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 153

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

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(II) Samuel Lathrop, born in England, came with his father in 1634 to Scituate, Mass., thence moving to Barnstable, where he married, Nov. 28, 1644, Elizabeth Scudder, who had been dismissed from the Church in Boston Nov. 10, 1644, to remove her Church relations to that in Barnstable. Mr. Lathrop removed, in 1648, to New London, Conn., then called Pequot. On the organization of the local court there, in 1649, he became one of the judges. He had several grants of land in the town. In 1668 he removed to Norwich, and before 1670 he appears to have erected a house on the town street, which from that time became his home. He served his community as constable and also as townsman. His wife dying, he married (second), in 1690, in Plymouth, Mass., Abigail, born Jan. 29,

1632, daughter of Deacon John Doane. She lived to celebrate her one hundredth birthday, dying in 1734. Mr. Lathrop died in 1700. His children were: John, baptized Dec. 7, 1645; Elizabeth, in March, 1648; Samuel, in March, 1650; Sarah, in October, 1655; Martha, in January, 1657; Israel, in October, 1659; Joseph, in October, 1661 ; Abigail, in May, 1665 ; and Anne, in August, 1667.

(III) Samuel Lathrop (2), born in March, 1650, married (first) in November, 1675, Hannah Adgate. She died Sept. 18, 1695, and he married (second) Dec. 30, 1697, Mary Edgerton, of Nor- wich. They settled in that town, where she died Jan. 31, 1727-28. He died Dec. 9, 1732. Mr. Lath- rop was a member of the First Church in Norwich. His children were: Hannah, born in Norwich, Jan. 6, 1677; Elizabeth, Nov. 1, 1679; Thomas, Aug. 25, 1681 ; Margaret, Oct. 1, 1683; Samuel, Jan. 6, 1685; Simon, May 3, 1689; and Nathaniel, July 15, 1693.

(IV) Nathaniel Lathrop, born July 15, 1693, married April 25, 1717, Ann, daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Huntington) Backus, who was born in Norwich, Jan. 27, 1695, and died Aug. 24, 1761. Mr. Lathrop settled first on the Namussuck farm in New London, which his great-grandfather had owned, but in 1735 sold that farm, and removed to Norwich. He served with his elder brother, Col. Lathrop, in the Louisburg expedition. He was com- missioned lieutenant Dec. 12, 1745. He died at ; Norwich, March 20, 1774. His children were: Asa, who died Nov. 10, 1761 ; Nathaniel ; Zebediah, born in 1725, in Norwich; Azariah, born in 1728; Anna, born Aug. 13, 1735, in Norwich ; Chloe, born Aug. 30, 1737; and Lucy.

(V) Nathaniel Lathrop died Jan. 8, 1757. By his wife Margaret, he had the following children: Burrel, born April 5, 1749 ; Hannah, Feb. 10, 1750- 51 ; and Asa, Nov. 16, 1755.

(VI) Asa Lathrop, born Nov. 16, 1755, died March 20, 1835. On Sept. 3, 1780, he married? Elizabeth Lord, who was born in 1757, daughter of Dr. Eleazer Lord; she died Aug. 23, 1805, agec forty-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop resided ir Norwich. Their children were as follows: Lucy. L., born in 1781, died Dec. 5, 1874, unmarried Betsey, born Sept. 12, 1784, died March 9, 1870 unmarried; Margaret F., born in 1787, died Aug 24, 1863, unmarried; Abby L., born in 1789, diec; March 2, 1835, unmarried ; Eleazer, born March 20) 1792, is mentioned below ; Burrel, born in 1795, die Sept. 17, 1840, unmarried.

(VII) Eleazer L. Lathrop, father of Williar B., was born in Norwich. He learned the trade c; goldsmith from Eliphalet Hart, of Norwich towi and he followed that trade for several years, bt later devoted his entire attention to farming, whic he carried on successfully. He died April II, 186. and was buried in Yantic cemetery. Mr. Lathrc in the latter years of his life became a member ( the First Congregational Church of Norwich. Poli

M" BLathrop

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ically he was a Whig, and later a Republican, and he held the office of road surveyor for a number of years.

On Dec. 28, 1820, he married Jerusha Thomas, of Norwich, who was born April 7, 1795, daughter of Simeon Thomas, and died Feb. 27, 1871. The children of this union were as follows: (I) Eliza- beth L., born Oct. 16, 1821, married Edward Deni- son, and died in Stonington, Conn. (2) William Baldwin, born March 7, 1824, is mentioned below. (3) Mary, born July 19, 1827, died May 17, 1850. (4) Hannah L., born Dec. 21, 1828, married Will- iam Bacon Lathrop, and died at Norwich town May 18, 1855. (5) Cornelia E., born Dec. 16, 1830, died unmarried Dec. 13, 1854. (6) Charles Thomas, born Nov. 27, 1832, was a druggist, and died Feb. 21, 1864, at Norwich. (7) Burrel, born Dec. 1, 1835, died Aug. 8, 1837. (8) Jane E., born Nov. 27, 1838, died Oct. 4, 1845.

William B. Lathrop was born in the house he still occupies. He attended the district schools and the old Norwich Academy on the Norwich Town Green, and was brought up to farm work, living at home until the age of twenty years. He then appren- iced himself for three years to Wise & Bailey, boss carpenters at Norwich, to learn the trade, at first eceiving but small wages, as was customary at that ime. He continued with them for several years after completing his apprenticeship, and then went o Piermont, N. Y., where he was employed as a oreman in the construction of houses for Eleazer Lord, a distant relative, who was president of a ailroad and a large property holder. His employer lying a year later, Mr. Lathrop went to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1852, and was engaged in contracting and nilding there with good success, remaining in that ity four years. Thence he went to Iowa City, Iowa, nd was there located in the same business until 862, when he returned home to Norwich on a visit. 'inding that he was needed at home, and his father ying soon afterward, he remained there and con- ucted the farm for his mother, after hier death oming into the full possession of the place. For any years he carried on carpentering and contract- g in addition to his farm work, but he has retired om active work for several years past, his son now ducting the home place. He owns two farms.

On Oct. 15, 1851. Mr. Lathrop was married in ranklin, Conn., to Amelia R. Smith, who was born that town, daughter of Pomeroy and Rachel Ellis) Smith. Mrs. Lathrop died July 28, 1803. ie was the mother of the following named chil- en: (1) Charles Eleazer, born Dec. 14. 1855, is gaged in the grain business in Kansas City, Mo. e was married March 2, 1882, to Cora Madden. d they have had three children : Ruth Emelia, rn Oct. 20, 1883: William Burrel, born May 5. 86; and Margaret. (2) Burrel William, born 11. 12, 1858, conducts the home farm. He urried Cora Bussey, and they have had five chil- en-Frank Bussey, born Jan. 17, 1801 ; Clifford

Austin, born Feb. 2, 1894; Burrel Dudley, born Jan. 17, 1897; Phoebe Emily, born May 7, 1899; and Harold Richard, born Nov. 10, 1900. (3) Ed- ward Denison, born April 12, 1862, died Dec. 21, 1862. (4) Mary Cornelia, born May 6, 1864, is the wife of John Blair, and resides in Worcester, Mass. (5) Elizabeth Denison, born Feb. 24, 1866, died Nov. 7, 1891. (6) Amy Baker, born Aug. 17, 1869, died Oct. 8, 1869.

Mr. Lathrop was always a hard working man, and throughout life he has borne a high reputation for integrity. Personally he is a man of quiet dis- position, unassuming in his manner and ways, and is well liked for his modest and upright character. He is a Republican in his political sentiment, and in religious belief clings to the faith of his forefathers, being a member of the Congregational Church.

CAPT. SILAS BURROWS LATHAM. The late Capt. Silas B. Latham of New London was one of the best known and most successful vessel masters that sailed from that port. He was a descendant of one of the oldest families of the county, William Latham, his grandfather. having been a resident of Fort Hill, Groton, where he passed his entire life. He was wounded at Fort Ledyard, during the war of 1812, but survived his injuries, and lived to an old age.

Silas Latham, father of Capt. Silas B. Latham. was born in District No. 9. Groton. and early in life went on the water and fol- lowed that occupation during the rest of his active life. retiring from the sea about fifteen or more years before his death. During one voyage he was shipwrecked, and spent six months on one of the group of Fiji Islands. For many years he was master of the "Lizzie." and engaged in seal- ing and whaling, and also in the service of the mer- chant marine. His -residence was at Noank, and there his death occurred in 1803, when he was eighty-seven years of age. His church membership was with the Baptist denomination, and he always took an active part in the good work of that holds. contributing liberally toward its support. He mar- ried Miss Lydia P. Lewis, who died in 1802, aged seventy-seven years, the mother of seven children. namely: Frances is the widow of James Gaskell and resides at Norwich: Silas B. ; Ezra died in- married in 1880. being lost at sea from the "William Fisher": Elizabeth married Albert Chadwick, and resides at Norwich Town ; Walter died young : Ben- jamin W., of Noank, has a sketch elsewhere m this volume ; and Elmer, a half-tone engraver in Brook- lyn, N. Y., married a Miss Henderson.

Capt. Silas Burrows Latham, who was bet from his vessel while engaged in fishing, was one of the best known fisherman along Long Island Sound He was born Feb. 15. 1830. in Groton, Com. After receiving his schooling, at the age of sixteen, he be- came engaged in blue fishing, in which occupation he was engaged nearly all his hie. He was a part

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owner in the fishing smack "Esther Anita," in com- pany with his brother, Capt. Benjamin W., of Gro- ton, from which vessel he was lost in a gale on the Jersey Coast, Sept. 16, 1903, being washed over- board while his vessel was dragging her anchors, which the crew were vainly endeavoring to raise. He had been successful in his life work. His product was shipped mostly to the Fulton Fish Market, New York.

Capt. Latham was a man of even, genial dispo- sition, and his pleasant ways made for him many warm friends. To his family he was most devoted -a kind and loving husband, and an affectionate and indulgent father, finding his keenest enjoyment in his home, where all his leisure moments were spent. His pleasant residence at No. 243 Montauk avenue, New London, was purchased about three years prior to his death; it is a model of comfort, and commands a beautiful view of New London harbor. Socially Capt. Latham was a member of the Jibboom Club, No. I, of New London, while re- ligiously he was a member of the Baptist Church of Noank.

On Dec. 28, 1862, Capt. Latham was married to Melissa Gabriella St. John, who was born in Ma- son's Island, daughter of Joseph and Eliza (Spen- cer ) St. John. To this union was born one daughter, Ida Chester, who was married Dec. 13, 1891, to Frederick Simeon Gordon, of Brooklyn, N. Y., a traveling salesman, who died April 18, 1896, at Noank, leaving his widow with two children, Rose Mildred and Dorice Latham. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Gordon has made her home in New London, where she now resides with her widowed mother.

GREENE. Since early in the nineteenth century the name of Greene has been prominently identified with the social and business life of Norwich, and especially conspicuous has it been in establishing, fostering and promoting the industries of the town. William P. and Gardiner Greene, father and son, in turn have worthily represented in commercial lines a name long prominent and honored in New England annals, and the latter's son, Hon. Gardiner Greene, now one of the leading members of the Norwich Bar, is sustaining the reputation of the family in professional lines.

It is the purpose here to refer briefly only to these men and to their Greene lineage. This, the Norwich branch of the Greene family, comes from the Boston branch of one of the Rhode Island fami- lies, from John Greene, of Warwick of that State, who was descended from the family of Greene of Greene's Norton, Northamptonshire, England, which flourished in that county from 1319 until the time of Henry VIII. Sir Henry Greene, Knt., lord chief justice of England in 1353, was the head of this family in his time. His younger son, Sir Henry Greene, was beheaded in 1399, for his attachment to the cause of Richard II. Queen Catherine Parr

was a member of this family, her mother being Matilda Greene, daughter and co-heiress of Sir Thomas Greene, of Greene's Norton. By the mar- riage of Matilda Greene and her sister Anne, re- spectively, to Sir Thomas Parr and Baron Vaux, the Northampton estate passed into other families.

A branch of this family, from which the Ameri- can Greenes are descended, owned and occupied the estate of Bowridge Hill, in Gillingham parish, in Dorsetshire, in the reign of Henry VIII, and so. continued until 1635 and after. Many records of births, marriages and deaths of the family appear in the parish records, and various curious wills of theirs are extant. Their old stone house is still standing. The John Greene of Warwick, R. I., re- ferred to in the foregoing, and who is treated in what follows, was a younger brother of the owner of Bowridge Hill, at the time of his emigration to the American colonies in 1635. From this source came the Greenes under consideration, and their lineage from the American ancestor follows, each generation being designated by a Roman character.

(I) John Greene, of Salisbury, County Wilts, England, sailed from Southampton, England, in the ship "James" to Boston in 1635, bringing with him his family. Mr. Greene was probably born at Bow- ridge Hill, Gillingham, Dorset, where his father, Richard (2), and grandfather, Richard Greene, re- sided. His great-grandfather was Robert Greene .. . John Greene was a surgeon in Salisbury, and there ! made his first marriage at St. Thomas Church. This. was on Nov. 4, 1619, and to Joan Tattersall. - His children and the dates of their baptisms were : John, Aug. 15, 1620; Peter, March 10, 1622; Richard, March 25, 1623; James, June 21, 1626; Thomas, June 4, 1628; Joan, Oct. 3, 1630; and Mary, Mayl 19, 1633.

Mr. Greene was of Salem, Mass., for a short per- iod, and of Providence in 1637. He was one of the twelve persons to whom Roger Williams deeded land bought of Canonicus and Miantonomo, in 1638. He was one of the twelve original members of the First Baptist Church. In 1643 he and others pur- chased a tract of land now called Warwick. He; was commissioner 1654-1657; was made a freemar in 1655. He married (second) Alice Daniels, { widow. His death occurred in 1658. (Some of the conspicuous descendants of John Greene, of War wick, R. I., have been Gen. Nathaniel Greene, o Revolutionary fame ; John, deputy governor of th. colony ; William, lieutenant-governor and governo of the colony ; William (2), chief justice and gov ernor of Rhode Island; Ray Greene, United State senator ; and the latter's son, William, lieutenant governor and of Brown University ; and Gen. Georg S. Greene).

(II) Thomas Greene, born in 1628, married Jur 30, 1659, Elizabeth Barton, daughter of Rufus an Margaret Barton. Mr. Greene was a freeman i 1655; commissioner in 1662; deputy in 1667, 166 1670, 1671, 1672, 1674, 1678, 1681, 1683 and 168.

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and assistant in 1678, 1679, 1680, 1684 and 1685. He died June 5, 1717, and his wife Elizabeth passed away Aug. 20, 1693. Their children were: Eliza- beth, born July 12, 1660; Thomas, born Aug. 4, 1662; Benjamin, born Jan. 10, 1666; Richard, born March 5, 1667 ; Welthian, born Jan. 23, 1670 ; Rufus, born Jan. 6, 1673; and Nathaniel, born April 10, 1679.

(III) Nathaniel Greenc, born April 10, 1679, married Feb. 27, 1703, Anne Gould, daughter of Thomas and Frances Gould, of Boston, Mr. Greene removed to Boston where he was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. Their children whose births are recorded in Warwick were: Rufus born May 30, 1707 ; and Nathaniel, born May 14, 1709 "at Bos- ton." Mr. Gould lived and died in Boston, leaving Thomas, Nathaniel, Rufus, Benjamin and William.

(IV) Benjamin Greene also resided in Boston, and was there engaged as a merchant.

(V) Gardiner Greene, the merchant prince of Boston, was one of the foremost men of New Eng- land of his time, both in business and social life. The following extracts concerning him, his family and estate are from "The Memorial History of Bos- ton" ( 1881). His house stood on the site of the New Court House, Pemberton Square, and his estate was the most famous in Boston. "There are better views of the Greene Mansion than the frontis- piece afforded. One of them is in the mayor's office at the City Hall. The building was of wood, three stories in height, four large rooms on each floor, with an L. The woodwork of the drawing room was elaborately carved, and in this respect it differed from the Faneuil house, which had plainer orna- mentation. Mr. Greene had resided in Demerara for many years after 1774, and had laid there the foundation of a large fortune. In 1775 he married Miss Ann Reading, who died in 1786. Two years later he visited Boston and married Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Hubbard, who died in 1797. In July, 1800, while in London, he married Elizabeth Clarke, daughter of Copley the painter, and soon took up his permanent residence in Boston, and here died, Dec. 19, 1832.

"Pemberton (or, as it was formerly known, Cot- ton ) Hill, became by purchase from three owners between 1801, and 1824. the property of Mr. Gardi- ner Greene, the wealthiest citizen of his time, whose estate was one of the glories of Boston in the early years of the present century. Mr. Greene having died in 1832, his estate was sold a year or two later to Mr. Patrick T. Jackson, who purchased also sev- cral other estates lying on Beacon street and Tre- mont street (then known as Tremont Row from Howard to Beacon streets) and caused the whole to be graded and laid out.

"Among the prominent gardens which existed in Boston previous to the Revolution * But the most conspicuous, extensive and elegant gar- den of those days was that of Gardiner Greene, who also had one of the early greenhouses in Boston.

The grounds were terraced, and planted with vines, fruits, ornamental trees, flowering shrubs and plants, and were to me when I visited them, sixty-five years ago, a scene of beauty and enchantment which I shall never forget. Here were growing in the open air, Black Hamburg and White Chasselas grapes, apricots, nectarines, peaches, pears and plums in per- fection, presenting a scene which made a deep im- pression on my mind, and which gave me some of those strong incentives that governed me in the cul- tivation of fruits and flowers, Here were many ornamental trees, brought from foreign lands : one of which, the Salisburia adiantifolia, the Japan Ginko tree, was removed through the personal efforts of the late Dr. Jacob Bigelow, and planted on the Upper Mall of the Common, where it now stands."

(VI) WILLIAM PARKINSON GREENE, late of Nor- wich. Under the head of Mayor of the City, in Miss Caulkins' "History of Norwich" ( 1866), appears the following notice of Mr. Greene, who was mayor of the city in 1842: "Mr. Greene was a native of Boston, but an inhabitant of Norwich for more than forty years. He was the second son of Gardiner and Elizabeth (Hubbard) Greene, and born Sept. 7, 1795. He graduated at Harvard College in 1814, and afterward studied law, but his health not being equal to the requirements of the legal pro- fession, he removed in 1824 to Norwich, and (11- gaged at once in business, as a partner and agent of the Thames Manufacturing Company, which had invested a large capital in the purchase of mill privi- leges at the Falls. In this city he soon acquired and retained during life the esteem and respect of the community. He was an energetic and large hearted man ; literary in his tastes, but with profound sagac- ity in financial and business concerus. These quali- ties were united with a pure life and an entire ab- sence of ostentation. As a beautiful result of his unobtrusive life and liberal disposition, he seemed to have no enemies. Slander never made him its mark, and his name was never mentioned with dis- respect. He was never possessed of robust health. and therefore seldom able to give his personal serv - ices in aid of public measures, but all charitable and noble undertakings having for their object the welfare of man and the honor of God were sure of his liberal aid and cordial sympathy. In 1825 he was chosen the President of the Thames Bank, and held the office for sixteen years. With this excep. tion, and that of the single year in which he was mayor of the city, he steadfastly declined, on account of his health, all appointments to public office. He died June 18, 1864. aged sixty eight. Seldom had the death of a citizen excited in the place so deep un interest and such profound regret. It was a loss that was felt in the circles of business and of public improvement ; in the department of education and philanthropy."

Mr. Greene was one of the incorporaters of the Norwich Free Academy in 1858. He was the ore-

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ond president of the board of trustees of that insti- tution, serving from 1857 until his death, in 1864. His wife, in 1859, gave to the Academy a house and grounds for the use of the Principal. At various times the gifts of Mr. and Mrs. Greene to the Acad- emy amounted to $40,000. After Mr. Greene's re- moval to Norwich in the early twenties, he was wholly identified with the place, and by his enter- prise and liberal and enlightened course as a citizen, contributed largely to its prosperity. He was one of the founders of the Thames Manufacturing Com- pany in 1823. The company purchased the mill of the Quinebaug Company, which, in 1826, built a mill on the Shetucket river for the manufacture of cot- ton and woolen goods, before it went into operation. The Thames Company likewise purchased the mill at Bozrahville, and in its best days had the three large mills in successful operation. Two new companies were formed and went into operation between 1838 and 1842, under the auspices of Mr. Greene-the Shetucket Company and the Norwich Falls Com- pany. The latter company purchased the mill at the Falls, which had formerly belonged to the Thames Company. These companies were established by Mr. Greene chiefly upon his own credit, and were kept, while he lived, under his management and di- rection ; each mill had 1500 spindles in operation.

Mr. Greene was the prime mover and the largest subscriber to the stock of the Water Power Com- pany, incorporated in 1828 "for building a dam and canal in order to bring the waters of the Shetucket river into manufacturing use." He had previously purchased land on the Quinebaug above the union with the Shetucket, and on the latter river from Sachem's Plain downwards, nearly three miles in extent on either side of the river, in Norwich and Preston. The Shetucket dam was built, a canal dug, and a village was laid out by this company, and properly named Greeneville in honor of William P. Greene, who had been the active promoter of the enterprise.

On July 14, 1819, Mr. Greene was married to Elizabeth Augusta Borland, of Boston.

(VII) Gardiner Greene (2), oldest son of Wil- liam P., was born in Boston, Mass., Sept. 19, 1822, and came with his parents in 1824, to Norwich, Conn., where he attended school, after which he entered Yale College, graduating in 1843. He then attended the Law School of Harvard College, and graduated with the Degree of LL. B. in 1845. Re- turning to Norwich, his health not permitting him to practice his chosen profession, he became en- gaged in manufacturing with his father, assisting him in establishing the Shetucket cotton mills at Greeneville, also the cotton mill at the Falls, and was for many years manager of both, also filling the office of treasurer of both companies, and conduct- ing the business with marked ability and success. He retired from business a few years before his death, which sad event occurred at his home, in

North Washington Street, Norwich, Oct. 30, 1895, and he was buried in Yantic cemetery. He was a Republican in politics, and was a stanch supporter of his party ; while he never sought office, he took a deep interest in the growth and improvement of his adopted city, and was ever ready to aid in what- ever tended to the advancement of Norwich and its institutions. He was a consistent member of Christ Episcopal Church of Norwich, and for many years held the office of vestryman, and still later was sen- ior warden of the church. He took a deep interest in all church work. Mr. Greene was a gentleman of culture ; his refined taste and pleasant and un- assuming manner won for him the admiration and respect of his fellow men ; he was the soul of honor, detesting shams of all kinds. He was kind and char- itable, and delighted to relieve suffering whenever possible. His home life was one of happiness and contentment, and it was there that his fine personal characteristics were best reflected. Mr. Greene was a director in the Norwich Water Power Company and he was also interested in banking matters. He married, June 26, 1850, Miss Mary R. Adams, of Alexandria, Va., daughter of Francis and Mary R. (Newton) Adams; she was much devoted to her husband and family, and like him is a member of Christ Episcopal Church. She now makes her home with her son, Hon. Gardiner Greene. Two children blessed their union, Gardiner, Jr., and Leonard V., who died at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept. 18, 1895.

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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 153

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