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 31

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

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1894; he practiced in New York City, and was ex- amining surgeon during the Civil war; later he re- sided in Kansas City, Mo., and his death occurred in San Diego, Cal. He was of good height and figure, with dark curling hair, a man of firm char- acter, but very reticent and sensitive in tempera- ment. For some years he was a merchant, and he devoted much time to public interests. He married Lucy Johnson, and their children were, Robert Mc- Curdy (deceased), Richard Lynde (deceased) and Henry Johnson. (3) John McCurdy, born June 24, 1835, lives in Kansas City. (4) Sarah McCurdy, born April 14, 1838, married Col. Israel Matson, and died July 10, 1865; Col. Matson married (second) Harriet Howe. (5) Gertrude McCurdy, born March 3, 1840, married Dr. Edward Dorr Griffin, who is mentioned below. (6) Charles Mc- Curdy, born Jan. 31, 1842, died Feb. 7, 1877. He was in the regular army, rose to the rank of captain, and was stationed at various posts in the South.

GRIFFIN. The Griffin family has given many distinguished men and women to the country, among whom special mention is here made of Dr. Edward Dorr Griffin, who was born at Catskill, Greene Co., N. Y., Oct. 2, 1839. His descent is traced to (I) Jasper Griffin, and his wife Hannah, through (II) Jasper and Ruth (Peck) Griffin, (III) Lemuel and Phoebe (Comstock) Griffin, (IV) George and Eve (Dorr) Griffin, (V) George Griffin, a celebrated New York lawyer, and his wife, Lydia, daughter of Gen. Zebulon Butler, and (VI) George and Ann Augusta (Neilson) Griffin.

Dr. Edward Dorr Griffin spent his early school days in a boarding school at Boonetown, N. J., and graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur- geons in New York City. He was a prominent Free- mason, and a member of the Order of the Cincinnati. He practiced medicine in Old Lyme from 1864 until his death, May 10, 1887. The loss of this "beloved physician" was felt as the greatest bereavement to the town where his cheerful cordiality, Christian helpfulness and tender sympathy, as well as his pro- fessional skill, had won him the love and confidence of all. Dr. Griffin married Gertrude McCurdy Lord, daughter of Stephen Johnson and Sarah Ann (Mc- Curdy) Lord, and their children were, Augusta Neilson and Sarah Lord. The latter married Prof. Horace L. Wells, of New Haven, and they have two children, Gertrude Griffin, and Evelyn McCurdy Salisbury.

BOSS. The family of this name at New Lon- don, the head of which was the late Charles D. Boss, who for a half century was one of the leading business men of that city, and whose son, the present Charles D. Boss, has for more than half of that length of time successfully continued the business established by the father and worthily perpetuated the name, is one of nearly two hundred years' stand- ing in the State of Rhode Island.

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

It is set forth in American lineage that the name Boss, formerly Bosch, then Bos, is of Dutch origin.

Edward Boss, the progenitor of the Rhode Island family of the name, appears of record there in 1710, when, on May 17th of that year, he, in company with seventeen others, purchased 7,000 acres of land in Narragansett. This pioneer married Susannah Wil- kinson, born Feb. 6, 1662, daughter of Lawrence and Susannah (Smith) Wilkinson, and to them came children as follows : Edward, born Jan. 20, 1684-85; Susannah, born July 21, 1687 ; Peter, born Sept. 15, 1695 ; and Jeremiah, born Aug. 15, 1699. The lat- ter son married, March 22, 1722, Martha Spencer, born Sept. 8, 1700, daughter of Robert and Theo- dosia (Whaley) Spencer, and was of Westerly and Richmond, R. I. His death occurred in 1774. His children were: Richard, born Feb. 26, 1724; Ed- ward, April 20, 1725 ; Susannah, Feb. 19, 1728; Jer- emiah, May 17, 1729; Martha, Feb. 12, 1731 ; Peter, Sept. 30, 1732; Joseph, March 2, 1734; John, Oct. 14, 1735 ; Hannah, Oct. 11, 1737; Philip; and Jon- athan.

Edward Boss (2), the eldest son of the pioneer, born Jan. 20, 1684-85, married, April 20, 1709, Phillip (likely Phillipa) Carr, born Dec. 28, 1688, daughter of Caleb and Phillip (Greene) Carr, and they were of Newport, R. I., he a merchant there. Their first child, Mary, was born in Narragansett Sept. 1, 1710, and the others were born in Newport, as follows : Freelove, Dec. 5, 1712 ; Abigail, Feb. 18, 1715 ; Edward, Nov. 23, 1716; Hannah, April 17, 1719; Susannah, Nov. 2, 1720; Joseph, Jan. 20, 1723; Philip, Sept. 16, 1725; and Benjamin, July 23, 1727.

Concerning the posterity of Peter Boss, the other son of the pioneer, nothing definite has been ascer- tained.

From the foregoing source came the New Lon- don branch of the Boss family of Rhode Island. The late Charles D. Boss, of New London, was born March 27, 1812, in Newport, R. I., where for a few years he received instruction in the public schools. When ten years of age he started work in his native town wheeling a bread cart, and began an apprenticeship at the baking business, continuing with his employer, George Allen, for nine years, until nineteen years of age. His mother had died when he was only eight years old, and his father when he was but twelve. In 1831 William Gray, of New London, a pioneer in the cracker line and the principal cracker manufacturer of New London, went to Newport for a baker, and Mr. Boss, being recommended to him, came to New London to en- ter his employ. He lived with Mr. Gray's family until shortly before his marriage. After one year's service with Mr. Gray, young Boss, associated with his brother, Philip Martin Boss, began the manu- facturing of crackers on his own account, their place of business being on Potter street, where they had converted a barn into a bake shop. About a year later, as Mr. Gray wanted to sell, the Boss brothers

purchased his establishment, and a year later Cha D. Boss purchased the hard bread factory, and co tinued that branch of the business alone, Philip running a bakery on Potter street, making cakes. bread for about a year. Some years after that entered the employ of his brother, Charles D. 1863 Charles D. Boss, Jr., a son of the proprie became associated in the business with his fatl and from that time on the style of firm has b and remains C. D. Boss & Son. These two n father and son, have built up one of the larg cracker and biscuit manufactories in the coun and in that business have been most successful. this establishment over one hundred different ki: of crackers and biscuits are made.

Charles D. Boss, Sr., was for fifty years ide: fied with that business, and with the city of N London, during which long period he did m toward the city's advancement in a commercial 1: and for the good and welfare of the people's mor He was a member of Second Congregational Chu of the city, and a strong advocate of temperai and by his life and work set an example worthy : young man to follow. He was first a Whig, the Republican in his political affiliations. He pas to his reward Jan. 16, 1896, after several years poor health. He bore the esteem and respect of entire community.

On May 18, 1835, Mr. Boss was married to M Elizabeth Mason, who was born in New Lond June 10, 1817, and to this union came children follows: Thomas, who became a minister in --

Congregational Church, married Anna Lee, of M: ison, Conn., and died at Leavenworth, Kans., 1898, survived by his widow and four childr Edith S., Roger C., Charles L. and Agnes ; Chai D., Jr .; Eliza Edith, married Robert R. Congd and died in November, 1903, leaving two sons, Ca) and Charles L. Mrs. Boss was the only child Thomas and Elizabeth (Potter) Mason, of Ha ford, Conn., the former of whom was first mate a brig and died at sea soon after his marriag Thomas Mason was a son of Isaac and Rebe (Kilbourne) Mason, of Hartford, Conn., though Mason family came originally from Rhode Island

COIT. (PRESTON-NORWICH BRANCH). ] Coits of eastern Connecticut have been prominen and conspicuously identified with the history of t? section of the Commonwealth for upward of 2 years, the earlier generations figuring especially the town of New London and Plainfield, and la generations as well in Preston and Griswold, a since the Revolutionary period in the ancient to of Norwich. The earlier generations of the fam: especially in New London, were men of avocatic pertaining to a seafaring life, builders of vesse masters and men of commerce, but among them we men of the learned professions and some farme in particular, perhaps, in Plainfield and Presto later generations have pursued the law, in wh

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ave distinguished themselves, and others led tile lives. Many have filled positions of high trust.

der the head of the Preston-Norwich branch of tl the 1 a me 1812 gan mer Coit, city, and Coit family it is designed to treat briefly of Page and family of the late Col. Charles Coit, hant of Norwich, and a soldier of the war of icluding his sons, the late Col. Charles Mor- it, a gallant soldier of the Civil war and for- stmaster of Norwich, and George Douglas easurer of the Chelsea Savings Bank of that id their sons, Charles Coit, Augustus Coit nes Dana Coit ; also of Deacon George Coit, a brauer of Col. Charles, and for many years one of tl: most worthy citizens of Norwich.

J n Coit, the emigrant ancestor of the New Loncha and Norwich Coits, came probably from Glam

ganshire, Wales, between 1630 and 1638. He v3 in Salem, Mass., where he had a grant of land 1638. In 1644 he removed to Gloucester, and i 1648 was selectman there. He had consider- able

id on Wheeler's Point and Planter's Neck. He v; a freeman in 1647. In 1650 he received a grant f land in New London, Conn., and came to it in 16 He married Mary Ganners, or Jenners, in 1, where all of his children were born pre- to emigration. He died Aug. 29, 1659, widow passed away Jan. 2, 1676. Their were: John, Joseph, Mary and Martha. Engl vious and l childı F: n this ancestor the lineage of the late Col. Charl M. Coit and the present George D. Coit, of 1, is through Deacon Joseph, Rev. Joseph, muel, John, Nathanael and Col. Charles Norw Col. Coit.

(I Deacon Joseph Coit probably came with er from Gloucester to New London about id he passed the greater part of his lifetime

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with his brother-in-law, Hugh Mould. 7 15, 1667, Deacon Coit married Martha, r of William and Edith Harris, of Wethers- th joined the church in 1681, he later becom- acon. He died March 27, 1704, and Mrs. sed away July 14, 1710. Nearly, if not all, s of America, says the genealogist of the lily, are descended from him. His children ohn, Joseph, William, Daniel, Solomon and all born between 1670 and 1692, inclusive. ) Rev. Joseph Coit, born April 4, 1673, in ndon, married Sept. 18, 1705, Experience , daughter of Isaac Wheeler, of Stonington, nd the union was blessed with ten children, Elizabeth, born Feb. 19, 1706-07 ; Samuel, Joseph, baptized in 1711; Martha, born in aac, Dec. 26, 1714; Abigail, about 1716; bout 1718; William, Nov. 20, 1720; Ex- about 1722; and Daniel, in 1731. Mr. graduated from Harvard College in 1697, admitted to the Master's degree at the first cement at Yale College in 1702. In the 't of 1698 he preached at Norwich, and was

invited to settle there, but he soon went to Plainfield, where he preached the greater part of the time for five years. . In 1704 he received and accepted a call to settle as pastor of the church at that point, and for forty-three years, until 1748, he sustained such relations with the church, at the close of which pe- riod, owing to age, he asked for dismissal. Rev. Mr. Coit continued to reside in Plainfield until his death, July I, 1750. Mrs. Coit passed away Jan. 8, 1759.

(IV) Col. Samuel Coit, born in 1708, in Plain- field, married (first) March 30, 1730, Sarah, daugh- ter of Benjamin Spalding, of Plainfield. Col. Coit settled in the North Society, Preston (now Gris- wold), and there spent a long and honored life, dy- ing Oct. 4, 1792, when eighty-four years of age. In military life he rose to the rank of colonel, and in 1758 had command of a regiment raised in the neigh- borhood of Norwich which wintered at Fort Ed- ward. Col. Coit represented Preston in the Gen- eral Assembly in 1761, 1765, 1769, 1771, 1772 and 1773. In the time of the Revolution he sat as judge on the Bench of the county court and of a maritime court. He also served in other public capacities. He was received into the church at Preston in 1742, and his wife in 1733. His wife, Sarah (Spalding), died July II, 1776, aged sixty-five years. Their children were: Benjamin, born March 28, 1731; Samuel, July 23, 1733; William, Feb. 13, 1735; Oliver, Feb. 23, 1736-37 ; Wheeler, Feb. 24, 1738- 39; John, June 4, 1741 ; Sarah, May 12, 1743; Jo- seph, baptized May 2, 1746; Isaac, baptized Oct. 3, 1748; and Olive, baptized April 5, 1752.

(V) John Coit, born June 4, 1741, married Feb. 6, 1766, Mehitabel Tyler, daughter of John Tyler, of Preston, and passed his life there. Mr. Coit was the owner of a large farm in Preston, and occupied himself in its oversight. His death occurred March 3, 1808, and the death of his wife Jan. 3, 1806. Their children were: Lydia, born Dec. 13, 1766; Nathanael, May 5, 1768; Sarah, May 1, 1770; Olive, Feb. 22, 1772; John, Dec. 20, 1773; Sophia, Oct. 14, 1775 ; James Tyler, Oct. 1, 1778; Rebecca, Feb. 2, 1783 ; and Roger, Jan. 25, 1786.

(VI) Nathanael Coit, born May 5, 1768, in Preston, married (first) March 14, 1792, Betsey Morgan, of that town, daughter of Daniel and Eliza- beth (Lord) Morgan. Capt. Coit (by which title he was known and which he acquired in military service) settled in Preston as a farmer, in which pursuit he was quite successful. A number of hon- ors were bestowed upon him by his fellow towns- men, who had great confidence in his judgment, in- tegrity and faithfulness. His moral character was beyond reproach, but not until late in life did he make a profession of religion, then uniting with the church in Jewett City. Capt. Coit died at that place, which was formerly included in Preston, March II, 1848. His wife died March 13, 1831. Their chil- dren were: Charles, born Feb. 19, 1793; Martha, Dec. 12, 1795 ; Charlotte, Aug. 11, 1797 ; Olive, Oct.

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

12, 1799; Betsey, Jan. 10, 1802; a son, March 2, 1804 (died in infancy) ; Charlotte (2), Sept. 20, 1805 ; Hannah M., May 28, 1808; George, April 29, 18II ; and William.

(VII) COL. CHARLES COIT, born Feb. 19, 1793, married (first) May 21, 1821, Lucretia Tyler, daughter of Col. Moses and Olive (Coit) Tyler. She died in 1822, and he married (second) Lydia Tyler, a sister of his first wife. She died in October, 1834, and he married (third) Sarah Perkins Grosvenor, daughter of Gen. Lemuel Grosvenor, of Pomfret. Col. Coit took part in the war of 1812, and after- ward continued in the militia service, rising to the rank of colonel of artillery. In about 1817 he re- moved to Norwich and engaged in mercantile busi- ness, which, in various forms, particularly in the grocery line, he carried on until his death, Oct. 26, 1855, when aged sixty-two years. Col. Coit united with the Second Congregational Church in Norwich in 1822 and for many years officiated as deacon and as superintendent of the Sabbath school. In all the relations of life he exhibited a character seldom equalled for blamelessness and faithfulness. His fellow citizens generally acknowledged him to be a pillar in society, contributing essentially to the strength and beauty thereof by his intelligence, dig- nity, uprightness, sincerity, discretion and benevo- lence. Two children were born to the second mar- riage of Col. Coit, Lucretia and one unnamed, both of whom died in infancy. Four children were born to the last marriage, namely : Ellen Grosvenor, Nov. 15, 1835; Charles Morgan, March 28, 1838 (died July 3, 1878) ; Sarah Perkins, Oct. 16, 1840 (died May 17, 1843) ; and George Douglas, Jan. 2, 1845.

(VIII) Miss Ellen Grosvenor Coit resided at Norwich until a few years ago, but she now spends her winters in Brooklyn, N. Y., and her summers at her cottage at Eastern Point, town of Groton, Con- necticut.

(VIII) COL. CHARLES MORGAN COIT, son of Col. Charles, was born in Norwich, March 28, 1838. During his seventeenth year the death of his father changed all his plans for life, and led him with deep regret to exchange a college course for a business situation. He first entered the Uncas Bank, but at the age of twenty-one was made treasurer of the Chelsea Savings Bank, which responsible position he occupied at the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion. Although ardently desirous of enlisting under the first call for troops, the claims of his fam- ily, of which he was the oldest male member, seemed to render imperative for him the duty of remaining at home. But as reverses occurred to our armies and President Lincoln's second call for troops was made, young Coit, after mature and prayerful deliberation, decided that the claim of his country was paramount to all others, and entered the service as adjutant of the 8th Conn. V. I., then being organized under Col. Edward Harland. His military record in brief is as follows : Enlisted Sept. 18, 1861, mustered Oct. 5, 1861 ; promoted from adjutant of the 8th

Connecticut Volunteer Infantry to captain of pany B, of that regiment, March 27, 1862; wc Oct. 28, 1864, at Fair Oaks, Va. ; promoted li ant-colonel by brevet March 13, 1865; disch May 27, 1865. But to give more in detail the an- euvers of the 8th Regiment and Col. Coit's ichty with it the following is appended, taken fila sketch of Col. Coit in the chapter on the m İn history of Connecticut published in the Historof New London County by Hurd :

"This regiment left the State Oct. 17, joining the Burnside expedition to North Cal and on the 8th of January following had its fir perience of actual battle at the capture of Ro Island, when by their coolness and good disc fre the men won the hearty approval of Gens. Bur fle and Foster. From this time onward until the of the war the career of this gallant regimen one of unusual hardship and honor. Almost terruptedly in the front and in active servicets engagements were many, its losses, both fronte casualties of the field and from the exposures ;i- dent to the service, terribly severe, and the rfd always of work well and bravely done. Aft [s North Carolina campaign, in which the reg hit had borne a prominent part at the siege of ft Macon and the capture of Newbern, and dag which Adjutant Coit had been promoted to al- taincy, the 9th Army Corps, to which the regi was attached, was ordered north to join Gen. Clellan, and participated in the fiercely cont " battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Et- ially in the latter action was the gallantry of the |h Regiment conspicuous and of the highest servi p its whole corps. Nine color-bearers were struck ol, yet another always stood ready to fill the vacant e and uphold the flag. The entire list of casualtic- cluded more than one-half of those who enterede battle. The regiment was in front of Burnside' vance with the Army of the Potomac, helpin ) lay the pontoon bridge at Fredericksburg, and -f the battle serving on the picket line beyond the and being among the last to recross the river the spring of 1863 the 8th saw active service a: siege of Suffolk and the brilliant storming of ! Huger. During the following fall and wij, while the regiment was enjoying its longest ex- ence of the comparative comfort of quiet camp , Capt. Coit was ordered to duty at the conscript ( ) at New Haven, a service which, though in som spects an exceedingly agreeable change from service, was in other respects most unpleasant difficult. Returning to the regiment before commencement of active operations in the sprir 1864, he was constantly on duty with his comn through the terrible campaign on the James, mencing with the severe engagement at Wal Junction, in which the regiment lost seventy- men, and immediately followed by the four () battle at Drury's Bluff, with further heavy During the 'battle summer' that followed, in the

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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ence of the field-officers, the regiment was com- landed by Capt. Coit. Its history and his is a ecord of marches and battles almost daily, until le latter part of June, when it was ordered to the 'ont of the line investing Petersburg. From June I to Aug. 27, under the scorching summer sun, le men lay in their rifle-pits, rarely by day or night, yond the range of the enemy's cannon. In one of te regiment's charges on the enemy's works so gal- ntly did the men do their work that their com- ander, Gen. 'Baldy' Smith, said he 'felt like giving commission to the whole regiment that had done at gallant deed.' The last severe fighting of the giment at Fort Harrison, Sept. 29, was another of s most gallant achievements. Charging across early a mile of open field, still commanded by Capt. oit, the men stormed the fort, driving the gunners om their places and planting their flag on its ram- urts. The regiment lay in the trenches about the rt nearly a month, repulsing in the meantime all e attempts of the enemy to regain their lost ound. When at the end of the month the men ere relieved and assigned to lighter duty, the regi- ent had become so reduced by the casualties of the ld, 'fatigue duty, watching, picketing, storms, and ck of even shelter tents, which were not then al- wed at the front,' that but ninety muskets could mustered.

"Soon after the capture of Fort Harrison, Capt. it was assigned to duty as assistant adjutant-gen- al on the brigade staff, and while here received a mmission as major of his regiment, which he de- ned. He had been with his regiment in every ion in which it had taken part without receiving wound; but Oct. 28, while on staff duty at Fair .ks, in one of the latest engagements of the army lore Richmond, he was wounded, it was supposed, 1 rtally. He was removed to Chesapeake Hospital, rtress Monroe, where he remained four months, lung for many weeks with the scales trembling be- teen life and death, suffering not only from his vund but from the almost fatal effects of the se- ve service of the past summer. But skillful treat- r it and the tender care of loving friends, aided bhis naturally strong constitution and good habits, V

'e finally blessed to his recovery. As soon as Ith would permit he returned to his regiment, b the war being over, army life had no charms him, and he resigned May 30, 1865. He was błvetted lieutenant-colonel from March 13, 1865. "Soon after his return to Norwich from the war C . Coit was chosen to his former position as treas- 11 . of the Chelsea Savings Bank, and filled the po- n with marked ability and to the entire satis-

Si få ion of all interested. He served one term as master of Norwich. He was an aide on the st { of Gen. Joseph R. Hawley, when that gentle- i was governor of Connecticut. Col. Coit was ninent among the founders and early supporters o: he local post of the G. A. R., and was a member

of the Boston Commandery of the Loyal Legion of the United States.

"Col. Coit was a consistent and active member of the Second Congregational Church, holding the offices of deacon and treasurer of the Church, and librarian of the Sunday school. Col. Coit lost his life on July 3, 1878, by drowning in New London harbor ; his little son had fallen overboard from a yacht and in an effort of the father to rescue him, in which he was successful, he lost his own life."

On June 18, 1872, Col. Coit was married to Miss . Mary B. Hillard, and to them came two children, both of whom are living: Charles, born March 28, 1873, and Augustus, born April 29, 1876.

At a meeting of the directors of the Chelsea Sav- ings Bank, held July 5, 1878, the following resolu- tions were unanimously passed :

Resolved, That in the recent sudden death of Col. Charles . M. Coit, our secretary and treasurer, this bank has suffered the greatest loss which it has ever been called upon to bear. We have lost one who has been identified with the bank for nearly twenty years, in whose sound judgment and business capacity we have always had the greatest confidence, one whose integrity, both in thought and deed, was such that it seems impossible to replace him.

Resolved, That, in Col. Coit's death this community suffers a loss of one who, having passed his entire life among them, except that portion given to his country, had gained their confidence, respect, and love to a very unusual degree. As a citizen, a patriot soldier, and a public officer, he has always shown those qualities of mind and heart which endeared him to all who were brought in contact with him. Though cut off in his prime, the example of such a life is of incalculable value to the community.

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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 31

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