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 159

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 159

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On Oct. 31, 1893, Mr. Learned was married in New York City to Mrs. John Draper, of that city. For several years Mr. and Mrs. Learned have re- sided in New London, on Pequot avenue, in the house built by the father of Mr. Learned, a beautiful mansion overlooking the harbor of New London.

CHARLES GRISWOLD BARTLETT, A. M., one of the best known educators in Connecticut, is lescended from two of the oldest families in the State-the Griswolds and the Bartletts. In 1876 Prof. Bartlett founded the Black Hall School at Old yme, which has acquired such a reputation as to ittract pupils from nearly every State in the Union. This school offers, to a limited number of boys, horough preparation for college or scientific schools, r a good high school education for those not desir- us of doing more advanced work ; rational and sys- ematic physical training, and such other training as evelops manliness and Christian character. The uccess of the school is the best tribute that can be made to the intellectual ability, moral uprightness, nd Christian citizenship of its founder and prin- ipal.

The Bartlett family in England descended from kdlam Bartelet, a Norman, who came from France England in 1066, with William the Conqueror. Prof. Bartlett, who can claim no less than seven Mayflower" ancestors, is of the ninth generation in irect descent from (I) Robert Bartlett, who came com England on the "Ai" in 1623, and was the under of the family in America. Int 1628 Robert artlett married Mary Warren. ( 11) Benjamin rtlett married Saralt Brewster, daughter of Love. id granddaughter of Elder William Brewster. 111) Ichabod Bartlett married Elizabeth Water- au. ( IV) Josiah Bartlett married Mary Chandler. V) Ichabod Bartlett ( 2) married Desire Otis. (VD) hn Bartlett married Desire Loomis. (VII) Shut tel Bartlett married Fanny Leffingwell. (VIII) mbael Fitch Bartlett married Sept. 1. 1842. Fanny gers Griswold, who was born" March 5. 1822. itbael Fitch Bartlett, who was the father of Prof. irtlett, died Oct. 12, 1810, in Benicia, California. Grandfather Shuback Bartlett was born in 1770. d married Fanny Leffingwell, of Norwich, a de- endant of Lient. Thomas Heffingwell, a prominent

figure in Colonial history. Nine children were born to this union, all of whom married. and all except Henry had families. Shubael Bartlett was pastor of the Congregational Church at East Windsor, Conn .. from May, 1804, until May, 1854. He died at the age of seventy-five and his widow lived to be eighty- four years of age. Both are buried at East Windsor.

Shubael Fitch Bartlett, father of Prof. Bartlett, was born in East Windsor, in 1811. He was grad- uated from Yale in the class of 1833, and was well known all through his part of the State as Dr. Bart- lett. He married Sept. 1, 1842, Fanny Rogers Gris- wold, a native of New London, and a descendant of one of the oldest and most prominent of Connecti- cut families. To this union were born three children. one of whom, a daughter, died in infancy. The others were Charles Griswold, who is mentioned below ; and Mrs. Adeline ( Bartlett) Allyn, who is associated with her brother in his educational work.

Charles Griswold Bartlett was born in Old Lyme Dec. 25, 1848. He prepared for college at the Hart- ford high school, and entered Yale in the class of 1872. Although he did not formally graduate his Alma Mater conferred upon him, in 1888, the hon- orary degree of Master of Arts, in recognition and appreciation of his educational work. He has achieved a wide reputation as a successful educator, and his school at Black Hall, in Old Lyme, has a popularity that draws to it pupils from distant parts of the country. The fine estate which the school of- cupies was formerly owned by Capt. George Moore. Since acquiring this property, Prof. Bartlett has en- larged the house and made many improvements, so that it is now admirably adapted in every way to the requirements of the school. The situation is de. lightful, the grounds being on an elevation near the cast bank of the Connecticut river, and within a mile of Long Island Sound. Every care has been taken to insure the health and comfort of the pupils, and the arrangements for lighting, heating. ventilation and sanitation are adequate in every particular. Special attention is given to physical training in the gymnasium and in out-door sports. All the athletic life of the school is under the direct supervision of the principal, and while all manily sports and ever- cise are encouraged, great care is taken that these interests shall not encroach upon the intellectual work of the pupils. The result is that many of the best students of the school are also among its best atletes. The marked success of this school in pre paring boys for college may be largely attributed to the system of individual instruction which is ch- tained in connection with tecitations in small classes Each boy is thus ensured the Special care and shrill that he needs as well as the stimulus developed by the emulation of the classroom Owing to the line ited number of pupils received, it's possible to sult round them with the amesphere of real Laugh lite. and the boys are kept constants spyder the Having Christian mutluend of a pleasant healths Lemme

Prof Bartlett mantel Thirst) 001 3. 1821 Ans

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Pierson Terry, daughter of Roderick Terry, of Hart- ford. Mrs. Bartlett died Feb. 9, 1896. To Prof. and Mrs. Bartlett were born the following children : Henrietta Collins, born July 8, 1873 ; Charles Gris- wold, Oct. 18, 1875; Sarah Pierson, Feb. 16, 1879; Frank Trowbridge, Nov. 12, 1882 (who died Sept. 16, 1883) ; and Harold Terry, Aug. 26, 1887. On July 6, 1897, Prof. Bartlett married (second) Har- riet Butler Banning, of Old Lyme. Prof. Bartlett is honored and respected as a public-spirited citizen, a man of unswerving integrity and principle, one who has made his mark in the community by untiring de- votion to the cause of education and good citizen- ship. The well trained and balanced mind, and the character founded upon sound moral and religious principles, are the best surety of the welfare and progress of the community in which they are found, and to insure these qualities in the youth under his charge is the work which Prof. Bartlett aims to ac- complish, and in which he has met with such grati- fying success in his school.

GEORGE L. NEWTON, a self-made, indus- trious and successful business man, is one of the representative and honored citizens of Montville.

Grandfather Nathan Newton was born in Voluntown, Conn., and there died aged about sixty- two years. He was a successful farmer, and was known by all with whom he dealt as a man of strict honesty and high moral character. His wife, Eleanor (Palmer), bore him eleven children, all but one of whom grew to maturity.

Nathan Palmer Newton, son of Nathan, and father of George L., was born in Voluntown, May 27, 1812, and died April 10, 1891, in East Lyme. He married Dec. 25, 1835, Mercy Crandall, who was born May 18, 1817, daughter of James K. and Hannah Crandall, of Hopkinton, R. I .; she died April 9, 1893, at East Lyme. With the exception of a few years when he was engaged in stone cut- ting at the Millstone, Conn., quarries, Nathan Pal- mer Newton passed his life as a farmer. Until 1869 his home was in Voluntown, from whence he moved to Waterford, Conn., and leased the Henry Gardner farm, on which he remained four years. In the spring of 1873 he purchased a large farm in East Lyme, where he was extensively engaged in farming until a few years before his death, when ill health compelled him to give up all hard work. Although a man of rather frail constitution, he was very ambitious and an energetic worker, but several years previous to his death he was injured internally by a fall from a load of corn fodder. In early life he was a Democrat, but later became an adherent of the Republican party. He held several of the town offices while living in East Lyme, where he was held in the highest esteem by his whole circle of acquaintances. He was a lifelong member of the Baptist denomination, joining the Pendleton Hill Baptist Church when quite young, and being con- nected later with the First Baptist Church of Water-

ford, and the Baptist Church in East Lyme. During his whole life he was active in church work, and in all efforts looking to the advancement of Christian- ity. His motto was "right above all things." He was of a genial and good-natured disposition, a very conscientious man, and a devout Christian.

Nathan Palmer and Mercy (Crandall) Newton became the parents of the following children: (1) Nathan James, born in Voluntown, Sept. 30. 1837, was a school teacher nearly all his life, and was also at times engaged in farming, and he died Sept. 2, 1872, in Waterford, Conn. He married Annie Aus- tin, of Hopkinton, R. I., and they were the parents of two children, Minnie and Benajah. (2) Lathrop Leander died at the age of eleven months. (3) Lovisa Angeline, born July 16, 1843, in Voluntown, married Nov. 29, 1866, Jacob B. Fox, a farmer of Waterford, who died in Montville July 4, 1903. Their children were: Newton N., born Oct. 14, 1867; George J., born Dec. 28, 1868; Morton E., born Sept. 24, 1870, a practicing physician in the town of Montville ; and Carrie Belle, born Feb. I, 1874, died Sept. 25, 1899. (4) Ellen Hannah, born Feb. 11, 1848, in Voluntown, is now living at the old homestead in East Lyme, unmarried. (5)

George L., subject of this sketch, was born Aug. I, 1850, in Voluntown. (6) Elijah Frank, born Dec. 12, 1852, in Voluntown, was a railroad engineer for a number of years, but was obliged by ill health to retire. His home was in East New London, where he died March 11, 1904. He married Emma Will- iams, daughter of Joseph Williams, of New Lon- don, and they became the parents of the following named children: Grace Williams, Charles Havens, Walter Scott and Clarence F. (7) Mary Adelaide, born in Voluntown, Aug. 1, 1854, married William Bennett, and died Nov. 12, 1892, in East Lyme, leaving no children. (8) Frederick Edgar, born Oct. 14, 1860, in Voluntown, carries on the home farm at East Lyme. He married Mary Beckwith, of East Lyme, and they have two children, Mabel and Wilbur. (9) Miss Emma Janette, born Aug. 18, 1862, in Voluntown, lives at the old home in East Lyme.

George L. Newton received his early education! in the district schools of Voluntown, working or his father's farm in the summers until he was six- teen years old. At that age he left home and went to Preston, Conn., where for several months he worked on a farm for Alva and Ira Rood. After this first venture into the world he returned home for a time, and then went to Waterford, where he spen the summer doing farm work for his brother-in law, Jacob B. Fox. In the fall his parents moved to Waterford, and he obtained employment in the Millstone quarries there. After a year in the quar ries he came to Montville, going into the meat busi ness with his cousin Joel P. Newton, with whom h remained two years, and with his successor. Nichc las W. Church, about six months longer. He the went to Hartford, where he was again employed b

George Le Newton

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his cousin in a meat and provision market which he had opened in that place, and after several months was taken into partnership, the firm name being J. P. Newton & Co. The close confinement inci . dent to this business affecting his health, he with- drew from the firm after a year and a half, and bought out the meat market of C. H. Davis, on Water street, in Norwich. After several months in Norwich he closed out the business, and return- ing to Montville in 1878 bought the former business of his cousin, which he has ever since successfully carried on. Formerly he did his own butchering, but at present he handles western beef.

On May 12, 1874, Mr. Newton married Annabel Coates, who was born April 2, 1858, in Hebron, daughter of Lyman and Laura (Hinckley) Coates, of that town. Mrs. Newton's mother died several' years ago, and her father makes his home with his son in Montville. The children born of this union are: (1) Louis Gilbert, born July 6, 1877, in Hart- ford, is engaged in the meat business with his father ; he married Mary L. Hoxie, of Waterford, and they are the parents of two children, Harvey Louis (born Dec. 17, 1901), and Arzelia Hoxie (born May 27, 1903). (2) Arthur Joel, born April 15, 1888, in Montville, is living at home. Mr. New- ton is a Republican in politics, but has never cared for office. Fraternally he is a member of the A. O. U. W., of Montville, of which he has been overseer and receiver, and of the Order of United American Mechanics, of which he has been treasurer for sev- eral years. Mr. and Mrs. Newton are members and active workers in the Uncasville Methodist Church, which the former has served as trustee and steward. ind as Sunday-school superintendent for nearly wenty years. Mrs. Newton has also been a steward of the church ; she has been chorister and organist or nearly twenty-five years, and is an active worker n the Ladies' Social Union, of which she was treas- irer for several years. Mr. Newton and his wife re whole-souled, genial and charitable people. whose hospitable home is always open to their many riends, and they have a ready welcome for the tranger.

JAMES INGERSOLL DAY (deceased) was a urdy son of New London county, whose business tegrity and high personal honor won him ummi- ersal esteeni, while his aristocratie bearing and reat charm of manner won men instinctively to allow his lead.

The Day family record in New England begins ith (1) Robert Day, "Gent.," born in England in 004, who died in Hartford, Conn., in 16.18. Hc me to America on the ship "Elizabeth," accom- nied by his first wife. Mary (?). who ed soon after. He was evidently nem- r of Rev. Thomas Hooker's congregation, d awaited the latter's arrival, then accom- nied him to Hartford, thus becoming one the "Pioneers of Hartford" for proprietors.

as the first settlers were called). As such his name appears on the monument to the first settlers there. He was made a "viewer of fences," but as that of- fice could not have been very remunerative he must have possessed means, as an administrator of his estate was appointed. In Hartford he married, for his second wife, Editha Stebbins, sister of Dea- con Edward Stebbins, of the Rev. Thomas Hook- er's Church. All of Robert Day's children were born of his second marriage. Deacon Edward Steb- bins was administrator of his estate. As the Rev. Thomas Hooker called Deacon Edward "My cousin Stebbins" (Hist. "First Church of Hart- ford," p. 113) they must have been related, but just how has not been ascertained. After the death of Robert Day his widow married a second husband. who died soon after, without issue, and left his property to his wife and Robert Day's children. She married (third) Eleazer Holyoke, and by this mar- riage became an ancestress of President Holyoke, of Harvard College, while one of her descendants by her marriage with Robert Day (Jeremiah Day) was a president of Yale. While she was doubtless born in England, the date of her birth is unknown, as are also the dates of her marriage and death.

(11) Thomas Day, eldest son of Robert, was married Oct. 27. 1659. to Sarah Cooper, born in 1641-42, daughter of Lieut. Thomas and Sarah (Slyc) Cooper. He died at Springfield. Dec. 27. 1711, and she married ( second) Dr. William Clark, of Dorchester. She died Nov. 21. 1720.

(111) John Day, son of Thomas and Sarah (Cooper) Day, was born Sept. 20. 1673, and was of Springfield. Mass. On March 10, 1697. he mar- ried Marah Smith, daughter of John and Mary ( Partridge ) Smith, and granddaughter of Lieut. Sammel Smith and his wife. Elizabeth (?). John Day died Nov. 20, 1752.

(IV) William Day, son of John and Marah, was born in Springfield, Mass., Oct. 23. 1715, and died at Sheffield, Mass., March 22, 1707. He was sent to England, educated for and entered the Eng- lish navy. He was given a "letter of marque" ( now in the possession of Emory Clapp Day, grandson of James Ingersoll Day ). With his ship, the "Blake- ney." while in the English service, he took three French ships England and France being then at war-and for this feat king George ordered his portrait painted by the court painter. This was a large canvas, showing in the background the "Blakeney" attacking the French ships This pic- ture is also in the possession of Emory Clapp Day. When war was declared Capt Witham Has asked for his parole, as "he could not and would not tight against his own country," and this was given him. Wthough he fed and clothed the soldiers he chid not break his parole by taking up army against Eng- land. He married (as third wife) Rhoda, dangh- ter of Major Thomas Hubbell and Mabel Dewey. He had fourteen children, and died at Sheffield, Mass, in 1707.

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(V) James Day, son of Capt. William, was born June 7, 1780. In New London he married Hannah, daughter of Capt. Elisha Hinman, and his wife, Abigail Dolbeare, daughter of George Dol- beare. In his latter years James Day spent much of his time with his daughter, Abby, wife of John Broun, in Alabama, on whose plantation he died in 1851. James Day built at Black Rock, on the Ni- agara river, the first vessel ever placed on the lakes by a citizen of the United States, and he took the first cargo for our government from Buffalo to Lake Michigan, and landed it at Fort Howard. He and his brother, John Day, of Sheffield, Mass., bought land on the Sandusky river. His youngest son, Thomas Davis Day, was born at the home of Gen. Peter Porter, at Niagara, who offered to the eldest son, James Ingersoll Day, an appointment to the Naval Academy at Annapolis, or to the Military Academy at West Point, whichever the lad or his mother should prefer-but the profession of arms was less attractive than a mercantile life and the offer was declined.

Capt. Elisha Hinman, father of Mrs. Hannah (Hinman) Day, was commissioned by the first United States Congress (his original. commission being now in the possession of his great-great- grandson, Emory Clapp Day, of New Orleans, La.). Capt. Hinman had settled in New London, Conn., early in life. "Public confidence in his ca- pacity, his good judgment, courage and integrity was such that in the commencement of the Revolu- tion he was placed in command of the government ship 'Alfred,' which sailed out of the harbor of New London against the British. He captured an armed brig of 200 tons, and brought her into New London in 1776, and another larger vessel in 1777 with the ship 'Cabot.'" The first naval expedition by author- ity of Congress sailed out of New London in 1776, under Com. Hopkins, consisting of the ships "Al- fred," "Columbus," "Cabot," and one other. The "Cabot" was under the command of Capt. Hinman. At one time he was taken prisoner and carried to England, whence he escaped after many trials and deprivations. The family have his account book. detailing his expenses during his imprisonment and escape to France, which makes, literally, a diary. "Through malice" he was called before a "court of inquiry" on his return from France, and was hon- orably acquitted, and praised for his conduct, all of which is of record. He again went out in the privateer sloop "Hancock," and had a run of bril- liant and dashing success (Miss Caulkins' "History of New London"). The marriage of Capt. Elisha Hinman and Abigail Dolbeare is thus noticed in the Philadelphia Post, April 8, 1777: "Married at New London, by the Rev. Mr. Jewett, Elisha Hin- man, Esq.,-commander of the 'Alfred' frigate, in the service of the United States-to Miss Abigail, daughter of George Dolbeare, Esq., of that city, an accomplished young lady of fortune and beauty." The "United States Service Review," of November,

1889, in a brief sketch of Capt. Hinman says, "His wife, a native of New London, was one of the most beautiful and accomplished ladies of the day." "A few years later the incident (which came near mak- ing of her a heroine, and at the same time ridding the country of a traitor) is told of her, and is ab- solutely true: Gen. Benedict Arnold, before he turned renegade, had been a friend and frequent guest of the family. When he entered the city of New London at the head of the British force and set fire to the town, he had the assurance (as he rode through the town, seeing Mrs. Hinman at an open window) to lift his hat to her, and as he did so she leveled her husband's musket and pulled the trigger. Helas! She had felt positive it was loaded, but it was not, and failed of its purpose." A fine portrait of her in this attitude was painted by the great historical painter Huntington. The spacious double house, which was the Capt. Elisha Hin- man home, occupied nearly a block of ground in the city of New London, and was pulled down to make room for the present city post office. Capt. Hinman had but one son. He married, but died quite young, leaving no children. Of the three daughters of the Cap- tain, Hannah married James Day. Capt. Hinman had all his prize money melted and made into sev- eral dozens of spoons as a part of the wedding out- fit of each daughter, and almost every descendant, now, has one or more as a precious relic.

(VI) When James Ingersoll Day, son of James and Hannah (Hinman) Day, resolutely turned his face against the army or navy career, as offered him by Gen. Peter Porter, and declared in favor of a mercantile life, he was but judging rightly his own inclination and talents. He was born in New London March 5, 1812 and died there Sept. 21, 1895. As a lad of about seventeen he went to New Orleans, La., and there as clerk entered the large wholesale hardware establishment of Palmer & Whiting. Being naturally industrious, and, finding the work congenial, he bent his en- ergy toward mastering the details of all the work that came within his scope. His close attention to his duties, his faithful perform- ance of every task, and above all, his dignified, manly bearing, displaying courtesy devoid of servil- ity, won recognition from those above him, and he was rapidly promoted. When Courtlandt Palmer, the head of the firm, retired from the concern, and went on, through real estate ventures, to accumu- late his large fortune in New York City, Mr. Whit- ing then admitted as a partner Robert Slark, ar Englishman, who, when Mr. Whiting, in turn, re tired, admitted Mr. Day into the firm, and for many years Slark & Day were leaders in the mercantil trade in the South. Later it became Slark, Day & Stauffer, and when the health of Mr. Day compeller him to give up business in the South he becam. special partner for some young men in New York in whom he had absolute confidence. Their busi

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ness, however, being entirely in the South the third year of the war of the Rebellion found them unable to continue, and this caused the financial ruin of Mr. Day. In 1851 he had built a beautiful home in Stonington, Conn., but he sold everything and re- turned to New Orleans. Although fifty-five years of age he accepted a clerkship there, and worked with all his old-time fidelity and enthusiasm, but after a while he was offered the presidency of the Sun Mutual Insurance Company, of which he was the head for nearly a quarter of a century, dying in New London in the eighty-fourth year of his age. But a year before he had resigned as president, and he turned over to his successor the wonderful busi- ness, built up practically through his individual ef- fort and able management. In spite of his long resi- dence in the South, his heart was ever in his New England home, and he had all a good man's pride in his New England ancestry, their characters and their achievements. Through all his changing for- tunes not the least shadow rested on his honor. His word was his bond, and he redeemed all his obliga- tions. His private life was pure, and his long years of activity were crowned with a peaceful close.

On Jan. 5, 1836, Mr. Day was united in mar- riage with Sarah E. Armitage, a sister of his part- ner's wife. Seven children were born to them: Abby Hannah, who married Cuthbert Slocomb, of New Orleans; Helen Amelia, who married Rev. Orlando Starkey; Sallie E., who married ( first) William Martin Johnson (son of Bradish Johnson, of New York City), and (second) Edward M. Townsend, of New York City: Miss Jane W. ; James Armitage, who died, unmarried, from the ef- fects of yellow fever ; Marie Louise, who married James Harris Sanders, of England; and Robert Slark, who married Sallie, adopted daughter of Emory Clapp, daughter of Thomas Evander Ker- cheval, of Kentucky, a lineal descendant of Samuel Vercheval, one of the first historians of our country n the early days of Virginia.

NATHAN SAMUEL GILBERT, senior mem- er and founder of the firm of N. S. Gilbert & Sons, t Norwich, the oldest active business man of that ity, and one of its venerable and highly respected itizens, is a descendant of one of the oldest fam- ies of New England.

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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 159

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