Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, Part 139

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1568

USA > Connecticut > New London County > Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families > Part 139

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Mr. Palmer is regarded as a real-estate expert. being so excellent a judge of real-estate values. In consequence his advice is eagerly sought upon all matters pertaining to his business, and, if acted upon, the buyer never has cause to complain. Ilay- ing taken an active part in the realty transactions of the town, he has naturally been much interested in its growth, and has always lent his influence. which is not inconsiderable, toward all measures he deemed would work for its best interests. He is always to be found on the side of law and order. and is a man of no little personal popularity, not only in Norwich, but throughout New London county.

WILLIAM ELY COULT (deceased) was a well known farmer on the Neck, in Old Lyme, and much respected citizen of the town, where he was born, and where he passed all his life. He was the twelfth in direct descent from Sir John Conlt, an English peer, the line being as follows: (1) Sir John Conlt, ( II) Peter Coult. (111) John, (1) John (2), (V) John (3). (V1) John (1). (VII) folin (5). (VIII) John (6), ( IX ) Benjamin, (X)

John, (XI) William, (XII) William Ely. The Coult family coat of arms bears three horses heads, and a broken lance.

(VII) John Coult (5) was born in Colchester, England, in 1625. He came to America in 1636. and settled near Hartford, Conn., moving later to Windsor. His son,

(VIII) John Coult (6) was born in 1657. in America, and was the first of the family to settle in Lyme. He married Mary Lord, and they had two sons, Samuel and Benjamin, and several daughters.

(IX) Benjamin Coult, great-grandfather of William Ely, was born in 1701 in Old Lyme. He married Miriam Harris, and they had seven sons, and three daughters. His son.

(X) John Coult, grandfather of William Ely, was born in Old Lyme in 1725. and died in 1784. He married (first) Mary Lord: (second) Mary Gardiner ; and (third) Abigail Matson. His son

(XI) William Coult, father of William Elv. was born in 1776, on the Neck in Old Lyme, and followed farming in that section. He erected the house now standing, and there died. He was dea- con of the Lyme Congregational Church. William Coult married (first ) Anna Dennison, and ( second) Mary Marvin. He passed his entire life time in Old Lyme, and died in 1858. His children by his first wife were: William Ely, born June 24. 1797. died in 1877: Abigail Matson, born July 6, 1800. died Jan. 9. 1828: Anna Maria, born July 9. 1802. died Oct. 11, of the same year. By his second wife he had one child, Nancy, born Oct. 6, 18os, died Aug. 26. 1845.

(X11) William Ely Coult was born in the house which is the present family residence, on the Neck in Old Lyme. His education was obtained in the schools of his native town, and later he taught in Saybrook. His chief occupation was farming. which he followed successfully, and he always made Old Lyme his home. On Dec. S. 1803, he mar- ried, in Old Lyme, Ernestina Fisher, daughter ci Albert and Christiana ( Wittig) Fisher, both na- tives of Germany. Mr. Fisher lived for some tune in Hamburg, in the town of Lyme. Mrs. Could his three brothers and two sisters living in Oregon Henry and Henrietta Fisher in Svensen; and An- gustus. Ferdinand and Wilhelmina Fisher in As- toria. To Mr. and Mrs. Coult four children were born as follows: Anna Maria, who died March 1 ;. 1870. aged fourteen years ; and Mary Ernestina. Abbie Angusta and William Fisher. Mr. Conlt, wh> diel in 1877. was a quiet, unassuming man. 11e was for many years treasurer of the Congregational Church, in which has son is now an active worker. Politically be supported the Republican party, but his interest in political matters ended with the cast- ing of his vote.

FRANK E. ROBINSON. A long line of worthy ancestors is a priceless heritage, but it also entails the responsibility of keeping the family ress

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ord stainless. In 1575 there was born in the North of England one John Robinson. His boyhood was a thoughtful one, and when he entered man's estate it was to become one of the workers in the Master's vineyard. In 1602 he was chosen pastor of a dis- senting church. Those were troublesome times for a man who wished to worship God in his own way, and six years after Rev. Mr. Robinson took charge of his parish he and his flock were obliged to find refuge in Holland. News of the untold riches of the new land across the sea inspired hope in the hearts of these brave defenders of their faith, and in 1617 Rev. Mr. Robinson began to formulate plans to transplant these English exiles into the New World. Largely under his direction the arrange- ments were made, and in 1620, under the leader- ship of Elder William Brewster, two small boats, the "Mayflower" and the "Speedwell," started with as many brave men and women as they could carry, for America. Mr. Robinson was to remain behind, to make an attempt to send others over, and then to follow, but his race was run, and his widow and children crossed alone, joining that first Colony on Massachusetts Bay. One of the sons of Rev. Mr. Robinson was Isaac, and from him in lineal descent through twelve generations is Frank E. Robinson, the reliable and efficient treasurer of the Jewett City Savings Bank.

George Robinson, the father of Frank E., was a farmer and land owner, and lived nearly all his life in Lisbon, New London Co., Conn. . There he married Sarah G. Rathbun, who died in 1889, on the home farm, and was buried in Read cemetery, Lisbon. Mr. Robinson survived her, dying at the home of his son in Jewett City, Conn., Feb. 21, 1902; he also is buried in Read cemetery, Lisbon. They had two sons, George W. and Frank E., both of Jewett City. Mr. Robinson was a Republican in political faith. He attended the Congregational Church, and was a worthy Christian man, well liked and respected, and his wife was held in equal esteem.

Frank E. Robinson was born in Lisbon, Conn., Sept. 22, 1860, and he was early taught the many duties that fall to the lot of a boy on a farm. He attended the common schools of his native town, and the Danielson high school. The thought of a return to the farm did not inspire him with any great degree of enthusiasm, and he engaged in teaching. Mathematics had appealed to his tastes, and he determined to enter business college to master the science of bookkeeping. He attended Scho- field's Business College, in Providence, graduating therefrom with honor, and in 1889 he went to Willi- mantic, where he worked as a bookkeeper, remaining there until July, 1890. His mother having died, and his father being in feeble health, he then resigned his position and returned to Lisbon to care for his father. In 1895 he accepted his present responsible position with the Jewett City Savings Bank, with which he has since continued, to the great satis- faction of all connected with the bank.

In 1889 Mr. Robinson married Alice R. Adams, daughter of Capt. Jeremiah K. Adams, of Lisbon, a woman of intelligence and culture, and they have had two children, Theodore Adams and Marion Angel. Among his fellow townsmen, Mr. Robin- son is held in great respect, both for his ability and his worth. He held a number of offices in his native town, among them being that of town clerk, treas- urer, etc. Politically he is a Republican. In Lis- bon he belonged to the Congregational Church, and for many years was a leader of the choir. As might be expected from his sturdy Puritan ancestry, he is keenly interested in church work, and in the spread of Christianity. His own life has ever been worthy of emulation, but he is broad and liberal in his charity, and is always willing and ready to ex- tend a helping hand to a weak and erring brother.

URIAH D. HARVEY. On March II, 1904, Stonington suffered the loss of one of its most honored citizens in the death of the revered and venerable Uriah D. Harvey, a man of sterling qual- ities, Christian virtues and uprightness of living.

Uriah D. Harvey was born Oct. 12, 1816, at Charlestown, R. I., and was the son of a Revolu- tionary soldier who was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill. When but a boy he was bound to Joseph Wilcox, of Charlestown, but bought his time before he was twenty-one years of age, and when nineteen years old came to Stonington to work for Col. Dudley Randall. He continued with Col. Randall until he was twenty-three years old, or until his marriage, when he made his home in Preston for a few months. Then he returned to the Randall district of Stonington, where his first daughter was born. Once more he went, to Preston, and there lived until 1852, when he removed to the stone house on Quockataug Hill which is now owned by Mrs. George W. Mid- dleton. For a year the family resided on Col. Hull's place, in the Road district, and then Mr. Harvey bought of George W. Noyes the Denison farm, in the Wheeler district. Until April, 1891, the family home was on this farm, Mr. Har- vey, at that time, with his wife and son, Allen W. Harvey, removing to a house just erected south of the above farm; in 1902 the present and large com- modious house was erected. Although he had learned the trade of a carpenter, after 1852 Mr. Harvey found it more profitable to confine his ef- forts exclusively to farming. His deeply beloved wife only survived him two days, passing away March 13, 1904, and both died earnest and faithful members of the Baptist Church of Old Mystic, in which they had been active workers for a number of years. Prior to his marriage Mr. Harvey was baptized at the Anguilla Baptist Church.

On Dec. 9, 1838, Mr. Harvey was united in mar- riage, at the Randall homestead in Stonington, by Rev. Jerome S. Anderson, to Mary Ann Brackett, daughter of Samuel Brackett, of Preston. She was

Mariah De Harney

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born March 27, 1820, in Woodstock, Conn. The family born to this marriage is as follows: Lucy Jane, born Sept. 8, 1841, in Stonington, is now the widow of Samuel R. Percy, of New York City. George H., born at Preston Feb. 6, 1843, now re- sides at New London ; he married Annie E. Spicer, daughter of William Allen Spicer, and has one child, William Allen Harvey, a resident of Bank street. Mary Esther, also born at Preston, Oct. 2, 1844, married Julius Clarke Gallup, and they have children-Mary Esther, Jennie Harvey, Julius Clarke, Annie Clarke, and Edward. Sarah Jud- son, born at Preston June 15, 1850, married Enos Gray, of Ledyard, and died in Stonington, Dec. 19, 1893 ; her children are Martha Ann, Mason T., Benjamin U., Nathan G., Mary E., and Grace (who died in infancy). Allen Williams, born on the Col. Hull place in the Road district, Jan. 26, 1856, is mentioned later in this sketch. Antoinette Augusta, born in the Wheeler district, Stonington, June 26, 1858, married George S. Ripley, deceased, and now resides on the old homestead. Grace Annie, born in the Wheeler district, May 29, 1864, married Charles E. Stoddard, resides at Mystic, and has two children, Charles M. and Grace M.

ALLEN WILLIAMS HARVEY, as before mentioned, was born Jan. 26, 1856, and lived upon the home farm until the spring of 1882, when for a year he was a conductor on the horse cars in Norwich. In the spring of the following year he went to Sterl- ing, Dak., where he took up a homestead. Although he remained a resident of Sterling for five years, he made six trips back and forth. At last, in 1888, he returned to Connecticut, and spent that year with his brother-in-law, Mr. Stoddard, in Norwich Town. In 1889 he returned to the old homestead, and began raising poultry. Since 1891 he has made a specialty of market gardening, and has succeeded very well indeed. He is a worthy son of his hon- ored father, and enjoys the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. Allen W. Harvey in his political views is a Democrat ; he has never sought office.

Mr. Harvey was married, June 4, 1904, at Nor- wich, to Elizabeth M. Smith, a native of Norwich. daughter of Joseph F. and Catherine (Spang) Smith.

RUFUS WELLINGTON MARSHALL, who is engaged in the trucking business at Norwich, has been successful entirely as a result of his own ef- forts. He lost his father when he was two years old, and from an early age was obliged to make his own way. He, himself, describes his boyhood as a time of "hard work and hard knocks." But he emerged from it a man, with the strength, ability and determination to win his way in the work lespite all obstacles.

Willet Marshall ( his father) was a resident of Dutchess county, N. Y., but went to Michigan, and was drowned when Rufus was two years ohl. He

was twice married, his second wife being Rhoda Matthewson, who, being left with several small children, returned to Norwich, and was residing in that city when she died leaving her children orphans and homeless. Laura, the eldest, became the wife of Capt. Austin Lester, and died in Norwich. Eliz- abeth married a Mr .- Burr, and died in New Haven. William died in early youth. Rufus Wellington was the youngest of the family.

Rufus W. Marshall was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., May 1, 1849, and soon after the death of his father removed with his mother to Norwich, where he resided until six years old. Then he was placed in the family of Henry Larrabee, at Gales Ferry, for a few years, and was afterward in the family of the late Judge Albert G. Avery, of Bozrah. Subsequently he spent some little time in the family of his uncle, Dr. Rufus W. Matthew- son, at Durham, Conn. His education was received in the district school of Durham and at Durham Academy which he attended for a short time. Early in his teens Mr. Marshall went to Hawkins- ville, Ga., where he was employed as a clerk in the store of his uncle Randolph Matthewson. He left there at the outbreak of the Civil war, and, return- ing North, learned the trade of a harnessmaker, ap- prenticing himself for four years to Mr. Smith, at New Haven, and working for small wages. He remained for a year after he had completed his apprenticeship, and then came to Norwich, and was engaged at his trade until a short time after his marriage. He then entered the employ of Nathan Standish, who conducted a trucking business in Norwich for over fifty years. He remained with Mr. Standish as long as the latter lived, and for six months following his death conducted the business for the estate, after which he purchased it and has done a large business ever since, keeping about fif- teen horses constantly at work. He does all kinds of trucking, and has a complete outfit.

In 1879 Mr. Marshall was married in Norwich to Maribah F. Standish, daughter of Elisha Stand- ish, of Norwich, though she was reared by Nathan Standish, her uncle, mentioned previously. Of their three children only one grew to maturity. Carrie M., who is the wife of Robert Ferguson, and resides in New London ; she has two children, Mar- shall F. and Helen F. Anne died at the age of twelve years. Frank died at the age of thirteen vears.

Mr. Marshall is independent in politics. In fra- ternal circles he is quite prominent, and is connected with a number of orders, being a member of Somer- set Lodge, No. 34. F. & A. M., Franklin Chapter. No. 4. Franklin Council, No. 3, and Columbian Commandery, No. 4. K. T. : Shetucket Lodge. No. 27. 1. O. O. F. and Canton Oneen ; the Ancient Order of U'nited Worknten, and the Roval Arcanum. Mrs. Marshall died Aug. 11. 1903, and is buried in Y'antic cemetery.

MATTHEWSON. Rufus Matthewson, maternal

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grandfather of Rufus W. Marshall, was born in 1770, and lived in Norwich, Conn., where he married Mary (or Polly) Bowen. He moved to Coventry, R. I., there becoming a large land owner and one of the well known men of the section. The site of the railroad station of Greene, R. I., was a part of his farm. During the Jefferson administration he was a prominent politician, and was sent as special am- bassador to Turkey at the time of the Algerian pirate troubles, doing good and efficient service for the government. Later in life he became tired of his old home, and disposed of his land for the sum of ten thousand dollars in cash, with which he started west on horseback, intending to purchase a large estate, as he foresaw the exodus to the West after the war of 1812. The death of this intelligent and superior man took place Sept. 22, 1816, at Terre Haute, Ind., which point he had reached in his journeying. The large amount of money he carried disappeared, and the mystery of his death was never made clear to the family. The natural suspicions aroused, of foul play, could not be sub- stantiated in those days when transportation was so difficult, and nothing has ever turned up since to enlighten his relatives.

The family of Rufus Matthewson had in the meantime removed from Coventry to Bozrahville, Conn., which was no doubt intended to be only a temporary home, but naturally their plans were disturbed by the death of the father. Mrs. Mat- thewson ended her days in the home of her son, Rufus W., who was then residing in that town, and there she was buried. The children of Rufus and Mary (Bowen) Matthewson were Mary, who married Ansel Rose; Louisa, who became the wife of William G. Johnson, a prominent and successful citizen of Montville; Darius Randolph, who was once a successful merchant at Hawkinsville, Ga., but during the Civil war met with reverses, and spent the latter years of his life at Norwich, where he died; Amelia, who married Col. Josiah Reab, a well known art dealer in New Haven; Rufus Wellington ; and Rhoda, Mrs. Marshall, who was born after the death of her father.

Rufus Wellington Matthewson in early life con- ducted a drug store in Norwich, later took a course of lectures at Yale and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and secured the degree of M. D. from the latter institution in 1835. After ten years in Norwich he removed to Ledyard, Conn., practic- ing until 1856, when he settled in Durham, Conn., and was there engaged in practice until his death, in May, 1893, at the age of seventy-nine years.

Dr. Matthewson was one of the oldest and best known physicians of Middlesex county. He was one of the pioneers in the use of the wet sheet pack in cases of scarlatina, and in the treatment of typhoid fever he had a reputation all over New England. In New York City the best physicians regarded his knowledge of typhoid fever as equal to that of any physician in the country, and the

celebrated Dr. Alonzo Clark of that city in his lect- ures quoted Dr. Matthewson's treatment of typhoid. Without doubt Dr. Matthewson was one of the most successful and skillful practitioners Middlesex county ever had.

NATHAN HUNT HALL, one of the pro- gressive young farmers of the town of Preston, New London county, was for several years engaged as a teacher of languages in different educational institutions of the East before he settled down on his present place. He is an esteemed representative of a family which has been well known in New England from earliest Colonial times.

(I) George Hall and his wife Mary are said to have emigrated from the County of Devon, Eng- land, 1636-37, to Duxbury, Mass., where he owned land in 1637, being one of the forty-six original proprietors of the first purchase of lands for Taun- ton, Mass., and a founder of that town, 1639. He was admitted a freeman in 1645, and was constable of the town the same year. He was chairman of the board of selectmen from 1666 to 1669. He was one of the founders of the Pilgrim Congregational Church and Society of Taunton. He was one of the proprietors of the first iron "bloomery" estab- lished in this region by the Leonards and other citi- zens of Taunton, upon the site of the present "old forge," now in Raynham, and was its first clerk in 1656, continuing to act in that capacity for several years ; he was succeeded after his death by his son John. He died at Taunton Oct. 30, 1669, a man of large property and influence. His widow, Mary, was appointed executrix. After his death his widow and sons John, Joseph and Samuel were share- holders in the iron works; these works were con- tinued until recently. His children, other than those sons mentioned above, and all mentioned in his will, were: Charity, Sarah and Mary.

(II) Samuel Hall, born in 1644, married Eliz- abeth, daughter of Nicholas White, an early set- tler of Taunton. Mr. Hall's residence was about one mile east of his father's, and near the bloomery, which he was largely interested in. supplying. He was a large land holder, sharing in the "Taunton North and South Purchases," also inheriting and purchasing the original tract. He held minor of- fices in the town, and was a member of the original church. He died early in 1690. His widow passed away in 1707. Their children were: Samuel, John, Nicholas, Elizabeth, Mary, Sarah, Ebenezer, Sarah (2), George and Hannah.

(III) George Hall (2), born Jan. 25, 1681, mar- ried Lydia, born in 1679, in Taunton, daughter of Thomas and Catherine (Stephens) Dean. Mr. Hall resided in that part of Taunton, North Pur- chase, which became Norton in 17II, and Easton in 1725. He owned land and a portion of a saw- mill which he sold in 1724, and also sold other land in 1728. Mrs. Hall died in Taunton. There is evidence that Mr. Hall may have lived for several

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years with his sons in Lyme, Conn. He and his wife had children: Lydia, Deborah, George, Thomas, Isaac, Kathiah, Abial, Nathan and Abijah. Of these, George, Thomas and Isaac removed to Lyme, Conn., and there established iron works and stores. Abijah removed to that part of Middle- town, Conn., which later became Chatham, and still later Portland, and was a prominent man there.

(IV) Isaac Hall, born Jan. 12, 1714, in Norton, Mass., married about 1741 Sarah Forbes, of Pres- ton, Conn., born July 27, 1718. Mr. Hall removed to Lyme, Conn., in 1739-40, and had resided for a time (1738) in Dedham, Mass. He was a worker of iron, and had a forge, which he operated in con- nection with his farm. He died in Lyme July 26, 1778. His widow died in 1786, and both are buried in a small yard east of Laysville, on the turnpike road in Lyme. Their children were: Abel, Ezra, Jacob (who removed to Delaware Co., N. Y.), Sa- rah, Eunice, and Abagail.

(IV) Ezra Hall was a farmer, and settled near the road leading to Grassy Hill, in Lyme. He was a well known citizen and a man much respected. In his family of children was a son, Jonathan.

(V) Jonathan Hall was a farmer and resided in Grassy Hill Society in Lyme. He was an ex- tensive farmer for those days, which occupation he followed during his life. He died at the age of eighty-two, his death being caused by his being thrown from a wagon, while yet a most vigorous man. He was buried in what is now Old Lyme. He was a very regular attendant of the Congre- gational Church. On April 8, 1800, he married Miss Betsey Lord, and survived her a number of years. Their family consisted of ten children, and among the older ones was a son Ezra.

(VI) Ezra Hall, the grandfather of Nathan Hunt Hall, was born in Lyme, Conn., Jan. 6, 1803, and he died Feb. 9, 1859. His entire life was spent in his native town. Reared to farm work, he lived at home until his marriage, after which he located on an adjoining farm which was given him by his father, and there he resided until his death. He was a successful and quite well-to-do farmer. Ile was buried in the same cemetery as his father. His death was caused by blood-poisoning contracted dur- ing an epidemic of typhoid fever. In politics he was first a Whig and later a Republican. His religious connection was with the Grassy Hill Congregational Church. He married Elizabeth Kellogg, a native of Colchestre, Conn. She survived her husband. lying in Lyme aged seventy-four years. Their children were as follows: Elizabeth, who married Frederick W. Marvin, and died in Lyme; Judah 3. ; Fanny, who married Deacon Henry Marvin, ind died in Colchester ; Joseph E., a farmer of Col- hester : Helena, who died young : Emma, now the vidow of Augustus Marvin, and a resident of yine: Edwin S., who died young ; and Celia and elina (twins) who both died aged seven years.

The father, a son, and two daughters died within one month.

(VII) Judah Selden Hall, father of Nathan Hunt Hall, was born Sept. 9, 1836, in Lyme. Conn., and died March 20, 1898, in that place. He was a healthy and robust man, medium height and some- what spare, and followed farming successfully all his life, becoming quite well-to-do. In disposition he was quiet and reserved, but he was several times chosen to public offices of trust, serving acceptably as selectman and in other positions in his native town. Politically he was a stanch Republican. He was a very pious man, a devout member of the Grassy Hill Congregational Church, of Lyme, and was always active in church work and all religious en- terprises. For many years he served as superin- tendent of the Sunday-school, and for several years he was a member of the Society's Committee. Mr. Hall always tried to lead a life consistent with his religious views, and that he succeeded well is evi- denced by the loving esteem accorded him on all sides.

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Genealogical and biographical record of New London County, Connecticut, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the early settled families, Part 139

Author: Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1568

Author:
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : J.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1568