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 192

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 192

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

JOHN CLARKE, an enterprising and promi- nent farmer residing at Liberty Hill in the town of Lebanon, descends from an old Rhode Island fam- ily, and traces his ancestry back to his great-grand- father, Joseph Clarke, who was a resident and prob- ably a native of Charlestown, R. I., where he died after a life passed in farming, and fishing. The maiden name of his wife was Nichols, and their children were: Joseph; Munford, who lived at Carolina Mills, R. I .; Mary, who married a MIr. Whitford, of Providence, R. I. ; William, who went to California; Nancy, who married a Mr. Whit- ford ; Maxwell, who married and had a daughter, now the widow of Remus Robinson, of Willi- mantic ; Matilda, who married Samuel Stanton, of Stonington.

Joseph Clarke came from Carolina Mills, R. I .. to Lebanon when a young man, locating on a rented farm about one mile south of the Lebanon Green. He resided at that place for a couple of years, and then moved to Columbia, Conn., purchasing a small farm about one-half mile south of Columbia Green. He later resided near Pine street on a large farm, and there remained the rest of his active life. . \ few years. before his death he made his home with his son, Willard B., on Columbia Green, and there died July 2, 1881, at the age of eighty-four years. He was quite extensively engaged at sawmilling. at one time owning two mills, and he died in very comfortable circumstances. Early in life he was a Whig, but later became a Republican and held many of the town offices, also representing the town in the Legislature, making for himself a name long to be remembered as one always connected with measures of reform and improvement of the material welfare of his district. Not only was he a consistent member of the Congregational Church. but having a very fine tenor voice, he led the choir for over twenty-five years, and for many years taught singing school. Being so musical he was in great demand at all social gatherings, and was very popular among the people of Lebanon. Not only was he a man of unusual parts, but he led a life which commanded the respect of all, and no man stood higher in the community. He married Mar garet Crandall, born in Rhode Island, and she died aged eighty-six years. The children born to this most excellent couple, and trained by them in the ways of truth and probity were: Lyman C., who married Cynthia Yeomans, was a school teacher in early life, but later was a farmer in Columbia, and died there: Joseph Mfred caught cold when a young man while clerking in a store at Liberty Will. and it developing into consumption he died in Georgia, where he went for his health, a daughter died in infancy unnamed ; Henry Ca, who married Polina Manley, was a farmer and resided m 1 ch anon, later in Columbia, where he now makes his home ; Mary E. married Justin Holbrook, a Laurier. and died in Columbia ; George I, died at the age of fourteen years; Charle P. who mamnel July

Brown, was city clerk and a merchant in lowa City, Iowa, and there died : James M .: Willard B., who married Lucy Forl, was a farmer, and now resides in Columbia.

James M. Clarke was born March 22.' 1831. in Columbia, and was brought up there. attending the district schools until he was sixteen years of age, he devoting his summers to farm work. Ili- boyhood days were spent in hard work on his fa- ther's farm and in the saw mills. When twenty -one years of age he left home and was employed as a farm hand by Septimus Loomer, a farmer of Co- lumbia. There he remained for several months, and he then went to the home farm and resided until his marriage. After that he rented a farm at the upper end of Lebanon where he made his home for a year, and then removed to the property now occu- pied by the Liberty Club, operating the farm and sawmill, the latter being owned by his father. 11 remained there for a year, when he went to Co- lumbia, and rented a small farm in the southeast part of the town, and after two years movel in Franklin, Conn., renting two different farms, and he resided in that town for six years. He next moved to his present place at Liberty Hill, and ier several years he kept a store in addition to carry ing on the farm, but at present he is engaged in farming. In politics he has always been a Repub- lican, and has held some of the minor offices in the town.

On Oct. 26, 1854. James M. Clarke was Har- ried to Mary Taylor, who was born in Lebanon July 19. 1835. a daughter of John B. and Prudence (Avery ) Taylor. The children born of this much are: (1) James Henry, of Lebanon, married wirst Elizabeth Webster, who bore him one child, Mary. who died at the age of fourteen years. he married ( second ) Sarah Strong, and they had three chil dren, Gwendolyn S., Gladys MI and Pant Leshe (2) John. (3) Minnie E. born Sept 20. 1870. graduated from Windham high school and tight school, but is now the wife of Hours Vorher. who is in the employ of the postal service in Ves York City. All of the members of the Clarke tir Us are very highly respected and cecups pies responsibility. They come of study humble ancestors who have transmitted to tweets these traut- of character which result in Enligt fort the best American citizens It is ad homin fly by

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

quired considerable knowledge through reading and observation, and that best of teachers, experi- ence. When sixteen years old he began teaching school at Liberty Hill, and there taught two terms ; he then taught at Andover, Conn., when he had a large number of pupils there. Until twenty-one years of age he remained at home, but at that time he was married, and was given charge of the home farm, conducting it successfully for two years thereafter. In 1884 he purchased his present farm of William H. Noyes, and several years later he was sought after to teach the Village Hill school, which he did for two winters. His farm is a good one of 150 acres, upon which he has made very extensive improvements. The property is kept in good order, the fences are well repaired, and the entire prem- ises indicate that an excellent manager is in charge of affairs. Mr. Clarke has for several years past been acting as local agent for the monument deal- ers, Long & Saunders, of Quincy, Mass., and for one year he traveled for them. He has met with remarkable success in that line, and has placed many very fine monuments in Lebanon and neigh- boring towns. In addition to his other interests he acts as purchasing agent for the Providence Dairy Company, and established their milk routes, which are so beneficial to the farmers of Lebanon, Col- chester, Columbia and Hebron.

On June 7, 1882, Mr. Clarke was married to Amelia Foote, a native of Exeter, and a daughter of Horace and Lucy Ann (Webster) Foote. In politics Mr. Clarke is a Republican, and in 1887. when he was only twenty-five years of age, he was chosen to represent his town at the first biennial session of the State Legislature, and while there he acquitted himself of his duties in a manner which reflected credit upon his legislative ability, and also upon the discrimination of his constituents. He served upon the committee on Woman Suffrage. Mr. Clarke has the honor of being the youngest man sent to represent the town, and he was next to the youngest member of the house. In addition lie has served with honor on the board of selectmen for five years, and three years of that time he was chairman of the body, or during 1895, 1896 and 1897, and he was the youngest man in the town to be so distinguished. Mr. Clarke is justice of the peace, and has served as assessor, on the board of relief, been registrar of voters, and is one of the most progressive and enterprising men of the town. The larger proportion of improvements in Lebanon was originated and carried out by him, and need- less to say he has the fullest confidence of all who have been in any way connected with him.

Fraternally Mr. Clarke is a member of Lebanon Lodge No. 23, A. O. U. W., and has passed all the chairs. He is also a member of the grand lodge (Massachusetts jurisdiction), and has been a dele- gate to the grand lodge, where, with characteristic energy, he lias made his influence felt. He is a member of the American Order of Fraternal Help-

ers. Both Mr. and Mrs. Clarke are consistent members of and workers in Exeter Congregational Church, of which he is one of the deacons, having succeeded Deacon Silas P. Abell, and he was super- intendent of the Sunday school for ten years, until January, 1902, when he resigned. Although still a young man, Mr. Clarke has accomplished more than many men in a lifetime, and all of his efforts have been directed along upright and benevolent lines.

ELISHA PARK BECKWITH (deceased) was a son of Hon. James Beckwith, of Waterford and New London, and came of genuine old New England stock, that believed implicitly in the value of labor for its own sake, and in the responsibilities and duties that citizenship imposes upon men, and this later representative well supported the repu- tation so nobly earned by his ancestors.

The Beckwiths of New London come from a family prominent in the ancient annals of England, and in later generations identified with the old his- toric town of Lyme, Conn. For the past fifty years the late Hon. James Beckwith and his sons have ill turn figured conspicuously among the public men of eastern Connecticut.

In the maternal line Elisha Park Beckwith came of an old and prominent New London county family and of Revolutionary stock. He was the grandson of Jonathan and Annie (Smith) Caul- kins and great-grandson of Capt. Jonathan Caul- kins. Capt. Caulkins (1736-1787) of East Lyme, Conn., served eight days as captain of a company under Col. Samuel H. Parsons, in the Lexington alarm. In November, 1776, he was appointed cap- tain in the Fourth battalion under Col. John Ely, and served under General Spencer. In the summer of 1777 he was assigned to Col. Latimer's regi- ment, which was sent to reinforce Gen. Gates at Saratoga, and was engaged in the battles of Sept. 19th and October 9th, of that year. Through this ancestor Mr. Beckwith became eligible to the so- ciety of the Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Beckwith was a son of the late James and Nancy S. (Caulkins) Beckwith, and a direct descendant in paternal line in the twenty-third generation from Sir Hugh de Malebisse, a native of Normandy, who held lands in the time of William, the Con- queror ; and in the sixth generation from Matthew Beckwith, the emigrant New England settler of 1635.

The lineage from Sir Hugh de Malebisse fol- lows, the Roman characters indicating generations : (I) Sir Hugh De Malebisse, who held lands with William, the Conqueror, was born in Nor- mandy, as were all the followers of the Conqueror. (II) Hugo de Malebisse, living in 1138, mar- ried (first) Emma, daughter of William de Percy.

(III) Sir Simon de Malebisse, Lord of Cowton in Craven, married the daughter of John, Lord of Methlev.

(IV) Sir Hercules de Malebisse, who changed

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.

his name to Beckwith, and Lord of Uglebarly, on his marriage in 1226, married Lady Dame ( Beck- with ) Bruce, daughter of Sir William Bruce, Lord of Uglebarly.

(V) Sir Hercules Beckwith married the daugh- ter of Sir John Ferrers, of Tamworth Castle.

(VI) Nicholas Beckwith de Clint married thc daughter of Sir John Chaworth.

(VII) Hamon Beckwith, who took upon him in 1339 the coat of arms of John, Lord de Malc- bisse, married the daughter of Sir Philip Tynlcy, Knight.

( VIII) William Beckwith, second of the Manor of Beckwithshow, 38th year of Edward III, 1364, married a daughter of Sir Girard Urfleet.

(IX) Thomas Beckwith, of Clint, and manors of Magna Otrigen and Housley, near Thursby, 4, Richard II, which lands werc holden of John Lord Mowbray, as his manor of Thursk, married the daughter of John Sawlcy, of Saxon.

(X) Adam Beckwith de Clint married Eliza- beth de Malebisse 4, Richard II.

(XI) Sir William Beckwith de Clint, Knight, married the daughter of Sir John Baskerville.

(XII) Thomas Beckwith de Clint, lord of a one-third part of Fily, Mustor and Thorp, married the daughter and heiress of William Heslerton.

(XIII) John Beckwith married the daughter of Thomas Radcliff, of Mulgrave.

(XIV) Robert Beckwith, of Broxholme, was living in the eighth year of King Edward IV.

(XV) John Beckwith, of Clint and Thorp, was also living in the eighth ycar of Edward I\'.

(XVI) Robert Beckwith, of Clint and Thorp, married Jennet.

(XVII) Marmaduke Beckwith, of Dacre and Clint, married (second) Anne, daughter of Dynly, of Bramhope, County York.

(XVIII) Matthew Beckwith, born Sept. 22, 1610, in Pontefract, Yorkshire, England, emi- grated in 1635 to New England. He resided for a short time at Saybrook Point in 1635, was in 'Bran- ford in 1638, and was among the first settlers of Hartford in 1642. In 1651 he was among the first settlers of Lyme, and purchased large tracts of land on the Niantic river, lying practically in Lyme and New London. He owned the barque " Endeavor." which was constructed for him, and was the first vessel launched from New London, and trade with the Barbadoes. Matthew Beckwith died Dec. 13. 1681. He left a wife Elizabeth.

(XIX) John Beckwith, born in 1600, at lyme, Conn., was one of the original patentees of You London, to Waterford, Conn. He had lived, accord ing to his deposition in 17 10, at Niantic Perry for seventy-five (twenty-five ?) years.

(XX) Elisha Beckwith was born in Waterford. Conn., and there died, and was buried on the west bank of the Niantic river.

(XXI) Jason Beckwith, born in 1,64 in Water- ford, Conn .. married in 1785. He remove lto Non

London and was a ship builder. He died in the latter town. Ten children, seven sons and three daughters, were born to his marriage.

(XXII) Hon. James Beckwith, born Sept. 12. 1803, married (first) Nancy S. Caulkins, an 1 their children were: Cordelia, James E .. Elisha P. and Cyrus G. The father was engaged as a ship builder first in Waterford, and later in New Lon- don, to which latter point he removed about 1850. He built coasting vessels, mostly of from one to three tons burden. He retired from active busi- ness in 1865, then returned to Waterford. an.l there died Feb. 24. 1875. After his retirement to his native town he was twice chosen representative in the State Assembly from Waterford. He was a Democrat in his political views. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and for many years served as a deacon in the local church. Mrs. Nancy S. Beckwith died in 1847, and Mr. Beckwith after- ward married Mlrs. Eliza ( Keeney) Fox, who sur- vived him some years.

Two of the four children of James and Nancy S. Beckwith are living, the deceased being the lite Elisha Park Beckwith, of New London, who was born .Aug. 17, 1832, and Hon. James E. Beckwith. The latter was a farmer residing in Waterford. ci which town he was a substantial man and kading citizen. He represented his town in the General AAssembly, and held other important public trusts. He died April 18, 1898. Cordelia marrie l Sines A. Smith, and is a resident of Waterford. llc fourth and youngest child is Ilon. Cyrus G., one of the prominent men and representative citizens vi New London.

Elisha Park Beckwith was born in Waterford. Conn .. Ang. 17, 1832. He was given a good ch :- cation in the common schools, and on leaving selocal took up his father's calling, ship building, which proved to be a stepping stone to the work with which his name was inseparable associate L lass Beck with had been one of the leading Denn 's of the State, so that his son was by nhorteras well as instinct, one in whose mi, hering It mes implicit confidence might be placed quite a young man he came to Nes Land quickly won his way politically to a plate white he was hundred and respected In both parte . 11 was nigel to accept the cityes of my filmin and allermin. spargel the 00 of those offices in thin At 18-2 Marshall non mate lmills, knowing the bowbere enifd lie

opportunity to well tar los while Manyledde of lemah 11.tt 111 ℃.

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ity. He knew more about real estate in the town and vicinity, and the titles to it, than any other man living. By trade he was properly a ship-carpenter, and in the time he devoted to that business, was one of the most prominent men in that craft, and turned out many first class coasting vessels and fine vachts, which added greatly to the reputation of the business which he inherited. While in the ship building business Mr. Beckwith built from his own designs a fishing boat, the model of which was sent to the Maritime Exposition at Havre, France, in 1868, and was granted a medal. The Boston In- stitute of Technology has been presented by Mrs. Beckwith with a number of models of yachts and fishing and whaling vessels, which are preserved by that institution. Mr. Beckwith was also vice-presi- dent and a director of the National Whaling Bank, of New London, and his counsel in the management of that institution was of great value. These two last offices served to consolidate his lifelong friend- ship with Sebastian D. Lawrence, whose closest confidant he was, and whose plans for the future he fully shared.

Elisha Park Beckwith was twice married; his first wife was Miss Susan Clark, and his second, who still survives him and resides in New London, was Mrs. Emma ( Park) Fowler, widow of Charles R. Fowler, a niece of the late Dr. David P. Francis. There were no children by either union. Mr. Beckwith died in New London July 16th, 1898, and if he had survived until August 22d of that year, he would have rounded out twenty-six years of service as steamboat inspector. His reports up to the end of his twenty-fifth year showed that pre- vious to Aug. 28, 1897, he had inspected 4,338 steamboats, or a string of vessels which if placed end to end would reach from the Thames river bridge to the great span of the Brooklyn bridge. In order to do the work referred to he had traveled 275,178 miles. In 1886 he traveled 15,470 miles ; in 1894, he traveled but 2,724 miles. The average distance traveled for twenty-five years was 11,007 miles. If Mr. Beckwith had traveled at the rate of thirty miles an hour and spent twenty-four hours in travel every day he would have kept going con- tinuously one year, seventeen days and four hours.

Seldom is there a man whose advice was more earnestly sought and more highly prized than was Mr. Beckwith's, on both public and private mat- ters, and his counsel was always wise, as, to a dis- position that prompted him to take a broad and charitable view of all things, was added a shrewd- ness and insight into human nature, and an esti- mate of value, that had come to him not only from the natural ability of his mind, but from long and continuous observation. All who came in contact with him were sure to become his friends, for the courtesy of his manner, and the compelling honesty of his character, as well as his agreeable conversa- tions were certain to be appreciated by any one who had ever experienced them.

CAPT. HENRY E. DAVIS, of Noank, was born Sept. 20, 1825, at Quangutaug Hill, in the town of Stonington, Conn., son of Rouse Davis, who was born at Westerly, R. I., where he lived until ma- turity.

James Davis, grandfather of Capt. Davis, was a lifelong farmer at Westerly. He married a mem- ber of the Crandall family there, and their five chil- dren were: Millie, who married an Arnold ; James ; William, who was a farmer in Groton; John and Rouse. James Davis and family were Quakers.

Rouse Davis grew up at Westerly, and in early manhood went as a young farmer on Fisher's Island, where he met the lady that later became his wife ; she was Desire Brown, daughter of Peter Brown, of Stonington. After their marriage they lived for a time in Groton engaged in farming, and then moved to Quaugutaug Hill in Stonington. Mr. Davis was an industrious, reliable man, and was engaged in various kinds of work at Mystic, New London, Sag Harbor and Noank. His death took place in the present home of Capt. Davis, in 1861, at the age of sixty-three years. His widow survived to the age of eighty-six years, dying in 1881. They were good, Christian people, members of the Bap- tist Church at Noank. Their children were: (I) Eliza became the wife of William Burrows, of Wisconsin. (2) James, a sea-faring man, for many years commander of vessels, is now passing the evening of life at his home at Noank. (3) Horace Winthrop, a contractor and builder at Noank, died in 1891; he married Harriet Ashbey, of Noank. (4) Henry Elliott is mentioned below. (5) Mary Jane, widow of Charles Burrows, has three children ; Jane (who is Mrs. Charles Palmer), Mary Ellen and Charles, all of Noank. (6) Peter, of New Bed- ford, Mass., is a seafaring man. (7) Emma is the wife of John Libby, of New London. (8) Charles is a ship joiner of Noank. (9) Jolin is deceased.

Capt. Henry Elliott Davis was educated at the Pleasant Valley school in Groton, and later at East- ern Point and Fishtown. From the time he was eleven years of age, he sailed upon coasting and fishing vessels, but at the age of twenty, he served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade and worked with his brother Horace at Noank for two years, subsequently learning the ship-joiner's trade with Mr. Lathrop at Mystic. He worked as a jour- neyman for two years, and then engaged in con- tracting at Noank until 1885. Mr. Davis worked at lighthouse work for four years, during which period he built the Morgan's Point Light House. He did the first joiner work on the first vessel ever built by the Robert Palmer Company.

In 1879, so great was the confidence placed in his ability, Capt. Davis was appointed to go to Alexandria, Egypt, to superintend the work of the removal of Cleopatra's Needle to America, a com- mission which required eleven months' absence. In 1885 Capt. Davis became assistant superintendent of construction of Life Saving stations, his duties calling him to all parts of the United States. Six

Henry Ô. Davis

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years of his life have been spent on the Great Lakes, and sixteen months on the Pacific coast. He is a man of intelligence and proves capable in what- ever position he finds himself placed.

Capt. Davis was married (first) at Noank, in 1847, to Frances Wilbur, daughter of Elam Wilbur, and four children were born to them, namely: Mi- randa, who married William Baker, of Noank, and has one daughter, Mabel, wife of Varnam Tucker. of Providence ; Maria, who married William Pal- mer, a fisherman at Noank, and has one son, Percy ; Charles, who died aged twenty years ; and Caroline, who died aged twenty-six years.

Capt. Davis married (second), also at Noank, Margaret Ashbey, daughter of Asa Ashbey, half- brother of the father of William A. Ashbey. Mrs. Davis died in 1884. The one daughter of this mar- riage is Laura, now the wife of Wayland Morgan Chester, professor of biology at Colgate University, Hamilton, N. Y. They have three children, Morgan Elliott, Harry Wilbur and Margaret Ashbey. Capt. Davis was married (third) to Mary A. (Wilbur ) Ashbey, who died in 1896.

Capt. Davis is a Mason, a member of Charity and Relief Lodge. He is a man who commands the esteem of all who know him.

HENRY BLIVEN SISSON is a well known and honored citizen of Hamburg, in the town of Lyme, where for many years he has been a mer- chant, and where he has filled a number of the town offices. He comes of a Rhode Island family, which settled in Lyme about 1800.

Jonathan Sisson, grandfather of Henry Bliven. was born at Charlestown, R. 1., and in 1801 or 1802 came to Connecticut and settled at North Lyme. He bought a large tract of land1, houses, and a grist. fulling and saw mill, from James Gould. a relative of Jay Gould. He lived to be eighty-one years old. and died in December, 1833, and was buried in North Lyme. He was a relative of Lee Sisson, fa- ther of Thomas Sisson, the well known druggist, of Hartford. Ile married Elizabeth Bliven, of Rhode Island, and their children, all born in that state, were as follows: ( 1) William married Phebe Holdredge, and was the grandfather of William M. Sisson, of North Plain. (2) Elizabeth, who died in 1862, married (first ) John Bur lick, of Hopkin ton, R. I., and (second) William Payne. t3) Jon- athan. (4) Nathan was lost at sea. (5) Oliver, deceased, married Lucretia Tiffany. (6) Mary. deceased, married Deacon Richard Tiffany. . Salem. (7) Sarah died unmarried. (8) Nancy, (0) Frances and (10) Deziah, all died unmarried. ( 1) Henry. All of these children came with their parents to North Lame.

Henry Sisson, youngest son of Jonathan and Elizabeth ( Bliven) Sisson, and father of Henry Bliven, was born in Charlestown. R 1. in September. 1708. He was a small child when his parents moved to North Lyme, where he attended school and where

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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 192

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