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 173

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 173

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Pope married (first) Oct. 29, 1817, Olive Lathe, of Charlton, born Feb. 27, 1795. She died July 30, 1850, at Norwich, Conn., and he married (second) the widow of Dr. William Benedict, of Millbury, who died in about 1856. About 1848 Mr. Pope removed to Norwich, Conn., where he died Aug. 4, 1887. His children were: Charlotte Lathe, born Jan. 18, 1819, who married May 17, 1843, at Millbury, Mass., Lucius W. Carroll ; Harriet A., who married Rev. Samuel Wolcott, D. D., of

Longmeadow, Mass .; Jonathan A .; Sylvia A. ; and Sarah E. Both the latter are residents of Norwich, and members of the D. A. R. in that city.

ALFRED HURLBUT, who during his life was one of the successful manufacturers and honored cit- izens of Montville, was a descendant of one of the early families of this part of Connecticut.

The antecedents of his ancestor, Elijah Hurlbut, early at Windham, Conn., are not known. It is more than possible he descended from Timothy, of the third generation, through Thomas from Thomas Hurlbut, of Saybrook, Conn., and later of Wethers- field, who came to New England as early as 1637, and served as a soldier under Capt. Lion Gardiner, who built and had command of the fort at Saybrook. This Timothy Hurlbut was born Sept. 29, 1680, but nothing seems to have been known of him, his father dying when he was nine years old.

Again the line of descent may be from Titus Hurlbut, born Dec. 18, 1681, a son of Samuel, and . grandson of Thomas, the emigrant: or it may be from Thomas, the emigrant, through Stephen and Stephen Hurlbut (2), the latter born Sept. 17, 1679. in Wethersfield, Conn. The Hurlbuts of this region of country come from the Saybrook and Wethers- field settler.

After the Pequot war, in which Thomas Hurlbut participated, and in which he was wounded, "shot almost through the thigh," he located and established himself in business at Wethersfield, Conn., being a blacksmith by trade. He was one of the early set -. tlers of Wethersfield, and the first blacksmith. He was clerk of the Train Band, grand juror, constable, deputy to the General Court, etc. The Christian name of his wife was Sarah.

Elijah Hurlbut was probably in Windham, Conn., before his marriage, which occurred Aug. 18, 1725, he then being united in wedlock to Abigail Backus, who was born July 3, 1701, daughter of John and Mary (Bingham) Backus, of Windham, Conn. Mr. Hurlbut settled in the First Society, and remained until after 1734, but prior to 1737 he had removed to Scotland (Third Society). He and his wife were both living in Windham, in 1744, at which time they received their portion of the estate of John Backus, their father. Mr. and Mrs. Hurl- but are believed to have died in Windham ; but no record of their deaths has been found. Their chil- dren were: Elisha, born June 13, 1726; Abigail, Feb. 26, 1727-28 (married, Nov. 3, 1754, David Yeomans) ; Ann, April 14, 1730; Elijah, March 3, 1731-32 ; Prudence, Sept. 3, 1734: Mary, Nov. 14, 1737; Nathaniel, Sept. 16, 1739; Jerusha, Aug. 8, 1741 ; and Chloe, June 20, 1743. All were born in Windham, Connecticut.

Elisha Hurlbut, son of Elijah, born June 13, 1726, in Windham, Conn., married (first) Oct. 18, 1747, Mary Smith. She died Sept. 23, 1748, and he married (second) May 23, 1749, Phebe Carter. Mr. Hurlbut died Aug. 3, 1771, and was buried in

765

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

the burying-ground in Scotland Society. His estate inventoried £3,222-quite a fortune in those days. His widow Phebe, married Jan. 16, 1772, Capt Thomas Fanning. Mr. Hurlbut's children were : Mary, born Sept. 4, 1748 (married Feb. 26. 1769. Phineas Cary) ; Lydia, Feb. I, 1750-51 ; Martha, Jan. 6, 1753 (married Sept. 21, 1775, Jonathan Cary) ; Enoch, Nov. 21, 1754; Alfred, Dec. 1, 1756; Phebe, Nov. 14, 1759; Thomas, May 24, 1762; Anna, Aug. 13, 1764 ; and Winthrop, Oct. 3, 1769. All were born in Windham, and all to the second marriage excepting the first named.

Alfred Hurlbut, son of Elisha and grandfather of Alfred Hurlbut, whose name introduces this sketch, was born Dec. 1, 1756, in Windham, Conn. He married Jan. II, 1786, Lydia Babcock, who was born Jan. 7, 1763, and they settled in the town of Waterford, Conn., where both died, Mr. Hurlbut on Feb. 5, 1829, and Mrs. Hurlbut June 7, 1844. He was a farmer by occupation. Their children were as follows: Lydia Ann, born Dec. 6, 1786. in Windham, Conn., married Walter Chappell, of Waterford, where she died. Winthrop lived and died in East Lyme, Conn. ; he married twice, first a Miss Smith and second Caroline Rollins, and both are buried in East Lyme. Albigence lived in Waterford for many years, and died in Groton, Conn. ; he married Naomi Daniels, sister of the wife of his brother Samuel, and both are buried in Waterford. Elisha Babcock, born Jan. 3, 1791, re- moved to the West, where he died; on May 21, 1818, he was married at Hopewell, N. Y., to Rhoda Palmer, who was born in Montville, Conn., daugh- ter of Elder Reuben Palmer, of Montville. ( Elisha B. Hurlbut was a soldier in the War of 1812, and he died in Bristol, N. Y.). Benjamin married Lucy Hall, and lived in Salem, Conn., where he and his wife are both buried. Alfred was a wagon-maker by trade ; he married Ruth Hills, and lived and died in Norwich, Conn. Susan, who never married, died in Montville when about seventy years of age. Nancy married Pardon Perroy, and died in Potter Hill, R. I. Eliza, who never married, died at Poque- tuck Bridge, R. 1. Samuel was the father of Alfred Hurlbut.

Samuel Hurlbut, born Aug. 15, 1801, in Water- ford, Conn., passed away July 26, 1880, aged seventy-nine years, in Montville, Conn. He mar- ried Alnira Daniels, of Waterford, Conn., who died May 22, 1876, aged seventy-three years. Sam- nel Hurlbut was a successful farmer, was also en- gaged in blacksmithing and as a stonemason, and he was a man who bore the esteem of all who knew him. He was a member of the Baptist Church of Palmertown, and was deacon of that church for over twenty years, during which time he was never absent from communion. Politically he was a stanch old line Whig, and later became a Republi- can. The children born to Samuel and Amira (Daniels ) Hurlbut were as follows: (1) Nancy. born Sept. 22, 1825, married Ichabod Stoddard, of

Salem, and they are living in Norwich. He is a farmer and carpenter. Their children are Edgar, Charles and Sophia. (2) Maryette, born Sept. 29. 1829, is unmarried, and is living in New London. (3) Alfred, born Oct. 15. 1831, is mentioned be- low. (4) Gerone Marion married Hiram Rogers, a farmer residing in New London, and they have three children, Lillie, Frank and Nellie. (5) Lu- cretia, born. Aug. 29. 1838, is unmarried, and is living in Montville. (6) Henry Clay, born Jan. 18, 1842, was a merchant in New London for a number of years, and is now living retired at Po- quetuck. He married Caroline Gard, of New Lon- don, but they had no children.

Alfred Hurlbut, born Oct. 15, 1831, in Salem. Conn., died Nov. 15, 1901. in Montville, aged seventy years. After acquiring a common school. ing he took up a manufacturing line. and after gaining a knowledge of manufacturing started in business for himself and for many years manu- factured cotton twine, etc., in Montville, on the site now occupied by the silk mill. His factory was twice burned down and after the second fire. in 1893, he never rebuilt, retiring from active business. He was very successful, as a result of shrewd, care- ful, conscientious attention to business.

Socially Mr. Hurlbut was a member of the American Mechanics, and his religious connection was with the Baptist Church at Palmertown, Hle was a stanch Republican, and besides holding sev- eral minor town offices served a term of four years as a member of the board of county commissioners of New London county. He was a rugged man, of medium height, rather thick set, and enjoyed good health until within two years of his death. He was genial and very pleasant to meet, and had hosts of friends.

Mr. Hurlbut was married May 4, 1854, to Eliza- beth Browning, daughter of John 1. and Lucy ( Tillotson) Browning, of Genesee counts. New York. Mr. Browning was a farmer, Mrs. Hurlbn! survives her husband and resides in Monty lle. Children as follows were born to this union; (1) Ida May, born in Montville, married Jesse Watts, who is overseer in the Rockland paper mill in Montville, and they have one child, Alfred 1. Watts. (2) Lewis Browning, born in Montville, is a gen- eral merchant in Palmertown, and is also post- master there, having received his appointment from President Mckinley during h's first term as P'res- ident. He married Minnie Nessler, of Montville. and they have two children, Bessie and John B.

SAMUEL DUDLEY, a representative of the Dudley family for nearly two centuries resulent in Connecticut, and for many years one of New bon don's prominent business men, is now living retire l from active work, enjoying his well earned rest and the respect of all who know him.

(1) Capt. John E. Pidles, a scaman and atter- ward schoolmaster, came from Ireland int about

766

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1746 to America, and settled in the town of Wall- ingford, Conn. His house was located on the west side of the river, a short distance below the home of Mr. Street Jones, who some years ago was the owner of it. His children were: Jedediah, born Jan. I, 1759; and Mary.

(II) Jedediah Dudley, son of Capt. John E., born Jan. 1, 1759, married Lucy Plumbe, and their children were: John E., who married a lady of Wallingford, Conn., and died in Branford in 1869; Caleb, who married and lived and died in Walling- ford ; Ransom ; Elias, born Feb. 17, 1790; Jedediah, who died unmarried; Isaac, who had a family of four children, all now deceased ; Lucy; Pa- melia, who married and lived in Westfield, Mass., where she died ; Sarah, who married Dan Johnson, of Wallingford, and had four children, all now de- ceased ; and Roxana, who married and lived in Wallingford (she had one son, and all this family are now deceased). Jedediah Dudley, the father, was a thrifty farmer, and had the esteem of all who knew him. His death occurred when his son Elias was but nine years of age.

(III) Elias Dudley, son of Jedediah, was born in Wallingford, Feb. 17, 1790, and died June 19, 1851, at his home in Cheshire. He was a stone-cut- ter by trade, and engaged in the making of monu- ments, for many years being located in business in Cheshire, where he became one of the well known men of the town. He was very active in religious work, being a zealous member of the Methodist Church, and he consistently carried out in his every- day life the principles he advocated, and conducted family worship three times daily. He was one of the organizers of the Cheshire Church, and was class-leader and steward for many years. Politic- ally he was a Whig, and a firm believer in human freedom, often preaching at great length against slavery, and he was also a great friend of the tem- perance question. He married Laura Preston, who died in Cheshire, aged seventy-five years, a daugh- ter of Titus and Abigail Preston. The children born of this marriage were: Maria Fitch, born Sept. 22, 1814, died July 25, 1837, aged twenty-three years ; Mary Ann, born April 21, 1817, married Ruel Hemingway, of Southington, Conn., in 1841 ; Har- riet, born in Cheshire in 1821, married in 1842; Joseph, born July 21, 1823, engaged in the monu- ment business in New Haven, where he died aged seventy-three years; Caroline, born in July, 1825, died at the age of twenty-nine; George E., born Oct. 15, 1827, was engaged in the clothing business in Meriden, and died there aged twenty-six years ; Charles Wesley, born Jan. 23, 1835, is a traveling salesman residing in Brooklyn, N. Y .; Sarah E., died at the age of eight months ; and Samuel, born April 7, 1837.

(IV) Samuel Dudley was born in Cheshire, and there in the district schools received his education, among his teachers being Henry F. Hall, afterward a well known lawyer of Wallingford. Leaving

school at the age of fifteen, he became employed on the farm of William Law, of Cheshire, where he made his home with his employer's family. His next work was the riding of horses for Gov. Samuel A. Foote to plow by. For a time he assisted his father in hewing stone, and then went to Water- bury, where he was employed by Reuben Hitchcock, and later with Scoville & Buckingham, where he learned to chase buttons. In 1852 he went to New Haven, and became an apprentice with Atwater & King, to learn carriage trimming, for four years, for which he was to receive, for the first year, $25 and board; for the second, $30 and board; for the third, $35 and board; and for the fourth, $40 and board. At the close of his apprenticeship he was employed by a number of firms at his trade, when he received an offer from William F. Keables to locate in New London and work for him as trim- mer. He accepted the offer, and held that position for three years, when with David R. Stevens, he purchased the entire plant of Mr. Keables, and for twelve years this partnership continued unbroken. They met with an ever-increasing trade, necessitat- ing much improvement in the original plant. Mr. Dudley bought out his partner at the end of that time. For eight or ten years he traveled through Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, sell- ing carriages of his own make. About fifteen hands were kept constantly employed. Everything that pertains to a complete road outfit, paints, oils, var- nishes, horse shoes, etc., is kept in the establish- ment. The business has been built up from nothing and has grown until now it supplies not only the retail trade but also manufacturers. Hard work and close application have been the secrets of Mr. Dudley's success, and he has accumulated his own fortune through his own efforts.

Mr. Dudley is, like all of his family, of a deeply religious nature. He and his wife are active in the work of the Second Congregational Church, and he is chairman of the board of trustees of the Mission Chapel, which he was very instrumental in building. For years he sang in the church, and in the open air meetings, and has ever been ready to give of his time and means to the furtherance of re- ligious work. His political views coincide with the principles of the Republican party, but he has uni- formly refused to accept office.

On July 6, 1857, Mr. Dudley was united in mar- riage with Mary Elizabeth Nicholson, daughter of George S. and Phebe C. (Miller) Nicholson, of New Haven, the former a harnessmaker, who. though of advanced years, served as a soldier in the war of the Rebellion. To this union came one child, Minnie Preston, born in New Haven Aug. 14, 1860, who married William H. Guest, a native of England, and a dentist by profession, but now engaged with his father-in-law, Mr. Dudley, in busi- ness. Mr. and Mrs. Guest have four children : Maud Dudley, born Feb. 22, 1884: Edith Laura, born March 5, 1886; Marian Gertrude, born June

767

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

13, 1891 ; and Mary Elizabeth, born Dec. 6, 1892. Mr. Dudley built his pleasant home on Cleve- land street in 1889, from plans drawn by himself, and he also superintended the building. He and his wife have traveled extensively, spending their win- ters in Florida, and the largest portion of the sum- mers in the mountains. They are charitable and benevolent, and their hospitable home is always open to their many friends.

SIMON BREWSTER, of Griswold, has achieved success as an agriculturist mainly through his own exertions. Though the attractive old farm upon which he is now residing has been in the family for four generations, it was only by hard work and much economy that he rescued it from the hands of strangers. Ancestral possessions he may well hold sacred, coming as he does from one of the oldest and most highly revered New Eng- land families, being a descendant of Elder William Brewster, of "Mayflower" fame.

(I) Elder William Brewster, born in Scrooby, England, in 1560, gained his education at Cam- bridge. In 1608 he went to Amsterdam, and a year later to Leyden, where he was a ruling eller of the Pilgrim Congregation, and, as is well known, in 1620, as the spiritual guide of the Pilgrim fathers, he came in the "Mayflower" to New England. He afterward settled in Duxbury, where he built him a farm house, and there, in 1644, he died.

(II) Love Brewster, son of Elder William, also of the "Mayflower," married in 1634, Sarah Collier, daughter of William Collier, who, as a merchant .. in 1633, came to New England in the ship with Hooker, Haines, Cotton and others, was the liberal benefoctor of the Colony of New Plymouth, and from 1636 to 1668, inclusive, acted as Assistant. Mr. Brewster was of Duxbury. His will bears the date 1650, and was exhibited in court March 4, 1651. His children were: (1) Nathaniel, concerning whom nothing is given, and who may have died young or withont issue. (2) William; and (3) Wrestling, who married Mary Partridge, and had seven children-Jonathan (who settled in Wind- ham), John, Mary, Sarah, Abigail, Elizabeth and Hannah.

( 111) William Brewster married, in 1672, Lydia Partridge, daughter of George Partridge, and they had children as follows: Sarah, born in 1674, who married Caleb Stetson ; Nathaniel, born in 1076; Lydia, born in 1680 ; William, who is mentioned be- low; Benjamin, born in 1688; Joseph, born in 1094: and Joshua, born in 1608.

(IV) William Brewster (2), born in 1681, mar- ried Hopestill Wadsworth, daughter of John Wads- worth, and settled in Lebanon. By this union there were six children : Oliver, born in 1708; Ichabod, in 1710; Elisha, in 1715: Simon. in 1720; Lot, in 1723 : and Huldalı, in 1726.

(V) Simon Brewster, great-grandfather of Simon Brewster, whose name heads this sketch.

and son of William (2), was born in 1720. Upon reaching manhood he settled on what is now the Brewster farm in Griswold. This place at that time was much larger than it is now, and here he engaged in agriculture extensively. He died in Preston (now Griswold), April 29. 1801, at the age of eighty-one. He married Anne Andress, of Pres- ton, who was born in 1722, and died Oct. 20, 1809, in her eighty-eighth year. By this marriage there were several children: (1) Simon. Esq., a soldier of the Revolution, married Mehitabel Belcher. He died in Griswold, Aug. 16, 1841, in his ninety-first year, and she passed away Nov. 15, 1825. in her seventy-third year. (2) Joseph W., who was lost at sea, represented his district in the State Legis- lature in 1814. He was the grandfather of Bishop Chauncey B. Brewster. (3) William. (4) Elias is mentioned below.

(VI) Elias Brewster, grandfather of Simon, born in 1759, for many years a resident of Gris- wokl, was a man of affluence and a possessor of large tracts of land. Upon reaching manhood he came into possession of the family homestead at Griswold, where he resided until his death. Besides carrying on the farm he engaged in trade with the West Indies for many years, shipping there many horses and mules, and large quantities of cheese. In this way he amassed a fortune. part of which he invested in land, purchasing in his vicinity several farms besides the home place, all of which amounted to a total of 1, 100 acres. At his death. which occurred March 12. 1834. his estate was valued at fifty thousand dollars, a considerable sum for those days.

Elias Brewster was twice married. His first wife was Margery Morgan, who was the mother of all his children. She died in Griswold Jan. 11. 1823, at the age of fifty-six years. For his second wife he married Mrs. Sarah Clark Corning, who survived him. The children by the first mion were: (1) Elias was twice married. He resided in Columbia. Herkimer Co. N. Y., where he was engaged as a farmer and later as a hotel proprie- tor. (2) Martha married Capt. Moses Hillard, and resided in Norwich. (3) Sybil married Capt. Ap- pleton Meech, and resided in Norwich. (4) Fred- erick resided in Griswold, where he was engaged in farming. (5) Ephraim Morgan married Esther Gordon. He was a successful farmer of Griswold. and resided on the farm now occupied by his son. Albert G. Brewster. (6) Emily died in Norwich. unmarried. (7) Simon and (8) James were twins. Simon was the father of our subject. James mar- ried Mary Baker, and resided in Griswold. later in Pomfret. He was a farmer by occupation Each son received at the time of the father's death a farm valued at $5,000, and each daughter that amount in money. Mr. Brewster was throughout his life a loval and patriotic citizen, and during the Revolutionary war served as a solcher As a Whis he always evinced a keen interest in politics. He and

768

GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

his wife were influential members of the Pachaug Congregational Church.

(VII) Simon Brewster, father of Simon, in- herited considerable substantial real estate along with the mental endowment for the successful man- agement of it, both of which gave him prestige among the agriculturists of his section. Born on the homestead in Preston, now Griswold, May 29, 1801, he there received careful rearing and excel- lent training for his life work. As a youth he gave considerable attention to the management of the home place, and upon the death of his father came in for his share of the property. Desirous of carry- ing on the place as his father had done, he pur- chased the other heirs' interest in it, and became its sole possessor. It embraced about 450 acres, and was probably the largest farm in Griswold dur- ing his ownership of it. Here he engaged in gen- eral farming very extensively and carried on a large trade in fine stock, raising and selling some of the best that was put on the market. Science and skill as well as practical knowledge he applied to his work, and he was considered one of the most progressive and successful farmers in Griswold, as well as the most extensive one. In the manage- ment of his place he put forth the best efforts of his manhood, and he continued there until the last, dying Aug. 17, 1867.

Mr. Brewster married Martha Corning, who was born in 1816, and after her death, which oc- curred Aug. 7, 1845, in her thirtieth year, he mar- ried Abby A. Prentice, who was born in 1827. She died July 28, 1853, at the age of twenty-six, and he afterward formed a third union, this time with Elizabeth C. Cook, who was born June 27, 1820; she died April 18, 1890. By the first marriage there were six children: John C. ; Catherine W. and Caroline M., twins, born Dec. 13, 1840, of whom the former died May 9, 1844, and the latter Oct. 17, 1874; Simon A. ; Lucretia C .; and Sarah, born May 27, 1844, who died June 10, 1862. By the second marriage there were four children: Simon, who is mentioned below; Alice A., born in June, 1851, now living in Jersey City ; and Abby A., and Anna, twins, who died in infancy. By the last marriage there were two children: Charles C., now a resident of New York City ; and John A., of St. Louis, Missouri.

Though not active in politics Mr. Brewster al- ways evinced a large interest in local affairs ; at first he affiliated with the Whigs, later with the Repub- licans. He ever gave his support to all good works and attended the Congregational Church, of which his second wife, Abby A. ( Prentice), was a member.

Simon Brewster is admirably fitted, both by training and inherent ability, for the agricultural industry he is now so ably conducting. Born on the Griswold homestead May 25, 1850, during his boyhood he attended the district school there-the building of which stood at what is known as the forks of the road. Evincing a keen interest in his

studies, he later attended for short periods the public schools of Jewett City and Preston City. During these years he spent his spare time in the performance of the various tasks that fall to the lot of a farm boy, displaying both self reliance and a remarkable capacity for work. At the early age of seven years he was entrusted to drive large herds of cattle to Norwich, a distance of ten miles. He was quite young when his father died, and a year later, in 1868, the homestead to which he was fondly attached was sold. Then for two years he hired out by the month as a farm hand, and by working early and late, and by exercising economy, he was enabled, at the age of twenty-one, to purchase the old house with 125 acres of land. Here, as his fore- fathers had done, he has engaged in a large dairy business, besides attending to extensive general farming. In both lines he is meeting with excel- lent results, and he is considered one of the most intelligent and progressive agriculturists in his vicinity.

On April 8, 1873, Mr. Brewster married Sarah E. Browning, whose genealogy is given elsewhere. By this union there have been seven children : Sarah E., born July 17, 1875, died Jan. 15, 1886; Alice, born Jan. 19, 1881, died Feb. 23, 1884 : Mar- tha Browning, born April 23, 1883, resides at home (she is a member of Ann Brewster Fanning Chap- ter, D. A. R., at Jewett City) ; Abby Prentice, born June 22, 1885, was valedictorian of her class in the Jewett City Grammar school, had the same honor in the class of 1903, Norwich Free Academy, also won several scholarship prizes, and is now a suc- cessful school teacher ; Simon, born Nov. 5, 1887; Sarah Elizabeth, born Nov. 12, 1891 ; and Margery, born March 12, 1895. Mr. Brewster is a man of energy and force, endowed with large mental and physical powers. Wherever he appears he exerts a very positive influence. He is popular with his community, and as a Republican has served his town very efficiently as selectman for one term. He is well known throughout the county, and every- where highly respected.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 173

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