Lyonel Hutchinson, August 27, 1900; Marcella Rockwell, May 3, 1902; and Albert Day, February 20, 1904. Mr. Putnam and his family are members of Trinity Episcopal Church in Hartford.
Throughout the Putnams there runs a strong resemblance to a type as follows : Good physique, Saxon features, of good height, inclined to stoutness, but not fleshy, even temperament, honest inten- tions, fixedness of purpose, high princi- ples, satisfied with a fair share of the good things of life, inclined to be too gen- erous, patriotic, more inclined to lead than to be led. These are many devia- tions for this standard but each genera- tion seems to produce its fair share of this type.
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FORWARD, George Hinsdale, Merchant, Estimable Citizen.
George Hinsdale Forward, a former merchant of Springfield, Massachusetts, was born in Belchertown, that State, Oc- tober 19, 1845, the son of Francis and Maria (Smith) Forward. He is a de- scendant in the seventh generation of Samuel Forward, who came from Devon- shire, England, about 1666, and went first to the West Indies, where he was the owner of an entire Island. Through fear of war, he left the island and came to Windsor, where he purchased land from an Indian named Thomas Hopewell, about fifteen years before Windsor was incorporated by the government. He died in Windsor in 1684. Previous to com- ing to America, he married in England, Abigail Goodhall.
Samuel Forward, Jr., son of Samuel and Abigail (Goodhall) Forward, was born in Windsor, July 23, 1671, and when a young man removed to Simsbury, set- tling in what is known as the Turkey Hill section. He died there May 3, 1738. His first wife was Deborah (Moore) For- ward, born May 31, 1677, and died August 29, 1732, the daughter of Andrew and Sarah (Phelps) Moore. The first men- tion yet discovered of Andrew Moore, of Poquonock, Connecticut, is the record of his marriage to Sarah, daughter of Samuel Phelps, February 15, 1671. He was granted land at Salmon Brook, now Granby, Connecticut, in 1680, and is referred to as "Andrew Moore, the car- penter of Windsor." He removed to Windsor, and died there November 29, 1779. Samuel Forward married (second) Martha Winchel, daughter of John and Mary (Dibble) Eno and the widow of John Winchel, of Windsor.
Joseph Forward, son of Samuel, Jr., and Deborah (Moore) Forward, was
Conn-5-3
born in Simsbury, November 10, 1707, and died there May 22, 1766. In his youth he removed to Suffield, and there married, March 27, 1729, Marcy Laurton, who died in Suffield, April 11, 1786. Joseph Forward was a tanner, saddler and farmer by occupation.
Rev. Justus Forward, eldest son of Joseph and Marcy (Laurton) Forward, was born in Kingsbury, May 11, 1730, and was educated in the local schools of that town. He finished his education at Yale College, and was graduated with the de- grees of B. A., September, 1754, and M. A., 1757. From the very first of his early youth, he showed a tendency towards the ministry and was among those who ex- perienced religion during the great re- vival in New England in the days of President Edwards, a very important period in the history of New England churches. In 1755 he removed to Bel- chertown, Massachusetts, and was ordain- ed pastor of the Congregational church there, February 25, 1756, at the age of twenty-six years. After long and faith- ful service in his chosen work, the Rev. Justus Forward died March 8, 1814, at the age of eighty-four years, fifty-nine of which had been spent in the ministry. He married, December 8, 1756, Violet Dickenson, born November 15, 1738, the daughter of Joshua and Martha Dicken- son, of Hadley, Massachusetts. She sur- vived her husband twenty years, and passed away in Belchertown, March 27, 1834.
Justus Forward, Jr., son of the Rev. Justus and Violet (Dickenson) Forward, was born in Belchertown, February 23, 1774, and was a lawyer and judge. He married, June 10, 1795, Lydia A. Merrick, born June 29, 1776, the daughter of Noah Merrick, and granddaughter of Rev. Noah Merrick, who was the first minister of Wilbraham, Massachusetts.
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Francis Forward, son of Justus, Jr., and Lydia A. (Merrick) Forward, was born in Belchertown, September 30, 1807, and died in Granby, Massachusetts, October 20, 1891. He was a school teacher and also engaged in agriculture. He married, November 21, 1844, Maria Smith, born February 9, 1813, in Hadley, a daughter of Sereno and Betsey (Stockbridge) Smith, and a descendant of Joseph Smith, of Hartford, and Lydia (Huitt) Smith. They were married in April, 1656, and their son, Sergeant Joseph Smith, was born in March, 1657, and removed about 1680 to Hadley, where he was made a free- man in 1690. He died there October I, 1733. He married, February 11, 1681, Re- becca, daughter of John Dickenson, and she died February 16, 1731. Their son, Joseph Smith, was born November 8, 1681, and married, in 1715, Sarah Alexander, who died January 31, 1768. Their son, Alex- ander Smith, was born October II, 1717, in Amherst, and died September 21, 1787. He married, in 1743, Rebecca Warner, of Westfield, who died November 26, 1801. Their son, Joseph Smith, was born April II, 1750, and married Eunice, the daugh- ter of Nathan Goodman, of Hatfield, and their son, Sereno Smith, born March 27, 1779, married, January 29, 1807, Betsey, the daughter of David Stockbridge, who died January .22, 1852. They were the parents of Maria Smith, who became the wife of Francis Forward, and died Feb- ruary 12, 1905.
George Hinsdale Forward, son of Fran- cis and Maria (Smith) Forward, received his education in the public schools of his native town and at the Wilbraham Acad- emy. After leaving the latter institution, he gave up his cherished plan to enter Am- herst College and later engaged in mer- cantile business, finally locating in Spring- field, Massachusetts. He was a man of scholarly tastes, actively interested in
church and philanthropic work and in- fluential in political affairs. Mr. Forward was an adherent of the Republican party. His death occurred in West Springfield, Massachusetts, November 14, 1877. Mr. Forward married, November 30, 1870, Frances Loomis McMaster, born March 17, 1839, daughter of John and Laura (Bissel) McMaster. The genealogy of of the McMaster family has been traced to the Masters of England, some of whom later settled in Scotland and adopted the Scotch prefix Mac. John McMaster, the first to come to this country, was born in Scotland in 1672. About 1714 he re- moved with his family to the northern part of Ireland and the twins, Hugh and John, were born there that same year. He remained there until coming to America in 1720 with a colony of Scotch-Irish im- migrants. First, he located in Leicester, Massachusetts, intending to make that his permanent home, but removed to Palmer in 1733. He died January 25, 1761, and his wife, Katherine, who was born in 1687, died November 11, 1763. Their son, John McMaster, born in 1714, was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention held in Cambridge in 1778, and died in Pal- mer March 16, 1793. He married Millicent Ferrel, born in 1728, died January 2, 18II, a descendant of pioneer settlers of the town of Palmer. Their second child, Joshua McMaster, was born December 5, 1757, in Palmer, and was an active citizen of that town for many years, removing thence to Am- herst. In 1774, he was elected assessor in Palmer, and was among the first min- utemen called. He marched April 19, 1775, as a private in the company of Captain David Speer, of Colonel Pynchon's regi- ment, and served twelve days at that time. From June 25, to December 25, 1779, he was a member of Captain Joshua L. Woodbridge's company, Colonel Na-
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Julen Francis Forward
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than Tyler's regiment, serving in Rhode Island. He also served at Ticonderoga, and was at Saratoga at the surrender of General Burgoyne. He was a surveyor and one of the men who established the State line between New York and Penn- sylvania. He died in Amherst, Massachu- setts, June 8, 1822. He married, in Palmer, November 20, 1794, Rebecca Thompson, born in Brimfield, March 26, 1767, died in Amherst, July 21, 1858. She was the daughter of Captain John Thompson, born in 1728, and died in 1815, who served with distinction in the war of the Revolu- tion (whose wife was a Russell), and granddaughter of Captain John Thomp- son, born 1699, died January 19, 1785, an officer in the French and Indian War, and with his wife, Elizabeth, was a pioneer settler of Palmer. John McMaster, third son of Joshua and Rebecca (Thompson) McMaster, was born in Amherst, April 4, 1805, and died in West Springfield, Mas- sachusetts, November 17, 1903. In the early days of its organization he was in- terested in the Collins Manufacturing Company, but devoted most of his active life to the tilling of his two farms in Mas- sachusetts. Always a close student of national affairs and accounted one of the best read men of his day on current topics, he was a strong Abolitionist and helped many a colored man on his way to the North. Escaped slaves were sent to his home by other station agents of the un- derground railway ; he passed them along the line, gave them the help they needed and charged each one never to call him- self a slave. On April 14, 1834, he mar- ried Laura Bissell, who was born in East Windsor, Connecticut, October 28, 1807, and died in West Springfield, August 20, 1873. She was a descendant of John Bissell, who was the first settler of the name in America. The family of Bissell fled from France to England to escape
the persecution which followed the mas- sacre of St. Bartholomew's Day, 1572. John Bissell arrived at Plymouth, Massa- chusetts, from County Somerset, Eng- land, in 1628. In 1640 he removed to East Windsor, Connecticut, and was one of the founders of that place. The Bissell coat-of-arms was brought from France to England by the grandfather of the said John Bissell, and recorded there at the College of Heraldry, London. John Bissell received a grant of land and the monopoly of the ferry across the Connec- ticut river in 1648-49. This was located on the east side near the wharf, which belonged to the Quarry Company. In 1662 he gave this homestead with the rights of the ferry to one of his sons, and with another son, Nathaniel, removed to the east side below the mouth of the Scantic, probably the first family to ac- tually reside on that side. He died Oc- tober 3, 1677, and his wife, May 21, 1641. Their son, Nathaniel Bissell, was born September 24, 1640, and died March 12, 1713-14. He married Mindwell Moore, September 25, 1662, the daughter of Deacon John Moore, of Windsor, and she died November 24, 1682. Jonathan Bis- sell, son of Nathaniel and Mindwell (Moore) Bissell, was born February 14, 1674, and married, March 17, 1709, Bridget Fitch. Their son, Jonathan Bis- sell, Jr., was born May 31, 1710, and died February 24, 1789. He married, Novem- ber 27, 1744, Elizabeth Halliday, of Suf- field, Connecticut. They were the par- ents of Jonathan Bissell, 3d, who was born August II, 1749, and died December 29, 1825. He married (first) Prudence Smith, June 12, 1770, who died July 1, 1789, and (second) Redexalana Loomis, September 13, 1791, the daughter of John and Redex- alana (Wolcott) Loomis, of East Wind- sor Hill, and she died April 29, 1843. Their daughter, Laura Bissell, became
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the wife of John McMaster, and they were the parents of Frances Loomis Mc- Master, the wife of George H. Forward, of this sketch.
Mrs. Forward is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution ; Mt. Holyoke Alumnae Association and College Club. She removed to Hartford in 1904. The Forward family have a coat-of-arms which was granted by the Crown for distinguished war services. Mr. and Mrs. Forward were the parents of two children :
I. John Francis, born October 16, 1872, in South Hadley, Massachusetts, and removed with his parents to West Springfield, in 1873; in 1892 he entered Trinity College, from which he was grad- uated in 1896. Mr. Forward studied law in the office of Andrew F. Gates, of Hart- ford, and in 1902 was admitted to the practice of law in Connecticut; on Sep- tember 4, 1917, Mr. Forward was appoint- ed by the Superior Court to the position of public defender, whose duties are to investigate the case of all who are to be arraigned in the Superior Court and who have no other counsel. Mr. For- ward continues his private practice in ad- dition to the extra work entailed by his appointment. He is a member of the Hartford Street Board, and on the staff of the First Company, Governor's Foot Guard; member of the American, Con- necticut and Hartford Bar associations ; Trinity College Alumni Association ; Uni- versity Club; Connecticut Historical So- ciety ; The Get-together Club ; Republican and City clubs; Connecticut Society, Sons of the American Revolution ; Jere- miah Wadsworth Branch, Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Forward has never married and resides at home.
2. Laurence McMaster, born in West Springfield, Massachusetts, October 18, 1875, and died November 24, 1878, in that place.
PARKER, Francis Hubert,
Lawyer, Public Official.
Francis Hubert Parker was born in East Haddam, Middlesex county, Connec- ticut, September 23, 1850. The son of Ozias H. and Maria M. (Ayer) Parker, and a descendant of William Parker, Hartford, 1636, Saybrook, 1645. He traces his descent to Edward Fuller, John Howland and John Tilley, of the "May- flower" Pilgrims, to James Avery, John Elderkin, William Lyon, and others, early settlers of Connecticut and Massachu- setts. Three of his great-grandfathers, John Parker, Nathan Avery, and Josiah Lyon, were soldiers of the Revolution. His father, Ozias H. Parker, was a rep- resentative in the General Assembly in 1851, 1854, 1857 and 1877, selectman for several years, first selectman for seven years, town auditor, official school visitor, and a man faithful to many trusts, with a strict sense of honor, independent judg- ment and common sense. His mother Maria M. (Ayer) Parker, was a woman of strong character whose moral in- fluence was exerted for the good of her son.
Francis H. Parker was brought up on his father's farm. He attended the pub- lic school and prepared for college in the old fashioned way with Rev. Silas W. Robbins, pastor of the First Congrega- tional Church in East Haddam. He en- tered Wesleyan University at Middle- town, Connecticut, and in 1874 was grad- uated with the Bachelor's degree. In 1876 he was graduated LL. B. from the Yale Law School. During his college course, he taught school one term and two terms during his law course. He was admitted to the Connecticut bar and began prac- tice in Hartford the year of his gradua- tion from law school and has there con- tinued steadily and successfully in his
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Francis H. Parker
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chosen profession. He has preferred the independence of a single office, has al- ways practiced alone, and has never had a partner. He was prosecuting attorney for the city of Hartford from 1887 to 1891, from 1894 to 1895, and again from 1915 to 1917. He was appointed referee in bankruptcy for Hartford county in 1898, an office he resigned when appoint- ed United States attorney for the district of Connecticut in 1900. He was re-ap- pointed in 1904 and served until 1908. For two years, 1908 to 1910, he was cor- poration counsel for the city of Hartford. As a speaker he is clear, logical and forc- ible, using nice distinctions and strong illustrations. His public professional service has been valuable, and he has re- tired from every engagement with the entire respect of bench and bar. His pri- vate practice is in all state and federal courts of the district.
An ardent Republican, Mr. Parker has neither sought political office nor declined it when offered. He has pursued the path of duty, and has met every obligation of citizenship squarely and fairly. He rep- resented East Haddam in the General As- sembly in 1878 and 1880 and Hartford in 1909. In 1894, he was the candidate of his party for the State Senate in the Hartford district, and has been a delegate to many state and other conventions of the Republican party. From 1896 to 1900 he was chairman of the Hartford Republican town committee.
Many-sided are his interests, and in his desire to be of service, he has assumed official responsibilities in many organiza- tions. He was president of the board of trustees of the Connecticut School for Boys, 1899 to 1909; is chairman of the library committee of the Connecticut Historical Society, Registrar of the Con- necticut Society of the Sons of the Revo- lution, member of the American Historical
Association and of the National Geograph- ical Society. In religious preference he is a Congregationalist.
Mr. Parker married, December 9, 1891, Mrs. Adelaide (Leeds) Fowler, of New London, Connecticut.
WILCOX, Frank Langdon, Banker, Public Official.
The Wilcox family is one that has al- ways exerted a large influence in public affairs in the Nation, State and Muncipal- ity. It runs to politicians, statesmen and jurists. The motherland of the Wilcox family is around Berlin, Hartford, Middle- town, Meriden and Farmington in the State of Connecticut, and almost every Wilcox in the United States traces his ancestry back to that spot of earth which to them is a mecca. Among those of distinction may be mentioned Lloyd Wheaton Bowers, solicitor-general of the United States under President Taft ; Hon. Leonard Wilcox, Chief Justice of New Hampshire; and the Hon. Preston B. Plumb, United States Senator from Kan- sas.
Of Saxon origin, the Wilcox family was seated at Bury St. Edmunds, County Suf- folk, England, before the Norman Con- quest. In the visitation of County Suf- folk, Sir John Dugdale mentioned fifteen generations previous to the year 1600. This traces the lineage back to the year I200, when the surname came into use as an inherited family name. On old re- cords the spellings, Wilcox, Wilcockson, Wilcoxon and Wilcoxson are often found.
John Wilcox, the founder of the Amer- ican family, who came with Thomas Hooker to settle Hartford, held the office of surveyor in Hartford in 1643, and that of selectman in 1650. He died there the following year and was undoubtedly buried in the Center Church burying
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ground. His name is on the Founders Monument. His wife died about 1668.
John Wilcox, son of John Wilcox, was born in England, and came to America with his father. He resided in and found- ed Middletown Upper Houses, now the town of Cromwell, Connecticut, and he died there May 24, 1676. His second wife was Catherine (Stoughton) Wilcox, a daughter of Thomas Stoughton, of Wind- sor, who built the first stone house or fort.
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